The girl shifted from foot to foot, her eyes downcast. “Oh, don’t be. He wasn’t …” she paused. “Don’t be. Just, if you go searching for that dragon, be careful in the woods."
“Thank you.” Valenna wanted to squeeze her hand, but the girl flinched away, and Valenna settled for a simple smile.
The girl started toward the door, then paused and said, “If you do see one of those plants, and if you cut it open and a rather horrible man spills out, please shove him back in, won’t you?
“With pleasure.” Evander winked. “Now, I’m very worried about someone sneaking in here and taking my bag.” He indicated his single saddlebag, which Valenna knew contained nothing but a novel and, hopefully, a tin of wyvern bone powder. “We might be gone all night, and I’ll be uneasy if I don’t have someone watching it. I don’t suppose you could stay here while we’re gone?”
The girl hesitated. “Didn’t you want me to watch the hydra?”
“I’ll be taking the hydra.”
She huffed a laugh and handed him his coat. “Whatever you like.”
Valenna followed Evander into the corridor, their boots clacking against the wooden floor, and shut the door.
“Are you in the habit of feeding violent husbands to carnivorous plants?” Valenna asked.
“Someone must,” he said with a second wink that threw Valenna off-balance. “If we hurry, we might find the dragon before it travels too far.”
With a twinge of guilt, Valenna stopped at the top of the stairs. “What about Haldir?”
“It seems a risk, doesn’t it? He and I and carnivorous plants? Someone’s bound to get eaten.” He paused, then added, “And it won’t be me.”
As they descended the rickety staircase, Valenna glimpsed Haldir at the counter, his arms around the shoulders of two men in mud-spattered coats, singing a lewd travelers’ song and tossing back pint after pint of cheap spiked cider. One of the men leered at Valenna over his shoulder, and Evander took her by the arm and guided her to the door.
Chapter fifteen
Valenna
The rain fell in sheets, and lightning reflected in the puddled cobblestone street. Hera waited in the stable, munching hay with her two small heads, her larger center head tearing apart a dead sheep. When Valenna and Evander entered, the left and right heads dropped their hay and affectionately jabbed their noses into Evander’s chest. The middle head maintained a dignified distance, offering a polite snort.
Valenna’s dragon was anxious and puffing, curled in a corner of the stall. Valenna managed to coax her into the stable doorway before the dragon dug in her claws.
“She doesn’t like storms,” Evander said.
Valenna frowned. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
Evander led Hera past her and climbed onto her back. “Hera can carry us both.”
“I can manage,” Valenna replied, soothing the frightened dragon. She deftly slipped the bridle over its head, avoiding its snapping teeth.
Evander flinched as the dragon’s teeth snagged on Valenna’s sleeve. “Val, just ride Hera with me.”
“I’ve ridden dragons to battle, Van. Even you haven’t done that. I can manage.”
“I’ll be anxious she’ll throw you the whole journey. Humor me.”
A crack of thunder startled the dragon and she reared, yanking Valenna forward. Valenna’s heels scraped across the straw, and she almost fell headlong, but awkwardly regained her balance. She glanced sheepishly at Evander, who was watching her with a faint smirk.
“Fine.” She sighed. “But only because I don’t want to waste any more time.”
Hera was so tall, Valenna had to climb onto a stall door to reach Evander’s hand. She grasped it, and he swung her up in front of him. As she settled onto Hera, she snatched the reins from his fingers.
“I can guide us, thank you very much,” she said. “You hold onto me.”
Evander’s mouth quirked. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, and his hands closed around her waist. She drew a sharp breath, realizing this was more intimate than before. But his hands were warm and strong, and she felt safe between them.
This was what drew her to him again and again, no matter how hard she tried to dodge. He was the single person in the three kingdoms who made her feel safe.
