Page 71 of The Baby Dragon Cafe
There was no choice to make. The baby dragon had to cross the flamed path to get back to them because on the other side there was nothing but the steep edge of the mountain.
With a determined hiss, Sparky ran through the flames, bursting out on the other side.
When he made it through, Saphira went to hold him, but Aiden held her back, his grip firm on her arm.
“Saphira, no,” he said, voice pained. “His scales will burn you.”
Mireya gave Saphira a disappointed look again, and Saphira bristled, once again feeling out of place.
As Sparky cooled off, Mireya turned to Aiden. “You are aware there is a ritual available for those outsiders who marry into riding families,” she said. “So that they may belong amongst the dragons.”
Outsider.She was referring to Saphira.
Saphira felt nauseous.
“She’snotan outsider,” Aiden gritted out. “She is my wife.”
She appreciated him standing up for her, but his words were not of much consolation because they were not true.
Mireya did not respond to that. She simply led them, and they followed.
Saphira couldn’t help but feeling upset, both by Mireya’s words and the rituals Sparky had gone through. It was all too much.
As they went up another set of stairs, Saphira felt Aiden’s gaze on hers. He frowned, and she gave him a bright smile, trying to convince him she was fine, hoping he wouldn’t worry. But that only caused his frown to deepen, as if he saw right through her facade.
The next flight of stairs led them inside, to what looked like a dining area. There were long tables where some novices were studying books and sipping cups of tea, while other small groups were eating a meal.
Everyone was quiet, and they appeared to Saphira as cold and closed off, though that was unsurprising given that the place felt like a monastery. Even so, it was unpleasant, so unlike what she was used to with the coziness of her cafe. There were no dragons here, either, except for Sparky.
“Sparky has done well,” Mireya said, leading them to an empty table on the side. “Now he will eat, then we will take him to bathe and rest before his first flight at dawn.”
Aiden and Saphira sat down across from each other, Sparky on Saphira’s side. Mireya left them, and a moment later, a robed novice brought over food for Sparky, who immediately began eating, apparently unperturbed by the ice and fire rituals. Saphira was still unsettled, and she rubbed her temples.
“I’m sorry,” Aiden said, frowning. “I know that was intense.”
“I mean, you did warn me,” Saphira replied with a sigh. Nothing could have really prepared her to experience that.
“At least the worst of it is over,” Aiden said.
“At least.” Saphira petted Sparky as he finished eating, and he purred, pleased. After he was done, Mireya appeared again, this time to take Sparky to bathe and then rest, which she said was customary at this time and which Aiden reaffirmed upon seeing the hesitant expression on Saphira’s face. While Saphira didn’t want to let Sparky go, she also didn’t want to give Mireya further fuel to think that Saphira didn’t belong, so she kept quiet.
“Goodbye my angel,” Saphira said, holding Sparky’s face. “I’ll see you in the morning, little squishy.” She gave him kisses, and he licked her cheek. Aiden said goodbye as well, and Sparky licked his hand.
In the meantime, food had been brought for Saphira and Aiden. As they sat back down and began eating, Mireya paused. She gave Aiden a suspicious glance.
“When were you two wed?” she asked.
Saphira was startled, the food getting stuck in her throat.
Aiden swallowed. “Just this month,” he replied.
Mireya made a thoughtful sound. “You do not act like it.”
Without another word, she took Sparky away, leaving Aiden looking stressed.
“Do you think she’ll cancel Sparky’s flight?” Saphira asked, keeping her voice low as tension ran through her.
“I don’t know,” Aiden replied, brows furrowed. “Perhaps we need to be more convincing.” He cleared his throat. “Is it okay if I touch you?”
