Page 45 of Journey to the Elderoak
Titus screeched with joy as he flew into the air and released a small burst of flames before landing back on Ava’s shoulder and settling into her hair.
“He’s excited,” Casimir whispered as he watched the whole interaction.
“Of course he is,” said Ava. “He has good taste, like Bale.”
I hope you don’t expect me to babysit, said Luna, startling her.
“Can you hear my thoughts all the time?”
Mostly. If that creature annoys me, he will make a tasty snack.
“Luna! You can’t eat him!”
“What?” Casimir looked at her.
“Luna said she’d eat Titus if he annoys her,” Ava replied. “I didn’t know the animals basically eavesdropped on us.”
“Oh yes. They can be quite intrusive when they choose to be.”
“Does Aro do that to you?”
“All the damn time.”
They said their goodbyes and headed back to the castle, Titus riding on Ava’s shoulder.
“This was the best day of my life,” she said, breaking the silence as they walked back through the neighborhood, the afternoon sun now high in the sky.
“Really?”
“Yes,” she said with a huge sigh. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy. At least not in a long time. Thank you.”
“If I knew all it would take to see that side of you was a bunch of animals, I would do it every day.”
“What side of me?”
“The free side,” he said. “The giddy one. The side of you that truly lets go because you’re in your element. Where your smile isn’t haunted by the grief in your eyes.”
She glanced at him as they continued along the road, framed by shops and restaurants. “Well, maybe I need to go there more often.”
“You can come with me whenever I go for my monthly visits.”
“I can? That would be wonderful. I can be with the animals. And help them. And apparently, they like me so that would be a help to Durim—what?” She caught him looking at her in amusement.
“I like it when you do that,” he said.
“Do what?”
“Get excited and ramble.”
“Why?”
“It pleases me,” he said, eyes burning.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Well…I’m glad I could please you, general,” she said, voice hoarse.
17
Casimir sat at the round council table, maps of Eorhan spread out before them with figures to mark Deidamia’s forces. He observed the argument ensuing between his king and one of his advisors, Desmond. Thorne was tapping his fingers together in his usual tell, his temper on a tight leash, while Desmond pushed to move on Deidamia’s army sooner rather than later.
