Page 24 of Serving my Dragon (The Dragocracy Chronicles #2)

Chapter Eighteen

I stewed the entire time Blake and his evil henchman transported me from my citadel—which obviously needed better defenses—through the jungle and ultimately deposited me in a large black van with no windows in the rear.

The ignominy of it all. Trapped like a rat. Kidnapped without a fight. The only satisfaction I got was in seeing Blake’s minions balking at the fact they’d have to tote the heavy cage—" How does something that size weigh so much?” —up the slippery steps.

At least I was being carried. My poor servant had to stumble along on her own, a task rendered more difficult with her bound hands.

I hoped she understood the honor I’d bestowed by sacrificing myself for her.

A sacrifice that turned out to be a sham since Blake didn’t honor his end of the bargain, hence, why I harangued him the entire trek.

“You said you’d set Kayleigh free.”

“And you stupidly believed me,” he retorted.

“You’re the dumb one, thinking you can contain me.”

“Says the reptile stuck in a cage,” Blake taunted. Then, to add insult, he said, “And if you don’t shut up, you’ll be wearing a muzzle too.”

The very thought kept me quiet, simmering, plotting. I’d yet to figure out how we’d escape. If only my ability would manifest. Acid would be nice as it would allow me to melt the bars. Alas, I only had my spit, which did nothing. I also had a rumbling belly which yearned for a snack.

The trip ended at an airport—not that I saw much of anything, but I did hear Blake complaining to someone on the phone.

“What do you mean we can’t leave?” A pause, then, “How long is the fucking storm supposed to last? Ugh.” Blake hung up and barked out orders.

“The jet’s grounded for the next few hours.

Load the cargo so we can depart at a moment’s notice.

As soon as the storm eases, I want us wheels up and in the air. ”

Someone tossed a blanket over my prison before the doors of the van opened. It didn’t stay in place long as the buffeting storm ripped it free. Despite the drenching rain, I got a glimpse of the airport terminal in the distance as they toted me inside a hangar that held a gleaming white jet.

A soaked and chattering Kayleigh stood alongside me as Blake barked more orders. “Put them in the back bedroom of the plane. If they get mouthy, feel free to tase them.” The last was said while he looked at me.

“I will require sustenance,” I stated just to annoy.

His jaw tightened. “Get it some food and put a tarp and some newspaper under it. I don’t want the carpet stinking when it shits and pisses.”

“I’m not a savage. I use a toilet to empty my bowels,” I stated.

“Not on this flight, you aren’t. I am not stupid enough to let you loose so you can cause trouble.”

There went that idea.

The inside of the jet appeared luxurious. Even the rear section where they plopped my cage seemed nice. The floor was carpeted, the bed neatly made. Best of all, Kayleigh remained with me. She slumped to the floor with a sigh.

“I am not liking this cage,” I complained.

“I know. You’ve said that like a thousand times.”

Talk about an exaggeration. “Actually, I’ve only remarked on it seventeen,” I pointed out.

Her lips curved. “My bad. I’m sorry they caught you. You should have fled when you had a chance.”

“A dragon doesn’t abandon servants loyal to them.”

“Love you, too, Polly,” Kayleigh murmured.

Love. An emotion felt among humans. Dragons were above such things, of course. Usually. I couldn’t exactly claim a lack of affection for my servants. Perhaps I’d been hatched defective. No innate ability. Allowing myself to be ruled by feelings. Unable to find a hoard.

“I wonder how much longer the storm is going to keep the plane grounded,” Kayleigh mused.

As prisoners, in the air or on the ground, did it really matter?

The door that closed us off from the rest of the plane opened and Kayleigh stiffened as a woman entered and sat on the bed.

The red hair gave away her identity even before Kayleigh exclaimed, “Sally!”

“Hey, Leigh.” The female offered a wan smile.

“Thank God you’re here. Can you untie me?” Kayleigh shifted to show her bound hands.

“I wish I could, but then Blake would kill me.”

“Oh.” Kayleigh slumped.

“I’m really sorry, Leigh. If I’d have known what would happen, I would have never dragged you along on this trip.”

“Well, you have the advantage because I can’t remember anything past August,” my servant grumbled.

“Still suffering from amnesia?” At Kayleigh’s nod, Sally’s lips pursed. “I told Blake he didn’t need to worry about you but he didn’t want to leave any loose ends.”

“What happened? When he found me, he ranted about me messing up his plans and that I’d caused problems between the two of you.”

Sally’s nose wrinkled. “He was really pissed when you got in the way of us catching the dragon.” The woman’s gaze slewed to me and turned assessing. “Since I was the one who insisted you come along, he blamed me for the fact the dragon jumped off that cliff.”

“You mean the same cliff he shoved me from?” Kayleigh retorted.

A wince creased Sally’s face. “I didn’t expect him to do that. In his defense, you got between him and the find of a lifetime.”

“You’re defending him?” Kayleigh’s rounded mouth was as big as her eyes.

“This operation was months in the planning. From the activation of the volcano to the monitoring of the area to keeping this jet on standby so the extraction team could nab the dragon and flee before the Peruvian authorities suspected anything.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I get in the way of his illegal activities?” was Kayleigh’s sour and sarcastic rejoinder.

“We didn’t have a choice.” Sally’s hands waved. “We knew the government would never let us take the dragon through legal channels. I mean, you can’t blame them. A dragon is a big deal.”

“Who the hell are you?” Kayleigh spat. “Because the Sally I know wouldn’t be cool with illegal and truly morally reprehensible behavior. Nor would she be okay with her boyfriend killing her best friend.”

Sally’s face tightened. “Blake only tried to get rid of you because you caused such a stink.”

“You knew from the beginning what he planned, didn’t you? Why would you bring me along? You had to know I’d have a problem with it.”

“I thought it would be fun. You and me checking out the sites. Also, I didn’t want to be the only woman in the group.

You were never supposed to find out our real reason for being here, but you suspected from day one that something was up.

When the drones caught sight of the dragon soon after its hatching, it was supposed to be me and the boys heading out to catch it.

You were the one who insisted on tagging along,” Sally accused.

“I tried to downplay our operation by telling you we were after a rare lizard, but fucking Blake let our real objective slip.”

Listening to the women, the conversation full of revelation and drama, I really craved some popcorn.

Kayleigh huffed. “Oh well, it’s all my fault then he tried to murder me. God forbid I had some morals, unlike you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Again, Kayleigh gaped before exclaiming, “You were illegally hunting an extinct animal. You did nothing to stop your boyfriend from shoving me off a cliff. As a matter of fact, you’re still with the jerk.

You never went to the cops to report my disappearance and now you have a chance to be my friend.

My best friend”—Kayleigh emphasized—“yet you’re refusing to help me escape. Do you want me to die?”

“He’s not going to kill you.”

“Only because he now thinks I’m useful,” Kayleigh retorted. “And you haven’t answered my question. What happened to you? Since when are you evil and greedy?”

“I’m tired of being poor,” Sally exclaimed. “Tired of working for assholes who treat me like shit. So yes, when I saw a chance to make some money, real life-changing money, I took it.”

“At what cost, though? Can you really live with yourself if Blake murders me?”

“It doesn’t have to be like this.” Once more Sally waved her hands around. “Tell Blake you’ll cooperate. Help him to understand the dragon and bring it to heel.”

At that statement, I snorted. “You think I’m so weak as to obey humans?”

Excitement filled Sally’s face. “You can talk!”

“No shit,” I muttered, using an expletive. It seemed apt for the moment.

“This is amazing. Given biological limitations, reptiles aren’t supposed to be able to produce human speech.”

“I am not a reptile,” my indignant retort.

Sally clapped her hands. “I can’t wait to get you in a lab and do a full physical on you. The first, seeing as how they’ve yet to take the male into custody.”

“Tell me more about this male,” I purred.

“I don’t have many details yet. The higher ups have been tight-lipped about releasing any information. But apparently, this other dragon calls himself Abaddon. Have you chosen a name yet?”

“Her name is Polly, short for Pollita,” Kayleigh stated.

Sally blinked. “Polly? Why would you have chosen such a simple name? Shouldn’t you be like Wyrmslayer or have chosen something that inspires fear, like the male in Canada who went with something demonic.”

“I didn’t choose it. Matias did,” I stated.

“Well, I’m sure Blake will have ideas on what we can change it to. It will need to be something impressive if we’re going to convince billionaires to fund our research and pay for the privilege of spending time with a dragon.”

“Blake will do no such thing.” So what if my current appellation didn’t inspire fear?

Matias had chosen a term of endearment because he cared for me.

Besides, I knew from my inherited memories that it was actions that mattered most. Conquer the world and people would shiver when they heard the name Polly.

“You should work on getting the dragon to change its mind if you want to get in Blake’s good graces,” Sally muttered to Kayleigh.

“You’re delusional if you think I’m going to help that prick,” Kayleigh spat.

Sally shook her head. “You really need to adjust your attitude about this, Leigh.”

“Or what?”

“You know what he’s capable of. If you prove to be a detriment, he won’t hesitate to eliminate you.”

“Is this your way of saying you won’t stop him?”

Sally stood and didn’t reply to the question, but rather said, “I’m going to see how much longer before we can take off. I cannot wait to get started on my studies.”

The redhead left and Kayleigh slumped. “I can’t believe she won’t help. We’ve been best friends since high school.”

“Avarice can change people.”

“This much, though? Or was I just too stupid and blind to not see it before? I mean, I know she struggled. Knew she wanted more out of life. But for her to so callously dismiss me like that...” Kayleigh heaved out a breath. “What are we going to do, Polly?”

“I don’t know.” All I could be certain of? If this plane left with us still on board, my domination of the world would hit a snag.

Kayleigh uttered a shaky laugh. “I must be in shock, because for some reason, the Bonnie Tyler song, I Need a Hero , keeps playing in my head.”

“Would you sing it for me?” Because she was right. We needed a hero to come to our rescue, but did any exist in today’s modern world?