“Elle?” she answered.
“It’s me, yeah,” I said. “I wanted to call and check in.”
“Goodness, girl, I’ve been worried about you. Is everything okay?”
Her concern made me feel like even more of an asshole for not calling her sooner.
“I’m good, yeah. Just, uh, been dealing with family stuff.” It wasn’t a lie. Sure, it wasn’t the family problems regular people dealt with, but it was close enough to the truth.
“Oh no!” She gasped, and I could picture the older woman putting a hand to her chest like she did when she was upset. “Has anyone passed?”
“No, no,” I said quickly. “Nothing like that. Mostly drama, I suppose. Nothing for you to worry about. I was sitting here and started to feel guilty about leaving you all in a lurch. I’m sorry I haven’t called in a while, and it’s probably gonna be a while before I’m back.” My chest was tight with embarrassment.
“You listen here,” Lorraine said in a stern, motherly voice. “You have nothing to worry about. Family comes first. Your job will be waiting for you whenever you get back. Understood?”
My shoulders sagged in relief. The last thing I wanted to do was burn any bridges, especially not with someone I liked so much.
“Thank you, Lorraine. That means the world to me. I promise you’ll be the first person I call when I get back.”
“That’s a deal,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “You have a good day, sweetie. Let us know if there’s anything we can do for you.”
“I will. Thanks. Bye.”
Hanging up, I sighed heavily. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. With that done, I got dressed for the day.
As I pulled on my sneakers, I saw the sole of one had become loose. It flopped down like a dog’s tongue. With everything that had been going on, I hadn’t noticed.
“Well shit,” I muttered, fingering the flopping sole.
I stared at the ruined shoe, a new and unwelcome thought bouncing around my mind. These shoes had been an egregious splurge when I’d bought them a year ago. They’d cost two hundred dollars, which hadn’t been a big deal to me until now. My monthly stipend from my parents had made my life more comfortable than it ever would have been without it. I could have bought all the designer bags, shoes, and clothes I wanted. They also paid for the luxury penthouse Delphine, and I shared. With everything that had happened, there was zero chance they would keep supporting me financially.
Lorraine only paid me a dollar more than minimum wage, and Delphine didn’t have a job. What would we do when we got back to our lives? We’d have to move out of the penthouse and get a much smaller apartment, but even then, money would be tight. She’d have to get a full-time job, and I might have to get a second job. Maybe I could talk to Lorraine about a raise?
My stomach knotted in worry, like worms or snakes writhing inside me and fighting each other. I’d lived a privileged life. All these years I’d pitied myself for what my parents had done to me, but at least I hadn’t had to worry about money. There were people literally living on the streets with nothing, and I’d been walking around in designer boots and wool coats. Now, for the first time in my life, money was going to be a huge problem. If I managed to survive whatever war was coming, my lifestyle would change.
Shame, that familiar bitch, seeped back. The entire race of dragon shifters was on the verge of an extinction-level war, and here I was worrying about my precious life of luxury. Aurelius’s people would be fighting for their very lives, and all I could think about was myself. But it was hard not to. I was about to plunge into a situation I had no experience with. Maybe the king could help until we got back on our feet. Maybe he’d let us stay here at the castle.
Heat rose to my cheeks at the thought. I was being presumptuous. Aurelius and the king had been overly welcoming and kind to us, but asking to live here would be crossing a line, wouldn’t it? Even with what was happening between Aurelius and me, we weren’t at that point yet. God, I’d look like the clingiest, craziest woman if I asked to stay here when this was all over.
A whisper at the back of my head said that if the situation were reversed, I’d be happy to let Aurelius stay.
I quickly found a different pair of sneakers and put them on. Maybe a walk would help clear my head. Easing the door open, I glanced over to see Delphine still asleep on the guest bed.
“Where were you going?”
I yelped and spun around. Aurelius was strolling toward me, carrying a covered basket.
“Coming to find you actually,” I said, trying my best to shove away all the negative thoughts that had been burning through my mind a moment before. “What are you doing?”
“The same. I was looking for you.” He raised the basket. “When I saw Vincent and Sahalie yesterday, all I wanted was to have a picnic with you.” His eyes darkened a bit, but his smile didn’t falter. “After being stuck in that room, I’d like to enjoy a little sunshine and breakfast with you.”
Great job.
Aurelius spent days being tortured, and you’re worried about how you’re gonna afford your next chai tea latte.
The fact that he’d thought about me helped shove aside my negative self-talk. He wanted to see me and spend time with me.
“That sounds amazing,” I said, hooking my arm through his. “I’m starving. Let’s go.”
He led me to the oldest part of the castle that he’d shown me the first night I was here. Eventually, we arrived at a stone set of stairs.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“The hatchery roost,” he explained, then chuckled. “I know I told you the last time we were here that it’s called the hatchery, but we don’t actually lay eggs or anything. Like I said, it’s the traditional place where dragon shifters come to have their children. It’s been abandoned since Vincent was born. Up these steps is what’s called the roost. It’s where young shifters came to have their first shift and learn to fly back when that happened more often. There was a time when shifters from all over the world would make a pilgrimage here to have their children, and those who lived close enough would return when it was time for their child to shift for the first time.”
“Is that where we’re going?”
“Yup. It’s a little chilly out, but the view can’t be beaten,” he explained.
We went up ten flights of stairs and finally emerged onto a large stone platform that jutted out over the edge of the mountain. From here, I could see the sweeping hills and valleys of the Decimus lands, and all the way out to the city in the distance. On a clear day, you could probably see even further.
“This is magnificent,” I said.
“Just like you,” he said.
A blush crept into my cheeks. I loved hearing him say things like that. This man was gorgeous and sexy, but also smart and kind. No one else in my life had ever made me feel so desired, so wanted… So loved. God, no wonder I’d fallen so hard for him.
The heat from the warmed stone seeped into my legs as we sat down. Aurelius pulled a blanket out of the basket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
“Even with the sun, it’s a little cool up here. I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
I kissed his cheek in thanks. “Do you think of everything?”
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