The Dragon Unbound by Megan O'Russell

Author:Megan O'Russell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ink Worlds Press

17

Christmas Wish

Emilia lay in bed, blinking to adjust her eyes to the darkness. Jacob’s breathing was deep and even. She rolled over as slowly as she could, lifting his hand gently away from her shoulder.

She bit her lips to stifle her gasp as her feet touched the freezing floor.

Jacob had left his socks by the door. Emilia slipped them on before carefully opening the door to the living room.

The tree sparkled with tiny starlights that made even the dullest of the spoons glint. The tree was beautiful, even if there weren’t fancy decorations. They had made it themselves. And it was something normal.

“Inluesco.” A ball of shining blue light appeared in her palm.

If she could make cookies or muffins or something, they would have a treat for Christmas morning. Then presents. She would have to find a way to make everyone presents.

Emilia had barely reached for the canister of flour when a doorknob rattled behind her. Emilia spun to look at the front door. Had they found Samuel in time for Christmas?

But it was Claire’s door that began to open as Emilia dove to hide behind the couch. The cookies and presents were supposed to be a surprise. Why did Claire have to be up now?

Emilia peered around the edge of the couch and watched as Claire crept to Connor’s door and knocked softly. Claire waited a moment. Emilia pressed herself to the floor as Claire glanced in her direction.

The knocking was louder this time and followed by Connor’s door creaking open.

“What do you want?” Connor whispered in a hoarse voice.

“I want you to come here,” Claire said.

Emilia chanced another glance around the side of the couch. Claire had taken Connor’s hand and was dragging him in front of the Christmas tree.

“Viscum alescere,” Claire said. The branches at the top of the tree began to shudder, but Claire had turned her attention back to Connor. “We’ve been too afraid to go outside.”

“We have to be careful.”

“Because there are people trying to murder us. That’s not the point. The point is they could get to us. They found us with Proteus. They could find us here.”

“We’ll fight—”

“I know we will,” Claire said. “But if they kill us, there are a few things I need to do first.”

“Like what?” Connor said, his ginger eyebrows rising.

“First off,” Claire said in a business-like whisper, “I have never been kissed. And I refuse to die like that.”

Claire pointed to the branches on the tree that had been shuddering just a moment before.

A sprig of mistletoe had grown right from the Christmas tree.

“And since we’ve already established we’re getting married someday if we aren’t all slaughtered in a horrific manner, I think you’re the best choice for kissing,” Claire said.

Emilia shrunk back down behind the couch. She shouldn't be seeing this, shouldn’t be hearing this. But there was no way out. And Claire had turned thirteen.

But she was still a baby.

“I’m also the only boy here who isn’t tethered to Emilia.” Connor’s voice trembled as he spoke.

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