Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

I turned to my dragon lord and cocked my head to one side. “So I’m guessing that passing between rules is really not allowed.”

Will sighed. “No. That magic is one of the many spells forbidden from use, even for we dragons.”

I set a hand on his shoulder and smiled up at him. “I’m glad you did even if it means prison food for the both of us for a couple of hundred years.”

He leaned down and pecked a kiss on my lips. “So am I.”

I drew back and tried not to giggle like an idiot schoolgirl. “So I’m guessing you didn’t shoo everyone out of here just to talk to kiss me.”

Will wrapped his arms around my waist and looked me over. “That is a tempting thought, but unfortunately, no.” He jerked his head toward the door. “What do you think of Enna being your bodyguard?”

I snorted. “It’s a little late to be asking my opinion on that, isn’t it?”

Will pursed his lips. “Truth be told, I had no inkling that Vargas had grown so fond of you that she would offer her powers to protect you.”

I blinked at him. “Is that why she offered?”

“Is there any other reason?”

I shrugged. “I just kind of figured maybe she wanted to get Enna out of the house.”

Will thought about that for a moment before he chuckled. “That would be a benefit to her but I truly believe she desires to protect you.”

“So you’re trying to tell me I can pick between them?” I guessed.

“Just so.”

I wrinkled my nose as I thought about the choices. “A rough bounty hunter or a touchy dragon lady.”

His eyes twinkled as he stared down at me. “I have given you some very interesting people to be around.”

A sigh escaped me and I set my hand on his chest where I toyed with a loose string on his shirt. “I wish you could tell me who keeps ‘gifting’ us with those ugly worms.”

Will’s good humor faded a little and he rubbed my lower back with one hand. “Your protection is my greatest concern right now. Once I have secured that I can focus all my attention on finding the culprit that bottled the darkness.”

I tapped my finger against his nose. “ We can focus all our attention on finding them.”

He wrapped his hand around mine and pressed a light kiss to the tips of my fingers. “I wish you would remain indoors, at least for that reason.” He pointedly dropped his gaze to my stomach. I furrowed my brow as I set my free hand on my midsection. Will tensed. “Is something wrong?”

I shrugged. “I. . .I guess I expected to feel a little different after learning about, well, you know.”

“But?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “But I don’t. I feel even more normal than before Allard told me what was going on. It’s like-” I paused and bit my lower lip.

Will’s worried eyes searched my face and some of the color had gone from his cheeks. “Like what?”

I sighed and my shoulders slumped. “It’s like it’s not even there anymore.” A quiver slipped into my last words and unbidden tears sprang into my eyes. I looked up at Will who’s own face reflected my fear. “Do you think Allard is wrong? Or that. . .or that something happened-” My breath caught in my throat as a thought struck me and my legs buckled.

“Rose!” Will shouted as he caught me. He practically carried me over to my chair and set me down where he knelt in front of me. “What’s wrong?”

I clasped one of his hands in both of my shaking ones and a tear ran down my cheek. “What if. . .what if my magic that protected me in the bed. . .what if I killed our child?”

Terror passed through his eyes before he stiffened his jaw and shook his head. “No.”

“But how can you be so sure?” I challenged him.

He set his hand over mine and looked me in the eyes. Their soothing depths calmed my frantic mind, at least a little. “Because I know you and your magic is an extension of yourself. You could never harm anyone who didn’t deserve it, much less our child.”

I sniffled. “Then is there something else wrong? Or am I just overreacting?”

Will grinned. “I would say overreacting is the typical response for someone in your condition.”

My mouth dropped open. “What do you mean by that?”

Will burst into laughter and the sound alone wiped away most of my tears. His thumb did the rest as he brushed his digit against my cheeks. “I mean to say that you should experience some rather turbulent emotions.” He grasped my hands again and smiled up at me. “I look forward to our bouts.”

I turned my face away and wrinkled my nose. “Yeah, well, I don’t.”

He chuckled as he stood, lifting me to my feet as he did so. “Shall we commence one right now?”

I swatted his arm. “No. I’m supposed to be deciding my babysitter, remember?”

“You could have both,” he suggested with that suspicious twinkle in his eye.

I snorted. “I would definitely get a show with that but I think I’ll stick with Enna. She has more experience guarding me and it gets me off kitchen duty.”

“Speaking of the kitchen, you haven’t had breakfast,” he reminded me as he guided me toward the door. “We should remedy that right now.”

I was only too glad to follow him and we discovered Enna in the dining room. A few used plates sat at empty spots at the end occupied by our guests. Enna herself was seated in Will’s chair and was using his plate to make a pile of food. She looked up at our coming and lifted a bottle by the neck. A wine bottle.

“Care for some?” she asked us as she poured herself a liberal glass.

Will looked both amused and irritated as he led me over to our new guest. “Do you plan on taking up your new position tomorrow?”

Enna grinned up at him, showing off a couple of bits of food stuck between her teeth. “Nope, today. I just thought I’d get some food and drink in me before my duties half-starved me. Besides-” She took up the glass and downed the entire contents, “-I work better this way.”

“I hope so. . .” I murmured.

She shot me a sharp look. “I heard that. Don’t you worry your pretty little head. I’ll keep mine and we’ll get through this without anybody getting hurt.” She poured herself another glass and raised it to us with a wicked smile on her lips. “Anybody who doesn’t deserve it.”

Will didn’t look too pleased but he seated me at my usual place and took up the spot on my left. Raines was quick to bring in a fresh plate and take away the used ones, and we dug into the meal. Enna topped both of us in appetite and I was full long before she’d finished her glutinous feast.

Finally, she pushed back her empty plate, cleaned to a shine by the spongy surface of a bit of bread, and patted her stomach. “Your manservant should open a restaurant.”

“I believe Lady Vargas made much of the meal,” Will commented as he stood.

Enna wrinkled her nose. “That witch? She should stick to cooking and skip the lectures. It’s not like I’ve ever done anything to her dragon hoard.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Have you done something to someone’s dragon hoard?”

Enna laughed as she hopped to her feet. Her dark, playful eyes fell on Will. “Have I done anything, Lord Thorn?”

A faint smile appeared on his lips. “You have tried.”

My eyes flickered between the two. “So something happened?”

Enna folded her arms over her chest and nodded at Will. “I tried to get into this guy’s hoard a couple of years back. It didn’t work out very well.”

“You were rather reckless in your attempt,” he reminded her.

She shrugged. “I was young. How was I to know you had not one magic trap set up, but a dozen?”

“That is standard procedure for a dragon,” he countered.

Enna scowled at him. “How was I supposed to know that? I was just starting out raiding people’s homes.”

I blinked at her. “Do you still do that?”

Will stared at her daring her to answer. She sheepishly smiled at him. “Well, let’s just say I don’t do it for myself anymore, but if a client asks real nice-”

“And has the right coin purse?” I guessed.

She shrugged. “A girl still has to earn her living.”

“Then earn your living honestly this day by guarding my bride,” Will insisted as he turned to me. He clasped my shoulders in his hands and gazed into my eyes. “There are a few things I need to handle for the people under my care.”

“Like exterminating some rodents?” I guessed.

He nodded. “You can come with me, but it won’t be pleasant and may not be very quickly finished.”

I winced as my imagination ran away with itself. Visions of rodents exploding out of the ground atop columns of fire were the most prominent images. “Is that field far away?”

“Across the valley. I’ll have to fly to reach there and be back before nightfall.”

I bit my lower lip. “You’ll be careful out there? That cursed thing might not care who it goes after.”

He smiled and wrapped me in a tight hug. “I will watch my every step if you watch yours.”

I laughed. “I don’t have to worry about that. Enna will do some watching for me.” My bodyguard crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes.

Will reluctantly drew us apart and looked me over one last time. “Be safe.”

I nodded. “You, too.”