Chapter 8

The tower’s penthouse was far from large enough to contain a dragon. Nevertheless, the blue beast filled the space, hunched and crammed between walls and ceiling — wild eyes rolled as it struggled with ineffectual effort to free itself from its impossible position.

Barely finding room to stand at the top of the stairs, I feared its great snout would bump me down the steep stairs in a less dignified manner than I had ascended. There was no way it could have come up the staircase or fit through any of the arched windows.

An apparent illusion, I decided to play along for shits and giggles. “Oh, no,” I deadpanned. “It’s a dragon. I must flee for my life.”

The drake harrumphed. “Your sarcasm is noted.” Then it blurred, shrunk, and disappeared. Miller stood in its place. “Forgive my deception. It was a last-minute dodge.” He shrugged. “Nothing else came to mind.”

“Why are you avoiding me? I need answers, and you keep running away.”