Jildarin considered her for a moment, then lay two more slices in the pan.
“Do I get more bacon when I compliment you?” Rylana wouldn’t complain.
“As we discussed, all species should be rewarded for good behavior.”
The bacon was starting to smell wonderful, of coffee and salty pork and was that maple he’d used to add sweetness? Had she been the hound she’d mentioned earlier, she would have been wagging her tail if not thumping her leg on the floor.
“Does your appreciation mean you’ve decided to keep me on permanently as your bookkeeper? And that you trust that I’m not out to get you?” Rylana knew he’d started believing the latter for a while, and shethoughthe valued her ability to balance his books and improve profits, but it would be nice to have that confirmed. Once she knew her job was permanent—maybe she could talk him into paying people in more than tips, as well—she could look for a more long-term place to stay than in the corner of the storeroom. She could settle in to start the next phase of her life.
“Had you beenout to get me, you would not have stepped in often to keep me from changing into a dragon where the peacekeepers could see.”
“I’m glad you realize that.”
“As to the rest, I am still not entirely certain why you have desired to help me and work for me, but...” Jildarin trailed off as he flipped slices of bacon, then pulled down a plate in preparation for taking them off the heat.
“I like a challenge,” Rylana offered, hoping he would finish his thought.
“That is undoubtedly true. Most people would not havechosen rock candy as a method of defeating an enemy from a distance.”
“There wasn’t anything else on hand.”
“Yelling for me to duck was sufficient.” Jildarin moved the cooked bacon to the plate to cool.
Rylana was tempted to pounce on it immediately, hardly caring that it was hot. “If I hadn’t done something, the guy might have gotten away.”
She lamented that the goblin had. At least Yerin had been taken away by the peacekeepers, but she doubted he would be punished for his scheme. Forcing a magical being to change shapes was not, as far as she knew, against the law, even in Tranquility.
“Perhaps,” Jildarin said. “To answer your question, I desire you to become?—”
“Greetings, dear brother,” Zilek said, entering the kitchen.
Rylana stepped aside to make room for him, though she wished he hadn’t appeared until Jildarin had finished speaking with her—and handed her the plate of bacon.
Zilek’s nostrils twitched. “What is that wonderful meat you are cooking? And do I also smell the human stimulant coffee?”
“The coffee isinthe meat.” Jildarin took tongs from a ceramic utensil holder, plucked a piece directly out of the sizzling pan, and extended it toward his brother.
Not hesitating, Zilek took it with his bare fingers. The heat didn’t bother him, and he inserted it directly into his mouth.
“Oh, that’s exquisite.” Zilek chewed happily. “What wondrous flavors to put together.”
Rylana eyed his chewing with envy, but she trusted Jildarin intended to give her several pieces. And she, not being a dragon who was impervious to fire and heat, would prefer to wait until they wouldn’t burn her tongue.
“Now I feel even greater remorse,” Zilek added.
“For what?” The expression Jildarin shared with Rylana while his brother finished chewing suggested he also would have preferred if Zilek hadn’t shown up at that moment.
“I came to apologize for the mishap you had with the sisters in the mountains. When I asked them to bring some spices, I may have suggested that you would be grateful and might grant their wishes for your vaunted sperm?—”
Rylana groaned and would have stepped out of the kitchen if not for the magnetic allure of the bacon rooting her near the stove.
“—but I didn’t think they wouldbribeyou with it. Orattackyou. I suppose I should have foreseen that, as they’re quite determined in their quest.”
“How did you know I would need more spices?” Jildarin's tone wasn’t exactly suspicious, but he did regard his brother intently. “You would have had to tell them three days ago for them to travel all that way and return, and it’s only been two days since the goblin arsonist destroyed my pantry.”
“One of your rivals attends the wine conclave. We were discussing the increasing popularity of your diner, and he mentioned that you would likely run out of your secret ingredient soon and that your business endeavor was sure to fail after that. In hindsight, it should have occurred to me that he might be plotting its demise, but you know dragons aren’t great schemers and don’t tend to anticipate that others will be. We aren’tusuallyones to employ bribes either, of course.”
“I hope the sisters’ failure to entice me to mate will cause them to return to our homeland and find another suitable male.”
