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)
“I haven’t run into it. You said they were connected. How?”
Elenore closed her book carefully so she didn’t tear or bend any pictures. She placed her right hand on the cover and rubbed a counterclockwise circle on the embossed leather.
Lalani leaned in. “Is it glowing?”
“You are very perceptive. Not everyone can see that. Now watch.” Elenore stood and walked toward the back door. The light dimmed.
“Not in that direction,” Elenore stated firmly and turned to walk back into the center of the house. At each possible turn, she consulted the book’s glow. The light was unmistakable when she reached the cabinet under the TV.
“Can we open this?” Elenore asked, looking at Lalani who stood beside her.
“Of course. Let me do it.”
She dropped to her knees and opened the doors. It was illuminated as if electricity fueled a bulb inside. Lalani moved a few things collected inside and found it. The huge tome.
Pulling it out, she stood and placed it next to Elenore’s. The light was almost blinding. “That’s unbelievable.”
“You can extinguish it. Simply rub a clockwise pattern on the cover.” Elenore demonstrated and Lalani watched with amazement as it became a simple book once again.
“Take that with you. If you have questions, I’m always glad to answer them. When another Morgan appears, you will pass that on to them. Mates are not the keepers of a family’s tome.”
“Could I ask about the tunnels? Why are some houses linked?” Lalani wondered.
“Creating the pact with the dragons forged a common bond between the founding families. While they have supported all those who settled in Wyvern, that original bond has always been viewed as their most important allies. In recent years, the keepers of these tomes have worked together to educate each other, for frequently the books have passed to someone who knew nothing about the pact or dragons.”
“Like me,” Lalani said, looking down at the thick volume in her hand. “I’ll never make it through all of this. Is there like a one-page, cheater, study guide?”
“There is not. I’ve had the book for twenty years and I haven’t read all of it. You have to read and think. Then go back for another chunk. My grandmother passed along the list of parts she thought I should read. It helped me. I’ve copied it for you and added a suggestion of my own that you should start with,” Elenore said, pulling a list from the book and handing it over.
“Thank you so much. I wonder if my mother had a list like this?” She opened the top cover, and a list floated down to the ground.
“Looks like you’re in luck,” Elenore said with a smile. “I bet they all decided to do the same thing. It sounds like something they would have planned together.”
“I think this is in my mother’s handwriting.” Lalani smiled down at the paper. It had just become the most treasured item she had.
“She’d be so glad you have it. Your mother talked about you frequently. How old you would be. When it was your birthday. How she hoped for the best of everything for you. And, how she hoped when you were an adult, that you would come to find her.”
Tears coursed down Lalani’s face. She set the book down on a table and grabbed a few tissues from the box. “Could you tell me more about my mother?”
“I would love to. We can talk about the book and your mom. Let me show you this first. Here are the stories of the first mates.” Elenore pointed to the first item on both lists. “You’re going to love these profiles. Then go look at the steps in the town square.”
Lalani impulsively stepped forward to hug Elenore. “Thank you for coming. I can’t wait to get to know you as well.”
“If you’d like, I’ll introduce you to the others. They’ll be thrilled to meet the green dragon’s mate.”
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
Chapter 19
Just as Elenore had suggested, Lalani devoured the section about the first mates. All such amazingly different stories about incredibly brave women. When Khadar had announced they would attend the harvest festival, Lalani planned to visit the mates’ stairway.
Now, standing at the bottom of the steps, she picked out the first names carved on the bottom step. Such brave women who allowed themselves to love a dragon. Their dragon mate.
“You are staring so hard. Is everything okay, Princess?” Khadar asked, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“The book brought these ladies alive for me. Seeing their names now means so much more than before,” she shared.
“They aren’t names anymore. They’re people,” he suggested.
“That’s it exactly. Your first mate was Brigitte O’Neil.” Lalani pointed to her name. “You met picking berries by the river.”
“She was picking berries. I was cleaning the blood off my scales from a battle. Brigitte did not like violence. She was a very peaceful woman.”