Book 2: Chapter 25 (1/2)

“Wait, wait, wait,” Tafel said, holding her hand out as she placed her gryphon drumstick on the ground. “I was under the impression that someone could only be imprinted once.”

“You’re correct,” Alice said and nodded. “There have been three documented cases of people exploding after obtaining a second imprint, and zero incidences of anyone surviving with two imprints.”

Vur tilted his head. “Then I’m dead?”

“No!” Tafel said. Her brow furrowed. “Actually, let me check real quick.” She teleported to his side and placed her hand against his neck, feeling for his pulse. It was there. “Yeah, you’re still alive. I was afraid Auntie reanimated you for a second.” She pursed her lips. “I can’t believe that’s something I had to check.”

Stella continued to munch on her gryphon flesh while hovering above the trio as if their discussion wasn’t her problem. Tafel glared at her before relaxing her expression—she’d rather not experience the curse of invisible spiders or whatever it was called. “So… are you going to explain what you meant by imprinting Vur?”

Stella pointed at Vur’s chest.

“The flower tattoo? That was an imprint?” Tafel asked. She frowned when the fairy queen nodded. “Why don’t you say it clearly?”

Stella swallowed, and her neck bulged as a lump traveled down her throat. “No speaking while chewing.” She nodded her head twice before landing on the gryphon, prying another piece of flesh off. “I imprinted Vur by imprinting Vur.”

“Weren’t you afraid of him exploding?” Alice asked.

Stella shrugged. “It was me, but not me.” Her forehead scrunched up as she tilted her head. “Right. It was the other me. Before this one.” She gestured towards her body. “But it should be fine? Vur hasn’t exploded yet.”

Vur scratched his head. “Then that makes me 50% fairy?” His brow furrowed. “This won’t affect me growing scales and wings, will it?”

You’d never have grown them in the first place, Tafel thought to herself. “It shouldn’t. Trust me.”

“Good,” Vur said with a nod. “So now I’m 50% fairy. I guess that’s okay as long as I’m still 100% dragon.”

“That makes 150% Vur!” Stella said, throwing her hands up into the air. “The numbers work out—that’s why there’s no explosion.”

Alice stared at Tafel with a look of undisguised pity. “This is the man you married,” she said in a flat voice.

“Please don’t look at me like that,” Tafel said and sighed. “What does a fairy imprint even give? Is it like a normal magical beast?”

Stella shrugged. “Ask the last me.”

“We’re already heading to the fairies’ homeland,” Alice said. “We can ask Erin, but I don’t know if she’ll respond. You three are fulfilling a request for her though, right? About the destroyed fairy spring? If you bring her good news, she might answer your questions. Did you figure out who did it?”

Vur nodded. “Yeah, it was us.”

Alice stared at Vur. She raised her hand and dug through her ears with her pinky. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

“Yeah, it was us.”

“That’s what I thought you said the first time,” Alice said and sighed. She glanced at Tafel who had resumed eating the gryphon. “You’re not going to tell him that’s a bad idea?”

“I did,” Tafel said after swallowing.

“And nothing came out of it. Of course,” Alice said and sighed again. “I’m beginning to understand the three of you.” She pointed at Tafel. “The voice of reason.” She pointed at Stella. “A catalyst for disaster.” She pointed at Vur. “Unreasonable and deaf disaster.”