The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania 1)
“My broom is my favorite,” Tiggy said. “It is my broom and I love it.”
“Bask in me,” Kevin breathed. “Bask.”
“You’re right,” Morgan said drily. “Absolutely nothing alike. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Are you done yet?” I asked Kevin. “You have to meet Morgan before he gets grumbly. He doesn’t like being in sunshine too long.”
“I don’t get grumbly,” he grumbled. “And I like my skin free of wrinkles.”
“A few decades past worrying about that,” I pointed out because I could and he needed it. He’d probably gotten very full of himself while I was gone. I couldn’t let that happen.
“I’m so happy you’re back,” he said flatly. “Really.”
“I know,” I said. “I love you, boo. Kevin, stop posing and get down here!”
“But… they’re basking.”
I rolled my eyes. “I never should have told you about the cult.”
“People make religions about me,” he announced to everyone. “You may do the same.”
“Ahhhh,” they all said.
“Kevin!”
“Gods,” he muttered. “Gary, control your child.”
“My child? Oh, when he does something good he’s our child. But when he starts acting like a whiny bitch, suddenly he’s my child? Let me tell you something—”
“This is a thing now,” I told Morgan. “Somehow, they got together and are convinced I am their child.”
“I think I’ve finally reached the point where I no longer ask questions,” Morgan said, looking up at Kevin. “I officially just go with the flow now.”
“Dude,” I said. “Right on. That makes my life easier.”
“Sam, nothing about your life is easy.”
“Right. But I have a talking dragon, so.”
And Morgan just went with the flow.
I TOLD myself I was going to stroll triumphantly through the gates, my head held high because that was the only thing I could do. If Justin and Ryan were going to be waiting with everyone else at the castle, then I wanted to make sure they saw me standing strong, even if I didn’t exactly feel it. I hoped they were far too busy planning a wedding to have time to stand around and wait for me to come home with the others, but knowing my luck, Justin would have them standing there front and center.
To say people gawked at us as we walked cobbled streets of the City of Lockes is an understatement.
Morgan told me the rumors of our quest were bordering on the ridiculous. Everything from me single-handedly battling a cult of Darks to taking down an army of dragons after I’d lost both legs and my right arm. (“How do they think I even got around after something like that?” “Very carefully.”) Of course, no one really expected a dragon to return with us, especially one that had very recently kidnapped the Prince of Verania. Suffice it to say, people were curious and lined the streets as we made our way through to Castle Lockes.
“Everyone is staring at me,” Kevin muttered. “I’m famous.”
“Okay,” I said. “Sure. Why not.”
He lifted his head, his wings scraping against the side of a building, causing a scratch in the brick. “Oops,” he said. “Sorry. Good people of Verania! I am a dragon. My name is Kevin. I ask that you bring me shiny things.”
“No one bring him anything,” I said.
“Don’t listen to Sam. He’s suffering from weariness from his travels. You should all bring me stuff. I’m not picky. I promise. It just needs to be expensive and shiny and pretty and covered in jewels and—”
“Kevin,” Gary said.