Page 36 of A Vampire in a Pear Tree

I may have sniffled a little.

Aisling eyed me.

“Got a piece of grass up my nose,” I said, blinking rapidly.“It also affects the eyes.”

She gave me one of the smiles that remind me so much of my friend Camio, and hugged me before hugging Amelie, as well.“Just when I think I’m at my limit of sass from you for the day, you restore my hope in demonkind.Oh, there’s Yrian and Becket.I think everyone’s here, so we can get started.”

I snuffled Cecile, who, since she was napping in what passed for the sun in Paris in late December, woke up a bit snappish.

“It’s OK,” I told her, my heart so full of happiness I thought for a moment about changing my form into a human so I could tap-dance on the patio.Then the memory returned of how horrible human form had been, and with it came sanity, so I gave the side of her face a quick slurp (you gotta be quick around her when she’s snappy) and beamed at everyone.

“I hope you don’t mind that we tagged along.”A couple of new friends, Berry and ...er ...her boyfriend exited the house on Yrian’s heels, Berry smiling at everyone as she continued, “We were in Wales so we could hash out the terms of an agreement with Yrian, and he said you wouldn’t mind if we joined you all in the big goings-on.”

“Of course we don’t mind if you are here,” Aisling said, her eyes growing a bit wide as she regarded the BF.I didn’t blame her.I wasn’t around to see what Berry’s boyfriend did to the druids that attacked him and some of the dragons, but evidently he (and the raven who’s always bitching at him) aren’t peeps you want to run into in a dark alley, if you get what I’m saying.

Yrian made a bow to the ladies, ’cause he’s old-school that way, and gave me less of a stink eye than was normal, so I figured it would be good if I oozed some charm on him.

“Heya, Eerie-man.How they hangin’?We’re all set up here with everything you asked for, although I’m not quite sure why you need dragon’s blood to make a Welsh corgi immortal,” I said, doing a quick snuffle of his shoes and pant legs.

“We’re so grateful you agreed to do this for Cecile and Jim,” Aisling said, shooing me away from him, Drake at her side.“It’s very kind of you to make sure that we don’t ever have to face life without her.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Yrian said politely, then cocked an eyebrow at Amelie.“If you desire, I can make you a dragon, and you will not be parted from your dog.”

“Oh,” Amelie said, her eyes growing big as she looked from him to Aisling and back.“That’s ...that’s very kind of you, but I am happy as I am.Thank you, though.”

“That really is sweet,” Aisling said, her eyes almost as wide as Amelie’s.“Although I didn’t realize you could make people dragons, too.Drake?”

Drake was now considering Yrian.“I admit I wasn’t aware that anyone could do so other than the First Dragon.”

Yrian simply smiled, and reached down to pat Cecile.

“You might want to not get your hand in front of her mouth—” I started to warn him, but to my surprise—and honestly pretty much that of everyone there—Cecile didn’t snap at him.In fact, she sniffed his hand, and even gave it a little lick before snuggling back into her blankies.“OK, so you’re what, a corgi whisperer in addition to being a demigod dragon?”

“Animals have always liked me,” he said, then addressed Amelie.“You are sure you do not wish to be a dragon?I can guarantee that you would be welcome in the weyr, either with a tribe or sept, if that is what you desire.”

“I have nothing but respect for the dragonkin,” Amelie said with a little smile.“But no, I will remain as I am.I do not fear my end in this world.”

“As you wish,” Yrian said, then after accepting a glass of the dragon’s blood wine that you and Parisi tried last night (and I hope that butternut squash soup stain comes out of her dress after she barfed up the wine and soup), and everyone toasting Cecile’s new beginning (as we’re putting it, since Ash tears up every time she thinks about Amelie not being with us anymore), he said a few things in a language I’ve never heard before, but which sounded like something old.Really, really old.I bet you’d know what it was, but since I had to rush forward as soon as he was done and check Cecile to make sure she didn’t smell different, I didn’t get a chance to ask about it.

Just so you don’t worry, Cecile was fine afterward.She went back to sleep, and we all went inside to have a celebratory dinner.

There was one thing, though.When we were going back into the house, Yrian and Berry’s BF exchanged what I can only call a knowing look.As Amelie went inside, the BF murmured something about a leaf being in her hair, and touched her briefly on her forehead as he brushed it off.

I didn’t see a leaf on her head, although he had one in his hand afterward.But when he and Berry went inside, she whispered to him, “Did you do it?”and he nodded.

I had a good long look at Amelie later, after dinner, and went over to sit on the BF’s foot to let him know I knew.

He tried to push me off, but I leaned back and asked, “How many years does your blessing give Amelie?”

Berry leaned forward, pinning me back with a look that almost had my hackles rising, so I got up and headed for where Cecile was snoozing on my plush dog bed.

But before I got more than two steps, the BF said softly, “The remainder of her life will be long and happy.”

I smiled at him.The guy’s a big softy, which considering who he is ...er ...yeah, that’s not really important, right?Right.

Thanks for the new collar, by the way.I like how you put protection runes on it, although Aisling said it was a bit overkill to stud it with actual diamonds.

I hope you guys have a happy new year.It looks like mine is going to be ...interesting.

Laters!

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