The instant my "not-husband's" new wife slips out, he leans in to kiss me. That's my line.
I twist away and bolt to my room. The bags are already waiting. Not many. Only now do I see it: the dragon never really spoiled me with clothes or jewels. For a year I've been more housekeeper and mistress than wife. Gods, what a fool I've been.
Come on, Lili. When do we learn that a woman alone can be happy—that we don't have to stomach any man's garbage at our side?
Things were "fine" until yesterday. Or… not. I'm not sifting for forgiveness—never that. I'm sorting so the truth sticks. Three spits over the shoulder.
Transport in Asgarn? Think carriages pretending to be cars.
The mobile looks like a coach, only it runs without horses or a driver. You refuel it rarely—with gas bled from special trees in the human kingdom. If Earth's engineers saw this trick, they'd eat their own elbows. The cabin has two hard stools facing a front window and a tiny panel with four levers to steer. Lucky me—I can drive. A mobile isn't so different.
"Loaded everything I listed?" I ask Miriam. She's as wilted as I feel.
"Yes, my lady," she says, mournful.
"Don't call me that. I'm no one's lady," I snap, the word sour on my tongue.
"Lili, it's going to be all right." Miriam squeezes my hand, a soft pat of courage.
We climb into the mobile and rattle out the back way. Familiar faces crowd the windows and door cracks—every servant watching like it's a show. I feel like a circus oddity. They wouldn't even let us use the front drive, so we wouldn't offend the lords' delicate eyes.
I burrow into a fur coat—who knows what beast it was—and let the ugly thoughts come. First order of business: rethink everything. Beginning with this—I want nothing more to do with that monster. How did he hide so well?
Inar used to be gentle, careful with me. It's like my dragon died and something else moved into his skin. Thank the stars for Miriam; she's local and practical—she'll know where to start.
Time to stand up. A year late is still better than never. I thought I'd landed in the fairytale every girl wants. After that car hit me on the crosswalk, I figured I was living on borrowed magic and let myself go soft. One stinging slap fixed my vision.
"Miriam, think I can find work fast?" I ask before we even reach the "new house."
Thoughts swarm. I need a plan—yesterday.
It's like coming up from a coma. No, I don't want Earth. No one's waiting there. Here, the world is strange and bright and full of teeth. I just got lazy. It's fine—Liliya Sorokina survived Earth; she'll survive Asgarn.
My battle heat fizzles when I see the place: a lopsided shed where a house was promised.
"And he expects thanks? Please. You don't waste poison on this—it costs too much."
"I know where to get it free—shall I share?" Miriam says, wrestling the gate.
"Tempting. Too soon," I say.
First, I need to choose my first move.