“I won’t. I can handle a pushy man.” I softened my voice. I didn’t want him to think I was being snotty about it. “But, thank you for caring.”
“You’re family now. Anything we have is yours, just let us know.”
“Oh!” Riley exclaimed. “That reminds me! We have a fund for the refugees from Galdiart. But we’re going to have to expand it to be available to newly turned Sárkány as well, because there will be more like you, that want to start over in the Unseen world.”
“A fund?”
“Yeah, money works differently for the Unseen. It’s fairly easy to come by. They’re very secretive about how they get it, but from what I’ve been able to finagle, they charm it out of humans.”
“That’s terrible!” I cried. “That’s so invasive.”
“I know. But I made Anthony and Elias tell me how their family came by their money and they swear all the records indicate they only persuaded vile men to give their money up. Then they invested it with the help of a few prophets and there you have it. Fortune. They say that’s how Michael got his money, which is now my money. I choose not to push it any further, because I very much enjoy not having to worry about money.”
“So how did you get the money for the refugees?”
“Every Unseen person is required to pay 1% of their income to the treasury. The different factions mostly care for their own people, but that way the money is there if someone hits hard times for some reason or another. They say the shifters end up needing the most money because they have to live totally as human, except for those that find homes in towns like this one.”
“There are more of these towns?”
“All over the world. So yeah, the treasury of the Unseen is basically overflowing with millions of dollars. They were thrilled to be able to help, and offered up the money. We’ll have to petition them and request some for the newly turned.”
I was pretty desperate. “I could use some help. I don’t want to mooch, I’m willing to work. But I don’t feel comfortable basically moving in with Alexander and Roan.”
Riley leaned close. “They’re behaving appropriately, right? Because I’ll roast their bones on a spit if they’ve hurt you.”
I laughed and threw my arms around her. “Thanks, Riles. But they’ve been great, once they released me from the cell.”
We hugged a few more times, and I marveled in the comfort I took from her. Having a family member with me, who understood what I’d been going through, meant the world to me.
The boxes silently mocked me as Riley sent off a text message. I peered into my bedroom after them as they walked in. A portal similar to the one that was open in the living room opened in the bedroom. They walked through, and it closed.
With them gone, I didn’t have the gumption to do any more packing, so I returned to the castle to wait for Doryu to come for our meeting.
The library was nearly silent. I’d gone to sit on the couch and wait for the mysterious Sárkány man to come talk to me about what it meant to be a Sárkány.
After a half hour ticked by, I found my eyes drifting closed in the quiet, peaceful library. My life had taken an exhausting turn, and it caught up with me in the warmth streaming in through the windows.
I sat up sharply, trying to figure out what woke me up. Looking around the library, I spotted the source of my alarm. Anenormousman stood by the fireplace, staring out the window at the lush countryside.
“Hello,” I said.
He turned to face me. He had a short, neat beard, which I didn’t normally like, but on him it wasfreakinghot. His hair was cut close and dark brown. “Hello.”
“I’m Jen.”
“Doryu.”
I looked around the library awkwardly. “So, what’s up?”
“I don’t understand that phrase. What’s up?”
“Oh, I’m sorry; I guess English probably isn’t your first language is it?”
“I’ve been given the gift of the English language from a knowledge transfer from Axoular. Not all of our people can do them, but they’re very convenient.”
I motioned to the chair to my right. “Please, sit down. Have you been here long? I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“It was no trouble. I can’t seem to get enough of the views on Earth. The places I’ve gone—they’re spectacular. I’ve never seen so much water.” He seemed to catch himself, and straightened up. His voice lost its dreamy quality. “So, what would you like to know?”
