"Now you're trying to make me admit it even though it's highly improbable." I let out a small huff, but in all honesty, I like it. There's something so normal about spending time with Nate.
"I am," he teases. "But it's just an expression. Surely you've heard it before?"
"I just assumed that when people said it, they meant that something really had someone's name on," I admit. "How am I supposed to know when people mean these things literally or not?"
"By learning things like this," he promises. "You get better at understanding the world every day."
"Sometimes I don't think so." I look away, which seems to convince Ember that it's time to leave my neck. She uncurls herself and hops onto the top of the oven to take the piece of liver from Nate.
A stream of flames bursts out of my dragon. I let out a warning shout even as Nate pulls his hand back.
"Ah." He shakes his hand back and forth, making my eyes widen.
"Did she burn you?"
"It's fine," he responds. "I've had worse from the oven."
"Get it under some water," I say, already thinking of what I need to help combat the burn.
"It's fine, Evie."
"Which of us has dealt with dragon burns before?" I ask sternly.
He raises an eyebrow. "You?"
"Yes. Now please, listen to me."
His whole face softens. "All right." He heads over to the sink and turns on the tap, while I head to a small plant in the corner.
I take a knife and slice through one of the leaves, before returning to Nate. "Let me see?"
As soon as he pulls his hand out from under the water, I can see the red patch on his skin where the burn is forming. It's not the worst I've seen, but I'm still annoyed at my dragon for hurting him. Nate picks up a towel and carefully dabs it against the burn, making it clear that he doesn't believe it's too bad either.
"Can I?" I ask, holding up the leaf.
"What is that?" he asks even as he nods.
"Aloe vera," I respond as I squeeze the leaf so some of the clear gel-like liquid inside comes out. "After the first few burns from Ember, I asked Artie if there was anything that he knew of that was recommended for dealing with dragon burns, and he got the plant for me." I gesture towards where it's sitting in the corner.
"Where's it from?"
"I'm not sure originally," I admit. "But the royal gardener in charge of the greenhouse has assured me it's easy enough to grow."
"It feels good," he says, looking at his hand.
"You should use it when you burn yourself on the oven too."
"I couldn't do that."
"It's my plant," I point out. "And I'm telling you that you can."
Nate's eyes soften as he looks at me. "It does feel better."
"It does. I have a plant in my room too, but after a few burns from Ember down here, I realised that I needed two." I smooth the gel-like sap from the plant onto his burn.
He clears his throat. "It's probably good now, Evie."
"Oh, right." I pull my hand back and get rid of the leaf in my hand. "I'm sorry she burned you."
