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“Oh,” Hugh said. “Oh, I… er… yes. I should give these to your girls. Yes.”
After Hugh turned away to feed the fearsome rats their treats, Finch lightly touched a finger to
his lips. They felt like they were burning, but his finger detected no untoward heat. This was
bad. This was very, very bad.
“Hello, ladies,” Hugh said. His voice quivered a little, but he stood his ground and held out a
very tempting chip. Eleanor was on it in a flash. Elizabeth was just a heartbeat slower nabbing
hers. “Are you placated, ladies? Promise you won’t break out and terrorize my house?”
“Their cage is quite secure, sir.”
“Mm.” Hugh watched the ladies for a few more moments, then turned around. “Tell me, Finch.
Have you ever wanted something more than anything in your entire life, only to find one day
that you want something else just as much?”
“I can’t say as I have, sir.” Finch could feel his pulse throbbing in his throat.
Hugh went to the couch and sat, his back straight and his hands folded into his lap. “Well, it’s
a most uncomfortable situation, I can tell you. Please. Do sit down.” Hugh patted the seat next
to him.
Finch drifted over and sat rather nearer to the dragon than he’d wanted. He tried to shift farther
away but Hugh grabbed Finch’s knee. “No. No flying away, my Finch. Not yet.”
“I… sir… perhaps you might…” Finch floundered, something he very rarely, if ever, did. “I
mean, can you not have both?”
Hugh shook his head sadly. “Obtaining one will nullify the other. These unfulfilled desires are
what you’d call ‘mutually exclusive.’”
“I see.” Except Finch didn’t. At all.
“To that end, I wish to go on a small trip tomorrow. It’s not very far and, of course, you’ll
accompany me.”
“Of course,” Finch echoed, feeling completely lost and without so much as a map or compass.
“I am your servant. Is, um, is that the purpose for your visit this evening, or is there something
else I can do for you, sir?”
“Hmm.” Hugh stood only to lean immediately down, place his nose close to Finch’s ear, and
inhale sharply.
“Sir?” Finch squeaked.
