I could hear the timbre of Redd’s voice from somewhere inside, but I couldn’t make out his words. Whatever he said must have worked, though, because Fiella let out a deep, heaving sigh and finally stepped out of the way.
We flowed inside like a river breaking through a dam. First me, and then Tandor and his swarm of sprites. The door slammed shut behind us.
Fiella and Redd stood in the kitchen, both of them looking pale and nervous in the dim lantern light. The curtains were drawn, and I could feel protective magic humming in the air. Miraculously, it seemed they had set the enchantments up correctly.
Fiella gulped audibly. She twisted her fingers into her blouse. “You brought Ember.”
“We did,” Tandor grunted out. “He put up quite a fight. Have fun.”
Fiella tilted her head. “Have fun? Wait! We’re not ready?—”
But it was too late, because Tandor had already knelt to the ground and released the wriggling bundle onto the floor. The sprites went too, leaping from Tandor’s arms and shoulders and spreading throughout the room. There were more than I had seen in a while—hundreds, I guessed.
Many of the tiny folk surrounded the dragon, while a few others settled around the cottage, taking up protective stances.
Hex, too, followed Ember across the floor, heading to the back of the cottage.
I felt a twinge of disappointment that Hex had chosen to follow Ember instead of sticking with me. It seemed they were finally following my orders.
I couldn’t decide if I was offended or proud.
I looked at Tandor quickly, raising my eyebrows in a silent question.
He pursed his lips. Shrugged.
“Good luck!” I shouted.
And then we bolted out the door, leaving Fiella and Redd to deal with the situation.
Giggling, ignoring the panicked shouts of the vampires behind us, we ran back to my shop.
They would be fine. With the sprites and Hex there to help, they didn’t need us.
We had a moment of respite.
“How much time do you think we have before they come back?” Tandor asked huskily as he yanked the cloak from his shoulders and tossed it aside.
The shop was blessedly empty. Not a single sprite, familiar, or cat remained.
I loved the shop when it was crowded, but sometimes we just needed our alone time.
I yanked at the laces on my boots and tugged them off one by one. “Enough time. At least an hour.”
Tandor swept an arm behind my knees, knocking me off my feet and hoisting me up to his chest in a cradle hold. I squealed in surprise.
“An hour? I think we need the whole night.”
I laughed, waving a hand in the air to check the protective enchantments. They felt secure. “I could lock the place up, just for one night.”
He grinned wickedly. “Do that. I’ve missed you, Iittle witch. You’ve been too busy for me lately.”
“I’m never too busy for you,” I murmured. The air huffed out of my lungs when Tandor tossed me onto the bed, knocking fluffy pillows onto the floor.
He crawled over me, his knees on either side of my hips and his hands planted above my head.
He looked so big from this angle—completely surrounding me.
I slipped my hands around the back of his neck, trying to pull his mouth down to mine.
