KDBookOnline
Share Us
When I thought about it, I hated myself for giving up one of the best things in my life.
My reasons had been good.
In Miami, my ship would have sunk, and he’d finally gotten to catch the dream he’d been chasing from the day he’d joined the force. Maybe others would want to be treasured more than their partner’s lifelong dream, but I wasn’t like that.
I doubted any force in the United States would readily accept an officer of any rank with a significant other accused of being a necromancer.
It did make me wonder why Phillip had gone out of his way to expose other facets of necromancy, however.
Monster’s existence would leave me with more questions than answers for a long time.
To make sure I could buy some creature comforts, I went to the bank to discover if the checks would clear. The teller did not seem all that impressed with me until she began processing the checks. I had no idea which check did the trick, but one of the names changed her opinion of me in a hurry.
I would need to review my account later to figure out which individual had earned such respect in the banking world.
“These checks have been pre-processed,” the teller announced, and she handed me my debit card back. “I see you have not had checks made for your account. We have a check printer here. Would you like a book? It takes ten minutes.”
While I expected the ten minutes would cost me at least thirty bucks, having access to checks would simplify some things for me. “Yes, please, and thank you.”
“It’s no problem at all. If you take a seat, I will bring them to you as soon as they are ready.”
I thanked her again and made myself scarce, finding a seat in the lobby. Garnet hovered around my head in her ball of light form, which she’d shifted to as soon as she’d realized I meant to go out on errands.
After the bank, I would take some time to have lunch, aware the carbunclo kitten would need to eat sooner than later. I’d have to test her ability to use toilets, as I expected it would be several hours before I could get her set up at home.
The Emerald Ward would be able to supply everything I needed, and most stores would deliver for a fee, even to the Gray Ward.
As promised, the teller returned after ten minutes with a packet of checks, and she wore her best smile before handing it to me along with another envelope, which she explained contained a printout of all my benefits with the bank along with a contact number for my representative if I needed any assistance at all. We participated in an awkward verbal dance, where I promised her I was more than satisfied and thanked her several times before I made my escape.
Fifteen thousand dollars changed my life, but when it came to dragon-kin and the dragons who ruled them, the amount was pennies.
What was going on? More importantly, what did I have to do with it?
Several blocks away from the stores I meant to part ways with my newfound wealth, I found a restaurant with patio seating, informed the hostess I had a pet gifted from dragons that required a meal as well, and asked to be seated outdoors. Either the inclusion Garnet had been a gift from a dragon did the trick, other people brought the weird and weirder to the place often, or they had a policy about crazy women with animals, but she guided me to a patio seat meant for two and left me a menu.
I rearranged the table so Garnet could sit near me and patted the metal tabletop. The carbunclo transformed in a golden glow, sat, and went to work grooming her red stone paws, which gleamed in the sunlight. I smiled and petted her.
A waitress, an older woman with a proud bearing, the hint of wrinkles around her eyes that came from laughing early and often, and a bright smile approached. “What a lovely kitten. Very unusual. Marlee said a dragon gifted her to you?”
“She came home with me this morning, and I was told to give her the same sort of foods I eat, although I’ll see if she wants something specific. The dragon said she’s plenty smart, so I figure she can tell me what she wants to eat.”
“Right you are. We cater to our furred and feathered friends here, so we have an excellent selection of milks and other treats meant for the enjoyment of feline species.” The waitress pulled out a small menu and showed it to me. To my delight, I realized it was a menu specifically meant for pets.
I could pick one of six different milk types for Garnet to enjoy or I could indulge in a milk platter for her. Maybe the future would include hardships, but with money in my bank account and a route to earn more, I would take a moment to enjoy life. One last foray into investigations would open many doors, and I would be able to have the quiet life I’d wanted from the day I’d left Miami. I pointed at the milk platter. “Let’s get that for her. I’ll take an iced tea.”
“Sweetened?”
I shook my head. “With some lemon, please.”
“Of course, ma’am. I’ll return with your drinks shortly.”
I turned my attention to the menu, and I angled it so Garnet could have a look. At a minimum, I would be spending fifty on the two of us if we stuck to the appetizer section of the menu.
Before the checks, I wouldn’t have dared to dream about such excess. As it was, it would be a while before I indulged again. Without Garnet, I might not have indulged at all. After a brief check of the menu, I found my favorite food, blackened shrimp served with spiced rice along with some gumbo.
The first time Erik had lured me out for a real dinner, he’d taken me to a Cajun restaurant, teaching me the wonders of blackened shrimp and other seafoods.
Prior, we’d only eaten fast food together.