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“I’m just going to text him back and let him know you’re here. I should be the one to get him, though.”

I don’t think seeing a rampaging dragonkin in the middle of the children’s park where he has chosen to hide would be wise. I give a chirrup in agreement.

“Okay, I’ll be right back,” she says, and the truck sways a bit as she gets out and closes her door. She’s left the truck running for some unfathomable reason. Is she expecting trouble?

I can faintly hear children chattering excitedly, and I want to slap Mike with my tail for endangering hatchlings.

Maybe I shouldn’t have let Beatrice go alone. With the knowledge that she’s a rarer find than I even imagined,everyonewill want her.

She’s back before I can change my mind about leaving her alone. She leans over the side of the truck and grits out, “Can you wave your hand or something so he knows you’re here? He doesn’t believe me.”

I stare at her for a beat. How will she explain to a bunch of squealing hatchlings the dragon she has in her truck? I wait for the logic of it to set in, but she continues to glare at me fiercely.

With a sigh, I shift until my tail is untucked from beneath me and raise it to wave. I notice the three faerie casually leaning on the tailgate, grinning at my discomfort.

She spins away from me and faces someone else, raising her hands in frustration before dropping them at her sides. She disappears from my sight, running some distance away. The sound of her footfalls gets overtaken by frustrated parents and little giggles of mischief. I’m forced to wait once again.

It takes a long time for her to return, Mike grumbling under his breath but in tow. It sounds as if she’s dragging him. The suspicion is confirmed when he is pushed bodily into the side of the truck, rocking it, and he stares at me in surprise.

He reeks of old and new fear, soot, and dried blood. His hair is lank and covered in sweat, his chin unshaven in patches, and he is paler than my silk sheets.

“Mike, get in the truck,” I snarl at him as quietly as I can, flashing him my teeth.

“See? In all his grumpy glory,” Beatrice leans over to see me. I flash my teeth at her, but she isn’t cowedin the slightest. “What? You can’t blame him for being paranoid. Look at him, for fuck’s sake!”

“Dude, this is a kid’s playground,” he hisses at her wide-eyed. “Language!”

Surprised, she looks at him, “Okay, morality police, get in the blankety-blank truck now.”

“Not unless he does,” he spits back, narrowing his eyes on her.

“Hecan’t,” she growls back in an impressive mockery of Ben’s snarl. “I already told you he shouldn’t be seen. Especiallyhere! Just throw your bags back here with him and get. In. The.Truck!And you, stop waving that around!”

I open my mouth to snap my teeth at her, but she’s already reached out and grabbed the end of my tail in her fist, shaking it back and forth as if strangling it.

My intended tirade is cut off with a choked-off cheep of sound as I slam my eyes closed. I hear her stomping around the truck to slide into the driver’s seat.

“Great Senate and I thought my ex-girlfriend was vicious. That was just wrong, man. I’m sorry,” I hear his jacket shuffle and open my eyes, watching as he reaches for my arm to comfort me.

“Do not touch me,” I strangle out, and whatever my expression is makes Mike back away quickly and finally get into the vehicle.

The faeries are huddled close together near my feet, watching me warily.

Twice now. She’s touched it twice now, and I’ve got to deal with the consequences alone.

I will not molest an innocent mender.

My life has sunk to this. A broken matehood, rescuing Human males, and a tiny female abusing my tail. I writhe in discomfort as my instincts once again rear up.

“Are you okay?” I hear her ask as she pulls away from the park and back onto the paved roads. “You look rough. When was the last time you ate anything?”

“I dunno, a while? I’ve only been hiding for two days, and there’s a burger place a few blocks down.”

“Why did you wait so long to call? Why didn’t you ask Mal for help right away?”

“Well, I memorized the other guy’s number but couldn’t remember the dragon’s. I figured calling the scary guy would get me killed, so…”

Good call.