The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,18
As you were on an assassination mission, it is frankly astounding that you didn’t notice them.” The Alchemist looked down her nose at me, which was impressive, considering she was a full foot shorter than me.
“Why are you here?” Levi asked, not impolitely, though there was a demand in his voice for an answer I rarely heard from my peaceful earth dragon. Well, not my earth dragon.
“I wanted to check on Shira after her extended liltane exposure and see if she needed any extra poison to get rid of you lot,” The Alchemist deadpanned.
“Right, let’s have that conversation inside over a cup of tea,” I muttered as the two males behind me growled. “Can you two give us a moment?”
“Is that wise, Shira?” Xander asked.
“She had plenty of opportunities to poison me and she didn’t, except for that first time,” I replied with a dismissive wave. “I’ll be fine.”
“What do you mean the first time?” Levi hissed after me as I led The Alchemist into the house and down the long hallway to the kitchen.
“The green one is no longer my favorite,” The Alchemist declared, sitting down at the table, rattling the glass jars in her satchel. “The Alpha is my new favorite.”
“Really?” I asked skeptically, lighting the stove to boil water for tea. “Ezra sort of led the charge on trapping me in the den. Plus all the I-male-you-female nonsense.”
The Alchemist hummed thoughtfully. “Ardent opponents often make for strident allies, if you can sway them to your side. Considering you're here, and not back in their den, I'd hazard a guess you're already there with your Alpha.”
Was I? Ezra had been more respectful of my wishes since they'd found me again. They all had, except Hiram, whose behavior reminded me of Xander, when Xander was four.
“That brings me to the other purpose of my visit.” The Alchemist rummaged around in her bag while I brewed the tea and brought it over to the table. As I set my teacup down, she dropped a pinch of something from a hessian sack she'd just pulled out.
“Poisoning me again?” I asked, wrinkling my nose as I stared into my ruined tea. Whatever she'd put in there was quickly dissolving, the tiny black seeds barely visible.
“Like I'd be so amateur if I were. If I wanted you poisoned, you’d already be gagging on the floor, or snoring in your chair. No, that’s just Lover’s Leaf.” The Alchemist crossed her arms and looked at me expectantly while I mentally listed everything I'd ever read in my herbalism books, trying to figure out what it was. "From the root of the spirit nettle?" she added, looking at me curiously.
“Fuck no, are you crazy?” Xander hissed, storming into the kitchen from the hallway where he'd been eavesdropping. Levi moved like he was going to stop my brother, but the grim look on his face said he'd been listening in too.
“Says the dragon who steals from the fae?” The Alchemist cackled. The tips of Xander's ears turned red and Levi gave him an assessing look, pursing his lips in disapproval. “It's illegal, but so is murdering councilors in their sleep. I think that ship has rather sailed for our Shira.”
“What is it? Lover’s Leaf. Why is it illegal?” I asked before either Levi or my brother had a chance to respond to that. I'd vaguely read about the spirit nettle plant, but only in passing references.
The Alchemist had that glint in her eye she got when she was about to say something that made me immensely uncomfortable. It seemed like Levi noticed it too, since he spoke before she had a chance.
“Lover’s Leaf prevents pregnancy.”
“When taken regularly, while you are regularly taking it,” The Alchemist amended, frowning at Levi. “It doesn't prevent pregnancy forever.”
“It's untested,” Levi shot back. “That's why the Council banned it.”
“Is it really?” The Alchemist challenged, raising a brow at him.
“Why else would they ban it?” Xander asked, looking between the two of them confused.
The Alchemist snorted, shaking her head. “How easy it is for you to ignore the issues that don't affect you. Lover’s Leaf is my best-selling product — has been for centuries. A pinch in your tea each day, little dragon. That will do it.”
“What makes you think I need something to prevent pregnancy?” I muttered, contemplating my rapidly cooling cup of tea. I didn't know much about getting pregnant, other than it involved something behind closed doors that sounded painful, at least it did when I lived with Flight Milain.