Page 38 of Sanctuary with a Dragon
The first French pilot had been issued a license in 1909, and the first American pilot had been issued a license in 1929, twenty years later. He said he’d gotten one first in France, then later in the U.S.
He knew ten different languages, and could converse a little in several more.Deranged DragonAdventureswas his twenty-third business venture. He said by now it was easy to know what would work and what wouldn’t. He’d built a multi-billion dollar empire. Ahugeempire! And not just on outdoor equipment, but through the other enterprises that he still had going that large management firms were overseeing for him.
“You don’t rest very much, do you?” I asked, cuddling a pillow on the couch, facing him as the low light from the moon from the open window covered our patch of space in gleaming gold and silver.
He smiled gently, lightly smoothing his thumb again and again over my hand as he held it. He’d asked as soon as we’d sat down on the couch, and I realized that I was quickly becoming addicted to the feel of my hand laced with his.
“Dragons don’t need much. I tend to sleep about four to five hours a night, less if I’m busy. I can get by easily with three hours a night for months.”
Hmm. Yeah, I needed about nine hours of sleep, and if I got less I was super grumpy, and all of my symptoms flared and got worse. Needless to say, it was a nightmare if I couldn’t sleep, which was unfortunate because insomnia came regularly with the conditions I had.
Someone knocked on the door that led out to the villa hallway, and I jumped. I shook it off when Alaric got up to answer it, not sure why I was so jumpy.
“Everly? It’s for you.”
Me?
I got up to see who it was, and found the King of theVampires with his loyal gargoyle bodyguard standing in the hallway, both looking varying degrees of worried.
“I’m so sorry to disturb the both of you,” King Draven said, looking uneasy, “but could I trouble you, Everly, to look in on my wife? She hasn’t left the bedroom all day, and she’s locked the door against everyone.”
Chapter 12
Everly
“She texted me that she’s okay, just not feeling well, and she doesn’t want me to get it,” King Draven said as he ran a frustrated hand through his wild, dark curls. “She knows that it’s impossible for me to get sick. I’m concerned.”
I nodded, wide-eyed. Since I’d known him, he had given every impression that he was a powerful paranormal with good humor, high intelligence, and a very calm and controlled vibe. Right now he looked like his world was crumbling beneath him.
I hadn’t met Consort Mia yet, but it looked like I would get that opportunity tonight. “Of course,” I said softly. “I’ll go see her right now. Can your bodyguard direct me?”
King Draven nodded. “I’ll stay here. I’m not sure... I guess it’s possible she’s upset with me for somereason. If you need me, let Mesmer know. He can communicate with one of my bodyguards.”
“I can do that.” I turned back to Alaric. “Will you stay with King Draven?” I thought it would be best for him to do that, since King Draven looked like he was five seconds from losing it, but I left it up to him.
He nodded slowly, as though he was listening to a second private conversation the rest of us couldn’t hear. Probably Elandor telling him my thoughts.
“Yes, I think I will. Call me if you need me.”
I squeezed his hand, then followed Mesmer down to the opposite side of the villa. It was on the same floor, but on the east end, and it looked like a tropical paradise. There were murals all over of different beaches around the world. Mesmer stopped outside of a white door, waiting anxiously as I knocked.
“Consort Mia? It’s Everly, umm, Alaric’s friend?” I wasn’t sure she knew who Alaric was, since she hadn’t been there when we’d arrived. “Umm, Alaric is, or he will be, I guess, the next Prime? I’m... not really sure how all of that works. I guess that’s another conversation he and I need to have,” I muttered to myself.
No answer. I turned back to Mesmer. “Are you sure she’s in here?” I whispered.
He nodded, worry radiating from his gray eyes.
I blew out a breath. Okay, well, I could keep talking. Maybe it would draw her out?
“So, I’ll just talk out here until you feel safe coming to the door, okay?” I leaned back against the heavy-duty door, and found I was eye-level with a gorgeous mural on the opposite wall of a beach in Borneo.
“So, my name, as I said, is Everly. I’m, well I’m mostly human. I had a gran who passed away several years ago. I was changed into a raven on my fortieth birthday, which I can tell you, was a huge surprise. Not a complete surprise, because my Gran had sent me a certified letter the previous day letting me know that I could expectsomethingmagical to happen. Lucky me that it turned out to be a giant bird,” I said sardonically.
Mesmer was eying me and the door with equal parts interest and concern. I couldn’t hear anything from within. Maybe she was napping, or in the shower?
“Learning to exist as a bird has been challenging,” I continued. “I’m clumsy and can’t seem to walk on a flat surface with my bird feet and talons, because they get all tangled up with each other. I faceplant, nearly every time. It’s gotten so bad that Alaric hovers near me to catch me when I fall so I don’t break my nose against the floor.”
I sighed, closing my eyes. My body was hurting again, and I was feeling exhausted and weak. My body shook as I slid down the door, unable to continue standing. “He’s a patient guy, though, and continues to be proactively protective, even though I’ve told him it’s not necessary. Perhaps he’s too patient? Is that a thing?”
