Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Nothing wrong with that.” Robbie rubbed his belly. “I think I have a sweet stomach instead.”
“We have tomatoes for you,” Khadar informed him and shifted to remove the bag from his shoulder.
“Thank you. I’d heard the gardens were buzzing,” Robbie said, taking the tomatoes that Lalani rushed to hand him.
Khadar noted she’d taken ownership of this job. He should have noticed earlier that she needed something to do. “Robbie, do you know if there is a beauty supply place in Wyvern? Lalani is a hairdresser. She suggested she could trim up everyone’s hair around here if they needed a haircut.”
“Put me at the top of the list. I whacked at the back yesterday with scissors and made a mess,” Robbie confessed, running a hand through his hair. “Wearing one of the netted hoods to keep the bees away from my face is tough on any style, but worse when my hair gets too long.”
He looked away as if he was concentrating for a moment. “There is one in town. I think it’s on Finegan Street toward the west end. I used to visit a curry restaurant near there from time to time.”
“Thank you, Robbie. You’ll be at the top of my list. If you have scissors, I could straighten that up for you,” Lalani suggested.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m hot and sweaty from rounding up a new swarm. I’ll come let you fix me up when I smell a bit better. I’ll take these tomatoes in to enjoy with my dinner.”
“Enjoy, Robbie,” Khadar told him as he took Lalani’s hand.
“See you soon, Robbie,” Lalani told him.
Khadar was pleased to hear how upbeat her voice sounded. As they returned to the house, he told her, “You can talk to me about anything, Princess. If something is bothering you, let me know.”
“Is there any way we could go check if that shop is there?” Lalani asked.
“You bet. It’s not far from a pizza place. They’re still open because the pizza ovens are wood-fired,” Khadar suggested.
“Pizza? Like real pizzeria pizza? Is it okay to miss dinner here? I think the cook had already planned BLTs.”
“If we don’t show up, they’ll save us a few for tomorrow,” Khadar assured her. “The cook has learned not to set anything on the table until I’m there. It’s safer that way.”
“Okay. Great! I’d give my left foot for a pizza,” she confessed.
“I like both of your feet just where they are. Is there anything you need from the house?”
“I just need to pee. Can I run behind that tree and go?”
Sensing it would take too long in her mind to get to the house, Khadar agreed as he schooled his face not to reveal his amusement. “I will wait here, Lalani.”
He watched her disappear behind a clump of trees. His super hearing could hear a soft whizzing sound that he’d never admit to her. Lalani would die from embarrassment.
“Ahhhh!” Lalani called as she tromped through the wooded area.
Khadar started toward her and controlled his expression as his mate tried to run, pull up her pants, and swat at a bumblebee all at the same time. Khadar plucked her up and carried her a short distance away. He waved her hands away and righted her clothes. “Did you get stung?”
“No, Daddy. But he wanted to,” she said, shaken.
“I’m sorry the bee scared you. You can have an extra helping of honey tomorrow just for spite.”
“Yeah!” she said, nodding. Lalani instantly looked better.
“Would you still like to go into town?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s go, Princess.”
In a few minutes, she settled onto his back with the ease of a frequent rider and Khadar took off toward town. He landed in a park a few blocks from where Robbie had described the shop. After shifting, he talked to a few kids drawn to them in awe of his dragon before taking Lalani’s hand and guiding her down the street.
“You’re a nice guy,” Lalani complimented.
“Dragon.”
“Sorry. You’re a nice dragon. Talking to those teenagers made their day. I loved the ‘when did you know you were a dragon question'. I think they were all hoping to wake up tomorrow and be a dragon.”
“Of course, they do. Doesn’t everyone?”
“I don’t want to be a dragon. Even if I’d be a dragon unicorn,” Lalani said before grabbing his arm with her free hand. “Look, there it is. The door is open.”
“Let’s go get what you need. Let me go in first,” Khadar ordered.
“Hello? Is there something I can help you with?” a friendly voice asked as they walked in.
Khadar turned to see a teenager standing behind a counter at the front of the store. “Hi. My mate is a hairdresser and hoped to find some supplies to help others with haircuts.”
“That will help people’s spirits so much. I’ve had a few people come in to grab stuff. I put the real treasures away, so I’d have something for professionals like you. What’s your favorite brand of scissors?” the clerk asked.