“I was wrong. There are cars coming up now.” He kisses my hand and smiles at the ruby ring on my hand.
Kieren and Evander are already outside.
“Good, Raine. I didn’t want the castle to be toilet-papered,” Evander says.
“Swiss children, littering?” Kieren laughs. “I almost want to see if it’s possible.”
Two little children climb out of a car. Their parents are more standoffish than the children who race for the cauldron in my arms. The kids are dressed as a caped superhero and a Swiss guard.
“You are very fierce,” Evander says, crouching next to them.
“Are you a dragon?” the guard asks with wide eyes.
“I am.”
“And you have fire breath?”
“I do.”
“That’s cool. I want to have fire breath.”
“It’s cool.” Evander blows a puff of smoke above his head.
“Wow. Can I have candy now?”
“Yes, you can have candy now.” Evander stands, letting the guard take his choice from the bowl.
“Thank you.”
It’s amazing how good both my French and German have gotten in the last three months. It’s also wonderful how many children and parents arrive. After five cauldrons are emptied and every child from all of the surrounding villages leaves our door, we fall into the den and Evander rubs my feet while I rest my head on Kieren’s lap. My eyes close.
Days roll on. Leo makes a giant Thanksgiving feast, and the guys have their first Thanksgiving.
Christmas comes, and Roark lifts me onto his shoulders so I can put the star on the top of the ten-foot tree. After the paintings, I set a strict gift limit for the guys. Which I knew they’d ignore, and it’s fine. They’re billionaire dragon shifters. And I’m going to need a larger jewelry box. Not that I’d say that out loud or they’ll get me one.
They’re all loving and attentive, but with February racing toward us, the clock is always ticking at the back of my mind. They said they want me no matter what. Kieren heads back to the realm at least a few times a week. He doesn’t say what’s going on, at least not in front of me. But it’s not good. The crease in his forehead is becoming a permanent fixture.
The collection’s great. Not perfect. It would take three of me a lifetime to do everything I want to do with it. But it’s safe now, and I’ve only got a few more crates to unpack.
The bright January sunlight illuminates the atrium. As I descend the stairs, the tiffany-blue sky with white fluffy clouds peering in through the skylight holds my attention. I’m bundled up for a walk, and it’s only when the heel of my shoe clicks on the mosaic that I notice the tapestry curtains are open and pulled away from the portal. Leo stands beside them with a tall icy glass of something—lemonade maybe. It’s still hard for me to get used to the fact that their realmdoesn’t line up with ours. Summer to winter, but not exactly. Their days are longer, their seasons too.
“Are you expecting Kieren?” I ask.
“Yes.” Leo nods at the same time the portal opens and Kieren steps out. His sister is with him. She’s wearing a lightweight, light-blue cloak, while he’s naked.
“You don’t have to hold me so tight. Where am I going to run to?” Aisling steps away from Kieren and takes the glass from Leo’s tray. “Hey, Leopold. You look good.”
“Thank you, Princess Aisling.” Leo inclines his head. “I will return with another tonic for you, sir.”
“I’m good, Leopold. But thank you.”
Aisling’s eyebrows shoot up. “‘Thank you.’ She really has changed you! Where is she? Raine!”
“You need to?—”
“Hello.” I wave from the middle step.
“There you are.” Aisling runs toward me with force. “I’m Team Raine. My parents are idiots! You can tell them I said that. Wait, you better not. Kieren needs to do that for me.” She winks a sparkling blue eye, and I get the message. Pretend we haven’t met. Her long, wavy, almost blonde hair shimmers with strands of gold among the light brown. “You need to have the lightning.”
