Certainly, their theory seemed to bear out as Goldie, too, on noticing the shininess of the metal, scrambled her way over to one of them and sniffed at it intently, clearly investigating whether it was worthy of being part of her hoard.
Apparently, the answer wasyes, since she too curled up around it, as if protecting it with her tiny scaled body.
“I guess we could do a little test,” Trent said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out some loose change. Reaching down, he put two small gold coins down on the table – Zina recognized them as two dollars apiece.
The effect was instantaneous. Even though the coins obviously weren’trealgold, Dusty and Goldie didn’t seem to care at all. Abandoning their silvery treasure, they hurled themselves across the table at the coins, snapping a little at each other – but both of them ended up with one coin each in the end, Dusty carrying his in his mouth to the far side of the table, while Goldie clutched hers in her front paws, pushing it along in front of her until she’d reached what she deemed to be a safe distance, before throwing herself down on it.
“Huh. Well, I guess that answersthatquestion,” Zina said. “Funny how their instincts are already so strong, even though they just hatched.”
“Let’s hope they don’t start breathing fire anytime soon,” Trent said grimly. “And that they can still get along while they’re guarding their hoards. Of two entire dollars each.”
“Hey, that’s more savings than I had at their age,” Zina said, laughing. “I’d say they’re doing pretty well for themselves!”
“True enough,” Trent said with a grin. Then, he let out a long sigh. “Well, I guess it’s been a long day, and I can’t speak for you, but I, personally, am starving. I think I need a proper feed.”
“Do you think there’ll be anywhere in town to eat?” Zina asked.
“There’ll be somewhere to get some grub. But we probably shouldn’t risk being out and about too much. One of us should probably stay here, while the other goes and grabs something to eat and brings it back.” He glanced at her. “I can go – maybe I’ll try and find out if there’s been any strangers through town recently. Find out if we’re ahead of your Bloodhound friend or behind him.”
“Probably a good idea,” Zina said, nodding. She glanced across at where Goldie and Dusty were still jealously guarding their two-dollar hoards. “These guys seem happy enough for now.”
Trent smiled, his eyes filling with fondness as he looked at them – and Zina had to admit, she knew exactly how he felt.
“Let’s hope I can find something for them to eat that they’ll like, to help them grow up big and strong.” He looked at her. “You’ll be all right?”
“Of course.” Zina nodded, swallowing. “Will you?”
“Of course.”
He reached out to her, enfolding her in a hug and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Zina closed her eyes, breathing in his scent, and letting herself be comforted by him. It’d been such a long time since she’d been held byanyone, let alone anyone she felt truly safe with. Someone who she felt knew her, through and through, with no secrets between them anymore.
“Back soon,” Trent said, when he reluctantly released her, before he turned and headed out the door, sending one last look back over his shoulder as he went.
Well, let’s hope the lady at the front desk doesn’t eat him alive,Zina thought, as she sat down at the table. She’d already been pretty much devouring him with her eyes, after all.
Looking down at Goldie and Dusty where they were curled around their coins, Zina felt a surge of fondness for them both swell in her chest.
She knew it’d be for the best – that they’d be safe with Tahnee at her sanctuary, and she and Trent couldn’t be on the run with them forever. Not to mention, it was probably going to take two of them to find the last egg, wherever it was, before Hargreaves did. But still…
But still, it’s gonna be really, really hard to give you little guys up.
Chapter 12
Trent didn’t think he was out of the hotel room all that long – he’d even managed to avoid being waylaid by the lady at the front desk, whose name, he’d learned, was Lianne, for more than ten minutes – and yet, by the time he got back with his shopping bags and some boxes of Chinese takeaway from the only place in town that seemed to be open, it was clear a lot had happened.
“Oh my God, Trent.”
Zina was sitting bolt upright in the middle of the floor in the living area of the suite, her eyes wide.
“Zina, what’s wrong?” He was by her side in a second, shopping forgotten as he dumped it on the floor. “What’s happened?”
“No, no – nothing bad. I don’t think.” Zina shook her head, pulling in a breath. “I think the last of the eggs is hatching.”
“Seriously?”
Trent felt his chest tightening. As adorable as Goldie and Dusty were, they were already a handful! Not to mention, the last egg was quite different from the two dark blue ones they’d hatched out of. Did that mean itwasn’ta dragon egg, and some other creature was going to bust out? And if so, what?!
He looked down at the egg Zina was gingerly cradling in her hands, a long dark crack running through its shell. It was deep green in color – a green so dark it was almost black, the crack barely visible.
