Page 22 of Serving my Dragon (The Dragocracy Chronicles #2)

“Agreed, hence why I hacked your boyfriend’s laptop and, wouldn’t you know, he’d been searching about dragons.

Wasn’t hard to figure out he found the little fucker after it escaped me.

Nice hidey hole, by the way. Was beginning to think I’d never find it, and I was running out of excuses for the boss as to why I’d yet to return.

Good thing the air tag I put on that old fucker’s truck gave me a ballpark location before I lost the signal. ”

“You tracked Juan.” Kayleigh’s flat reply.

“Yup, and then a drone did the rest for me. Almost didn’t find this place, but then I spotted the solar panels. Since I worried your boyfriend might be armed, I ensured he had a reason to leave. And now it’s just you, Kayleigh. What happens will depend on how well you cooperate.”

“I can’t believe Sally would date someone like you. You’re despicable,” my servant spat.

“And see, it’s things like that which make me believe you do remember and are lying.”

“Why? Did I tell her you were scum and that she could do better?”

“You did,” he snarled. “You not only turned her against me, but you are the reason I lost the dragon in the first place.”

“Is that why you’ve been trying to have me killed? Because I wouldn’t let you put Polly in a cage?”

“That was only part of it. You humiliated me in front of my team. Destroyed my relationship with Sally. Would have had me arrested. Prevented me from snaring my prize. Yes, I want you dead, but I’m willing to be reasonable so long as you hand over the dragon.”

“No!”

“Annoying twat.”

Slap.

The second crack of a hand on flesh followed by Kayleigh’s cry had me brimming with rage.

So when Blake bellowed, “Where is the fucking dragon?” I clambered over the lip and stood with my chest puffed.

“Right here, mother fucker.” A term I’d learned watching Die Hard, which, according to Juan, was a Christmas movie, but Kayleigh argued was an action flick.

“Well, well. Guess the male they found in Canada isn’t the only one that can talk.” Blake’s predatory smile almost rivalled mine.

“You will depart at once, or face my wrath,” I threatened. Did I plan to let him live? No, but he stood much too close to Kayleigh. I needed him to move away from her and then maybe my claws and teeth would be enough.

“I will leave, but you’re coming with me.”

I snorted. “No, I’m not.” I eyed Blake and didn’t spot any kind of weapon. Foolish male.

“That’s what you think. Get it,” Blake yelled. The command led to movement as men poured in from the passage, pointing weapons.

At me.

Kayleigh shrieked, “Hide, Polly.”

As if I needed her advice. I dove off the ledge and swooped into the chasm where they couldn’t see or catch me.

But I’d forgotten one thing.

“Ouch. Let me go.”

Kayleigh.

I fluttered to one of the honeycomb caves and tried to close my ears to Kayleigh’s pained cries as my enemies beat her.

Beat the woman who’d saved me.

Fed me.

Bathed me.

Taught me.

Cuddled me.

Loved me.

Drats.

I fluttered from my perch and landed a few paces from Blake who’d raised his hand to strike Kayleigh again.

“Do not touch her,” I growled.

Blake turned slowly. “I won’t lay another hand on her if you come with me.”

Every ounce of me wanted to scream no. Seeing Kayleigh’s bloodied mouth and the tears tracking down her cheeks wrenched me. I didn’t understand why I cared. A servant could be replaced. Dragons weren’t supposed to care about the fate of one human.

Other dragons might not, but I did.

“Let her go.”

“I will once you get in the cage.”

Cage? I saw it, barely tall enough to accommodate me. A prison. An end of my reign. But either I complied, or Kayleigh would be harmed.

“Don’t do it, Polly. Fly away.”

“He’ll kill you if I flee,” I stated.

“Painfully,” Blake added.

“I’d rather that than see you captured.” Kayleigh meant it too. She’d sacrifice herself for me, the rarest of gifts. I could do no less.

With my head held high, I marched into the cage and managed not to wince as the door slammed shut.

“You have me contained. Let my servant go,” I said.

“I don’t think so. Seems like Kayleigh here might be a useful tool for keeping you in line.”

The perfidy shouldn’t have surprised, yet I found myself disappointed after having met several humans with honor. “You will pay for your actions,” I promised.

A low, nasty chuckle emerged from Blake. “Threats when I’m the one holding all the cards? You’d better learn to obey or pay the price. Tie her hands,” he ordered his men.

Kayleigh tried to fight, flailing futilely and ineffectually at the bulky males who grabbed hold of her arms to yank them behind her back where they tied them in place.

A sobbing Kayleigh dropped to her knees by the cage and leaned her forehead against the bars. “Oh, Polly, why didn’t you escape?”

I wasn’t about to admit my weakness for her and instead whispered, “To wipe out my enemies I must enter the bowels of their perfidious lair.”

A brave thing to say, now if only I had the size and power to actually do something about the situation. With flame I could have roasted them. With water, drowned them. Wind, blow them into the chasm. Electricity to fry. Alas, my ability hadn’t manifested.

Yet.

Perhaps by the time the villain brought us to his lair, it would emerge.

If not, we were, as the humans would say, screwed.