Page 107 of His Greatest Treasure
Alfie shook his head quickly. “No, do as you like, Mother.”
She placed a plate on the table for me and gestured at it. I tugged on Alfie’s hand and we moved round so I could sit. Then we had to let go of each other’s hands because Alfie needed to get his own breakfast and I needed both my hands to eat.
“How did Mrs. Wilson manage to make breakfast if she was building up the border?”
Regina said, “Mrs. Wilson took care of sustenance while the other sprites worked under the Guardian’s instructions.”
We ate breakfast and walked the castle. Before, when Alfie had been showing me round, I knew that circuit of the place had been for me, to show me where everything was. This time, though, I got the impression that it was for him. He wanted to see it. To see it with new eyes. To learn his new territory.
My Alfie might be new to shifting and he might not understand his instincts, but his dragon wanted to imprint on the territory and ensure it was safe for his clan.
And it was useful to see where everyone got to. Silvia was in her studio and although she wasn’t painting, she had loads of beautiful works for me to admire. She patted my cheek gently and smiled at me, and I felt very flustered.
Isabella gently chided me for my out-of-date fashion sense and said she’d ensure I got a proper wardrobe, and Alfie gasped, “You can speak English, Aunt Isabella!”
She drew herself up and said, “I learned it last night. I knew Blaze didn’t understand Italian.”
We all knew she was lying about learning it last night. She’d understood Alfie perfectly when he’d been speaking English yesterday. She had simply decided to speak English today so that I could understand her, and that made me feel all strange and fluttery, too.
When we reached a small parlour, we found Evangeline. Alfie had told me she was old, but whether he’d been too polite to say just how ancient she was or whether he had no idea how manyyears this dragon had lived, I wasn’t prepared for the shock of it. Her eyes were so old and so knowing that I didn’t want to enter her room.
Then she, too, smiled at me. I’d never had so many people be nice to me before and I wasn’t coping very well.
Alfie’s grip on my hand tightened. “Are you okay, Blaze? What is it?”
“Nothing,” I said.
The old woman said, “Come in and sit with me, Blaze Somerville. I wish to speak to the elder.”
Alfie sat opposite Evangeline and, still holding my hand, tugged me onto his lap. I landed there with a bump and he wrapped his arms around me before I could topple out of his grip.
I was so surprised that I couldn’t say anything. I sat still, wondering what this regal old woman would do when they saw our position.
“Oh,” Alfie cried. His arms suddenly released me. “Sorry, I just assumed- you don’t have to sit with me, Blaze. If you don’t want to. I just like it when you do but maybe that’s just for when we’re on our own?”
Evangeline not only didn’t look surprised, I thought I detected some satisfaction in the depths of her eyes.
And I liked it. It was my favourite place to sit. The place I felt warmest and most comfortable.
So I curled up in his lap, pressing myself against his chest. “No, my darling, it’s for always.”
The way his arms tightened around me told me everything I needed to know about how Alfie felt. There was relief and possessiveness in that hold, and I loved it.
There was a knock at the door and George came in. He bowed his head to Alfie and didn’t look at all surprised to see me snuggled up on Alfie’s lap.
“George, come in,” said Evangeline. “Please, sit with us. Would you light a fire in the hearth?” She glanced at me. “I don’t want Blaze to get cold.”
I realised then that I was cool. Not so cold as to be uncomfortable but not warm, either. Alfie’s arms were warm but the castle was thick-walled and chilly.
George nodded and, walking over to the fireplace, pushed out a flame from his hand, sending it in a neat arc so that it landed in the kindling already waiting. I studied George, this time withmy sense for fire, not just my eyes. Yes, there was fire inside him. It was controlled and dignified, but it was there.
I decided I liked him.
“Thank you,” said Alfie.
On his lap, I wanted to twist my face into his neck and hide from everyone. They were all being so nice to me, and I felt so treasured as I sat there, safe in my mate’s arms.
Alfie asked, “What did you want to talk to me about, Great Aunt Evangeline?”
