Page 61 of The Dragon With A Girl Tattoo
“Oh good, you’re here.Drake and I are taking off in about ten minutes, and I wanted to wish you and your band good luck with the performance.I hope you won’t be upset that we can’t stay—Drake is in a swivet about being away from the children, despite the fact that a small army of dragons is guarding them.”Aisling stopped me when I made my way downstairs in search of some much-needed food.
“I don’t mind at all.I completely understand that you’re worried about your kids, although from what I’ve seen of your abilities and Drake’s presence, I have full confidence that not even Candy and Andy would be able to get near them,” I answered, wondering where Yrian had gotten to.His side of the bed had been cold to the touch when I woke up, letting me know that not only was he quiet—since I’m not a terribly sound sleeper—but also he was thoughtful enough to let me sleep rather than waking me up to indulge in fiery lovemaking.
My libido mourned his consideration, but since I had to perform today, I appreciated the extra sleep.
“Knowing that Bael is most likely behind Xavier—even if he’s just doing so to stir up trouble—has everyone worried.”She studied me for a moment.“I’d feel bad about leaving you without our protection, but I am pretty sure that Yrian will keep you safe from both.Regardless, I’m sure we’ll see you soon, once you’re back from the Egyptian underworld.It’s a very cool place.”
“You’ve been there?”I asked, moving past her to pour myself a big cup of coffee from a carafe on a sideboard loaded with food.
“Once, yes.When the wyvern of the red sept was created.That’s kind of a long story, so I’ll save it for one of our mates’ meetings.We have a union, so to speak—it’s really just a way for the mates to all stay in touch and manage the dragons when they get outrageous.And speaking of outrageous dragons, Ysolde and Baltic already left, but they hope you and your band win.I wish we could stay to watch you sing, but ...”She gave me a rueful smile.
“Family is more important,” I said, nodding, watching when Jim the demon dog approached, hauling a sparkly blue-and-purple unicorn backpack.I thought I should say something regarding her assumption that I was Yrian’s mate, but my own feelings were too confused on the subject, so I decided to deal with it later, when my life wasn’t so chaotic.“I’m not in the least bit offended by you having to leave.”
“Heya, Becky,” Jim greeted me; then its nose tipped up as it took a couple of deep breaths.“Noms!”it said, and dropped its bag before heading straight for the sideboard.
“No!”Aisling said, quickly moving in front of it.“You’ve already eaten, not to mention stealing Drake’s croissant when he was thanking Christian.You absolutely don’t need—”
“Um ...”Allie appeared in the doorway just as I helped myself to a plate of scrambled eggs and potatoes, a small bowl of fruit, and yogurt.She glanced to the left, toward the entrance of the castle.“There are some people here to see you.”
“People?”Aisling asked, her brow wrinkling.“More dragons?The others left already.What sept are they?”
“When I say you, I actually mean Jim,” Allie said, shuffling to the side when a man and a woman appeared in the doorway.The man was tall and imposing, with dark hair and eyes.The woman had equally dark hair and eyes, and a no-nonsense gaze that seemed to strip me down to my soul.
“Heya, Desi.Heya, Parisi,” Jim said, moving over to snuffle the newcomers.“I don’t suppose you remember me, yet?”
I was confused by its question until Allie, who had slid around them into the room to stand next to me, whispered, “Those are Jim’s parents.Its dad created Abaddon, while its mom was a Sovereign at the Court of Divine Blood.She was in the Beyond so long that it pretty much wiped her memory, including who Jim is.”
I goggled at the pair of people, my brain having trouble coping with the fact that the creators of what mortals thought of as hell and heaven were evidently not only a couple but standing right there in front of me.
“Do you know where Yrian is?”I asked Allie in a whisper, suddenly feeling like he needed to be here.
“With Christian and Drake, but I’ve just told Christian to get everyone here pronto,” she answered.
“Of course I remember you,” Parisi answered, her voice so lyrical I wondered if she had a siren mother, too.“You are the demon Effrijim, who Desi insists is our child.”She patted it on the head.“He likes dogs, so it is understandable he wishes you were our son.”
To my surprise, the man named Desi gave her a long look.“Smell him,” he said, gesturing toward Jim.
“What?”the demon asked, its eyes round as it backed up a step.“I just had a bath four days ago.Ash took me to a doggy spa before we came here, because she said she couldn’t take me to a real castle smelling like I rolled in something stinky, which I did, but still, it was rude of her to come right out and say I stunk.”
Aisling made a choking sound.
“Smell him,” Desi said again, his gaze on Parisi.
“Why?”she asked.
“Because scent remains in the memory long past other senses,” he said, then knelt next to Jim and buried his face in the demon’s furry neck.“Yes.He smells the same as when he was a babe.Come, my love.Let us see if your memories can’t be stirred.”
“This is silly,” Parisi said, but, after giving Jim another pat on the head, leaned down to sniff delicately at its neck.“A dog, even one that is a demon, smells like a do—oh.”She pulled back, looking at Desi with confusion.
“Yes,” he said, nodding.“Try again.”
Parisi frowned, but this time, she knelt in front of Jim, its head in her hands as she studied its face.
“I feel like I should ask Jim to shift into human form, but since it would be naked—and no one needs to see that—plus it’s weird to sniff a person, I think it’s better if it stays in its current form,” Aisling told Allie and me in a hushed tone.
Jim stood perfectly still when Parisi took a deep breath, her nose next to Jim’s shoulder.
Silence filled the room for a few moments before Desi asked, “Does it bring forth memories of our babe?”
