“I fed Princess Buttercup already. She’s telling me I need to eat breakfast.” Skye blushes, rose-petal pink, her hands fluttering in the air. “But I don’t! We can totally get straight to work.”
“No.” I frown down at her. “You’ll work better if you’ve eaten. We’ll pick up something in town.” When she tries to protest again, I hold up my hand. “It’s on the way.”
Brooking no further argument, I stride outside and pull the witch into my arms. With a pulse of flight magic, I leap into the air, my wings spread wide.
Skye gives a breathless little gasp and clings to me, and my tail wraps around her legs, helping to hold her close. I stoke my inner fire, forming a bubble of warm air around her, and enjoy the delightful wiggle the little witch gives as she snuggles closer.
Once I crest the treetops, the houses of the residential area soon slide by below us, giving way to Ferndale Falls proper. I ask, “Where do you wish to eat?”
Skye twists in my arms, her gaze fascinated as she takes in the colorful buildings of downtown. “For breakfast, we could get waffles at Slice of Life or pastries from Cake My Day. Pastries will be faster.”
“Cake My Day it is.” I angle toward the ground, wings canted to make a spiraling turn to come down on the middle of the town green.
Severin’s clearly been at work, using his plant magic, because the grass underneath the thin dusting of snow already appears spring green. The fae himself waves to us from a few yards away, circled by tulips.
When the flowers notice us, they run over, their pink flower heads bobbing, leaf arms waving for attention.
Skye giggles and leans over to pet them. “Look how pretty you are. You’d never know it’s winter.”
“As long as they spend most of their time in the greenhouse, they seem to be all right.” Severin points to the glass structure standing at the end of the town green. It encloses a dogwood tree and several of the rooted bushes, allliving in perpetual summer due to his plant magic.
A couple of human children walking along the sidewalk squeal and race onto the green. “Kitties! I want one!” My power instinctively reaches out, confirming they don’t have any magic, which is why the town’s protection spell makes them think the walking flowers are cats.
The tulips take off, little root feet flashing as they dart across the snow, the children laughing and chasing after them.
Then several small pumpkins roll out from under a bush and join in the fun, causing the children to scream about hedgehogs.
“That never gets old,” Hannah says, walking up to stand beside her husband.
Severin’s normally stern expression softens as he hooks her arm with his.
The children’s mother calls for them to return, and they reluctantly give up pursuit, walking back over with little hellos to “Miss Skye.”
“Don’t forget to come to story hour next week,” she calls after them, and the mother waves her agreement.
“What is this story hour?” I ask.
“One Saturday every month, I read a book to the children. It’s the start of my charity, to get them interested in reading. If I get enough funds, I’ll also be able to give them books to read for themselves.”
“She’s being modest,” Hannah says. “Skye gives every character a distinct voice and acts out all the fun parts of the books. The children adore her.”
I wonder if it’s something dragon younglings would like.Anything that gets them interested in reading and learning is desirable.
“I know I’m supposed to be on vacation, but I can’t miss story hour.” Skye clasps her hands together in front of her chest and gives her friend a beseeching look, all big blue eyes and vulnerability.
That look makes something tickle inside my chest, a feeling of protectiveness washing over me.
“I don’t want you to miss it. I know how much it means to you.” Hannah grimaces. “But I can’t let you work without the state penalizing you for it.”
“But I don’t do it as town librarian,” Skye counters. “I do it as my charity. It just happens to take place in the library.”
“Okay, you can be in the library, but only for this,” the mayor says, and the women hug.
I clear my throat.
“Right.” Skye pulls back. “Got to run. Lots of research to do.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Hannah says. “We didn’t find anything at the palace library that would help you break the spell.”
