She mouthed something that made Carissa smile.
“You’re right. I might need it,” she replied, accepting the use of Tilly’s voice. The magic letting Carissa borrow it wouldn’t last much longer, but it might come in handy.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Carissa shifted without bothering to undress. She wiggled out of her clothing and stretched her wings. Oh, it felt good to be back in this form. Ignoring the basket Tilly placed on the bed, Carissa turned her attention to Michael. She had thought he was cute, but he looked so much better with her dragon vision.
All dragons shimmered, but Michael’s translucent scales cut the light in a way she had never seen before. With human eyes, he looked white. With the enhanced vision of dragons, he sparkled with rainbow hues. Once the world figured out who he was, there was no way he would ever be able to hide among dragons. It didn’t help that he had taken the shape of the golden dragons. None of the other colors had the frill, horns, and tufty tail. Other than the lack of color, he could have been her brother’s twin. She was so going to be in trouble when this got out. Or, maybe, if she found a way to glamor him to gold, he would make a decent body double for the king. Hmm… That’s worth thinking about.
Shaking away future possibilities, Carissa turned her mind to what they had to do now. They needed to get moving. From the way Michael was watching her, she was sure his mind was somewhere else entirely. Time to snap him back to reality. Carissa closed the distance between them and rubbed her shoulder up his side with enough pressure to push him back as she passed.
He staggered sideways before shaking his head and following her to the basket Tilly held.
A quick snap of wings got Carissa to the edge of the basket, and she dropped down into the laundry.
It took Michael a little longer to jump up and in. He circled Carissa before settling down with his tail curled around her protectively.
It was a very dominant move, one Carissa had seen males make with their mates or young. It staked a claim to her that she didn’t feel he had a right to make. Chattering at him, she shoved him away with her front paw, making him unwrap his tail.
Michael chattered back angrily as he righted himself, but he settled with his tail wrapped up his other side.
Carissa looked up as Tilly peeked over the edge of the basket at them. The light in her eyes told Carissa that her friend had some choice comments to make about them. Suddenly, she was glad she had Tilly’s voice. “The roof,” Carissa chattered in dragon.
Tilly nodded her understanding and dropped the wrinkled ball gown on top of them.
Carissa leaned in against Michael’s warmth and closed her eyes to relax. It would take Tilly a little while to sneak them out so they could make their escape. Might as well enjoy the ride.
Michael felt a rumble of pleasure issue from his chest as Carissa leaned into his side. That reptilian part of his brain screamed Mine! as he leaned his head over onto hers. It was next to impossible to ignore that voice while he was in this form. He had this near-insatiable urge to wrap his tail back around her, but Carissa had made it clear she didn’t want that. Why, he wasn’t exactly sure.
Protect Mine!, the voice pressed at Michael.
I will, Michael tried to press back. The memory of her missing scale ate at him. He had left her vulnerable. That sat with him about as well as a splinter under a fingernail. His tail thrashed, wanting to make its way back around her. ‘No!’ he told it and chomped down on the ends of his tuft. He mouthed the fringe gently before picking one strand and chewing on it lightly. It was somewhat soothing. A snicker from Carissa drew his attention. Amusement gleamed in her amber eyes.
“Only children suckle on their tails,” she chirped, reaching out to draw the strand from his mouth.
Michael stared at her. He had understood her! He chirped back at her, but it only sounded like high squeaking. He felt her chuckle at him.
“Just relax and let your instincts lead.”
Michael nodded and let the voice he had been fighting tell him what to do. “Mine!” he rumbled unintelligently as his tail wrapped itself back around Carissa again. He shuddered at the strength with which his instincts pulled at him. The tufty end of Carissa’s tail whapped into the side of his head, rocking his brain back into focus.
“I said let them lead, not give in to them,” she growled at him.
“Sorry,” he chirped. This time it sounded like a word to him. He pulled his tail back so it wasn’t pressed into her, but that was as far as he could force himself to back off. Something in him had claimed her, and it was damned hard to control that bit.
“It’s okay,” Carissa rumbled. “You’re still brooding.”
Michael opened his mouth to deny it, but a warning shake from Tilly shut them both up. Michael cocked his head and could hear voices outside the basket.
“Oh, Tilly.”
They both froze at the sound of the king’s voice.
“Have you had a chance to talk with Carissa?”
Michael tightened his tail around Carissa as he felt her tense. They waited with baited breath as Tilly made some kind of nonverbal response.
“I see,” Kyle’s voice sounded again. “Please keep an eye on her. I’m afraid this whole kidnapping and betrayal business has upset her more than she’s letting on. I’ve never seen her run off like that before. I promise you this Michael Duncan will spend a long time paying for what he’s done to her.”
Sharp teeth came down on Michael’s tail, startling him out of the angry growl that had started in his chest. He turned shocked eyes to where Carissa was spitting out his tufts. Her eyes held a warning to be quiet. They both turned their attention back as the king finished talking.
“All right, but please let me know if there is anything I can do. I’m worried about her.”
Tilly made some response that made Kyle laugh.
“Thank you. I know she will.”
With that comment, the basket started swaying as Tilly started on her way again. Close call.
Michael sighed to himself as they both relaxed in silence.
A few more minutes of swaying and empty halls saw Tilly setting the basket down and drawing out the dress.
Michael blinked in the bright light of the afternoon sun.
“Come on,” Carissa chirped and jumped out of the basket.
Michael followed her over the side and onto the ledge surrounding the top of the building. Michael was familiar with this building—it was the king’s main residence when he was in the city. It was only a few blocks down from Eternity’s main offices and a few miles from his own townhouse. He looked over the edge of the ten-story building to the streets below. Wow, that was a long way down.
“How are we getting down?” Michael asked as he paced along the edge. There had to be a fire escape somewhere around here that would lead them to the ground. The rustle of wings drew Michael’s attention back as Carissa threw herself off the building and caught the updraft.
“Oh no!” Michael backed up from the edge. He may have wings, but he did not know the first thing about flying. And jumping off a ten-story building was not his idea of a test flight.
“Come on,” Carissa called as she circled around him. “Just spread you wings. It’s easy.” She flapped a few times, showing him how.
Michael jumped down and ran away from the edge. “Maybe for you.”
“Wimp!” she cried.
“Better a wimp than a splat on the ground,” he growled and raced away from her.
Laughing, she dive-bombed him.