Page 119 of Dragon Her Heels

“Our home,” I corrected. “If you don’t move in willingly, I’m considering turning it into a mutually beneficial hostage situation.”

He laughed. “Please give me a week or two to handle such a move sensibly. I have a few things I want to take care of before making permanent arrangements.”

I could work with a week or two. “A week or two will confirm I will not get sick again, allow me to regain my strength, and plan a proper conquest of your person. I like this. You can handle your personal matters while I plan on handling you personally. I have been told men don’t like having to play guessing games, so I’m making it clear what my general expectations are when you permanently move into my domain.”

“The message has been received, and I am looking forward to being a willing participant in your future plans. But I’m still going to insist an archangel confirms everything is safe for you to eat before you try anything. And if it isn’t safe for you to eat, we will learn what we were supposed to be eating in case they ask.”

I could see that ploy working. “For some reason, they don’t tell me what type of pie they made, but they do expect me to identify what it’s supposed to be.” I sighed, aware the old biddies were probably trying to kill me with their attempts at kindness. “I don’t understand how they can be worse at baking than a bunch of men and dragons who are trying to invent pie rather than follow the instructions.”

“Honestly, that question might keep me awake tonight. How is it even possible? Do you think the Devil knows? We should ask him.”

“Yes, we should.”

* * *

Making use of my phone, I summoned Lucifer, requesting he confirm if my neighbors were trying to kill me off again. Within thirty seconds, he appeared, and he stared at my counters, which were burdened with my neighbors’ generosity. He pointed at the dutch oven. “Where did you get that?”

“The lecher across the street from Donna Leanne gave it to me, and he said the dutch oven is part of the gift,” I replied, and I headed to my red enameled prize, taking off the lid for a sniff. The tantalizing aroma of beef stew went for my throat. If the Devil deemed it inedible, I would have no shame in crying. “Please tell me I can eat it, Lucy.”

“While your guess that he is a lecher is unfortunately accurate, he prefers his women willing. He just is not shy about informing women he is on the prowl. He has always found your generosity absurd yet endearing, your courage admirable yet frightening, and your determination to keep everyone on your street fed to make you worth more than everyone else on the street combined. He has a soft spot for Ashley; he respects her loyalty to her husband, and he is relieved he no longer has to worry about what will become of her. He catcalled her only so she might feel there was at least one other human in the world who felt she had beauty.”

Lucifer’s statements reminded me of the emotional stick offered to those in need. While not the way I would have done it, I could accept the attempt for what it was.

Any stick in a storm would do.

“Yes, precisely. And his efforts did make a difference. What you do not know about him is threefold. First, he is a doctor, one with a pristine reputation where he works. Second, before he became a doctor, he was a chef, a rather excellent one. He still loves to cook. Third, he is a practitioner of significant strength, and he is not fully human. You do not see him leave for work because he teleports.”

I sucked in a breath. “He can teleport?” I blinked. “Wait, he’s a doctor?”

Lucifer laughed at me. “Yes to both. He knows what you did, and he’s quite close to comprehending what you are. It is well enough you asked me about the food. I do not recommend allowing anyone other than yourself, Yuless, and the dragons to partake. He has infused the food with his magic, magic meant to heal and bring you longevity and prosperity.”

I eyed the tall, dark, and handsome I was determined to move into my bedroom. “Are you sick and in need of longevity and prosperity?”

“It appears so. What would happen to Ashley should she partake?”

“She would have quite the extended lifespan. It is not something that should be foisted upon her without her consent. Now, should she agree to partake of it, Isaac and her dragons will not face grief from her departure for many a year. The burden of her loss would be greater for it, but the joy of her passage would become a thing of beauty. But I will not see her suffer as the Fates suffered.”

“And it’s fine for me because I have, through my choices, agreed to such a thing,” I murmured.

“Exactly so. Yuless?”

“I would agree to such things as well.”

“So, how do you wish to approach the issue with Ashley?”

I fetched numerous bowls from the counter and went to work dishing out servings. “Inquire first with Isaac and the dragons to confirm that is a fate they wish for themselves. Should they be in agreement, then they should be the one to present the offer—and the stew—to Ashley. It’s not my choice, it’s not my life, and it’s not my commitment. It is theirs. I am more than happy to share with them. She deserves that long life of joy, and I do feel they are more than capable of offering it to her.”

Once I had a serving in each bowl, I worked a charm over it to keep everything warm. I retrieved a tray, moved the dishes to it, and grabbed a bowl for myself. “Anything else I should know about this stew?”

“You will be changed consuming it, because that lecher down the street made some mistakes in its crafting, not understanding the power of wishes and intent. For Ashley, a lifespan comparable to her incubus and dragons is the consequence. She will, in all other ways, remain human. For you, the changes will be… more substantial. His magic will bring you healing, longevity, and prosperity. It just won’t be in the ways he envisioned. I can promise you this much: you will benefit completely from his working—and I will be making a journey down your street and meddling so that he does not suffer consequences from the magic he did not understand he wielded. And no, no universal laws were broken. He came close, however. Had he wielded those powers with intention, we would have witnessed tragedy instead of triumph. But that is your nature. You change those around you. In this case, for the better.”

“Yuless, we’re going to go hunt for an old cow or steer ready to retire for a year or two in paradise before filling a freezer, and we’re going to take the best parts to the old lecher down the road.”

“Sure.”

Lucifer picked up the tray with a low and dark chuckle. “I will assist you with this and bring you young cattle fated for short lives but with sound meat so that their final days are of love, care, and in paradise. That way, your homestead can continue its intended purpose and you will have excellent quality meat while fulfilling your personal mission.”

“But what sort of things can cause their meat to still be good but their lives to be short?”