Page 42 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

Min’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t like that answer.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. “Come for new bandages?”

She showed me her freshly bandaged hand. “I think I’ve gotten the hang of it, and yes, before you get on my case, I cleaned the wound. No redness. No swelling. No new pain.”

“I should look at the stitches.”

“Those were ready to come out,” Vaela said. “I took care of it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course you did.”

Vaela looked far too pleased with herself. “I came to deliver this.” She thrust a cloth bag in my direction.

I almost dropped my breakfast as I caught it. Min darted around, looking longingly at the salt beef bun. “What is it?”

“My end of the bargain.” I peered into the bag. It was a mix of silver scales and bits of straw. “Fresh shed,” she continued. “I picked it from Min’s nest this morning.”

“This is…” It was perfect. I wouldn’t be able to get fresher scales than this on my own. “Thank you.”

“Of course. I told you I would help.”

“That you did. And I intend to hold up my end. If you’d like to drop by later tonight…” My cheeks flooded with heat. I didn’t know why.

She nodded, her eyes flicking to the door of the infirmary. “I suppose you’d rather not take those inside. I can drop them off at your cottage if you’d prefer.”

I handed her back the scales. “That would be wonderful. If you could leave them in the bramble bush beneath the window, I’ll get them from there.”

“Sure,” she said, falling in step beside me as I wandered toward the infirmary.

Min slinked after us, inhaling deeply as that tongue flicked in my direction again.

“Okay, fine,” I huffed, handing over the rest of my breakfast. Min opened her mouth, latching onto the bun and dragging it between her dagger-like teeth in the blink of an eye. I supposed it was a small token of gratitude in exchange for all the scales she’d just provided.

“You’ll spoil her,” Vaela said, but she was smiling so affectionately I knew she was just as guilty of spoiling her.

“She deserves it this morning,” I mused.

Vaela pretended to cover one of Min’s ears. “Don’t let her hear you say that. She already gives me too much attitude.”

“Did you ever think that maybe you deserve it?”

The corner of Vaela’s mouth twitched with amusement. Min nudged me with her snout, and I stumbled sideways a bit. Vaela’s arm reached out to steady me as that forked tongue licked at my hands.

I laughed, fighting off the warm flush at Vaela’s touch. “I don’t have any more,” I told the dragon. “Take it up with the bakery.”

Min seemed to like that idea, tipping her head in the direction of town.

“C’mon, you,” Vaela said to her. “Enough snacking. Time to put in some work.”

Min cocked her mighty head, blinking and chirping in a way that almost made it seem like they could talk to each other. It made me smile.

Vaela caught my eye. “We’ll see you tonight, then.”

I nodded. “See you later.”

I stood and watched them depart, clutching my skirts. A flurry of wind whipped around me as Min shot into the sky. Once they were a speck on the horizon, I turned and headed into the infirmary.

Seraphine was seated at her desk when I walked through the door.