Page 70 of Ensnared

“Where are we going, exactly?”

“The George R. Brown Convention Center,” the male ensnared says. “I think you’ll be impressed with how well the blessed fit there.”

I really doubt anything about the blessed is going to impress me, but I don’t say that. “I think I went there once before all this happened, maybe?” I vaguely recall being dragged to some kind of gymnastics competition there for Coral. “It’s a big building, right?”

“The strike blessed are quite large,” Penelope says. “They find most of our buildings too small. They also prefer places that are easily accessible by air.”

“I suppose that wouldn’t matter to those who can’t fly.” The larger woman smirks.

“The earth dragons can also shift into a smaller form, so living in a variety of places is easy for them. They’re very adaptable.” I can’t help bragging a little.

“Like cockroaches,” the other woman says.

I hate this lady. “It seems you already know a lot about me, but you didn’t even tell me your names.”

“I’m Dovie,” she says.

“Dove, like the bird?”

“No, Dove-ee,” she says, clearly annoyed.

“And I’m Seth,” the man says. “Bonded to Heaston, strike blessed.”

“I guessed you were all bonded to electro dragons,” I say.

“The hair’s a dead giveaway.” Seth’s smile this time looks genuine.

When we finally reach the Convention Center, both Seth and Dovie have relaxed. I’m a little proud of how I won them over, but my triumph’s short-lived.

I’ve barely stepped out of the SUV when a massive electro dragon lands in front of us.

“So this is the bizarre human that earth blessed prince bonded.”

The dragon’s shimmering scales are distracting enough that I don’t even see the human who spoke at first. When I slide my eyes all the way up, I finally make eye contact with the woman I assume is her ensnared.

She’s my mother.

15

After our eyes meet, Mom’s widen. “Oh.”

“That’s me. The loser dragon’s vassal, at your service.”

Mom swallows, and then she exhales gustily.

What are you waiting for? Her dragon’s just as horrible today as she was when she ensnared Mom. Destroy the abomination.

But did she really summon me here. . .just so she could kill me? “I feel like I keep having to say this over and over. I’m just an average human. No mutations or growths of any kind.”

Your Master has overstepped. He should never have ensnared you.

I think I hate Mom’s dragon more than I’ve ever hated anything on earth, including that red nightmare. “Sounds like you’re attacking the wrong person,” I say. “Your problem’s with him, not me.”

The silver dragon tilts her head. But killing you is easy, and it’ll weaken him.

Her logic’s not wrong, sadly. “Yes, but at what cost? I hear the guilt from something like this can be really bad. Do you want wrinkles before your time?” I’m not sure whether dragons can even get wrinkles, but if I kill enough time, maybe Axel will get his crap together and realize I’m gone. I send the brightest red feelings of panic that I can muster down the bond.

Clearly, your Master’s unable to control you. Killing you is a service.