10. Hernan

Chapter 10

Hernan

Our outing had been fine, fun even, but I could see that it was very stressful for Merry. He still wasn’t used to the ways of the human world, and really, he might not be here long enough for that to matter.

My dragon grumbled at that thought, but it was reality. He could be gone in a flash, just like how he came. Until then, I needed to get him set up with a place to stay, food at his disposal, and a feeling of safety. His life had been turned upside down, that was the least I could do for him.

We went back to my house, and I turned on the television for him as I went into the spare bedroom to make up a place for him to sleep. I wanted him to have fresh clothing, sheets, and blankets. The ones on there were clean, but it had been eons since I had any company. It was time for new. The room wasn’t nearly as cheerful as someone like him deserved, and it needed a good cleaning, but it would have to do—it was all I had.

When I came out, the sound of Merry’s laughter filled the air. Whatever he’d found on TV was amusing him, and I was glad. I brought the linens I’d taken off the bed and threw them in the washer before checking on him. As I rounded the corner of the living room, Merry was sitting on the couch, giggling away.

I was taken aback at just how well he fit in that space, like he belonged there, belonged here, belonged with me.

He looked up and smiled bright, waving me over. I sat beside him and saw he was watching Christmas shows. It was an old movie where trolls were trying to ruin Christmas and elves were saving the day. I only half-remembered it from my childhood, but if his laughter was any indication, it was hilarious.

“I got your room set up if you want to see it.” The credits were rolling, and it was as good a time as any, even if I didn’t want to leave his side on the couch where his scent danced around me.

“My room? I’m not sleeping with…” He looked down at Holly who was sitting on his lap.“Yeah, okay.”

I tried not to read too much into what he had started to say. It could’ve been one of a thousand things. Just because I wanted it to end with sleeping with me, that didn’t make it so.

“I set the room up, but if you think of anything you need, please let me know. It’s been a long time since I had a house guest.” And I’d never had one who came without at least an overnight bag.

I showed him where he’d sleep, where he could put the clothes we just picked up, and where the towels and new toothbrush were—all the information you would share with a guest. It felt very formal, and I wasn’t thrilled with that. Maybe after a good night’s sleep, I’d be able to figure all this out, settle it all in my head.

No. Fly, my dragon insisted.

He was probably right. That would be a better option, but it would mean leaving Merry here, and I didn’t want to do that.

Fly. Fly. Fly , my beast urged again, but I pushed him down. Merry’s needs came first.

“Let me show you where the food is.”

We went to the kitchen. I showed him where the bread and the fixings for sandwiches were, including peanut butter and jelly. I half-figured he’d be into that because of the sweetness. Then again, my knowledge of elves was based on Christmas movies, and just because an elf in a movie ate spaghetti with maple syrup and sprinkles, that didn’t mean elves in real life did.

“Do you have any cookies?”

“Yes...ish.” I opened the cupboard and pulled out a package of vanilla sandwich cookies. I’d picked them up spontaneously when they were the product of the week last time I went shopping, but hadn’t thought about them since. They were nowhere near close to a homemade or bakery cookie, but they existed.

“I’m sure they’re not as good as cookies where you’re from.”

“I don’t know about that.” He laughed. “There was a batch with salt instead of sugar not too far back. Nobody wants that.”

“Yeah, I imagine that’s right. Why don’t you make yourself at home? I need to go out for a little bit. You can chill with Holly.”

“Oh. You’re leaving?” There was a hint of sadness to his voice. Or I was reading things into his simple question that weren’t there.

“Yeah, my dragon needs to stretch his wings for a little bit.”

He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again. I hadn’t made it a secret that I was a dragon shifter, so it wasn’t that my beast surprised him. I wasn’t going to push, though. Instead, I made sure he had everything he needed and went out to fly.

When we reached the clearing, my dragon was ready. I barely had my clothes off when he ripped through my skin and took to the air. He wanted to burn things too, but it was too dry for that. So instead, we flew—weaving through the trees, hunting both a fox and a rabbit, and then doing some twirls in the air. He’d always been a bit of a show-off.

But when we were done with our shift, he still needed to burn. Instead of going into the house, I went straight to my studio. It was still a little early to take the mugs out of the kiln, but when my dragon needed to let his fire out, he needed to let his fire out.

I opened the door and stepped inside. The room was spotless. I wasn’t one to have a messy studio, but it always looked a little like it was used. Today, when Merry showed up, I hadn’t even had time to sweep. But now, if I dropped my steak on the floor, I would think twice about throwing it away. It was that clean.

The question was, how did it get that way?