Page 31

Riley

Sticky Situations

“I’m back!” I skipped up the front porch steps to the cabin, feeling lighter than I had in years. It’d been so long since I had this excitement of coming ‘home’ to people who loved me.

“Aunt Riley!” Harper shrieked as she opened the door. Her skinny arms wrapped around my waist.

“You’re huge now.” I hugged her back. “Did you grow some more?”

“Maybe.” Harper giggled as she dragged me inside. “Come on, it’s time for breakfast. Mom made pancakes.”

“I hope you’re hungry.” Willow turned from the kitchen, carrying a plate of sausage. She froze when she saw me. “Riley, you look… amazing.”

I felt amazing, but my smile started to falter when I really took Willow in. She’d hollowed out a bit in her face and there were bags under her eyes.

We’d talked a bunch over the past few weeks. I hadn’t noticed the subtle change over the phone.

“I’m starving!” Harper climbed onto the chair. “Can we eat now?”

I hugged Willow hard as I looked at the stack of pancakes in the middle of the table. It was tall enough to feed an army. Empty plates set for six sat waiting.

By the way Harper dug into the food, I could tell they’d been waiting a while.

I pulled back and looked Willow in the eyes. “Where’s Ember?”

“I thought she’d be here for breakfast, but maybe there was a miscommunication somewhere.” Willow shrugged, pretending it didn’t bother her.

I knew her better than that.

“Ugh. I hate those.” I pulled out a chair. “And they always seem to happen at the dumbest times. Like why as grown adults can’t we talk to each other before causing unnecessary drama? I should go find her.”

“They probably got caught up….” Willow looked at Harper and put quotation fingers in the air, “Studying.”

“Auntie Em and Kieran are always studying,” Harper explained. “Like all the time. They do it everywhere too. In the kitchen and at the table and in the living room.”

“Geez, what are you showing this kid?” I laughed at Willow’s mortified expression.

The sound of heavy boots on the front porch had my heart skipping a beat. Lucan stayed back to change into human skin and clothes, then insisted on carrying our luggage over.

Dobby had remained at home. He’d be all right for a few days and preferred not to travel anyway.

Plus, he was our excuse to leave early.

“Kieran and Ember can have fun studying without us.” I winked at Harper as I piled breakfast onto plates for both me and Lucan. “We get to eat their pancakes.”

∞

“Did Ember and Kieran ever come up with an explanation for these tattoos?” I looped my arm through Willow’s as we walked side by side through the cave.

Lucan led the way through the darkness, carrying a torch that smelled of sulfur and burned brighter than a flashlight. I liked the view from back here.

Harper kept pace beside him, swinging a basket of baked goods from her arm that Miss Agatha sent us down here with.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was a little spooky.

But I was sleeping with a dragon, so I wasn’t too afraid of things that went bump in the dark.

“They’re still not sure yet. We’re supposed to know more tonight.” Willow was tense. “Harper, careful please.”

The little girl started to skip ahead and tumbled over a rock.

“I’ve got her.” Lucan’s deep voice echoed down the cave tunnels as he scooped Harper off the ground. She belly laughed when he set her on his shoulders, walking in almost a squat so her head didn’t touch the ceiling of the cave.

“He’s good with kids,” Willow whispered, nudging me with her hip.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Before now, I wasn’t sure if I wanted kids. With Lucan, it was something to think about. I knew my biological clock was ticking. But my mom had me at thirty-seven despite being a ‘geriatric pregnancy’ so I knew I still had time to decide.

“I think I need a year or two more to… study,” I teased Willow as the cave opened up.

Lucan set Harper on her feet.

She reached out and held to his hand.

The two of them walked along in front of us.

My ovaries decided to weep and beg.

Later, I promised them.

A cavern loomed up ahead lit up with more of these magic dragon fire torches.

“You’re here!” Ember’s shriek was followed by the roar of a dragon.

I almost pissed my pants as my grip tightened on Willow. “What was that?”

“Oh that’s just Dahlia,” Ember said as she pulled me from Willow and wrapped me in a hug.

Harper wiggled free from Lucan’s grasp and raced to an old… dragon-man.

His legs were thick and scaly, thighs as big as tree trunks, and his massive tail swept along the floor. But his eyes were kind as he lowered to Harper.

“That’s Bemouth,” Willow whispered.

“Can I feed her today?” Harper held up the basket to the old beast. “I’ve got poppy seed muffins and jerky.”

“I think she’d like that.” Humor rumbled in the old man’s tone. “Let’s go say hello.”

I watched in a fascinated sort of confusion as Harper walked forward and a silver dragon foot with a chain attached moved out of the darkened recesses of the cave.

“Don’t freak out.” Willow squeezed my hand. “It’s a whole thing.”

A silver snout lowered to the ground nuzzling Bemouth before very gently sniffing the basket Harper held up.

“The scary ancient dragon really loves kids. She goes soft for Harper every time,” Willow whispered in my ear.

I swallowed hard, nodding.

Not exactly what I’d been expecting to see today, but as long as everyone was happy, we were good.

I let go of Willow and went with Ember to the stone desk in the corner where Kieran and Lucan were talking in hushed tones.

I didn’t need to touch the bond to know he was worried about me.

“Can I see it?” Kieran turned his attention my way.

I stood next to Lucan and leaned against his side, hoping to ground him with my presence as I bared my neck. “Care to tell me what it means yet?”

Kieran motioned to the runes on the cave wall behind him. “First born of fire, strength forged of flame, when a dragon’s heart dies…” He took a deep breath, turning back to face us, “Life begins again.”

“Sounds like a riddle,” I said.

Lucan growled. “It is.”

“I still think we’re translating it wrong,” Ember’s excitement spilled over as she started showing us what she’d written. “What if this line compared to this other rune of dragon speak meant ‘life recycles itself.’ So, not something new, but old and reborn?”

“Then it wouldn’t rhyme,” Willow pointed out.

“Should it even rhyme at all?” I laughed, but my gaze was still focused on the runes above their heads.

Lucan caught me staring. “What?” he asked through our mental link.

“It’s just that…” If I looked at it from the other angle… “Aren’t these tattooed onto Malachy, too?”

Kieran snapped his gaze to me. “What did you say?”

“Doesn’t he have these tattoos on his side?” I looked at Lucan, wondering if I was wrong.

My mate dragged his hand over his face.

“She’s met Malachy?” Kieran asked.

“The three tattoos have always appeared on the next chosen guardian at birth,” Lucan answered me before addressing his cousin, “Malachy got injured and he came to me. The MacAlisters attacked him. When I fought off Shawn, I sensed dark magic.”

“So he’ll visit you, but won’t come when I call.” Kieran’s bitter tone went away as Ember rested her hand on his shoulder. “You’re right. No, it’s good he came to you for help.”

“And he is coming,” Lucan looked Kieran in the eye. “He’ll be here tomorrow unless Earth calls. He swore it to me.”

“Too late for tonight, of course.” Kieran shook his head. “But better late than never.”

“Late for what?” I asked.

Lucan sighed as he wrapped me in his comforting embrace. “The witches convene under the full moon tonight.”