“He’s gone ahead with my belongings. Are you just going to stand there?”
Mandoran gave Kaylin a nudge.
“I’m not just talking to her,” Bellusdeo told him. “For some reason, I’m not as delighted to be rid of you as I expected I would be.”
“I’m delighted,” Mandoran said.
Her smile was genuine, softened by the gold of her eyes. “Come downstairs. Don’t make me go up there.”
Mandoran smiled and shook his head. He descended beside Kaylin—if there was going to be sentiment, he wasn’t going to endure it alone.
Kaylin was grateful for his company. And surprised when Bellusdeo exited Helen before they’d reached her. Helen, however, was smiling, her eyes the warm brown that implied all was right with the world—or at least the parts for which she was responsible.
“Have a good time, dear.”
“What?”
“Go.”
“You realize,” Kaylin told her almost former roommate, “that you’re breaking the law, right?”
Bellusdeo, in full draconic form, stood on the front lawn.
“I’ll apologize later.”
Mandoran snorted. “I am not hugging you while you look like that. I have some Barrani pride.”
“Stop dawdling.”
“What are you doing?”
“Waiting for you to get on my back. If I recall, you always loved flight.”
“Yes, but in my daydreams, I was doing it on my own.”
The Dragon snorted. Kaylin climbed up on her back. “I hate goodbyes,” Bellusdeo said, her voice a deep rumble.
“Me too.”
“So I’m avoiding them.” She pushed off the ground.
“Where are we going?”
“To the Tower,” Bellusdeo roared back. Draconic voices weren’t lost to simple things like too much wind. “I asked Helen, and Helen thought it was a good idea.”
“What was a good idea?”
“You’re going to spend a few days with me. You can prevent me from attempting to kill Karriamis. You, too,” she told Mandoran, who appeared to be keeping pace with her. “I want guests. Karriamis isn’t silent, but he’s like Lannagaros when he’s interrupted—he accepts it with obvious tolerance.
“Helen said this was a housewarming,” she added. “I want to show you my house.”
“I don’t need to see any more of your house,” Mandoran told her. But he didn’t drop back.
“I need you to see more of my house,” Bellusdeo replied.
“So much for quieter,” Mandoran told Kaylin, his voice normal, the words completely audible. But his eyes were green.
Kaylin’s eyes were brown, mortal eyes being what they were, but she felt as if they might be another color—one that matched pure gold and pure green.
