Page 21 of Devoted in the Midlife

Warmth bloomed in my chest as I watched them, the casual intimacy a balm on my frazzled nerves. Howard caught my eye over Kendra's head, flashing me a grateful smile. At that moment, I understood everything he couldn't say out loud.

Thank you for being here. For supporting her. For reminding us both what really matters.

I smiled back, pouring all my love and friendship into the simple gesture. Then I clapped my hands together, breaking the spell.

"All right lovebirds, less canoodling, more hot chocolate. Kendra, grab your fluffiest blanket. It's time for an old-fashioned bestie break."

Kendra laughed, the sound loosening the knot of tension between my shoulder blades. "Yes ma'am."

As I followed them out of the living room, I spared one last glance at the dagger gleaming on the table. For a few hours, the mysteries could wait. Right now, my best friend needed me.

11

HAILEY

The crisp Octoberair nipped at my skin as I opened the door, unsurprised to find Adalinda on the other side, her lips pursed in a telltale sign of irritation. Before I could even greet her, a blur of iridescent scales shot past me, making a beeline for the Dragon Queen herself.

Flint, in all his unrestrained enthusiasm, launched himself from Luke's lap and into Adalinda's waiting arms. She snatched him deftly from the air, her annoyance melting into a soft smile as she cradled the baby dragon close. Flint trilled contentedly, his luminous eyes half-closed in bliss as Adalinda stroked his shimmering scales.

After a moment of indulging Flint's need for affection, Adalinda gently set him down, watching with an amused quirk of her lips as he scampered off to explore. Turning her attention back to me, the Dragon Queen arched a perfect eyebrow. "I see our little princeling remains as energetic as ever."

"He's been zooming around all morning," I confirmed with a grin. "Not that I'm complaining. Beats the alternative of him setting the curtains on fire again."

Adalinda hummed in agreement, her gaze flickering around the room as if searching for scorch marks. Satisfied that Flint hadn't left any new ones, she fixed me with a pointed look. "Speaking of unwelcome wake-up calls, I don't suppose you could have a word with Izora about personal boundaries?"

I couldn't help the snort that escaped me. "What did she do not?"

"I woke to find her curled around me like a vampiric python," Adalinda grumbled, a hint of exasperation coloring her words. "I swear, if she dares to bite me in my sleep, I'll stake her myself."

That startled a laugh out of me. "You know that won't actually kill her, right? Izora's not your average vamp."

Adalinda's eyes glinted with mischief. "No, but it would be immensely satisfying nonetheless."

She had a point there. Izora's antics had been grating on everyone's nerves lately, especially with the close quarters we'd been keeping. I couldn't really blame Adalinda for her frustration. We were all feeling the strain of having so many people under one roof.

"Everybody's right on top of each other these days." I ran a hand through my hair. "Wade's house is packed to the gills, and Luke and Ransom's place isn't much better. Maybe we could see if Paige has some extra room? Might help to spread out a bit."

Adalinda tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her features. "Why do you call it Wade's house? I thought it belonged to you."

"Ah, that." I waved a hand, the story tumbling out. "It used to belong to Wade, a friend's uncle, before he sold it to us. Guess the name just stuck."

"Hmm. Fascinating how dwellings retain the echoes of their past owners," Adalinda mused, her eyes distant for a moment before snapping back to the present. "But I didn't come here to discuss real estate. I was hoping to take another look at those troublesome daggers."

I nodded, grateful for the change in topic. The mysterious blades had been weighing heavily on my mind, the non-magic-voiding one in particular. If anyone could shed some light on their origins, it would be Adalinda. I'd brought them home with me from Kendra's yesterday. She needed a real break.

Retrieving the daggers from their super-secure hiding place in our coffee table drawer, I handed them over to the Dragon Queen, watching intently as she examined the exposed dagger with an expression of deep concentration. The nullifying one was still in its lead-lined box. She traced the intricate patterns etched into the hilt, and for a moment, I could have sworn the symbols glowed faintly beneath her touch.

Adalinda's brow furrowed as she whispered words in a language I couldn't begin to decipher. Beside me, Luke leaned forward, his own gaze fixed on the dagger as Adalinda continued her ancient incantation.

Minutes ticked by, the air growing heavy with expectation, but the dagger remained stubbornly inert. No matter how Adalinda called upon her dragon magic—ancestral memories, bloodline energy, the very language of dragons themselves—the blade refused to yield its secrets.

Finally, Adalinda lowered the dagger with a sigh, frustration etched into the lines of her ageless face. "This weapon is unlike any I've encountered before," she admitted, her tone heavy withconcern. "Its magic is elusive, slippery. I cannot seem to gain a foothold."

It wasn't the answer I'd been hoping for, but I appreciated Adalinda's honesty. If even the Dragon Queen couldn't unravel the dagger's mysteries, we were going to need a new approach.

As if summoned by my thoughts, a familiar figure appeared in the doorway. Kendra swept into the room, her dark eyes immediately locking onto the dagger in Adalinda's hand.

"I want to try a different kind of locator spell I found in this grimoire," Kendra said by way of greeting, setting down a heavy book and an assortment of mystical ingredients. "See ifthiswill lead us to whoever used these daggers to kill the dragons.