Kilian didn't take the bait, but nodded to him calmly. "I'll sleep in the armchair."
Ava opened her mouth to object. He couldn't possibly spend the night in that cramped armchair. But before she said anything, she closed her mouth again. His words rang in her head. If these Old Folk really demanded to decide her fate, she would be glad he'd stayed.
"Of course he's sleeping with us."
Marcus had been watching her. He nodded slowly, less enthusiastic than at first. "As you wish. There'swater in the kitchen. We'll see you at breakfast. Sleep well, oh enchanting Guardian." He winked at her before closing the door.
There was already the sound of soft snoring to be heard. Lilly had cuddled up next to the dragon egg on the bed and was fast asleep. Smiling, Ava looked at Kilian, who was also looking at the girl tenderly. When he noticed her gaze, he looked at her, a secret sparkle in his eyes. "What's going through your mind?"
"How is it that a cold dragon fighter has a soft spot for children?"
"How would you know that?"
She began counting on her fingers. "You're nice to her, you give her a silver coin, which I haven't even given her yet, I just realized. You bring food so she doesn't have to go hungry..."
"I mean, why do you think I'm cold?"
"Aren't you?"
He stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. "You'd be surprised."
She studied him thoughtfully. "How were you able to get to us in time when we were attacked in the dragon cave?"
"I was still in the area. And now we'd better sleep. Morning isn't far off."
That was probably sensible.
"Sleep well, oh enchanting Guardian."
"Sleep well, oh famously notorious Dragon Fighter."
They exchanged a smile that felt familiar. As if they had known each other for years.
With a comforting feeling in her heart, she lay down next to Lilly and the egg. It was so warm that she quickly shed her vest-like corset and tunic to sleep in her tank top. Otherwise, all her clothes would havebeen soaked with sweat by morning. She turned towards Lilly and the egg, whose faint glow was shining like a night light.
Her limbs were tired, her feet hurt, and her eyes burned. But despite her exhaustion, she doubted she would fall asleep.
Chapter 18
She tossed and turned, perhaps falling asleep for a few minutes in between, but not for long. At some point, Kilian's hand rested on her shoulder.
"I have to go."
She sat up abruptly, instantly wide awake. The reddish glow of the dragon egg illuminated the room sufficiently for her to make out his angular facial features. "Where?"
"To morning roll call. If I don't show up, they'll come looking for me, and that's something we all want to avoid at all costs."
He was right about that. Still, she was surprised that he was leaving her alone. Perhaps he distrusted the people less than she had assumed. "Do your friends know where you are?"
"They think I'm in the old dragon cave."
Right, no one could have foreseen that they would have been ambushed.
"I'll come back as soon as I can, but probably not until tomorrow night. Keep your eyes open, stay alert,and remember how delicate the situation will get if they believe you're one of them."
There was no way she would forget, even if someone tried to make her. She was used to having her freedom and for years she'd been on her own, with Helen having been the only person she'd needed to coordinate with. One thing worried her. "Do you think they'll just let you back into the city tomorrow night? They're quite suspicious of you."
"If they don't, I'll fly my dragon straight to this valley. After all, I now know where they're hiding. They won't want that, so they'll prefer to let me in through the door."
