Page 147 of Destined Dawn

“Did you add sugar?” Rhi asks, peering up at him.

“You know it’ll rot your teeth?” he says.

“Yep.”

“Two spoons of sugar and cream,” he says, handing her a cup.

“You have him well trained,” I say, winking at her.

“She has us all well trained.” Spencer grins.

“Anyway,” Rhi says, drawing her attention back to Renzo and his question. “The representatives from the West werethere again today. There was real talk about uniting the two countries.”

“You think that’s a good idea?” Renzo asks.

“I think so,” she says. “It’s not those other people’s fault what my dad and his cronies were doing. They need our help and I think there are things we can learn from them too.”

Rhi swallows down the last of her cookie with a large gulp of coffee and peers towards the back window.

“Have you seen the dragons today?” she asks Renzo.

“Not today, little rabbit.”

“That’s a week,” Azlan says.

Her gaze falls back to her coffee cup. “They’ve never been away so long. Maybe they’re not coming back this time.”

“I think they’ll be back, Rhi. You know what Mrs. Hollyhill thinks – there’s a bond between you.”

“She also thinks Gwenhwyfar was stolen from her home. Maybe they’ve flown back there.”

For all her talk of setting the dragons free, of giving them their freedom to fly back to wherever they come from, I know she’s going to miss them. She may have five fated mates now – five fated mates who absolutely adore her – but she misses having a pet. It’s been six months and she’s still grieving Pip.

Which reminds me.

I glance at Renzo and try to say as casually as I can: “Did that … erm … parcel arrive today?”

It’s no use though. Rhi is too quick. You can’t get anything past her.

“What parcel?” she says, gaze shooting up, eyes alert.

“Just a delivery.”

“What delivery?” Her eyes narrow.

“I’ll go get it,” Renzo says, lifting Rhi straight from his lap and onto Tristan’s.

“Am I going to like this?” Rhi asks.

“I think so, Miss Blackwaters,” I tell her.

“There’s no more room for books,” Azlan tells me.

“It’s not a book.”

“Are you sure, Professor? You really do like books!” I can’t deny that I may have brought one or two (make that several scores) of books with me when we moved in. I didn’t like leaving them behind.

“Know what else I like, Miss Blackwaters?” I say, darkly, leaning towards her.