My chest warmed. He was so regal. So impressive. I couldn’t blame anyone for wanting to stare at him.
I glanced at the sky. The two suns, blurred by a thin layer of clouds, were near to slipping beneath the horizon. It would be dark soon, and the darkness made me nervous. Itchy.
I suddenly felt eyes boring beneath my skin.
I subtly glanced around the park. Besides the folk watching the dragons and the folk setting up for tomorrow’s festivities, nothing seemed amiss.
Was I missing something obvious? Was I going to feel this way forever?
Was this just a side effect of motherhood, of having a precious dragon to protect?
That had to be it. For days, the feeling persisted, but no dangers or evils ever presented themselves.
I was losing my mind.
“What are you looking for?” Kizzi asked, voice low, following my gaze as it darted around. “Worried about the little beasts? They’re fine, you know. Probably more protected than the rest of us, even though they’re babies.”
I swallowed past the dry feeling in my throat. I nodded quickly. “Yes. That’s it.”
She turned to examine my face. “Is it?”
I glanced in her direction, meeting her knowing gaze. I sighed. “No. I just have this… weird feeling.”
“Now I’m intrigued. Weird how?”
I closed my journal and picked at my fingernails. “It’s hard to describe. Just this—this wrongness. Like my body is always on defensive mode. Like there’s always something lurking out of the corner of my eye, but it is gone before I canactuallyseeit. Do you think it’s a ghost or something? Am I being haunted? Maybe it’s just a sprite.”
She nodded slowly. “I’ve had a similar feeling. I call itthe knowing. I always thought it was a witch thing, but maybe it’s just a woman thing. Now that you mention it, I’ve been feeling a little weird lately, too, but I assumed it was just a lingering side effect of the magic returning to the realm. Things have felt strange since then. Do you think you’re in any danger?”
I considered this. The feeling was eerie. Ominous. It stung like a thorn in my skin that I couldn’t quite reach. But it wasn’t necessarilydangerous. It didn’t feel evil. “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
She kept nodding. “Hmm.”
“Do you think it’s just the dragons? My protective instincts kicking into overdrive?”
“It might be. Or maybe it’s something to do with garlic.” She glanced across the park and met Fiella’s keen stare. Fiella, who had clearly been eavesdropping with her vampire hearing. She flinched, visibly shivering at the thought of garlic before composing herself.
I sighed. “Fiella, you might as well just come on over,” I said, trying my best and failing to sound annoyed.
I secretly loved that she cared enough to listen in.
The vampire donned a sheepish smile and drifted in our direction. She settled next to me on the bench, nudging me with her hip until I scooted over to give her enough space.
It was a tight squeeze—all three of us bumping shoulders—but the warmth was a comfort in the crisp evening.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” she said quietly. “I can’t turn my earsoff.”
“It’s not a secret, really.” I shrugged, jostling my friends. “I’m just embarrassed. I’m being paranoid.”
“Do you want me to make you a relaxation tonic?” Kizzi asked helpfully. “I have some mirthroot, too. Smoke a little bit of that and your worries will evaporate.”
I snorted. “I think mirthroot would make things much, much worse. I’m already on edge enough, I don’t need to be loopy on top of that.”
“Suit yourself. More for me.”
“And me?” Fiella asked.
“Fuck no. Drugs make you bite.”
