Page 15 of Dragon My Crazy

“We never had any. She can’t read yet.”

She gave me a look like I’d said something stupid.

“You’resupposed to read toher,” she huffed. She continued looking around the room. “What about toys that test her motor skills? Like shape sorters, stacking cups, musical toys?”

“She melted the ones we bought, and since she doesn’t have hands to play with them, we decided not to replace them.”

“Who is thisweyou speak of?” she asked, grabbing a soft baby brush that had been spared from the fire and brushing Melly’s head like she had hair.

“Leroy. I don’t have many humans in my employ.”

She gawked at me. “Leroy? You are trusting yourdaughter’sdevelopment to awizardwho probably doesn’t even know how to change a diaper?”

“Luella turned out okay.”

“Ah, so the woman is his daughter. I thought they looked familiar. And it explains a lot.”

“What do you mean?”

“She has both beauty and strong magic, but only knows how to use one to her advantage. This is from generations of purposeful breeding and years of brainwashing. I should know.”

“Because you are a product of such breeding as well,” I concluded. “I saw your magic at the gala, and you are exceptionally beautiful.”

The most delightful shade of pink colored her cheeks, but she waved my comment away. “My beauty faded with my youth.”

“Nonsense. Need I remind you that you are young compared to me?”

“It’s not the same. You are in your prime for your species. I am not. It’s neither here nor there. Back to Luella… Did your wizard raise her, or did his wife?”

I frowned, not liking how she spoke of herself as if the best years of her life were behind her and, along with it, her worth. But there was plenty of time to rid her of this silly notion. For now, I answered her question.

“She only came to live with us recently.”

“And before?”

“She lived with her mother in Calgary.”

“That tells me all I need to know.” She turned back to Melly. “I guess no reading today. Maybe tomorrow, after we go pick up some books and toys. Did you say there’s a new town settling in nearby?”

“Yes. I was planning to go visit and see who lived under my wing, but I keep putting it off.”

“Why don’t we go into town and check out the bookstore tomorrow?”

“Why, Elana, I thought you’d never ask,” I said, putting a hand over my heart.“Bookstore and lunch date. Very well, I accept.”

“It’s not a date, and besides, Melly’s coming along.”

And that had my protective hackles rising. “No, she’s not.”

“Why not?”

“Then everyone in town will know there’s a little dragon in the mountains. Poachers will come.”

“How is she going to get in touch with her human side if all she sees are four walls and you?”

“There are more than four walls, and she sees more than just me.”

“Oh yeah? Who?”