What about Bruce? He currently hammered a fist into Joseph’s face. Joseph replied with a slug of his own. At this rate, they’d be fighting a while, and I was getting hungry.
“Go,” I stated. “I’ll handle this.” After all, I’d killed one human tonight. Why not two?
Nicky fled with Zaza and I watched to see how the fight would unfold.
The exchange of punches bored until Joseph kneed Bruce in the thigh. Must have been a direct hit to his injury, because my servant yelped and arched.
Joseph took that moment to dive for his gun and whirled with it as Bruce charged.
Bang.
My servant took the shot in his arm. Bruce reeled and hit the wall before slumping with a grimace of pain.
Joseph spit a mouthful of blood and took aim again.
I yelled, “Don’t you dare shoot him.”
My order led to the man glancing at me. “I wasn’t mistaken. A talking lizard will be worth a fortune,” Joseph stated.
“Lizard?” I couldn’t help the note of affront. “It’s dragon, actually.” A dragon still feeling the effects of adrenaline, or was it something else? I tingled head to toe and my belly tickled, a fluttering not related to hunger for once.
Bruce groaned. “Why the fuck would you let him in on your secret, Percy?”
“Because he won’t be leaving this house alive,” was my matter-of-fact reply.
“Who’s going to kill me?” Joseph scoffed. “Your American soldier is finished. Nicky fled. It’s just you and me, and I’m several times your size. Plus, I’m the one with the gun.” Joseph crouched to point the weapon at my face, as if I’d be so easily frightened.
“You might be bigger,” I agreed, “but everyone knows dragons are superior to humans.” I’d no sooner finished speaking, than the quivering in my belly coalesced and rose, contracting my throat. My jaw opened wide and I exhaled. Ice crystals and frigid air blasted from my maw and hit Joseph, freezing him in place—a process that took mere seconds as my breath acted like liquid nitrogen.
Bruce blinked. “Did you just turn that fucker into a meatsicle?”
“I told you he wouldn’t live to tell anyone about me.” I tilted my chin proudly. “It would seem this molt not only exposed my wings, it unlocked my ability, too.”
“And just in time. Now, while I’d love to listen to you gloat about your greatness and moan for food, I think I might need a hand from Nicky to stop the bleeding.”
A dragon ordered to fetch like a servant. I allowed it only because of the circumstance. It would be inconvenient if, after the heroic effort I put forth, Bruce died.
While Nicky exclaimed over Bruce’s scratch, I raided the kitchen with my sidekick, Zaza. After all, saving the lives of my humans deserved an edible reward.
Chapter Twenty
My arm throbbed, the pulse of pain nothing new, nor was the blood that soaked my shirt and jacket. Although, I’d hoped once I’d retired from the military I’d never have to deal with that type of thing again.
I didn’t mind Nicky’s fussing, though. Despite grumbling about dragons not being messengers, Percy had fetched Nicky who returned with Zaza—the baby’s face tucked to her shoulder.
Nicky’s mouth and eyes rounded in shock at the sight of the frozen statue of her husband—who could now officially be called her ex.
Percy seemed unbothered by what she’d done. Me, I was impressed, but also a little freaked out. My tiny dragon had done this. Killed someone by only breathing. Guess I better not piss her off or I could be the next human ice sculpture. Then again, I didn’t think I had to worry about that, seeing how my arrogant dragoness came to my rescue. Guess she liked me.
“How can I help?” Nicky asked.
“You can start by putting Zaza down,” Percy ordered.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I don’t think she should see…” She paused, “Any of this.”
“She won’t if you drop her in the kitchen. She and I will have a snack while you care for Bruce. Once his wound has been tended, we shall depart.”
An imperious command, yet Nicky listened. She put the baby down behind the island and I heard rustling as she scrounged in a cupboard for something to eat.
