“You don’t have to tell me,” I said when he remained silent. “I just want you to know you’re not alone. This island is full of people who love you.”
Poppy’s breathing grew uneven. His words came out thick, like his throat was constricted by emotion. “I know, Rorik. Thank you.”
He leaned against my shoulder. I felt his body tremble as he fought off tears. After a few deep calming breaths, he stopped shaking.
“Next season. Will he be there?” Poppy asked in a small, weak voice.
Was he afraid of Viol? Or was it the opposite? If it was the latter, I’d protect Poppy.
“Is Viol the dragon who helped you?” I asked.
Poppy pursed his lips. “Answer my question first.”
I chuckled at his straightforwardness. “If that’s what you want, then Jade and the others will do everything they can to make it happen.”
He stared at the floor for what felt like an eon.
“Yes,” he murmured, so quiet it was barely a whisper. “I’ll be there if he is.”
A million questions swam in my mind, but I didn’t push Poppy. He seemed resistant to talking about it. Just knowing I’d see him again was enough.
“By the way… where do you live now?” I asked.
He fiddled with his fingers. “Oh, um. I live in the human city. It’s different, but I’m used to it.”
I grimaced at the idea of living among humans, but then I remembered our shared history. The alpha shifters we’d lived under were anything but gracious.
Poppy read my mind. “I know what you’re thinking, but a lot of humans are very kind. My neighbor, Mrs. Sara, bakes me blueberry muffins every week. And the clerks at the food bank are always happy to see me.”
“Food bank?”
“It’s a place where people without a lot of money can get food.” He frowned. “I won too much prize money during Cobalt’s season, and I don’t need it. So every week, I donate it to organizers who buy others food.” He shook his head. “Human societies are strange. Some humans hoard, but not the way dragons do. It’s never their passion. It’s always money.”
I’d never used money and didn’t understand it, but Poppy sounded generous with it, like he was with all things.
Poppy faced me. “Anyway, I’m safe, if that’s what you’re asking. So don’t worry, okay?”
“I’ll try,” I promised.
His gaze fell to my belly with a soft smile. “I’m excited to meet your little one.”
My heart fluttered in excitement. I ran my palms over my roundness, imagining the budding life inside. What would they look like? How would they behave? Would they have Saffron’s golden eyes, or my dark ones?
“Me, too,” I said.
24
Saffron
A family beachday was the perfect way to unwind after the chaos that was the sixth Dragonfate Games. The weather was perfect. An endless blue sky stretched over the island, and the sun blasted overhead. I inhaled a huge breath, then sighed it out in contentment as I leaned back in my beach chair. The air smelled of salty water and grilled meat.
Cobalt manned the BBQ with Muzo next to him, eager to turn the skewers, while Lazuli crawled near their sandaled feet, searching for crabs. Matteo and Thystle huddled beneath a sturdy beach umbrella while sharing a pair of earbuds, and Heather slapped their dragonet paws on a colorful toy xylophone. Crimson and Taylor engaged in a heated discussion about whether rayon or pleather was the worst fabric while Ruby babbled along with his own opinions on the matter. Jade slathered Alaric’s bare arms and legs with sunscreen, then put some baby sunscreen on Mint’s round cheeks.
Beside us, Aurum and Mylo leaned towards each other. Their heads touched as they watched Mylo play a handheld video game. He smashed the buttons frantically and bit his lip in concentration. I didn’t know what was going on, but it seemed serious.
Meanwhile, Rorik and I entertained the ferret twins on the sand. Rorik and the girls had become fast friends after discovering their shared love ofIce Princess. They’d watched it at least three more times. Maybe four. I’d started to lose count.
“Sand is like snow, but worse,” Rorik grumbled as he gathered a heap of it. He and the twins were building a huge sand pile, which would eventually evolve into a castle. Desiree and Kiara added to the growing sand pile with their rapid-digging paws.
