Page 3 of Serving my Dragon (The Dragocracy Chronicles #2)

Chapter Two

I’ll admit to being surprised the lizard hadn’t abandoned me overnight.

On the contrary, she’d felt comfortable enough to rummage through my bag.

My things were strewn on the ground with the food items piled to one side—the rest of my lucuma eaten—and everything else kind of tossed.

At least as far as a five-pound lizard could throw.

While she might be small like a kitten, she definitely weighed a lot more.

She also talked.

A lot.

As I repacked my things, except for some dried fruits and nuts I planned to eat for breakfast, she paced and waved her little arms, yelling at me.

Or so it seemed, which I know was me attributing human behavior to an animal. Still, she reminded me of Mama and my tías with the way she carried on.

I interrupted the harangue by crouching and saying, “So much to say, Pollita, and I would love to hear all your stories, but it’s time for me to get going.

I wish you well.” It never occurred to me to take her.

A wild animal belonged in its natural habitat no matter how tame it seemed.

I took a few paces and heard a chirp. A glance back showed the lizard scurrying on her short legs to catch me.

“I’m going home, my beauty. Back to work.

” And the lectures from my mother about the fact I’d yet to give her grandbabies.

And my tíos asking me when I’d grow a set.

And my tías claiming all kinds of ill omens.

Exactly why did I put up with it? Oh yeah, because I loved my family, even if sometimes I really wished they’d focus on someone else instead of the only boy child in the family.

My female cousins didn’t have to deal with this shit.

Then again, Sophia and Emilia were married and had babies, and as for Lola, she might not be into men, but she’d made herself a career as a singer which apparently gave her a free pass.

To my surprise, the reptile reached up with her stubby arms just like baby Jacinta did whenever she saw me.

I arched a brow. “You want me to carry you?”

Apparently she did, hence why I ended up with a lizard riding my shoulder as I trekked back towards civilization. I didn’t follow the same path because I needed to shorten my route, seeing how my new friend had eaten a good portion of my supplies.

The overcast day meant I didn’t have to deal with the blazing sun, however, the humidity in the air kept things damp.

If I kept my current pace, I’d make it out just after nightfall and could be in my air-conditioned casa, sitting in front of my television, eating ice cream while watching the never-ending drama on Papá en apuros .

Don’t judge. Blame my mama and tías for getting me addicted to the popular telenovela.

Just after midday—during which my pollita ate more than me, despite her tiny body—I heard someone nearby.

Probably some hikers. I’d crossed a few on my return journey.

Oddly, the lizard chose to hide in my knapsack before each encounter.

This time was no different. The reptile disappeared into my bag.

“Hello! Excuse me, sir. Can you slow down a second?”

The request in English had me frowning and pivoting to see who the person spoke to.

Me, apparently. A woman stumbled towards me, dirty and disheveled, her blonde hair a messy halo around her head, her clothing torn in a few spots and dusty with dirt and dried blood. A bruise on her temple looked painful.

“Oh, thank gawd,” the woman exclaimed, beaming at me with a relieved smile. “I thought I was going to be lost out here forever.”

“Do you require aid, miss?” I asked, able to reply to her in English.

“Heck yes, I do, starting with, where am I?”

What an odd question. “You’re in Charcani Chico.”

“Is that part of the Grand Canyon?” she inquired.

My brow furrowed. “No. That’s in the United States. You’re in Peru.”

“Peru?” she squeaked. “What the heck am I doing here?”

Why would she ask me? “I’m afraid I don’t know, ma’am.” My gaze swept past the strange woman to see if she truly confronted me alone. Most scams targeted tourists, still, one could never be too cautious.

“I don’t know either.” She put a hand to the bruise on her head. “This headache is making my memories hazy.”

“Judging by your appearance, you seem to have suffered an accident.”

“Did I? I don’t remember.” She chewed on her full lower lip. “And what kind of accident would take me from Ohio to Peru? Do you think I was kidnapped?” Her eyes widened.

“Why would someone kidnap you from Ohio, fly you to Peru, and dump you in Charcani Chico?” I pointed out the absurdity of it.

“Then what happened? Why can’t I remember?” Her lips turned down.

True amnesia or faking it? The mottled mark on her appeared real enough. “You have a bruise on your temple that most likely caused your memories to get jumbled.”

“That would explain the throbbing in my head.”

“What is the last thing you recall?”

“Getting ready for the start of the school year. I teach kindergarten.”

She was a teacher? I had a difficult time imagining this voluptuous woman in front of a class of young children. “Perhaps you took an impromptu vacation.”

“To Peru?” She shook her and winced. “Doubtful. I don’t have the funds to simply take off, especially not so close to the start of school.”

The statement indicated she did remember some things. “Do you know your name?”

“Yup. Kayleigh Carmichael.” She beamed. “Born and raised in Sugarcreek, Ohio. I’m thirty-one years old and I like corny rom-coms, karaoke, and cooking. And you are?”

“Mathias Sanchez.”

“Do you live here in Peru or are you visiting?”

“Live.” Then because she kept staring expectantly, added, “I have a dental practice in Villa de Cayma.”

“A dentist. Wow!” She clasped her hands. “That’s so cool. I loved mine growing up. Dr. Philips said I had perfect teeth.” She flashed her pearly whites.

She did have a very nice set.

Of teeth.

My gaze didn’t stray any lower no matter how her bosom heaved and strained the buttons of her blouse.

“Listen, Mrs. Carmichael?—”

“It’s miss, actually. Never married.” Her lips pursed. “That I remember. Which reminds me, what day is it? Last I recall, it was August twenty-first.”

“I regret to inform you that we’re almost in November.”

Her eyes rounded. “You mean to say I’m missing two months? Oh dear.”

Either a great actress or she truly had lost her memories. “Sounds as if you should see a doctor if you’re missing that much time.”

“Agreed. Will you help me find one?”

While something still seemed off about the situation, I nodded. My mama hadn’t raised me to abandon a damsel in distress “If you’d care to follow me, I was heading out of the canyon.”

“That would be awesome,” she gushed. “Lead the way, my hero.”

I didn’t hate the sound of that, even as I suspected she hadn’t been entirely truthful.

I’d seen her casting a few glances over her shoulder as if worried someone would appear.

Perhaps a coconspirator. They’d be disappointed if they tried robbing me.

For one, I had nothing, and for another, my tíos hadn’t raised me to meekly roll over to thieves.

My father might have passed while I was but a boy, but my uncles stepped in to ensure I had male influence.

Which meant I knew how to fix basic engine problems courtesy of Tío Santiago, could box thanks to Tío Diego, and cursed eloquently—to my mother’s annoyance—because of Tío Juan.

We began walking with Kayleigh babbling the entire time, detailing everything she did recall: her apartment in Sugarcreek, the Volvo she drove, the fact she’d been thinking of adopting a cat.

I only paid half attention, more focused on a possible ambush.

Having hiked this canyon many times, I’d never heard of such a thing happening.

My hitchhiking reptile remained hidden in my pack.

Every break we took, I checked on the lizard who would blink at me with those big eyes.

Unfortunately, my acquired companion slowed my pace quite a bit, her stride not as long as mine given she stood at least half a foot shorter than me.

A lack of stamina required us to stop often where she drank most of my remaining water.

All that combined meant we didn’t make it out of the canyon before dusk fell.

At this rate, it would be a few more hours of hiking.

Doable but for the fact Kayleigh huffed, “I don’t think I can walk anymore.

” To stress her statement, she plopped onto the ground and removed her hiking boots to rub her feet.

My lips pursed. Was this when the attack would come?

“If we keep going, we can still make it out tonight.”

“I can’t,” she sighed. “I’m so tired.”

“Why don’t you stay here and I’ll go find someone who can return to fetch you with an all-terrain vehicle?”

“You’re going to leave me alone in the dark!” The whites of her eyes practically gleamed.

“You’ll be fine. It will just be a few hours.”

“Hours? But what if something eats me?” She clasped her hands together and glanced around nervously.

I would have liked to claim she worried for nothing, however, large cats did roam these parts and while attacks were rare, they could happen.

My turn to sigh. “I guess we could camp here for the night and head out in the morning.”

“Can we? Oh, thank you,” she gushed. Then more shyly, “I don’t suppose you have anything to eat? I’ve not had anything since I woke in the dirt this morning.”

“I don’t have much left,” I admitted, sliding the pack from my shoulders. As I set it on the ground and widened the zippered opening, Pollita poked her head out and hissed at Kayleigh.

“What’s that?” Kayleigh cried, recoiling. “Is there a snake in your bag?”

“Not a snake. Lizard,” I stated, plucking the little reptile from my knapsack, causing crumbs to fall from her body. It appeared she’d been munching while I walked.

So much for something to eat.

“You have a pet lizard?”

“Not exactly,” I muttered. “She kind of adopted me.”

“Hi, little lizard.” Kayleigh waved and my scaly companion uttered a low growl.

“Be nice,” I softly chided, to which my lizard rubbed her head against the underside of my jaw and made a noise.

“What’s its name?”

Name? I blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Pollita.”

With Pollita cradled to my chest, I dumped my bag and discovered she’d been busy. Only one protein bar remained. Being a gentleman, I split it in half. Half for Kayleigh, and the other half for Pollita, apparently, seeing as how she reached for it.

Guess for the first time in my life I’d be going to bed hungry. Mama would be horrified when she found out and then would likely try and stuff me to the point I’d have to roll myself home.

My grumbling belly couldn’t wait.