Page 16 of Ava’s Love of the Dragons (Of Dragons, Love, and Destiny #2)

Ava washed up, put on her nightgown, and got into bed.

The hours of exercise had left her warm, which made her appreciate the thin, sleeveless nightgown.

Even though it got cold at night and the wind blew through the windows, she wasn't freezing, even though she was only using a simple sheet to cover herself.

She folded her arms behind her head and stared at the stone ceiling.

For the past few evenings, she had been too tired to think, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but gradually her body was getting used to the exercise.

Even her feet, as she hadn't gotten any new blisters for a few days.

Tonight, however, her thoughts kept her awake.

Had the cook really used magic? And what did that mean for the other employees?

What about Master Clark? Magic couldn't be fundamentally wrong, but as soon as she thought of the mages in Elora's arena, of Arthur, and the leader herself, she had to admit that she wasn't exactly calm about the whole thing.

Yet the dragons came here daily. And Lilly's heart was in the right place too. These were two weighty arguments that somewhat eased Ava's unrest.

She crossed one leg over the other, stretched, and was about to reach for the sheet when suddenly her heart skipped a beat. She was flooded with warmth, along with the feeling that two hearts were suddenly in her chest.

This couldn't be ...

Wide awake, she jumped up and opened the window. She peered outside but saw nothing except the faint light of the moon and stars. From far away in the arena, hammering and groaning reached her. Magg was still training. What reason could this woman have for being so obsessed with learning to fight?

Otherwise, it was quiet, nothing could be seen anywhere, nothing was to be heard, and her heartbeat calmed down again. It was probably just a reaction her body was having to the unusual physical activity.

Ice-cold air blew in and goosebumps formed on her arms. She was about to close the window before she got the chance to turn into an ice cube when she was suddenly flooded with warmth again.

She knew this feeling, immediately knew what it was—but could it really be?

Even as she was asking herself this, a high-pitched voice sounded in her head.

"I'm coming!"

Stunned, she gaped and stared into the darkness. Was that who she thought it was...? Was he really coming...?

"Is that you?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

She heard his laughter and joined in. A barely noticeable purple shimmer traveled through the air to then be joined by a strong gust of wind, and the next moment there rushed in a dragon—now the size of a chubby teenager.

Ava jumped to the side and the little dragon landed right on her bed, which creaked dangerously. He looked at her with watery big eyes. "Ava, you're back. Finally."

She didn't wait a second. She took two long strides over to him, then gave him a hug. "I never wanted to leave. Rob left me behind. I would never have gone without saying goodbye."

"I knew that, that's why I was just waiting to find you again."

His scales radiated a constant pleasant warmth, which was why she didn't notice that the window was still open and an ice-cold wind was blowing in. Smiling, she let go of him and looked at him.

"You've gotten big. Is that normal?"

He chuckled. "Of course. In two months I'll be fully grown. You need me, that's why I'm growing faster."

His scales were solid and tough, the spikes on his back strong and pointed, and his head already larger than Ava's. Moreover, his wingspan had taken on considerable dimensions, which was why the excursion to her room had probably been a one-time thing. How had he fit through the window?

"How did you find me?"

"The two mountain dragons that come here daily for training were talking about you. I knew right away that it must be you, Ava. So I flew off immediately!"

She nonchalantly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "I'm glad you're here. Are you okay?"

He nodded. "To say the least, fantastic. And more than ready for you to give me a name."

Surprised, she looked at him, not sure if she had heard correctly. "I'm supposed to give you a name?"

"Of course! So? What do you want to call me?"

What an honor ...

Smiling, she brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. He looked just as amused and happy as she felt. "What name would you like?"

He shook his head emphatically, letting out a laugh that showed his pointed teeth, which were now large. "You have to give me the name, Ava, and with that we'll seal our bond."

That sounded solemn. Goosebumps traveled over her arms.

"How about ..." She thought. "... Draco?"

The little dragon snorted with pleasure. "I like that." Puffs of smoke rose from his nostrils, coming dangerously close to the curtains.

Ava patted his snout and turned it away from the wall. "Can you breathe fire yet?"

He shook his head. "But I'll learn, I promise."

She smirked. "I believe you right away. Have you heard anything from—?" She bit her lip and stroked her fingers. She wanted to change the subject quickly, hadn't even wanted to start with it, but Draco heard her thoughts, so he already knew what was going on in her mind.

"I haven't seen Kilian and Thalara since they flew me to the mountains to the mountain dragons. They wanted to protect me, that's why they took me there."

Nodding, she waved it off. They really shouldn't delve deeper into that topic. She much preferred to learn everything about the little dragon. "Were the other dragons nice to you? Do you live with them now?"

He smiled, and two more small puffs of smoke escaped his maw. "I'm living with you from now on, Ava." With these words, he carefully nuzzled his head against hers, as if he were still the tiny hatchling that had fit in her hand.

Gratefully, Ava allowed the closeness, and immediately the excitement that had overcome her since Draco's return subsided. Because of this, she also felt her exhaustion again, but strangely it felt twice as heavy. Understanding, she laughed. "Tell me, are you as tired as I am?"

"Mhmmmm. I've never flown as far before as I did to come here.

" His voice sounded quiet, as if he were already falling asleep.

So Ava lay down next to him on the bed, which probably wouldn't be able to hold them both for much longer, and enjoyed the feeling of lying beside her dragon.

Draco had come back, and that meant everything would start getting better from now on.