Page 33 of Princess Seeks Dragon
“Are you drunk?” I scootch farther away in my seat, my hand on the door handle.
“No, I’m a dragon,” he hisses.
The silence returns to the truck as Graham lets out a hard sigh through his nose and steers us back onto the highway.
Dragon?
Like that line about dragon families on that really confusing-looking parchment?
Like the dragons in the watercolor paintings in the guest room?
“Um. Dragon? Like a strong and powerful person who—oh my God!” I screech and push myself back in my seat as far as possible as we pull into the garden center, and I spot a—an alien, a furry black alien walking towards us.
“Oh, fine, now,” he grumbles. “It works on all things paranormal, does it?”
“What does? Whatisthat?” I point frantically through the windshield.
“That’s a mothman. My brother mentioned White Pines hired one as a gardener. Glad to see we still get some of the estate’s money.”
“It’s the necklace? What’s in it?” I paw at the braided leather cord and tug on it, wanting to get it off my skin. “Does it have hallucinogens seeping into my skin or something?”
“Taking it off won’t help. Now that you’ve seen the supernatural, it’ll stick with you. We’re fucked. Ian’s going to kill me.” Graaham opens the door of his truck but doesn’t get out of it, letting his head come to rest on the steering wheel with a thump.
The giant black furry thing walks up with a cheery wave. “Oh, hey! You must be Graham! Ian told me his brother was coming in to cover for him. You guys need any help, just say the word. I’m Lennox, by the way, the gardener and floral designer at White Pines. It’s wedding season, but I can always help early on the weekdays.”
“Pleasure,” Graham mumbles, head still down.
Lennox looks at him for a second, and then his bright red eyes fix on me.
Please don’t bite me, I pray silently.
“Hi, there! I’m Lennox! You’re Angela, aren’t you? The girl who came to town for a fresh start?” Lennox sticks out his hand but drops it when I just stare.
I am?I mean, yes, I am, but how did he know that?“Huh?”
“Sorry, I was talking to Cindy—my wife, who works with Claire and Georgie. And then I saw Mr. Minegold’s text about the Night Watch being on extra alert.”
I repeat, “Huh?” This time, my voice is bordering on hysterical.
“Oh, don’t worry. My home burned down last year, and I came to Pine Ridge with a tarp and a duffle bag. A year later, I’m married to a beautiful woman, my brother is thinking of moving to town, and I have my dream job. Don’t be afraid to dive right in—the people here will catch you.” He smiles, and his antennae twiddle happily.
“She’s not used to seeing us as we truly are,” Graham moans from the depths of his clenched hands, now pulling his hair. “Angela’s probably about to scream. Or pass out.”
“I am not!” I lie. I reach across Graham’s hand and yank Lennox’s palm into my own, shaking it once before releasing it and trying not to shudder. It wasn’t icky. It was feathery soft. Velvety. Lavish.
But he’s like a cryptid, or something. A mothman! Graham sayshe’sadragon, and I canseehis scales, and it’s all because of this stupid, toxic necklace! I lift it off my chest, and halfway over my head—and it feels like the air vanishes from my lungs.
I can hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. The lights fade, even though it’s a sunny May afternoon. Everything around me is dark and going out of focus.
Beside me, I feel Graham’s hands on mine, hear his voice speaking, but the words don’t make sense.
The heavy, comforting weight of the amulet sinks onto my sternum, and lights, air, and sound come rushing back.
“I don’t feel so good,” I say weakly. “When I tried to take that off—”
“It’s safer not to,” Graham says, lips thin.
“But I’m seeing things.”
