She spun back toward Lucy, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Big brother told me a secret!" she said loudly. "You won't believe it!"
Lucy swallowed. "What secret…?"
"That Ash," Lily pointed dramatically at the small dragon sitting near the door, "is the big dragon everyone was talking about! The one that killed all the bad beasts!"
Lucy's gaze snapped to Ash.
Ash tilted its head.
Lucy stared.
"…Really?" she asked slowly, clearly she was finding it hard to believe Lily...
"And then!" Lily added, not waiting for an answer, "Big brother made Ash grow big again, and I rode on his back and we flew home! It was so fun! Ash went whoosh! And then down! And then up again!"
She waved her hands wildly to demonstrate.
Lucy looked back at Bruce.
Bruce didn't deny it.
That alone told her everything.
Her gaze drifted back to Ash, who was now licking one of its claws innocently.
Lucy let out a long, quiet sigh.
