Merry in Moonvale: A Cozy Fantasy Holiday Novella by Hailey Blackwood

Author:Hailey Blackwood [Blackwood, Hailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hailey Blackwood Books
Published: 2024-12-31T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

Kizzi

Fiella trembled like a leaf. It would have been hilarious if I wasn’t also terrified and on the verge of vomiting myself.

She watched the dragon warily, as if it was capable of swallowing her whole. Redd, to my surprise, didn’t pull her from the dragon’s path. He simply watched the dragon with the sharp gaze of a predator, prepared to step in and protect his mate if he needed to, but willing to let her have this moment on her own.

I admired him for that. I knew the protective instincts were hard to quell.

When Ember opened his jaws and tensed, I expected a stream of unholy flames. For all of us to die and burn to a crisp, and for the shop to crumble to ash.

I tensed to leap. At what, I wasn’t sure. I certainly wasn’t fireproof, but if Fiella was going to burn, I was going to burn with her.

It was futile.

All that escaped the mouth of the tiny dragon was a puny squeak, followed by a burst of hot air that merely fluttered Fiella’s cloak.

I let out the heaviest exhale. My head swam with relief.

The room settled into a tense silence, all of us brushing off the near-death experience. I wiped a bead of sweat off of my forehead. The dragon closed his maw and stared at Fiella questioningly.

“Well,” Tandor said awkwardly. “That was kind of adorable.”

Fiella choked. “Adorable! I almost died!”

Redd rubbed her shoulder. “You were very brave.”

She hadn’t been brave at all, actually. She screamed like a wailing baby. But I wasn’t going to say that out loud, because I had let out a squeal or two myself.

“I’m going to try something…” Tandor stepped forward slowly, extending his hand. His fingers trembled.

I should’ve known the gentle orc would be the first to attempt to pet the murderous creature. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to smile or shove him out of the way to protect him. The indecision kept me rooted to the spot.

He knelt, slowly, hesitantly. His muscles twitched with the restraint—I could tell he was itching to scoop the tiny dragon up in one smooth motion.

The dragon glanced in his direction and tilted his head curiously, and then turned back to face Fiella.

The tension in the room was begging to be shattered. Even the sprites seemed to hold their breath.

My fingertips buzzed with restrained magic. It pressed on my fingernails, tightened my veins until it was almost painful. I curled my fingers into my palms to relieve the sensation.

Tandor’s eyebrow furrowed in concentration. After what felt like ages, his fingers finally made contact with the tiny dragon, stroking feather lightly down the middle of the creature’s back.

The dragon tensed for a moment, bared its razor-sharp teeth. His scales rose like hackles. And then he laid down, allowing Tandor to pet him for a few long moments.

“Kizzi,” Tandor whispered. “Are you seeing this?”

“I see it,” I whispered back. “Are you scared?”

“Shitless.”

“Is he soft?”

“No, it's like tiny, paper-thin stones laying on top of each other.

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