Page 44 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

“Magic.”

“Truly?”

Ailis tapped her nose.

“Never tell anyone, but flowers keep colors hidden inside themselves. Ye only have to persuade them to come out.”

Lileas stared at the bowls as if they had suddenly become treasure.

“Can flowers make anythin’?”

“Almost anythin’.”

“A castle?” Lileas asked eagerly again, her eyes dancing with excitement.

“Aye.”

“A dragon?” she asked again.

“Especially a dragon.”

“What about a princess?”

Ailis smiled after that one. “The finest sort,” she said with a grin. “Ye can paint whatever ye want.”

Lileas leaned eagerly over the table.

“What about Brochan?”

Ailis followed the child’s gaze. The hedgehog lay curled in a small basket beside the table, apparently exhausted by his adventures and entirely indifferent to their artistic efforts.

“Can we make another hedgehog?” Lileas asked quietly. “So Brochan has a friend?”

A laugh escaped Ailis. “Of course we can.”

She picked up the deep purple dahlia.

“Though I think his friend should be very grand.”

Lileas nodded solemnly. “A prince.”

“A prince?”

“Aye.”

Ailis crushed the petals between her fingers, smiling.

“Then a prince he shall be.”

She worked beside Lileas, guiding the little girl’s fingers around the brush.

“Nay, like this. Gently.”

Lileas copied her. A small purple mark appeared on the cloth.

Lileas gasped. “I did it!”

“Ye did,” Ailis celebrated with her, her heart bouncing with joy just from seeing the girl celebrate.