Page 60 of The Teacup Dragon Sanctuary

It took a while for her to get the whole story out. About Virginia bespelling Noah. About the events in the arena. She’d only got as far as her escape when there was an uproar downstairs.

Esme appeared at the door, looking frantic. ‘There’s a troop of royal guards here. And a horrible shouty woman. Portia, they say they’re here for you.’

‘I’ll deal with this,’ August growled, his shoulders tightening dangerously.

‘I’ll help,’ Milo said. ‘They’re more likely to listen to me.’ And he might not make things worse as August was likely to do if his temper got the better of him.

‘Milo,’ she began, and then found she didn’t know what to say. She needed to ask why he’d done it, why he’d stolen her work and what he was doing here. If he felt as guilty as he looked, it was far too late now, wasn’t it?

‘We can talk later,’ he told her firmly and then he was gone, hurrying after the gathering storm that was August Starling.

Portia wilted.

‘What did he do this time?’ Seb asked darkly.

Portia shook her head. This was not the time. ‘I need to get up. I can’t make them deal with this for me. It’s Virginia Moorland, isn’t it? It has to be. Ophelia, will you keep Jade safe up here? That woman cannot be allowed near her.’

* * *

Lady Virginia Moorland sat in Iris’s best parlour as if she was a queen on her throne. The glass doors leading to the terrace beyond stood open and several of the royal guards waited outside. August, Milo and their captain were in a fierce standoff. As Portia entered they fell quiet, staring. She had dressed herself in the fitted jacket and long skirt she favoured when she wanted to make a good impression at the Academy. It felt like donning armour. Ophelia and Seb had helped her wipe away all evidence of tears and exhaustion. She looked every inch the scholar and the professor she knew herself to be.

It was something to hide behind.

Virginia rose from the chair she had claimed and pointed her finger dramatically, like some kind of avenging spirit.

‘Captain Zacarius, arrest her immediately.’

The captain of the royal guards drew in a deep breath, marshalling his patience, while beside him August bristled. Always ready for a fight, her big brother.

‘No one is arresting my sister,’ he rumbled.

‘I agree,’ Milo chimed in and Portia glared at him. August wasn’t the only one with a temper. The confusion that passed over Milo’s face just made her even angrier. That helped. That was something she could work with.

She had always been angry. As long as she could remember. She just pushed it down and used it to drive her forwards. She channelled it.

So, this time when she lifted her voice it was clear and strong. ‘If anyone should be arrested, Virginia, it’s you.’

Virginia’s face turned white as bone. ‘Where is my dragon, you thief?’

‘I’m not a thief. And Jade is safe. She belongs here. You are not taking her anywhere.’

‘I’ll take this whole sorry rescue apart if I have to.’

‘You’ll have to go through me to do it.’ Portia clenched her hands into fists.

‘Ladies, please,’ Captain Zacarius tried to interject. ‘I’m sure this can be resolved without any further recriminations. Lady Moorland has ownership papers for the dragon, Lady Starling. I have them here. I truly am sorry, but you must relinquish the beast.’

‘She’s not a beast,’ August told him and the captain glanced at her brother.

Dear lord, August was going to get himself in even worse trouble than she had if she didn’t put a stop to this right away. Championing her, and a teacup dragon.

She took a deep breath, readying herself for anything.

But Milo spoke first. ‘If you’ll allow me, Captain, there seems to be some confusion here. Lady Moorland gave Jadis to Portia at the fundraising dinner. I was there. We all heard her.’ He smiled at Virginia who looked fit to murder him. And somehow Milo – who always folded, who didn’t stand up to anyone powerful, who Portia had always told to believe in himself and not let them push him around – Milo had the upper hand here.

‘I did no such thing!’

‘You said… let me see, I should be able to get this right…’ He spread his hands wide and closed his eyes. The familiar wash of his magic swirled through the air. If felt like spring rain, fresh and sharp and… Virginia’s voice filled the air, not her voice now but her voice then. Word for word. Every scathing tone, every vicious intonation.