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“No, that is all I know for now.”

“Good, now get the fuck out of my lair,” Rurik demanded, already sick of seeing this green Dragon’s face.

Only a handful of his kind were dark like him, mainly the few brothers and sister he had left. Dragons came in all shapes and colours, from blue to gold, even white. Some had horns and even hair – he was ever thankful he didn’t share those traits.

Glov gave him a scowl. “I will have to tell the Elders about her.”

Rurik gave a growling cringe, but it held no bite to it. It was more of a show of irritation than anything else.

“I am aware.”

He wouldn’t ask Glov to keep his secret. He wouldn’t ask something of him that could possibly get him in trouble with the Elders of his kind. They had laws, and they needed to be respected.

“They will not like that you let her walk your tunnels. They may come here.”

His eyes found the wall, wondering what he would do if they did.

“I have a blood debt to her. They cannot touch her.”

It was a lie, the blood debt to her paid, but Rurik saw no other way to keep his kind from her.

“They may take her away to imprison her if you will not. Law also states that a Witch may only be alive in one’s lair if they are bound and locked away. Are you sure you wish to let her walk freely? They may punish you.”

Rurik let his eyes fall back Glov’s yellow ones and knew the truth.

He wanted to protect this precious thing he found, the soft and gentle woman. This tiny piece of purity that was a rare thing in this world. She was like a gem he had added to his treasure hoards.She has become my friend.

In the small time that he had come to know her, he started to think of her as his companion. Although he found her attractive and held desire for her, his feelings didn’t reach any real depth other than friendship.

And Rurik would protect his new friend.

“If they try to take her, I will fight them. She has done no evil. She does not deserve true imprisonment.”

He would not allow this spark of light to snuff out in a dark cell.

Glov gave a laugh.

“You are lucky that it is you that has her then. None of the Elders will truly want to fight you, not alone at least. I will tell them all of what you have told me. However, I may lap it on that she is a pure-hearted Witch and try to convince them to let you handle it.”

He turned to walk from Rurik’s lair knowing he was running out of patience with him already. If Glov hadn’t angered him, he may have been able to stay, but the wanderer knew better, knew that Rurik was in no mood to house a guest.

“You are the WitchSlayer after all. You perceive them better than anyone else.”

Then he was gone, flapping his wings to lift off once he was outside.

Rurik knew Glov would make this his priority, and he would see him very soon.

Witches are coming, led by Strolguil.He could only imagine what this meant.What is he planning?

Something big. Something dangerous.

Unfortunately, until he had more information, there was nothing he could do about it. He didn’t take action without calculated thought first.

Rurik decided to give Amalia time to herself. He knew she was frightened, possibly even frightened of him again.She will need to approach me in her own time.How long that would be, he didn’t know.

Returning to his cow, he took it outside to cook it, knowing if she smelt it, it would worsen how she felt. He picked it apart, carefully cracking bone with his paws to get to the juicy meat and organs.

Then he laid at the entrance of his cave facing the world while using a splintered bone to pick at his teeth. It was his way of letting her know that he wasn’t roaming his tunnels, so she was free to move about.