“Joseph probably bullied the daycare into handing it over.”
“What does the cad want?”
Her lips pinched. “I am to come to him at once or he’ll harm Zaza.”
“He’d better not,” I growled.
“He will if I won’t obey.”
Being a wise dragon, I pointed out the obvious. “It’s a trap.”
“Obviously.”
“Why do I get the impression you’re still going to meet the miscreant?”
“Because I have no choice. I won’t let him hurt Zaza.”
“Shouldn’t we wait to see if Bruce is successful?”
Nicky’s phone dinged and she didn’t immediately reply but her face tightened.
“What is it?”
Instead of answering she turned the screen of her phone towards me. It showed an image of Zaza sitting on a floor, face blotchy from crying. But more disturbing? Someone held a gun pointed at her crown. It chilled me to the core.
“I have to go,” Nicky exclaimed as she jammed her feet into her boots and grabbed the car keys Bruce left behind.
No surprise, the human chose to let emotions make her decisions. To be honest, I also did not react well to the threat made against Zaza. How dare someone threaten the child who’d bonded with me?
When Nicky would have rushed out the door, I dragged my sluggish body from the nest of blankets on the couch and bellowed in a less than impressive tenor, “I’m coming too.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Percy.” Nicky’s lips turned down. “I doubt I’ll be coming back, and I won’t let Joseph get ahold of you. You’re much too special.”
“So are you,” I insisted. “I won’t let you go alone.”
She shook her head. “I love you, Percy. If Bruce survives, take care of him for me.”
With that, she dared to close the door, the handle out of reach, essentially locking me in the room.
Utterly unacceptable. Not to mention disrespectful. Disobeying a direct order. The nerve. The gall only heightened the annoyance of my being stuck inside the hotel room.
A draft tickled me, the cold of it soothing. It led my gaze to the sliding doors beyond which jutted a balcony situated two floors above the parking lot. Perhaps I could still join Nicky.
I ran on all four paws to the exit, my claws managing to slip into the track of the ill-seated glass door. It took all my heaving and huffing strength to slide it open enough for me to squeeze outside. Then I had a railing to contend with. The bars were too close together for me to pass through, so I climbed, my skin cracking and splitting as my limbs moved and stretched and even grew. My next molt chose the worst time to manifest. Reaching the rim of the balcony where I gripped tight with my claws, I teetered and faced a dilemma. Two stories were a long way down when you couldn’t fly, and I doubted I’d have time to climb.
Movement caught my eye and a glance to the left showed Nikki walking briskly from the hotel’s main entrance, aiming for Bruce’s vehicle. If I didn’t act soon, she’d leave without me. But if I jumped, I’d most likely be injured. What should I do?
The choice was taken from me when a strong gust of wind slapped into my body and I lost my balance. As I plummeted, my limbs thrashed, skin shredded, flesh expanded, and?—
Pop. Pop.
I unfurled my newly revealed wings in time to slow my descent, but not actually fly. I managed a wobbly glide to the ground with my fresh appendages. My arrival didn’t go unnoticed.
“Percy?” Nicky’s rapid steps slowed. “How did you get down here?”
I proudly fluttered my wings. “With these.”
“Well look at that.” She offered a wan smile. “So glad to see you got them, but I have to go and I don’t have time to bring you back to the room.”
