Page 2 of Sapphire Seas

Only because you were taking too long.

Human form means shorter strides.

Which is exactly why I took over.

I heard Kes’ footsteps on the stairs, and relief washed over me. I was so grateful that he’d returned before I did something rash.

“I know you said you didn’t want anything, but I made you a sandwich too,” Kes said, handing me a plate with a massive one perched in the center and threatening to topple over.

Between the thick slabs of meat, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion he’d layered on, it literally wobbled as I got the plate settled on my lap.

“Thank you,” I said, my stomach growling now that it was in front of me, though I suspected my dragon had something to do with that too.

Inhale and you’ll understand why. It smells divine, and he toasted the bread. Mmm and heated the meat too. I can smell the cheese melting on top of it.

Taking a bite was the only way to stop him and keep my mouth from watering more than it already was. Crisp and melty, the butter he’d used to toast the bread mingled with whatever condiments he’d put on the sandwich. There were plenty to choose from in the kitchen, I loved roughly ninety-nine percent of them and kept many on hand.

“Exemplary,” I whispered, after I’d chewed and swallowed.

Unlike my dragon, I was not a savage, though I did tear into that sandwich with enough gusto to be grateful for the napkin he’d brought with the food.

The burp I let out after was all dragon. No one could say otherwise.

Excuse me.

Yes, excuse you, dragon, now behave.

You first, human.

I was arguing with myself and losing.

Nothing new there, if I was being honest.

He snorted, and I knew that if we were keeping score, he’d make another tick mark in his column. Not like he needed it, he usually won these mental sparring matches of ours.

Who says I’m not?

Not what?

Keeping score. Keep up, human, there is a reason you lose all the time.

Shush!

“Oh, sorry, I just thought maybe the quiet was getting to you too.”

Shit.

Now look what you did.

Dammit, dragon, that was all on you.

“Sorry, that wasn’t meant for you,” I hastily tried to explain, not that I’d heard one word of what Kes had been trying to say when I accidentally shushed him. “My dragon was being disagreeable.”

“Probably because shaking the bed wouldn’t be a good idea with him in this condition,” he remarked, startling me so badly I nearly dropped the plate.

“How did you know what I was thinking?”

"I don't know, I guess you were being loud enough that it popped into my head, or your dragon shared with mine. They like to whisper secrets to each other. I think it’s, well, kind of sweet the way they’ve already bonded.”