Chapter 54

By the time the three siblings’ conversation is over, it is nearing midnight, and Alcina is quite exhausted. She just barely manages to stumble to her room, where she heads immediately for one trunk in particular.

Perseus and Orion practically tackle her to the floor the moment she opens it, snuffing and clicking in unfettered joy.

Alcina giggles, squirming when the dragons nose their snouts against her cheeks and neck, and it takes nearly ten minutes for the two to stop wriggling with wild excitement.

After that, all Alcina has the energy to do, is to change into her nightgown and dig up her sleeping mask from the bottom of her trunk.

She glances at the closed door separating her and Brendan’s bedroom with a bitten lip.

* * * * * * * * * *

Brendan is stretched along his bed, a book open in his lap when he hears the separating door open.

He looks up and watches as it swings slowly, carefully, slender fingers visible where they’re wrapped around the edge of the door.

And then, Alcina’s