Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I don’t know, Princess. I don’t know if your scientists will ever figure out what happened: a solar flare, a horrible tech virus, a change here on earth, or something else. They’ll keep investigating using the limited options available to them. Are you worrying about something?”
“No. The atmosphere is positive here in Wyvern. There might be a few people bemoaning the new situation, but most are taking steps to make life better. Having dragons helps. You all do so much.”
“That is our job. To protect Wyvern. We get a pretty good return for our efforts. Come on, Lalani. Let’s get my reward out of the tub.”
When she was wrapped snuggly in a towel, Lalani stepped forward and hugged Khadar hard.
“What is this for, Princess?” he asked, returning her embrace.
“I love you, Khadar. I can’t imagine life without you. Be careful out there, please.”
“I love you, Lalani. Know that I will always expend my last bit of energy to return to you.”
She nodded against his chest. Thank goodness it was hard to kill dragons.
Lalani squeezed her thighs together. She was still aroused from her punishment. His touch during her bath hadn’t allowed her body to cool off.
“Daddy?” she asked, tracing her finger up his shoulder and across his broad chest. “I’ve been super good.”
“You have, and I will remember that.”
“But we could…” She let her voice trail off suggestively.
“Learning a lesson is hard, isn’t it, Princess?”
“Yes. No fun at all.” She scuffed her foot on the floor.
“Would you like to go with me to pick up a couple of horses? They would probably love to interact with someone who doesn’t smell like a dragon.”
That totally changed the course of her thoughts. “I’d love that. What kind of horses are they? Are you just going to pick them up with your claws? Will they stand still for that? I’d run away.”
“Come on, Ms. I have a million questions. Let’s get you dressed, and I’ll share all the details.”
Chapter 18
Exploring in her mother’s house was a bit nerve shattering the next time. Gone was the idea that this was a safe place. Lalani kept looking over her shoulder to see if someone had come in behind her. She’d stacked a bunch of cans in front of the basement door that led to the passageway. That would at least give her a warning if someone came in. Hopefully.
She was there today to figure out what could be donated or shared from her birth mother’s house. It had taken a while for her to be ready to close this house or give it to someone who needed a place to live. There was no reason for it to sit empty.
Tackling the biggest job, she decided to start with the clothes in the closet. There was a big warehouse that had opened on the outskirts of the town. They took clothing and furniture to pass on to others for free. Lalani would take her mother’s clothes there for others to be able to wear.
A loud knock at the front door made her jump.
Someone’s at the door.
Be careful. Do you need me?
I’m sure it’s okay.
Psyching herself up to open the door, Lalani crept down the stairs and tried to walk silently to the door. A loud creak announced her presence as she rose on her tiptoes to peek through the peephole.
“Lalani. I’m Elenore Battlefield. My family also came from the founders of Wyvern. May I come in?”
Dropping to her heels, Lalani quickly unlocked and opened the door. An older woman stood on the doorstep. She carried a large tome in her arms. “I thought you might like to know more about your family.”
Lalani’s apprehension evaporated instantly. She didn’t get any threatening vibes from this woman.
“I would love that. Will you come in? I’m afraid it’s a bit dusty in here,” Lalani apologized as she stepped back to allow the woman to enter.
“No worries. Dust is eternal. It’s either wafting in the air or decorating a surface. Your mother always kept her house so tidy. Can I put this on the table?”
“Sure.” Lalani led her to the kitchen table and swiped her hand over it before standing back so Elenore could set the heavy book down. “You knew my mother?”
“Oh, yes. I knew Suzanne well. We spent a lot of time drinking coffee at this table,” Elenore shared.
“I wish I could make you a cup of coffee.”
“It’s funny how the most insignificant things are the things we miss the most. A steaming cup of coffee made with a push of a button. I mashed beans with the bottom of a pan this morning to boil on the grill with my morning toast.”
“How was it?” Lalani asked, instantly drawn in by the vivid picture that Elenore had shared. The two women settled into a chair at the table.
“Gritty. I need to find a filter, or a mesh implement that I could pour the water through. It was okay. I needed the caffeine.”