Free Magic and Mayhem: How To Date A Dragon (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Baba Yaga Saga Book 2) by Donna McDonald

some ugly fish feet when I get done. I failed the class on cross-species mutations—twice. It was not pretty.”
    Thane reared back at her statements, but Carol didn’t let him reply again. She reached out a hand and grabbed the front of his shirt jerking him closer. Two could play the manhandling game. Seconds later she was shoving him down on the bench in the courtyard.
    “You’re going to regret this rejection one day,” Thane warned.
    Carol shook her head. “You’re wrong. I regret it already, but I’ve had a lot of practice doing the right thing. In case you’re not familiar with the concept, that’s what this is, Thane… me walking away from you like I’m doing.”
    Carol didn’t look back at the dragon as she headed to the dorm. Her headache was gone and her mind was clear. The sense of dread she felt fluttering in her stomach was probably an equally bad omen, but she would deal with it later.
    Hildy had upset the dragon. She, on the other hand, with her outright “no” had most likely made a lifelong enemy.

Chapter 8
    Wondering where her usual bossiness had gone, she stopped obediently behind Nathaniel when her head warlock stopped in the middle of the woods. They were still on the Witchery U grounds, but the school’s buildings were out of sight.
    “We need only a bit of privacy to cast the containment circle. This will do,” Nathaniel said.
    Listening to him chant, Jezibaba watched as her most trusted warlock gathered and built several towers of stones until he’d created a small altar to honor the earth. On top of the tallest stack of the cairn, Nathaniel placed a tree agate stone which was unpolished and still in its raw state. The stone alone was nothing important but something activated when Nathaniel put it on the top of the tallest stone tower. Now the power of the tree agate called to her. Her fingers itched to hold the stone in her hand, which was an extremely odd reaction for her. All she could think was that part of her essence was in it… a thought which made no sense whatsoever. She’d never seen the stone until today even though Nathaniel had said he’d kept it in the pocket of his cloak.
    Jezibaba studied her longest-lived advisor and wondered what else she didn’t know about him. Nathaniel’s two predecessors hadn’t even been memorable to her. She knew she would mourn this particular warlock’s passing. The emotional turmoil she saw coming was almost enough reason to hate him. And lately she’d had the oddest urges to take care of him the way humans did their aging parents.
    “Are you sure about this, Nathaniel? A powerful mage could offer you many things to make your life better. Goddess knows, you’ve had little ease during your service to me.”
    Jezibaba swallowed when Nathaniel raised his head. His gaze was as direct as Morgana’s at times. The way he was looking now nearly unnerved her… not that she’d ever let him know that.
    “Not long after saving the mage, I found the only other thing I ever cared about in this life, M’lady. My wife died having our son, and I later lost him too. My magic was why the Goddess refused to take my life when I begged. I gladly accepted her suggestion that I serve you because I was sure death would find me quickly. Surviving this long is the only disappointment I’ve had with you.”
    Jezibaba snorted. “You have served me and Morgana well, Nathaniel. But that’s not an answer that explains your lack of self-preservation.”
    “Yet it’s the only answer I have for you. One day your heart may understand those things no words can convey. Are you ready for me to call him? Zenos will not be pleasant, but that fact will not change with any amount of hesitation.”
    Jezibaba nodded. “I am as ready as I can make myself. I will not allow the mage to harm you. Know that when you proceed.”
    “My personal safety is the least of my concerns. Death would be welcome at my age.”
    “When the children are no longer children, then