The moment I’d finished, the dragon’s weary expression lifted. In his emerald-green eyes, a flicker of excitement gleamed.“This way.”
What could have turned the grumpy dragon into a giddy youth? I followed Alaric into yet another deep cavern. Once inside, my feet turned to stone, my jaw swinging beneath my nose.
Instead of a glistening pool of turquoise water, it was brimming with…
Treasure.
Lots, and lots of treasure.
The scent of cold metal washed through my senses like the rain floating on a breeze. Everywhere I looked, precious jewels abounded, sparkling with prisms of color. Alaric dove headlong into a mountain of coins, writhing beneath them until his massive frame vanished under the clattering tide.
“This is incredible!” I shouted, my voice echoing, the cavern, so large.
From the middle of the pile, the top of Alaric’s head surfaced.“You like it?”
“It’s beautiful,” I sang, turning in a circle. Realization dawned. “This is your hoard.”
“It’s been in my family for generations. You’re the firstoutsider to lay eyes on it for a long time. A dragon never shares the location of his riches with others.”
And he’d shown it to me. My earlier annoyance at his tantrum outside the forbidden room faded further still.
“I can’t believe you were able to keep this hidden for all this time.”
“Even if others discovered its location, the door would only open for those who possess the royal flame.”
“Is this what brought the invaders to your kingdom?” I couldn’t resist asking.
From beneath the mound of gold he’d burrowed under, I sensed the shift in the dragon’s mood.
“Choose something,”he growled, ignoring my question.
“What?”
“Choose one thing you desire to keep, and it’s yours. Consider it an apology for snapping at you earlier.”
And just like that, he was totally forgiven.
I clasped my hands beneath my chin, desire and apprehension doing battle. “I couldn’t.” After years of hawking my potions to save a couple of coins, my efforts were laughable in the face of all these riches.
“Choose,”he barked, making me jump.
“Fine,” I snapped in return. How like the dragon to turn a favor into a requirement.
Broken wagons rested against the wall, their beds overflowing with goods.
Stolen, I wagered.
One looked newer than the others. On the side was a familiar royal crest. I belted out a laugh. “Fates save me. It’s the high ruler’s conveyance. The wagon he’d loaded with all his worldly possessions as his family abandoned the village.”
Alaric chuffed a derisive sound.“That worthless thing. Thorne brought it here shortly after we arrived.”
So, it was Thorne who’d taught the greedy bastard a lesson. “Oh, that’s grand.” Laughter bubbled in my chest. “I wish I’d seen Lady Penelope’s reaction when a dragon swooped in and stole everything they owned.”
I hurried to the tailgate, flinging open a trunk brimming with jewels. I reached for a necklace—
“Stop.”Alaric’s growl cut through the cavern.“You may have anything but the riches in that wagon.”
“What?” I spun to face the dragon, letting the lid slam. “Why?”
