Forty-Five

Alexis woke up and, for a moment, couldn’t recall where she was. Her mind buzzed, and it made it difficult to focus. Sitting up, she heard Cadmus’s disgruntled huff in response to the sudden movement. The dragon squirmed in the heavy, musty bedding. “I’m sorry, Cadmus,” Alexis apologized, looking around the dingy room. She remembered she was in Castle Orlan in the kingdom of Gilead. The walls were gray and lifeless. Even the morning light was dark here. She shivered, missing the warm brightness of Zephros Castle. Orlan was oppressive. She felt as if she was being choked. Something evil happened here. Alexis was certain. Every night, it was the same dream: dark storm clouds; thunder and lightning; screams in the wind and rain. Alexis rubbed her temples. She always woke up with a hea