Which it certainly wouldn't do just because Lilly touched it, but Ava wouldn't push her. "Rest a bit with the dragon baby. I know he likes you and is happy when you're near."
Her eyes widened. "Really?"
"He told me so."
Her face beamed. "Okay, I'll do that if it helps him grow." She lay down next to the pillow nest and gazed at the egg with a smile, her eyelids already growing heavy. A long nap would definitely do her good.
"I'll leave you with Lilly and have a look around the house. Call me if you need me."
"We will."The words sounded blissful and deeply relaxed, causing her heart to swell. For years, she had closed off her feelings to avoid ever feeling abandoned and unloved again. Certainly, this hadn't been fair to Aunt Helen, who had done everything to make Ava feel comfortable. But all her aunt's love couldn't make up for having been rejected by her parents, who had abandoned her like a discarded toy.
Perhaps that's why she had never left Helen, even though she had been urged to do so time and time again. Because she had been afraid of experiencing rejection again in the wide world. Of being abandoned once more. But, faced with the girl and the young dragon, she realized that she didn't want that anymore. That she was ready to open her heart to these two beings. For children who were just as alone as she had been back then and who should never feel abandoned.
Chapter 22
As she entered the living room, Marcus pulled back from the window he'd been peering through to discreetly watch the street. He regarded her with undisguised admiration. Ava pointed outside to steer the conversation in the right direction. He shouldn't use the time they were alone for to get closer to her.
"Did anyone notice us?"
He shook his head. "There's no food in the house. I'll go get some."
Ava raised her eyebrows. "But we don't have any money. I'd rather not ask Lilly if we can take her silver coin."
"I'll take care of it."
The phrase sounded suspiciously like Lilly. "To be honest, I'm not comfortable stealing, even though I have no idea how else we're supposed to get food. My singing voice isn't particularly refined, not to mention my acrobatic skills."
"How about fire-eating?"
"I'm afraid I'll have to pass on that too."
"Then it's a good thing I always have some reserves with me." He pulled out the leather cord he wore as a necklace under his shirt. Attached to it were blue and green gemstones that sparkled and glittered even in the muted daylight.
Ava's eyes widened. "You always carry those with you?"
He shrugged as if it were just like any other accessory. "You never know when you might need something to trade on the spot."
"You could buy out the entire market with those."
Laughing, he shook his head. "No idea what value these stones have in your world, but here they're a common medium of exchange. I won't stand out to any merchant."
Incredulously, she pointed at the sapphires and emeralds. "Don't tell me we only get one loaf of bread per stone."
"No. Per stone, about a week's worth of groceries for all of us. So not an amount that would draw attention to us in any way. Are you coming?" He held out his arm to her invitingly.
She gestured over her shoulder towards the bedroom. "You'll have to go without me. I won't leave Lilly or the egg behind."
He gave a perfect bow. "I forgot, oh fair Dragon Guardian, who wishes to be called only Ava. Of course, I won't ask you to separate from your egg."
"That makes it sound like I'm a hen."
Smiling, he took her hand and kissed it. "The prettiest hen the world has ever seen."
Even though he was charming and admittedly good-looking, she withdrew her hand before he couldcontinue. "Do you need a bag to carry things? I can give you mine."
"That would be a great honor."
Without responding to his flirtation, she went to the bedroom to get the leather bag. She really couldn't deal with any man trouble right now.
