CHAPTER NINE
Lukendevener
I begin the tour by showing Skye the west wing. “This is the formal area of the castle, used for entertaining guests.”
We pass through the formal sitting room, still decorated in the overly ornate Louis the XIV furniture so popular with the elves of three-hundred years ago.
“I feel like I’m in the Palace of Versailles.” Skye’s eyes go wide as she takes in the baroque furnishings.
“This is the formal dining room.” I gesture toward the banquet table lined with elaborately carved chairs, offset by gilt-covered walls and several crystal chandeliers.
Her movements grow hesitant, and she reaches out but pulls her hand back before touching one of the chairs. “Is it safe to use any of this?”
“You may utilize anything you wish. The bedrooms in this wing are decorated to match.”
Skye stares at me with worried eyes, nibbling on her lower lip, then blurts, “This is so beautiful—too beautiful—I’m not sure it’s a good idea that I stay here. Especially with Princess Buttercup. Her fur is so long and fine it gets everywhere.”
“Then you will stay in the family wing.” I lead her back across the foyer and into the east wing, pleased by her choice. She will, in fact, stay in my tower.
I show her the sitting and dining rooms with pride, the heavy wooden antique furniture built sturdier for everyday use, the tapestries warming the walls.
It’s a grand house. Since I’ve been on Earth, I haven’t spent much time anywhere but the library, using only my bedroom for a few hours each night.
I imagine that will change now that I have a guest.
Skye wears a large smile at first, yet it falters as soon as she steps into the kitchen. A wide stone hearth dominates the room. Its main fireplace contains a roasting spit, and several smaller ovens are inset into the wall surrounding it, using the central fire as their heat source.
“I don’t think I can cook here.”
“Banquets for royalty were regularly prepared in this kitchen,” I growl.
She winces, her cornflower eyes shadowed with doubt. “I’m sure they were wonderful, but I don’t know how to cook with a wood-burning oven.”
When we reach the bathroom attached to her bedroom, the placating noises coming out of her mouth become less and less believable. The little witch can no longer hide her distress. “So there’s… uh… there’s no hot water?”
My wings rustle. “I’ll have you know this bathroom is the height of achievement for its day. Having running water at all is a luxury, and these are fed by a magical spring.”
“Of course. Super. Great.” She nods her head quickly, biting her lower lip, her hands twisting together. “What about a toilet?”
“The chamber pot is under the bed.” My tail lashes. Where else would I keep it? Does she know nothing?
I fly Skye home in silence. She huddles in my arms, as if to make herself as small as possible.
Inside, I seethe. How dare a human imply a dragon’s home isn’t good enough? My family castle is one of the finest in all of Faerie, nothing less would do for dragons, after all.
She opens her door and turns to offer me a wavering smile, all uncertainty and hesitation. “I’ll have Naomi bring me and Princess Buttercup over in the morning.”
I grunt, looking past her into her warm house full of soft furniture, remembering what I saw of it this morning. It’s nowhere near as grand as my castle, yet I must admit it offers a level of comfort missing from my home.
Spinning away, I fling myself into the air.
She pricked my pride, yet that very pride refuses to let me be a poor host. Magic hums through my veins as I head north, pushing my speed to its maximum so that in no time at all I’m arrowing down to land in front of a large Victorian house tucked into the middle of the woods.
Light spills from the front windows, and muffled voices sound from inside as I walk up the porch steps to pound on the front door.
Rune opens it, glowering at me. “Lukendevener. I didn’t know you were coming.”
A grunt escapes me. I hadn’t known either until a few minutes ago, but I’m unwilling to admit as much.
A tiny goat clatters across the wooden floor, bleating as she runs straight toward me, her little head lowered. She slams into one of my shins, gives a playful hop, and headbutts the other one.
“Babybelle, stop that!” Autumn appears in the living room doorway. “Sorry, Luke! It’s how she says hello. Ever since she realized fae are stronger than humans, she takes it as permission to play rough.”
“She’s fine.” I lean over and pat the mini-goat’s head. “You should see the kind of damage dragon younglings do when they’re teething.”
Babybelle bleats, high and insistent.
“No, that does not mean you can chew on Luke,” Autumn says. Then the redhead turns toward me. “Come in. You don’t have to stand on the doorstep.”
As I step inside the warmth of the entryway, Rune closes the door behind me. “What brings you here?”
“Rune.” Autumn shoots him a look.
“What?” He shrugs and cocks a thumb toward me. “It’s not as if he’s one to make social calls.”
“True,” I say. “I’m here because I need your help.”
“What can I do?” the werewolf asks.
“Not you.” I turn toward the redheaded witch. “Rune told me you helped make this house livable by modern human standards. I need to do the same for mine.”
She beams up at me. “Is this for Skye?”
Rune watches me, an amused gleam in his golden eyes.
My teeth grind together. I hate telling anyone my private business. But there’s no help for it. I tip my head. “It is.”
“Yes!” She claps her hands together. “I have so many ideas!”
Goddess, save me.
When I step outside the next morning, the sun crests the horizon, reminding me I’ve worked through the entire night.
I have no regrets.
Skye’s reaction to my castle might have been upsetting at first. Yet as I worked through the night, it forced me to realize how little I’ve thought of it as a home.
I’ve been so focused on restoring the library I forgot the castle is meant to be lived in.
Entire wings of the building remained dormant and closed.
I hadn’t even looked at the kitchens until I showed them to her yesterday.
No longer.
My fire burns low in my chest, letting me know how much magic I’ve expended in a very short period of time. It’s no matter. It’s worth it.
As I wait, I chew on the last few cinnamon candies I hid in my storage pocket yesterday, letting their sugary spiciness act as a bit of a pick me up. I must procure more of these. Never one for sweets in the past, I now find Skye’s favorite treat addictive.
Naomi blinks into existence, several colorful suitcases and bags dotting the stone paving around her feet. The teleporting witch gives me a nod, her brown face unusually solemn as she greets me. “Luke.”
I suppress a burst of irritation. She and her husband have not yet forgiven me for abandoning their quest to reopen the doors of Faerie.
Yet I did so under orders. Their quest was successful without me, as I knew it would be.
And my actions assured we had additional dragons to fight by our side when we finally faced the Dark God.
Everything I did was preeminently logical. Why can’t they accept it?
She blinks away, and I gather the bags and bring them into the foyer. By the time I return outside, another load awaits me, this one containing several items I assume are for the cat.
With one last pop of displaced air, she returns, one hand gripping Skye’s shoulder.
Princess Buttercup gives an excited meep and jumps from Skye’s arms to dash inside the castle.
Naomi gives her friend a quick hug, then pulls back to meet her eyes. “You’re sure about this?”
“Of course,” Skye says, offering her sunniest smile as she glances my way.
Her trust loosens the knot twisting inside my chest, and my wings settle onto my back.
“Call if you need me, Skye,” Naomi says, shooting me one last assessing look before winking out of existence.
I escort Skye inside and turn right, into the family wing.
Skye gasps. The sitting room is now a recreation of her living room, writ larger, complete with several overstuffed burgundy sofas and a television mounted on the wall. Thick rugs cover the floor, and several floor lamps with stained-glass shades stand waiting to light the open space at night.
“Come. More awaits.” I stride through the family dining room with its plain wooden table and chairs and into the newly renovated kitchen.
Morning sunshine pours across stone countertops and stainless steel appliances.
The hearth still takes up one wall of the room, but more as decoration than something to be used regularly.
“This is nothing like yesterday.” Skye’s eyes fill with awe as she spins slowly in place. “You did this for me?” she breathes.
“Autumn helped me choose everything, and Severin assisted in finding a magical workaround for the electricity.”
“You did all of this last night?” Her voice rises to a high squeak.
“I’d be a poor host if I couldn’t make my guest comfortable. Your bedroom now has a modern bathroom as well.”
“Thank you.” She steps close, her fingers soft as she touches my arm, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “This is the most amazing thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
Warmth tingles inside my chest as my inner fire flares higher, tickling and teasing until my tail lashes, my body needing some outlet for this unusual sensation. I’m not used to anyone thanking me. Then again, I’ve never worried about anyone else’s comfort until now.
Until Skye.
“I did it for myself,” I growl. “You’ll work more efficiently this way.”
As I hurry from the room to get her things, I wonder who I just lied to.
Her or me?