Page 19 of When the Baker Met the Dragon

“Your hooks are bigger.”

His eyebrows lift and he leans close. “My what is what?” His flecked eyes dance.

“Not hooks.” I shake my head in an attempt to clear it. That doesn’t work. “Your wing claw things.”

“Wing talons, sweetness. They’re called wing talons. And aye, they do that sometimes.”

“They do? I never knew that about you.”

“It’s not something I like to discuss. It’s…”

“Are you blushing?” I grin and lift my right hand, forgetting my thumb is broken. I wince and hiss with pain.

Cyrus’s face drops, and he reaches for a cup on the side table. He puts it to my lips. “Have a little more. You don’t need to be in pain right now.”

I drink a bit more of the forest-tasting concoction. “I saw a dragon in those ruins, Cyrus,” I say, my words slurring a bit.

“I believe you.”

“Because I was so cold when you found me?”

“Aye. I think Delixian is right. Something is definitely up there.”

I chew my lip. “I think so, too.”

“It might be the ghost of the dragon shifter that DeFleurtis told me about,” Cyrus says.

“What does he know, what say he him…” I chuckle at myself. “I can’t get words going.”

Smiling patiently, Cyrus takes the cup from me and puts it back on the side table. “The shifter had some godsawful name I can’t remember. Completely pretentious.”

“Definitely related to you then.”

Cyrus feigns a glare at me, and I snicker.

“What else did he say?” I ask.

“Nothing. He just claims there is more to see.”

“At the ruins.”

“Yes.”

“I would ask you to not go there, but it’s a waste of my breath,” I whisper.

He shrugs. “I am tempted.”

“Unless I die right here. Then you might stay away from the ruins?”

He barks a laugh. “Kaya, don’t say that. You’re fine, aren’t you? Your color is back. It’s just a broken thumb, right?” His gaze peppers my face and body.

“I was teasing. I’m okay. Should check on DeFleurtis and see if…” I can’t remember what I was saying.

“Check to see if he really did just have a sprained ankle and the curse didn’t kill him?”

I nod and shut my eyes. I don’t know how much time passes, but I dream of Sio telling me he opened up the bakery and now knows how to count change.

My heart flies into my mouth. I shoot up. “Lady Egrettington’s order! I have to finish today!”