Page 20 of The Dragon's Gambit

“You should be careful with what you’re insinuating,” the man in purple hissed.

“How touching that you care so much about who warms Xander's bed.” Reiya smiled sweetly at him.

“It’s ‘his majesty’. You shouldn’t speak so casually of him.” The man’s face turned an ugly shade of red as anger rose inside him.

“Well for one, he isn’t my king. And two … I’m speaking intimately of him, not casually.” Reiya felt warm arms snakearound her from behind. She looked up to see Xander smirking down at her.

“You’re not giving my princess a rough time, are you Clovis?” Xander looked at the man in purple, setting his commanding gaze on him.

“My Lord.” Clovis bowed his head. “I’m just doing my job. We don’t need vicious rumors spreading, and—”

“Vicious rumors?” Xander chuckled and pulled Reiya tightly against his chest. “Who said they’re rumors?” He pressed his lips against the top of Reiya’s head and looked up at Clovis through his eyelashes, all but daring him to continue down that path he was going.

“Your majesty, playing around with the fairy queen’s daughter is inappropriate.” Clovis was barely hanging on to his composure and had his fists clenched in anger.

“Why do I have to be playing? Maybe I’m serious.” Xander watched Clovis begin to turn purple as he swiftly bowed his head and took his leave.

Once the man was gone, Reiya and Xander burst out laughing.

“Well, there’s one dragon I won’t be making friends with.” Reiya held her hand up to her mouth as she giggled.

“You’re more of a troublemaker than I had you pegged for. We’re going to make a great team.” Xander laughed as he swung his arm around her.

“He gave me attitude right from the start. He deserved it.” Reiya furrowed her brows as Xander led her toward the main entrance.

“Yeah, that’s Clovis. I am not a fan. His father was good friends with my father, and I was forced to be his friend as a child. Your mother gave me good advice, though. She said that you can try to get along with someone, but that doesn’t mean they have to be your friend. A friend is someone you can trust, and I don’t trust him. I tolerate him, but that’s the extent of it.”

Reiya could feel the tension in his hand as he spoke about Clovis. It was obvious that he did not like the man. “So where is everyone? I was told I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere without one of you, but then there was no one to be found.”

Xander smirked and gazed down at her. “Brody wanted to have a chat with Levi. They took a walk outside, and I was giving out orders for the dinner tonight. Were you terribly lonely without me?”

“Hardly. Actually, I wasn’t about to wait around for an escort. I’m not exactly that kind of girl. You’ll find that I am not intimidated easily, not even by dragons.” Reiya scoffed a bit as she looked up at Xander. “I dare say, I’m just as strong as most of you.”

“I know I wouldn’t bet against you.” Xander beamed at her. He would not refute that fact. He knew she was powerful. Already, without anything else, she was a water elemental. That power alone would give any dragon the fight of their lives. He already knew all about Reiya. After all, Levi had told him all about the girl he had gifted as his summon.

Chapter 13 Still Caged

“Reiya!!!” Chelsie yelled as she ran up to her. “You aren’t hurt, are you? Were you treated well? You poor thing, having to live with these reptiles.” Chelsie gave Xander a disgusted look.

“The water pony doesn’t like me much.” Xander pouted and tightened his arm on Reiya so that she couldn’t go to Chelsie. He knew a thing or two about kelpies, and one of those was that they did not like to share what they considered theirs. He watched Chelsie’s eyes blaze with anger as she focused on his hold on Reiya.

“You’re making her all smelly. I don’t like you holding onto her like that.” Chelsie snorted and crossed her arms.

“Chelsie, are you making trouble already?” Brody and Lee walked over from the tree line. Brody rolled his eyes as he looked at Chelsie.

“Great. I see the bear is here already. Yay, now we’re all safe,” Chelsie hissed sarcastically as she glared at him.

“You’re a little low on the food chain to be acting like that, don’t you think? Why don’t you go back to your puddle before someone accidentally touches you,” Brody snorted and crossed his arms.

“Shouldn’t you be out robbing a picnic basket or something?” Chelsie scoffed with a dramatic eyeroll.

“Haha! Yeah, Yogi Bear.” Xander snickered as a cold glare was now directed at him.

“Hmmph, this coming from a dragon, which I always heard had little brains.” Brody jabbed at Xander.

“Not to mention a complete lack of hygiene,” Chelsie chimed in with agreement. It seemed the two of them could unite against a common enemy.

Reiya sighed as the bickering began to pick up. She looked over at Lee, who seemed to be a bit distracted. He was looking out into the distance at nothing. It looked like he was inwardly communicating with someone.