“She’s not a pet, Andie,” she still admonished, but only half serious, and Andie grinned at her, unrepentant.
“But Ely,” she said. “She followed me home, can’t I keep her?”
“I’m being kept against my will,” Zareth said. “You give me silly nicknames, I hate your guts.”
“You love me, don’t even front.”
“I met you, like, two days ago!” Zareth protested, but there was a smile toying at her pretty mouth and she didn’t refute the claim. Now Elyse really was curious.
“I’m very loveable,” Andie said brightly and Zareth snorted.
“Say that to the hospital personnel. And Holling.”
Andie waved her hand dismissively. “They have no souls,” she said and Zareth rolled her eyes.
“Two days ago?” Elyse asked and Andie turned back to her.
“Yeah,” she said, nodding. “She barged into my sickroom. I was dying, El, just like you. And I was lonely, so I made friends.”
“Say it isn’t so,” Elyse said dryly and Andie beamed at her.
“I know, right? I really was sick.”
“Obviously. Have you even said a kind word to a stranger since your pre-teens?”
“Not even before,” Andie said, looking kind of proud. “I’m a horrible, suspicious brat. Draco says so.”
