“Depended on the dragon. Those with fire would usually burn their homes to the ground. Those who witnessed tended to be eager afterwards to pledge their wealth and fealty.”
“Hold on, you’re saying dragons breathe fire?” That was kind of cool. I had a thing for flamethrowers. Got to use one a few times and damn, did it make a guy feel powerful.
“Fire, water, acid, and air are the main ones. Every dragon hatched will end up with an ability.”
“What’s yours?” Nicky asked.
It was so weird to see a little lizard shrugging. “I won’t know until I reach that stage of molting.”
“How many stages does it take?” Once more Nicky questioned.
“Some will see their power in as few as two. Others can take up to six, but that’s usually a result of poor feeding. Given my time since hatching, I should have been on my third or fourth shed by now.” Yes, a dragon could pout.
“I’m sure whatever power you get will be fabulous,” Nicky stated. “Now, if you’ll both excuse me, I think Zaza needs to be dried off before she turns into a wrinkled prune.” I was a gentleman—unwillingly—who looked away as the wet Nicky—wearing nothing but panties and a molded t-shirt—exited the tub. I was pretty proud of my self-control.
“You and the female will make a fine couple,” Percy declared once Nicky moved out of sight.
I just about choked. “Excuse me? We are not going to be anything.”
“Why not? You are obviously attracted to each other. She is without a provider. You without a wife.”
“That’s not how things work,” I muttered.
“Why not?”
“Because for one, she’s technically still married.”
“But abandoned her spouse, rendering her available again.”
“I doubt she’s even thinking of dating given she left an abusive relationship. Nicky’s focused on building a new life with Zaza.”
“Which she can do with you,” Percy insisted. “You could provide as well as protect her should her miscreant husband attempt to take her back.”
“I could, and would, but we don’t have to be a couple for me to do the right thing. Besides, she’s not interested in me romantically.”
That made Percy snort. “I keep forgetting how dumb you are.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you are blind to the way she looks at you.”
How did she look at me? No. I wouldn’t go down that road.
“You’re imagining it,” was my harsh reply. “She has no need or use for a crippled ex-soldier with a drinking problem.”
“Are you whining about that little scar?”
“Little?” I couldn’t help an incredulous note. I stood on the bench and pointed. “I’m missing a chunk of flesh. In constant pain. I walk with a limp. And see how that scar bisects into my groin? The doctors managed to save my balls”—which hadn’t been too certain when they’d stitched me up—“but the damage left me sterile, and you know what young, attractive women want.” I lowered my voice to hiss, “Babies. So no, Nicky is not interested in me, and even if she were, I’d turn her down because she deserves better.”
And with that, I went stomping back into the chalet, thankfully without seeing Nicky, who was in the washroom with Zaza. I pounded up the stairs and threw myself into my chair and began to type.
It wasn’t hard to do because Brett was modeled after me, and in this chapter, he went through the same reality check I just had in the hot tub.
He told the girl to find someone more worthy. And then he went to go get drunk.
Lucky bastard.
Chapter Ten
