BooksBarbecue
Back Given Save as PDF
Chapters (49)
  1. Given
  2. CONTENTS
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. Acknowledgments
  44. About the Author
  45. Copyright
  46. About the Publisher
  47. Backad 1
  48. Backad 2
  49. Backad 3

He beamed at her and gently pulled her to sit in his lap, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. He nuzzled her neck as his arms came around her, and Yenni let out an indignant cry at the feel of his bristly beard on her skin. Still, he felt warm and wonderful and Yenni didn’t want to let him go, even though . . .

“Weh-sheh, how long has it been since your last bath?”

Weysh stopped nuzzling and groaned. “Never one to mince words, en? At least not with me. A while, I suppose. Apologies, my heart, it’s one of the unfortunate side effects of having no sense of smell, and being mired in a depressive funk . . . literally, it would seem.” He guided her to stand. “Give me some time to get ready and let’s go somewhere.”

“But shouldn’t you rest?”

Weysh shook his head. “I’ve been cooped up in this very sitting room for the last two days. I even slept in this chair. I need to get out. You can study while you wait. I should have all the books you need here somewhere. I know my home is no palace but—”

“It’s wonderful,” said Yenni.

“En? Really?”

“Yes. It reminds me of you.”

The boyish grin he gave her all but stopped her heart. “Well, great! I’m glad you like it. Maybe that means you’ll want to spend more time here.” His smile slipped into a smirk. “Perhaps even spend the night . . .”

“Go bathe, stinky dragon.”

Weysh laughed that beautiful, honest laugh of his, and she had never been so happy to hear it. He started for the stairs at the back of the sitting room. “I won’t be long,” he said, clomping up the stairs. “And we can take off from the roof once I’m done. Happy studying!”

“Welcome back,” Yenni whispered after him.

26

Weysh frowned his displeasure at the mirror. Had he really been going out in public like this? His beard was an itchy, wiry tangle, and he’d been getting by most days with his hair pulled back in a dark, messy knot that he now realized didn’t do as much to hide its state of disarray as he’d thought. He sorely needed the services of a barber, but for now he’d do what he could.

At the moment his hair was wet from his shower, courtesy of Yoben’s Rainfall. Typical dragon that he was, he had never been particularly adept at spellcraft, but he sure as hell did his best now.

“By source make my movement quick.”