My little spring flower, blooming so very brightly. My candy witch, sweet and heady.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Skye
I wake the next morning to the familiar feel of Princess Buttercup kneading my tummy, her purr reverberating to fill my bedroom. Playing our game, I keep my eyes closed and pretend I’m still asleep, but as usual, I don’t fool her for long.
“You’re awake!” Her little paws speed up. “I know you are!”
I crack one eye. Even though heavy velvet curtains cover the arched windows, a magical fire burns cheerily in the fireplace, keeping the room toasty warm and throwing off enough light to see by.
Luke set it up for me the day I moved in, and it’s burned ever since. In fact, now that I think about it, the entire castle has been a lot warmer than it felt that first day I visited. A flush of pleasure warms my chest. He might be grumpy and growly, but he goes out of his way to do so many sweetthings for me and never even mentions them, let alone brags about doing them. I dated a couple of guys like that in college—ones who made a big deal even out of little things like picking me up for a date—as if I should fall at their feet if they offered me the tiniest bit of effort.
No, thank you! I’ll take the big grump who renovates his castle for me any day!
A paw pats the end of my nose, the long hairs that stick out between her toe pads tickling. “You stopped paying attention to me.”
“Sorry.” I scratch her cheeks and chin and make a production of fussing over her until she’s purring loudly again, her eyes slitted with pleasure. “Is that better?”
“It’ll do.” She pulls away and leaps from the bed to saunter toward the door, her bushy tail held high. “As long as I get breakfast now.”
“As you wish.” I throw back the covers and sit up, feet sinking into the soft rug Luke placed beside my bed.
I freshen up in the palatial bathroom, Princess Buttercup complaining that I’m not moving fast enough as I take a few minutes to apply a coat of mascara and lip gloss for a no-makeup look.
“You don’t need any of that,” she says. “You’re already beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I wrap a huge fluffy robe around myself and tie the belt. I wish I shared her confidence, but I don’t. Even though I fully embrace that people can be big and beautiful, it’s easier for me to preach than to practice.
“Don’t say it like that—like you don’t believe me.” She headbutts my calf. “Luke thinks you’re beautiful, too.”
“No, he doesn’t!”
“Ha! Shows what you know.” She trots over to the door, pawing at it imperiously.
Once I open it, she prances down the hallway, her bushy tail curving in a little question mark. She gallops down the stairs faster than I’m willing to go, the back staircase depositing us into the kitchen.
I feed her first—as if she’d let me get away with anything else—before setting up the coffeemaker and rummaging in the refrigerator, wondering if Luke would like French toast.
I scramble eggs, adding milk and cinnamon, and start dunking slices of bread. Soon the kitchen fills with the custardy smell of frying French toast. I hum as I pull out plates and maple syrup.
Luke steps off the bottom of the stairs, his hair looking sexy and sleep mussed. He grunts his good-morning grunt, his chin lifting in a nod hello when our eyes meet.
“Poor thing. Did a little dancing wear him out?” Princess Buttercup asks, licking a paw and brushing it over her cheek in a kitty face wash.
I giggle-snort, knuckles pressed to my quivering lips.
“For your information, yesterday evening’s dancing did nothing of the sort.” He huffs an irritated breath.
“I was worried.” She looks up at him, all big innocent eyes. “You’re so old.”
“I’m a dragon in my prime, able to fly hundreds of miles a day.” His wings lift and his tail swishes.
My cat gives a happy growl and pounces, rolling onto her side with the end of his tail tucked against her tummy, her back feet kicking at it.
“Wait.” Shock spins me around, spatula pointing at him. “You understand her?”
“I stayed up most of the night researching the right spell, but I finally found it.” He pulls a crystal from his pants pocket. “I now have a translation spell that works with her.”
