"I know that, but she's a child. She shouldn't even be here." She stood up and threw the blanket to the foot of the bed. "If only she hadn't helped me, she'd be better off."
Kilian positioned himself directly in front of her, so she had to look up at him. His presence was stirring and her body began to tremble. "No, she wouldn't be. Just look at her. She hasn't slept this peacefully since she lost her parents."
His answer calmed her guilty conscience—perhaps because deep down she knew he was right.
"I won't need five minutes. Please give her this time to sleep. I know her. As soon as we wake her, she'll be ready to go."
His jaw tensed, but he nodded. "I'll take care of the food, you pack the egg and your things." With those words, he left the bedroom. He and Marcus begantalking in the living room, but they spoke too softly for her to understand.
Quickly, she retrieved her leather bag from beside the bed, nestled the egg inside, and wrapped as many blankets around it as would fit in the bag. It wasn't more than two. She would have preferred to take her clothes, but the blankets would certainly be more useful. The egg's glow wasn't completely dimmed, but it wouldn't immediately catch everyone's eye.
As she looked around, she realized there was nothing else to pack. They had left all their belongings in the fire dragon's cave when the mages had first ambushed them and they'd barely escaped. So she gently shook Lilly's shoulder.
"Mhmmm?" The girl kept her eyelids closed.
"We have to go, Lilly."
On command, she opened her eyes and was awake. "What happened?" She was already sitting up and looking at the empty spot on the bed where the egg had just been. "Did someone steal it?"
"No, don't worry, I have it in the bag. Kilian has come. He says we've been discovered. People don't know about the egg yet, but they know we're hiding here."
"Okay." Lilly pulled the leather band out of her hair, combed through the thin strands with her fingers as best she could, and tied it into the usual high ponytail. At the same time, she stood up and walked to the door. "Ready." She had slept in her shoes.
They went into the living room. The men were there, each with a leather bag slung over their shoulders. Kilian was at the window, looking outside. "We need to hurry. In half an hour, the city guard will make their rounds."
Marcus raised his hands. "Then we should wait."
Kilian shook his head decisively. "They will storm the house tonight. Every minute counts."
Ava's pulse quickened. "This house?"
He nodded.
"When?"
"After midnight. We can make it to the former theater before then."
"You want to hide us in a theater?"
He just nodded as Lilly smiled at him approvingly. "That's brilliant! There hasn't been a performance there in years."
Kilian returned her smile without hesitation. They looked like allies, accomplices, long-time friends. An unfamiliar feeling shot through Ava's limbs at the sight, leaving behind a pulsing sensation that was completely inappropriate at this moment—and in general!
When she had to force herself to look away from him, she noticed that Marcus was staring at her openly. Her reaction hadn't escaped him.
She quickly set herself in motion before he could make a comment. "Let's go then, or do you want to have a coffee first?" She hurried down the steps to the store exit and waited for the others to catch up. Lilly was right behind her, then came Kilian, and Marcus brought up the rear. He didn't seem thrilled about leaving their hideout.
"Every time we change location, there's an increased risk of someone noticing the egg."
"This will be the last time we move before it hatches." Ava had peeked outside from behind the curtains and hadn't spotted anyone. "The coast is clear." But before she could open the door, Kilian stepped up to her, took off his dark cloak, and draped it over hershoulders. He came much too close, and his scent enveloped her.
"I'm not cold."
"That's not the point. Hide the bag under the cloak; it'll dampen the last bit of the glow."
She nodded, her mouth dry, as he fastened the clasp below her neck, securing the cloak in place. She resisted the urge to place her hands on his, instead pushing the bag to her hip so that the egg's glow was completely hidden under the fabric. But it was Kilian who briefly placed his hand on hers and looked at her. His gaze was penetrating and attentive, with a barely noticeable glow in it, as if she were the infamous dragon fighter's chosen one.
Marcus let out an audibly noticeable snort, while Lilly was already about to open the door. Kilian immediately turned around and gently but firmly pushed the little one aside. "I'll do that." He opened it silently and slipped out. When he nodded, they followed him, and the store door closed noiselessly behind them. They could skip locking it, as everyone knew they had broken in there anyway.
