Page 20 of Taught By the Dragon
The only thing that mattered.
ChapterEight
Bronx took the rubbish bag to the bin outside and lingered, watching as the trio of females entered the kitchen. Percy hung back from the others, almost as if she were afraid to get too close to anyone.
Even with some more detailed reports from Bram and Kai about Percy’s former situation, none of the words conveyed just how hurt and damaged she truly was. For fuck’s sake, she’d asked if they’d poisoned the food in the kitchen or not.
His dragon spoke up.I don’t know why you would be so surprised. We had to be careful with Edith.
Yes, but only because her arsehole ex had beat her. She never asked if I poisoned anything, let alone would be clawing her face to pieces.
Percy made a wide circle around Violet and Layla, until she reached the fridge. When she opened it, the angle still allowed him to see her eyes widen.
He would’ve bet everything he had they’d sometimes fucking starved her as punishment—she was far too thin, in the sickly way of too many angles and jutting cheekbones. His first impulse was to charge into the kitchen, tell Percy to sit, and make her everything she asked for.
Violet was a good baker but only a so-so cook. Bronx was better. He didn’t burn toast or overcook eggs like his daughter, not that he’d be able to make a grand feast or anything close to it.
And yet, he stayed put. Percy wanted to make her own food, and he would have to let her do it. But never in his life had giving someone a choice been so bloody difficult.
His dragon sighed.We can’t do everything for everyone.
I know, but it’s nice feeling useful again.
He tapped his prosthetic against his good leg before putting it back on the ground. He did it again as he continued to watch, until Violet spied him and waved enthusiastically. He barely kept his cheeks from heating as Percy frowned out at him.
Great, now she thinks I’m a fucking pervert.
His beast chuckled.You are a little, right now.He growled, and his dragon added,I’m merely kidding. Let’s go back inside. She’ll never get used to our presence if we always maintain our distance. And we both want her to learn the ropes of being a dragon-shifter as quickly as possible.
He grunted and joined the others in the kitchen.
Violet asked him, “Percy said she’s never eaten pizza or curry or even scones before. She didn’t even know what scones were! We have to add the ingredients to our shopping list and give her the recipes. Because scones with jam and clotted cream are even better than chocolate chip biscuits.”
His lips twitched. “If you have a sweet tooth.” He looked at Percy. “Do you prefer sweet or savory?”
Her familiar frown—the one that signaled no one ever asked her opinion about things—returned. “I’m just grateful to eat. It doesn’t matter what it is.”
Maybe he should leave it there, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from asking, “But if you knew you could eat every day, as much as you wanted, and then had to decide which thing to reach for first—would it be sweet like cake or savory like a roast and potatoes?”
“I’ve only had cake once, but I remember it being good. Potatoes, I ate almost every day, so if I can avoid them, I will.”
That still wasn’t a real answer. But his daughter beat him to the punch and blurted, “What about chips? You can’t tell me you don’t like chips? I mean, nothing beats deep-fried potatoes.”
Percy shrugged. “I’ve never had them. Our potatoes were always boiled.”
Violet leaned against the island counter. “Well, then you’ll need some fish and chips, and soon. It’s a bit hard to make, though. But maybe one day, I’ll take you to the chippy on Stonefire, and you can rethink your position onallpotatoes.”
Bronx was about to tell Violet to tone it down when Percy almost smiled. “Maybe. For now, I’ll just have a sandwich. My cooking skills aren’t all that great.”
Violet rushed to a cupboard, took out a book, and held it out to Percy. “I’ve been using this. It has some pictures to help and is pretty easy to follow. Well, if you remember to watch the food and not get distracted like I do. But you can borrow it, if you want.”
Percy gingerly took the book and nodded before setting it aside. “Thank you.”
Violet continued to list off all the things Percy needed to try—she really hadn’t tried much in her life, which only fueled Bronx’s anger at the bastards who’d kept her prisoner—as Layla approached him.
She gestured to the side, and once they were on the far side of the room, she whispered, “I already talked to Violet about not bringing up her past too often, although she seems to have forgotten that. Maybe chat to her yourself? Focusing on things like cooking or new hobbies is good, aye, but until we’re more certain about her dragon and what she’ll do, I’d rather not trigger her with memories of her imprisonment.”
Bronx kept his voice low too, so the other two females wouldn’t hear. “I’ll talk with Violet. When will the test results for her bloodwork come back?”
