I continue toward the hall, then the stairs.
“Really?” I ask, exasperated, whirling on Daegan.
“Did you think I was going to let you walk to your room alone?”
I roll my eyes and continue walking. I don’t have the energy. When I reach my door I mutter a quick “thanks,” open it, and shut it behind me.
I freshen up from the night, cleaning my teeth and face, then go through my limited options of nightwear, choosing a thin, short, night dress. I change into it then crawl into the medium-sized bed in the corner of the room.
It feels like the moment I close my eyes Meela enters. I know it’s her immediately without even opening them.
“Hey, so…”
I peel my eyes open, suddenly alert. “What,” I moan.
“Don’t hate me.”
“What, Meela?”
“I need, like, a really huge favor from you.”
I sit up, not liking where this is going. “What could you possibly need right now?”
She eyes me with a mischievous smirk, taking in my outfit.
“We could die tomorrow, you know?”
“We won’t.” I say it with confidence.
“Well, we could. And I’d like to have sex one last time before that happens, so…”
“No.” I shake my head vigorously. “Nope.”
“Oh, come on. I’ve never hooked up with a dragon before. I need to see. Just once.”
I shoot her a menacing glare. “Do you like him?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Elle. I’m positive. I told you I would never…” She shakes her head. “We’re getting off track. I need you to be a brave wench and let me switch rooms with Daegan for the night.”
“Make Gaethri or Rhydra take him.”
She gives me a look that says that’s the stupidest idea she’s ever heard, and she knows I know it too.
“Okay, then we rent another room. I’ll go talk to the innkeeper myself.”
She shakes her head. “Tried that first. Sorry.”
“She said earlier there were plenty of rooms.”
“Yeah, and you saw how many more people there were downstairs this evening.”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms, looking away from her.
“Look, if you really, really aren’t comfortable with it, I’ll stay. For you. But honestly, you have nothing to worry about. That tough ass is completely soft for you for some reason. You’re safer with him than you are with me, to be honest.”
