AUDREY WAITED ON THE OTHER side of the door with Nnelg.

'Your Highness.' The dragon bowed, the blue of his scales shimmered in the afternoon light streaming through a window. I stopped and looked at Nnelg, then knelt so I sat at his level. The dragon's dark eyes widened. 'Majesty?'

'Nnelg.' I swallowed hard, forcing back the bile that threatened. 'You know we're going away for a bit. I need you to watch Lucky and Audi, okay?'

He nodded earnestly, his long tail ...