Delight transformed Rían’s features into wonder. “You know your breed?”
“I do.” I buffed my nails on my hospital gown. “Neat, huh?”
“We already know.” Liam made a rolling gesture with his hand. “She’s a luck dragon.”
“Hold on.” Sloane glanced between us. “Luckandwishare interchangeable?”
As someone who had fallen into the habit of usingwish, I let Rían field the question since I was far from an expert.
“Everyone tends to focus on the wish fulfilment aspect, so, yes. They’re used interchangeably. Most breeds have more than one nickname. They tend to rise to popularity as one generationis stronger in a particular area than the previous.” He kicked up an eyebrow at me. “But that’s beside the point.”
“You’re not going to tell us.” Liam narrowed his eyes when it hit him. “Which means you’re not what we expected.”
“You’re not going to tell me?” Sloane stuck out her bottom lip. “Your very best friend in the whole world?”
“Don’t you want to be surprised?” Rían rubbed his hands together. “Liam, I’m shocked you’re not taking this opportunity to use your inside track to place bets and rake in?—”
“Oh crap.” Liam smacked a hand against his forehead. “That’s why Goldie asked if I still had that old whiteboard on rollers. She’s going sportsbook on us. She’ll set up shop and take bets on Ana’s breed.” He flung his arm toward the wall. “She rode over with Gran and was supposed to go straight to Burdock’s office while Gran talked to Ana. I’d wager my life savings she listened outside the window.” He pointed past Rían. “See that? It’s cracked open.”
“What is it with Walshes and windows?” I debated investing in locks for the one in my and Sloane’s room. “And do you all carry a Slim Jim?”
“Those only open car doors,” Liam said with authority I didn’t question. “She carries a mini pry bar.”
No wonder there was no such thing as a barred exit once she decided to get in or out of a window.
“She does what?” Rían whipped his head toward the window. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I’m not a narc.” Liam rolled his eyes. “Duh.”
Perhaps Rían was in denial that his little sister stood a real shot at succeeding her uncle as maguri. There was no other reason, the more often I observed how Liam and Fayne interacted with her, that explained how often she instigated shenanigans that resulted in a lesson rather than any real punishment.
As often as she snooped around the adults gathering information, it was clear she was practicing her spy game. Had she been a less serious child, I might have considered it just that. A game. But Goldie was the type of kid who pursued her goals with single-minded determination. As far as I knew, there was no rule stating she couldn’t be both magurianda girlboss.
Poor Rían.
Assuming I was onto something, I imagined Goldie was also being taught how to pick and choose which situations to handle on her own and which to involve Rían in. A maguri reported to their magnus, but an apprentice situation would place Liam or Fayne over her education and make them her contact point.
But that was a problem for another day. She was young. She didn’t have to make any decisions yet.
“I hear I’m being discharged into your care.” I waded in, hoping to soothe Rían’s frazzled nerves. “There was talk of a movie and snacks?”
“Let me check on Goldie.” Rían tousled his hair. “I’ll see if I can’t hurry Burdock along too.” He snapped his fingers. “I almost forgot. I met Clary and gave her a key to GSG. She mentioned you’ve approved her preliminary sketch, so she freehanded the outline on the wall you marked. She expects the full mural to take around thirty-six hours and requests no interruptions until she’s done.”
“Thank you.” I clasped my hands together. “I can’t wait to see the finished product.”
With a kiss to my cheek, he exited the room, leaving me with Sloane and Liam.
“No one mentioned a movie night to me.” She sighed dramatically. “Guess I’ll just hole up in our room and listen through the walls.” She rubbed her stomach. “I’m sure the scent of popcorn will be enough to sustain me.”
“You’re still sleeping together?” Liam snickered. “Do I want to know why?”
“Ana gets lonely without me.” Sloane squared her shoulders. “Plus, I’m guarding her virtue.”
Heat raced into my cheeks, and I found somewhere else to look.
“Ana can protect herself.” Liam tsked at her. “You should move into your room.”
“Are you trying to make an opening forRíanto be her new roomie?”
