Page 11 of Connor and the Dragons

“Yes,” I said.

“Interesting. Are you going to have a glass with us?”

I carefully set my hands in my lap where they couldn’t possibly freeze anything. “I’m not—The Queen would not allow me to—” I sighed. “No.”

Boots sounded on the stairs, several sets, fast, and beneath them rose a voice, one voice, continuous, climbing the tower the way floodwater climbs a stair, gaining volume on every turn while a guard’s protests grew fainter and fainter behind it.

I rose, and turned to see a cheerful face and a pair of very tiny trousers that I recognized all too well. Connor turned towards the door.

“Pip?” he said. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I brought snacks!” He set a napkin-covered basket on the table, and unveiled it with a flourish. Piping hot scones and jam. Oallian lunged.

CHAPTER 6: CONNOR

Pippin Crane, my brother’s perky best friend, paced in front of me wearing what looked like a Regency-era waistcoat and blouse with a pair of blue brocade shorts that barely covered his ass. It was a look.

It was strange to see someone from our world here, so settled in. Pip worked at Club Vortex, and couldn’t have been missing much longer than Sky, but somehow he had been here for long enough to acquire a style of dress and a husband. But how frightened had he been when he arrived? How frightened had my brother been?

I mean, I was barely holding it together, and I had landed in the lap of people who’d expected me. I had some sense of what was going on. Kind of.

Pip’s husband was a massive, terrifying man who looked nothing like what I’d picture as a partner for the bubbly exotic dancer. He’d been introduced as Aeldryc the Ironstorm, the Lord High Commander of the Grey Guard, whatever that was. He had pointy ears, leather armor, and enough weapons strapped to his person to tell me he took his guard position very seriously.

“What we need is a plan,” Pip said.

Aeldryc blew out a breath. “We already have a plan. Sky and Moerrven are doing spycraft in Liminia. We’re merely waiting for them to execute the plan.”

“Waiting for other people to execute a plan is not a plan!” Pip said. “Maybe they need backup, what do you think, babe?”

The huge warrior by the wall grunted. He did not look like someone you’d casually refer to as ‘babe.’ He looked like someone who would murder you for calling him ‘babe.’

Oallian walked by, robe barely tied, and casually took two scones, slathering jam on both.

“Those are for everyone,” Pip said, batting Oallian’s hand away as the dragon stacked the scones and appeared to consider whether or not he could manage a third.

The fire dragon shot me a sheepish look and took his scones to his cot.

Pip cleared his throat. “So there is a time crunch. Sky is very worried about your mother or someone else from home noticing he’s missing. Time crawls back home compared to here, but it doesn’t stop. Hell, we thought we had more time before you’d notice, and you’re standing right here.”

“Why wouldn’t I notice my brother missing? He’s my roommate.”

Pip grimaced. “He doesn’t think you pay much attention to him. Not like, in an insulting way, just because you’re focused on grad school. How did you find out, anyway?”

“The club bouncer came by our apartment with his phone. Leo, I think?”

“Oh. Well, shit,” Pip said. “We didn’t think of that.”

“I probably would have noticed anyway. I’m not an idiot,” I muttered. “I do have some observational skills.”

Pip nodded, not looking that much like he believed me.

“Why does the Queen care what I do? Can’t I just go after Sky and Moerrven? I promise to tell them I’m not from… wherever we are,” I asked, turning back to Lord Frost just in time to catch him staring at Oallian’s dick.

“Qoksmere,” Pip said, giggling.

I frowned, sure I’d heard the name wrong. “Did you say…”

“Yep,” Pip said gleefully.