“I found something else interesting in that book,” Beatrice said. “I thought you might want to know about it.”
Alexander raised an eyebrow and waited.
“It seems that sorcerers can siphon power from dragon eggs,” she said. “The dragon retains more of the egg’s power as it grows, so there’s less for the sorcerer to use. And when the dragon is full-grown and ready to hatch, there’s no magic left for the sorcerer. So Rose’s theory that the sorcerer left her here is very plausible,” she continued. “If he couldn’t draw any more magic from her egg, he might have just discarded it.”
“Why would he throw it away?” Alexander asked.
“The only thing that makes sense to me,” Beatrice said, “is if he didn’t know the dragon inside survives the process. If he assumed it killed the dragon, then I can see why he would discard the egg and move on. He probably found another egg somewhere.”
Alexander frowned as they entered the dining room. “Where would he get more eggs?”
“My research indicated that many dragons are born in the north mountains, where the terrain helps hide them and protecttheir magic from unscrupulous humans,” Beatrice explained. “The question is how he could get there.”
Alexander thought about it for a moment. “If he’s living somewhere where magic isn’t illegal, such as Delthu, he would have to pass right by us to get to the north mountains.”
Beatrice nodded as Alexander pulled out her chair and helped her sit down. “So he would be able to keep an eye on you at the same time.”
Alexander shivered. “I hate the thought that he’s been watching us for so long.”
“I do too,” Beatrice said softly. “I wish I could know exactly what he’s been up to.”
“I think it’s probably better that we don’t,” Alexander said as he moved to the far side of the table and took his seat.
Beatrice frowned at the distance between them. It had been one thing to sit so far apart when they were merely married for convenience. She didn’t want to sit so far from him anymore.
She stood and walked around to the empty seat to his right.
Alexander raised an eyebrow at her as she sat down.
“That’s better, isn’t it?” she asked, smiling up at him.
“What are you doing?” Alexander asked.
“Sitting next to my husband,” Beatrice said triumphantly. “I would think that would be obvious.”
Alexander shook his head at her. “You amaze me,” he said.
“In what ways?” she asked, surprised at the sudden compliment.
“You broke my curse,” he said, “and I haven’t thanked you yet. I didn’t realize how heavy it was weighing on me that I couldn’t talk about the sorcerer and the curse until that weight was lifted. Without you, I never would have known I could be free of it. So, thank you, Beatrice.”
It took everything in her not to well up with tears at his words. “You’re welcome,” she said simply. “I couldn’t have my husband unable to talk to me,” she teased.
“You’re making light of the situation,” Alexander said, tilting his head, “and I’m trying to tell you how much it really meant. Thank you for pushing through when I had no hope.”
“I said we were a team, and I meant it,” Beatrice said, reaching for his hand and taking it.
“You did,” he admitted. “But I didn’t realize you took it so seriously.”
Beatrice gasped. “Have you ever known me not to take something seriously?”
Alexander chuckled. “I suppose that’s true. You do take everything seriously. It’s one of the reasons I—”
He stopped himself, and Beatrice’s eyes widened. Had he been about to say he loved her? There was a vulnerability in his eyes she hadn’t seen before. She leaned closer, and so did he, the distance between them closing inch by inch.
Beatrice’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. Was he going to kiss her? She would let him if he did. The closer she got to him, the more she wanted it. And there was nothing in the world that could—
The door burst open, and Dietrich strode in.
