Treasure
Valerius and Marban had discussed the “unfortunate” Alice, Rachel and Sam with Tilly from every angle possible. They’d mostly focused on what Tilly’s plans should be going forward regarding friends. Alice, Rachel and Sam would not be roasted at this time. But they wouldn’t be rewarded either.
Marban was quick to point out to Tilly that she would have far more people wanting to be her friend going forward than those who rejected her, likely in a bid not to be rejected by her.
It was also determined that she should have those who had remained loyal to her over for lunch the next day. Valerius had granted they could even use the royal dining room.
“Will the servants be serving us food?” Tilly’s nose had scrunched up at the thought.
“Are you going to run back and forth yourself to get food while your guests are sitting there?” Valerius had asked. “It’s quite the walk.”
“Oh, I guess I see your point. But I don’t want to make the staff do more work for us. Maybe sandwiches or something that they can set out and not worry about?” Tilly suggested, still looking uncomfortable at the idea of being served.
“You should talk to Moreno, the head chef, and work out what you would like,” Valerius had suggested.
Tilly’s eyes had gone huge. “The head chef? He’d speak to--to me? About what I want for lunch?”
“You’re living in High Reach, my dear,” Marban had explained gently, understanding where she was coming from before Valerius did. “You are the sister of the ninth Dragon Shifter. Speaking to head chefs and being served will become normal.”
“I don’t know if I want it to be normal,” Tilly admitted as she stared into the fire speculatively. “Are we ever going to go back to our house and live? Like when this is over? Not that this place isn’t totally cool and amazing, because it is! But everything happened so fast, I didn’t even get a chance to… to… I don’t know what I’m trying to say.”
Valerius thought about how to answer this. He met Marban’s dark eyes. In the Swarm Shifter’s face he read there that this was delicate ground. Valerius was not delicate. Dragon in a china shop more like. But he didn’t think that lying to Tilly or even giving her false hope was wise. He wondered if he should give her a glass of wine for this, but then he reminded himself that 13 year-olds weren’t offered wine in the United States. Just because it had become his territory, he hadn’t changed any of those laws.
So nothing to soften the blow, Valerius thought.
She misses her lair. It is probably a pink and white lair, but it was hers, Raziel stated. Its eyes were closed to mere slits and smoke drifted out lazily between its sharp, pointed teeth.
Yes, she likely did not have a chance to say goodbye to it. And when she’s here, she has Illarion chasing her around the dining room. Not an auspicious beginning, Valerius muttered.
She outwitted stupid, slow Green Dragon, Raziel stated with evident glee.
Valerius almost smiled at the image, but he realized a smile now would be incredibly confusing to Tilly. So he quickly adopted a sober and serious expression with as much tenderness as he could bring up.
“No, most likely not,” Valerius answered her.
She blinked rapidly--probably to stop tears from coming again--and bobbed her head. “I thought not. I just… I thought my old life was so dumb and boring. Here, Caden is a Dragon Shifter, and I get to meet you guys and all the other Dragons. Everything is so… so… amazing. So why do I just miss my own bed?”
“Change is the most difficult thing we face, Tilly,” Marban told her. “So it is quite understandable you feel this way.”
She quickly swiped her face with the back of her hands. “I’m sorry. You both are really important. This isn’t. I should go.”
“Wait, Tilly,” Valerius found himself saying.
She looked up at him expectantly. He shifted from foot to foot. He was terrible at talking to little girls. Even ones as smart and direct as Tilly Bryce.
“Raziel thinks…” He cleared his throat as her eyes widened. Marban’s did too. “Raziel thinks you need to have your own lair again.”
“My… lair?” Both of Tilly’s eyebrows shot up.
“A place that is yours alone. That you feel safe in. And… have your treasures,” Valerius answered.
“The Black Dragon said that?” Tilly sounded awed.
“Yes, Raziel did. And I think Raziel is right. Once you have a lair again, it doesn’t matter what changes come your way, because you have your safe spot,” Valerius told her. “Now, your things from your old lair have been brought to the castle, but because your new lair here is so different, it might be hard to see it as your own.”
Tilly shrugged. “I guess so. But it is a beautiful room though. I’ll get used to it, I’m sure.”
“Undoubtedly you will. But hold on a moment. Let me get something,” Valerius said.
