Page 56

Story: Cullen

“Not necessarily.”

“Huh. That’s kind of…unhelpful.”

Orion shrugged to his friend. “Yeah, but at least it’s fun. And you know, if you can get a twofer, even a threefer, your chances get better.”

“I worry about you, friend. Seriously. You need help in the worst kind of way.” Yarrow winked at him, playing with him. “You know, they say it’s dangerous to get involved with dragons. They’re…not of this earth.”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s an issue.”

“No?” Yarrow studied him. “Yeah, so unicorn and all. I get it. But, I never see you guys outside.”

“Are you stalking us, Yarrow?”

Yarrow flushed a dark pink, which made his sideburns look very dark. “I’ve just been looking for a place to winter.”

“Sure, man. I get that. I was just teasing. But if we go outside, then someone has to maintain an illusion, at least here. So, we don’t go where anyone could see us from the road.” He wasn’t going to explain to the whole Lunastra and Land of Summer thing.

And he hadn’t taken Cullen to the Glade yet.

“Ahem.” Yarrow squinted at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Reams of shit, my friend, but it’s not my story to tell.”

“Right.” Yarrow chattered his teeth. “Spring house?”

“You know it.” He finished up his doughnut, licking his fingers. God, that was good. Lemon. Yum. He climbed to his feet, heading out the hallway to the back door that led out into the actual backyard and not some other realm.

They walked out the back door, but then he had to stop, staring at the door that was in front of him again. It was open, and Yarrow was outside, but?—

“Quit joking around, Orion.” Yarrow squinted again, head tilting.

“Sorry.” He stepped out the door, then stared at the doorway and Yarrow again. From inside.

“What the fuck, man?” Yarrow blinked hard, his nonexistent-in human-form whiskers twitching. “I saw you walk outside. Why are you popping up back inside?”

Cullen? Why can’t I leave the house?

What?

I want to take Yarrow to the spring house, and I can’t get out the door. It just dumps me back into the house.

Oh, crap. Let me come back.

Oh, but?—

Cullen walked out of their part of the house only a few minutes later. He and Yarrow were still staring at each other through the doorway.

“Hey, guys.”

Yarrow started. “You’re purple.”

“Oh, yeah. I was an old dude the last time we met.”

“That was you?” Yarrow beamed. “That was righteous.”

“Thanks,” Cullen said. “Okay, let me see it.” Cullen stayed back a good five feet from the door, watching him.

He walked outside, then ended up back inside.