Page 55 of Ensnared

“Come on,” Sammy says as I walk in the door. “You said that when Liz came back in, you’d think about it.”

I should have no idea what they’re talking about, but Sammy’s like a Pomeranian with a flip-flop. Even when he has no hope of actually shredding it, he just keeps his teeth in there, trying his best.

“He doesn’t want to play Reign of Dragoness,” I say. “Real dragons don’t play silly games like that.”

“That’s not true,” Rufus says. “We play, but we hate to lose.”

Sammy leans closer. “I promise I’ll let you win. . .the first time.”

Jade shakes her head. “You are so getting eaten.”

Sammy scowls. “Nuh-huh. Rufus would never eat me.” Rufus sounds like Wufus, but Sammy’s faith in the dragon conveys just fine.

“Only because you never take a bath, so you’d taste nasty,” Coral says.

“He’d eat you so you’d stop crabbing at everyone,” Sammy says.

Rufus arches one eyebrow. “I wouldn’t eat any of you.”

For a split second, it warms my heart. My rugrats are so cute that even dragons like them.

“You’re all too small for me to bother with.” His grin is toothy.

Sammy huffs. “If you have to eat one of us, I’d be the best one.”

This conversation has taken some very strange turns.

“Dad would be the best one,” Jade says. “He’s the biggest in our family.”

Ah, Dad. When I sigh, I realize that Coral and Jade sighed at exactly the same time. We’re all hoping he’s alright. It stinks not knowing.

“My dad could probably beat you up in a fight.” Sammy clearly has no idea what’s appropriate to say yet. “But he wouldn’t, because he’s really polite.”

“Did your dad teach Liz to fight?” Rufus asks.

“Nah,” Sammy says. “She used to have nightmares, so they took her to lots of fighting champions. That’s why she’s so good. Scary stuff makes you way scarier, so when I’m all grown, no one will be able to beat me.”

“I hope Dad’s alright,” Coral says, absently shuffling cards.

“I’m praying for him,” Jade says.

“You should save your prayers for us,” Sammy says. “We’re the ones living with the bad dragons.”

Rufus ruffles his hair. “I won’t let any of them kill you, big guy.”

“Me either.” Gordon drops into a chair next to Sammy. “Now tell me how I can beat you at this game so I won’t get angry and eat you as revenge.”

I didn’t think they’d really play, but both dragons listen patiently as a six-year-old explains the rules of a basic ladder-style card game. They proceed to both lose to that same little boy, which makes him beam.

Maybe it’s all in my head, because out loud, they both protest vehemently about the pain of their tragic loss, but I think they’re both smiling when they head back outside for their patrols.

Over the next few weeks, I complete training on my first fifty, settling them into small part-time jobs each afternoon as well. They add fifty more, which figures, and once I have them ready, they bring another hundred. You’d think that having two hundred and ten humans under my command would be hard, but after you figure out how to set up rules and push them out, it’s pretty simple to manage.

Actually, it’s far, far too easy.

Penelope still comes by sometimes, but usually only when she’s figured out something new.

“The visor’s an important tool,” she says when she comes by this time, “but you might be surprised by how much you can do now without it. I think the bond with the blessed actually makes us stronger in a lot of ways.”