Hey everyone, Ghost here! I just want to thank you all for reading my stories, and for all of your encouraging likes, favorites, and comments! This is the last chapter of Fledgling Demigod, but don't worry! I'll start uploading chapters from Book 2, Apprentice Demigod before you know it! I just have to catch up on a few other projects first. Keep checking back and thanks again for all your support! It means the world to me!!!
Ghost
12
"So, what time are we leaving in the morning?" Priscilla asked from her place across the table as she lazily picked at a bit of sausage on her plate. They were in the dining hall the evening of the next day, and Lucinda sat to Galen's right while Grace sat uncomfortably to his left. Priscilla eyed Grace dubiously but didn't otherwise comment on her presence. Grace had insisted on eating in her room as she always did after Galen had gone to bed, but Galen all but ordered her to dine with them.
"Before first light," he answered. "Are you ready?"
Priscilla scoffed. "I hardly need preparations except to transform."
"Just checking," Galen said with a wink. Then, turning to Grace, he said, "Are you ready to go?"
Grace nodded, placing a hand over her mouth as she finished chewing and swallowing her bite of food. "I am, my lord."
"Good," he replied, then turned to Lucinda. "Have Lairn and Brittany been briefed?"
His wife smiled at him with restrained humorous patience. "Everything is well in hand, my love," she said. "Lairn, Brittany, and four other of your personal guard are preparing to leave just after you disappear from the horizon in the morning."
"And they understand--"
"That they'll be assigned to Castle Redd for the duration of Grace's stay?" she finished for him. "Yes. They are well aware. I sent a runner earlier requesting Lillian to prepare accommodations for them all. And before you ask, yes, they'll all be quartered in the castle, and they'll all have their own rooms."
Galen leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek. "You're amazing. Do you know that?"
Lucinda blushed but smiled proudly. "I know," she said with a coy wink.
Galen looked back at Priscilla to find the purple-haired dragon girl nibbling on her bottom lip. He could tell she was worried about something. "What's wrong?"
Priscilla blinked, then looked at him. She straightened as a bit of color darkened her cheeks, and she looked around conspicuously before replying in a soft whisper. "Nothing."
"Uh-huh," Galen said. "My quarters, then, after we eat."
"I must see my matron first," Priscilla said in a normal tone, and Galen was surprised to see apprehension on her face.
"Okay," he replied. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Her eyes sparkled slightly as she said, "I am, my lord. Fine, I mean."
[What's gotten into her?] Galen thought. [It's not like her to be so reserved.]
Galen heard a yawn in his head before Devi sleepily replied, ["She doesn't want you to go."]
Galen's wide smile almost split his face in two. ["Welcome back, my goddess. Did you have a good nap?"] he thought to her.
["Thank you, my love,"] Devi said in his head. ["It was wonderful."]
["I'm glad,"] he replied. ["Now, what do you mean she doesn't want me to go?"]
Lucinda nudged him. He turned to her as she said, "What's that grin for?" She knew what it was but was reminding him that other people were present. People would think he was crazy if he just went around smiling like he'd just had his dick sucked by a porn star without any apparent reason why.
"Oh," he replied as he struggled to come up with an appropriate answer. "I was just thinking about something. I'll tell you later." He winked at her and squeezed her hand. He continued to eat as he, Lucinda, and Devi talked silently.
["She's fallen for you,"] Devi said in his head.
["Hard,"] Lucinda added silently.
["If she has her way, she'll fuck you tonight,"] Devi replied with a yawn.
["Or in the morning before you leave,"] Lucinda said.
["What? Y'all are crazy,"] Galen said with a silent chuckle. ["She already said after a year she wanted the marriage nullified."]
["Yes,"] Devi replied. ["But that was her pride talking. She's not going anywhere, my champion. Trust me in this."]
["I wouldn't be surprised if when you get back from Prax, she'll have all of her possessions here from Dragonmount,"] Lucinda thought to him.
Galen looked at his wife and gave her a wink and smile as he chewed. ["And how do you know any of this?"] he thought to her.
["A woman knows a woman, my love,"] was all she said on the subject.
["And hang on a damn minute,"] Galen said to them, realizing suddenly that he could hear Lucinda in his head. ["How long have you been able to talk to me in my head, Luce?"]
Her rich laughter bounced around inside his skull like it was echoing through the halls outside their bedroom. ["You never know until you try,"] came back a playful reply. ["The whole time you were in your coma I was practicing."]
Galen chuckled silently. "What are you two conspiring about?" Grace asked as she looked around Galen to peer at the both of them.
Galen straightened and put his hand to his chest in mock-offense. "Madam, you wound me," he said in his best imitation of a southern gentleman. "I was merely enjoyin' my meal."