Page 73 of Entwined

It takes her a while to convince me, but she’s probably right that it’s one of our best options. The building’s a long rectangle, perched on the edge of the land near a bend in the river Ölfusá, and there are some wide, large rooms on the far end.

Most importantly, there aren’t a lot of options in Selfoss. Once I’ve blown a hole in the far end on the top floor and patched it over with a red shield, I transform into my Axel form and help Liz shift furniture around. She understands the value of having a little space for the two of us, and I’m trying to be understanding of her desire to keep her siblings near.

If she feels for them anything close to what I feel when she’s in danger. . . Yes, I think they could easily occupy the western wing while we keep to this side of the building.

Liz is delighted to get the power turned on, thanks to the whirring of a generator. Who knows how long that will last? But for now, there’s a heater that has even turned on. We won’t need it on our half of the building, but for the children, maintaining proper heat is a concern, especially with a storm coming.

When we find a storage room full of food, she’s even more excited. “Can you bring them here?”

Do I look like a delivery service?

Liz tilts her head and examines me carefully. As her eyes study my face and fall lower, roving over my golden scales and more delicate shape, her lips part slightly.

What?

She smiles then. “You’re absolutely gorgeous as an earth dragon. I might like you better this way.”

Don’t be ridiculous.

She steps toward me then, slowly, her eyes soft. “You know, you scared me at the beginning, in this exact form. You’re enormous—larger than a small airplane. And your scales are exquisite.” She reaches out a hand.

I inhale sharply, desperate for her to touch me of her own volition, but I’m afraid that if I move, she won’t. I don’t even breathe.

“Axel.” She looks up, her hand frozen in the air between us. “Why did you say ‘don’t be ridiculous’?”

I can’t help narrowing my eyes. No one prefers Axel to Azar.

“What if I do? Would you spend more time in this form?” The corners of her mouth turn up. “What if this form felt less terrifying to me?”

Does it?

She shrugs. “Not really. They’re about the same. You’re you, no matter what shape you’re in.”

I shift into my human form, taking the chance to make her a dragon-skin cloak, this time from Axel’s skin.

She gasps and backs up three steps.

“And what about this shape?” I offer her the cloak. I should’ve made one before—it’s cold here. But now I’m using it as a lure. She almost touched me, but then she backed up. I want her to come to me, so I’m baiting her as I’ve seen her do with Fluff Dog, holding a piece of bacon.

She swallows and lifts her chin. “I said you’re the same in all of them.”

“But this one’s very small. Weak, even.” I bite my lip. “Do you like this one just as well as the others?”

She shrugs. “Sure.” But her breathing’s strange. Her eyes are bright.

“Are you cold?” I jostle my hand, drawing her attention to the treat again. Come and get it, Liz.

“What is that?” She frowns. “A big chunk of cloth? Are you making me create my own clothing now, even though your magic allows you to fashion it entirely?”

I laugh. “Hardly. It’s a cloak. You can wrap it around you.” I lift it up and use my other hand to show her how it can be fastened to surround her body or left open to vent.

“Oh.” She steps closer.

Good girl.

“It’s gold.”

“You said you liked those scales.”