Page 85 of Happily Ever Witch
“Where the frozen-hells did Haigha come from?” Trevelyan was still trying to catch his breath. “I thought that bastard was dead.”
“You think a lot of people are dead, who turn out not to be dead.”
“I’m eternally optimistic. It’s my nature.”
“Any chance Haigha might want to not attack us, if you talk to him?”
“That will just make him attack faster. He doesn’t like me. Nobody ever likes me.”
Something in his voice had her shifting closer to him. “I like you. …Most of the time.”
He glanced at her.
Esmeralda dug deep for some kind of serenity. “Things could be worse.” She shrugged, looking on the bright side of their certain demise. “At least it’s not raining.”
Trevelyan’s gaze ran all over her face.
“You and me, Trev.” She reminded him and squeezed his hand.
He slowly nodded, like he’d just made some decision. “You and me, Ez.We’reall that matters.”
Esmeralda smiled at him. “Sounds about right.”
“It does.” He took a deep breath and looked back at Haigha. “And we won’t die in Wonderland, of all places.” His voice was scathing. “I won’t allow it.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Quick, go tell the angry dragon.”
“We’re not going to tell that inbred moron anything.” He shook his head and she saw the whatever-it-takes, kamikaze determination that had gotten him out of the WUB Club lighting his face. “We’re just going to kill him.”
Haigha’s inhuman voice boomed out, his attention on Trevelyan. “My pussy cousin’s research must have been right. Your powers must be depleted. Otherwise you’d be in dragon-form, fighting like a deranged maniac.”
“Damn Florian and his damn books.” Trevelyan muttered.
“Poor, Green Dragon.” Haigha mocked. “You’re as weak as the humans. Let’s see you steal the moon again,now.”
“You stole the moon?” Esmeralda asked, not even surprised.
“I gave it back.” Trevelyan defended grouchily.
Haigha kept talking, loving his moment in the spotlight. “Oh, I’ve waited years for this. For a chance to finally take out the mightiest dragon, once and for all. Without your magic you’renothing.”
“That isn’t true.” Esmeralda promised, just in case Trevelyan took the insult to heart. “You’re the best at being Bad. That’s got nothing to do with your powers. You’re just a horrible fucking person, through and through.”
His mouth curved at the pep talk. “You think I can be a deranged maniac, even without my magic, huh?”
“Youarea deranged maniac.” She assured him. “Your mind is filled with villainy. You can come up with a plan to beat these guys, because you’ve got way more than just your evil magic going for you.”
“Yes…” He agreed slowly, like a brilliant idea had just occurred to him. “I’ve gotyourevil magic going for me.”
“Huh?”
“You’regoing to kill him, Ez.”
“Me?” She scoffed, incredulous at the idea of slaying a dragon in her nightgown. “No, that’s not the sort of plan I meant. I meant a plan that wouldwork.”
“Ready the next attack!” Midnight smoke swirled around Haigha, sustaining his transformation and obscuring the details of his monstrous body. It was just as well. Who wanted to see every inch of the dragon come to kill them? “Destroy Trevelyan and that useless…” He stopped suddenly, sniffing the air and his gaze whipped towards the balcony.
Towards Esmeralda.
