THE REJECTED PRINCE’S OWL
"First of all, I don't know what a Christmas is. Second, you look exactly like what you are—an owl who somehow tamed the Calamity Dragon. The king needs to see that."
"But—"
"He’s not seeing you now, fine?" He bent down and scooped me up before I could protest. "You'll stay in my chambers until I return. The palace isn't safe, and I can't have you wandering around."
"Wandering?! I'm an owl, not a toddler!"
"You're an owl who talks, glows, and has a dragon on her head. That's worse than a toddler."
I opened my beak to deliver a savage retort, but Kaelen was already moving, his long strides eating up the distance through the palace corridors.