He chuffed.
Good enough for me.
After the most satisfying bath of my life and a quick snack of bread and cheese, I curled up in my bed. I didn’t even care that the suns were still high in the sky and that I should probably be checking in on my pub or writing in my dragon journal.
I let sleep swallow me whole.
Irealized three things simultaneously.
First, that I slept way longer than I intended—night had fallen, and the insects were chirping a happy melody outside my window.
Second, Brambleby wasn’t curled up in bed next to me.
And third, I was not alone.
I sat up in bed and scrubbed my fists over my eyes, trying to force my groggy brain to awaken fully. My muscles creaked in protest.
I sensed the presence of another, I was sure of it. Some baser instinct sharpened all my senses.
I rose from bed as naturally as I could with my heart thundering in my chest. My hands trembled as I pulled on my dressing gown and drifted to the nearest window.
It was open.
I hadn’t left it that way.
Night had fallen, but only just. The dual moons hadn’t reached their peak yet.
Morning was many hours off.
I cleared my throat. “I have a weapon, and I’m not afraid to use it,” I lied, hoping I was convincing.
I only had a measly kitchen knife. It would have to be enough.
The cottage was absolutely drenched in shadows—darker than I thought possible. I struggled to see the far wall. The darkness seemed to call to me, pull at my skin, burrow into my hair.
I was losing my mind.
I scrubbed at my eyes again. Must have been a side effect of the mushroom poisoning.
No folk revealed themselves at my threat.
“I mean it,” I insisted, whirling around and beginning a lap of the place.
I checked under the bed, in the wardrobe, and even under the chairs. I peeked in every crack and crevice.
I found nothing.
The uneasy feeling didn’t leave, though. It was as though eyes were peering directly beneath my skin.
“Hello?” I asked, beginning to feel silly.
Something brushed against my ankle.
I jumped, shouting a startled curse as I scrambled a few steps away.
A small black cat looked at me curiously. Almost angrily.
I braced myself on the counter as I caught my breath.
