Page 21 of Cruel As A Tree (Chaos God Sugar and Spice Companion Shorts #4)
LILLIAN
" G entle hands," I told Anne as she cradled the little baby in her tiny hands. "Don't squeeze and keep her low to the ground in case she wants to jump down."
She won't hurt them, Veveron said. Your daughter has always been gentle with me, even when you weren't watching.
"Oh, that is good to know," I smiled at Veveron.
She was surrounded by her little hatchlings, each of them stretching their wings as they explored around the spacious den.
It would be a while before Veveron started leading them into the forest and teaching them more about the world than the room they had been born into, but for now she was content to keep them here in the cradle of safety and abundance.
"One finger!" Anne cooed as she stroked the little hatching's head with one finger. "This one's name is Flower!"
"Honey, they aren't pets," I reminded her. "We don't get to name them."
Veveron tilted her head. She likes that name. Flower it is.
"Veveron says she likes the name," I said. "So Flower it is."
"Flower," Anne whispered as she lifted the small creature up to her face. The little spritekin rubbed her nose against Anne's, placing a little clawed hand on the little girl's cheek. "Do you want to be my familiar?" Her face broke into a huge smile. "She says yes! I heard her in my head!"
"No one is entering into any formally binding contracts until they are of a mature and reasonable age," I said, Veveron nodding along with me. "But you can ask her again when you are both adults."
"We can pretend you are my familiar now," Anne whispered to the little spritekin.
I laughed and rose to my feet. "Five more minutes, then I have to get you back home," I told her. "You have to go to bed so you can get enough sleep for school in the morning."
I left the room to find Lorthion just outside the door, all posh and polished in his silken suit. I smiled at him and he opened his arms. I melted into his hug, and he rested his chin on the top of my head.
"They can both live here if that is your desire," Lorthion murmured.
"I think Anne would love that," I said. "But until that school is gone, living in the Magic Realm isn't as safe."
"We can increase our efforts to surround it," Lorthion said, a grin in his voice.
"After she's in bed at my mom’s house," I grinned back as I tilted my head up to him. He leaned down and gave me a kiss. "Let's work long and hard at it."
"Anything for my love," Lorthion said.
The warmth of his arms around me was almost as good as those words.
"Anything for love," I replied as I hugged him back, listening to the happy giggles and chirping in the next room.