“Explain,” Dewdrop barked at Ilith as his patience snapped.
The people carrying a lie on their chest misunderstood, glaring at Dewdrop as one of them dropped his hand to the weapon at his side.
“Watch your mouth, boy. You’re in the presence of the emperor.”
Dewdrop frowned, seeming to realize Ilith and Rath weren’t the only ones present.
Ilith pulled her lips back exposing her pretty, pretty teeth as she fixed her eyes on the man who’d threatened Dewdrop. Perhaps it was him who shouldn’t forget he was in a dragon’s presence.
Her teeth trumped an emperor every time.
Dewdrop tilted his head at Ilith. “If I were you, I wouldn’t threaten the dragon’s companions when the dragon is standing right there.”
Oh boy,Tate sighed.
The man tightened his grip on his sword, glaring. “She is the emperor’s weapon. She must obey.”
Dewdrop fixed a look on the man that asked if he was really that stupid. “Do you want to tell the dragon that?”
Ilith sat back and picked a front paw off the ground, regarding her claws thoughtfully. That gem on the man’s chest seemed to be calling her name. True, last time the gem turned out to be fake but who was to say the same thing would happen again. Maybe that gem was real. How would she know unless she tried?
Ilith sat her paw down and gave the man a dragon grin. Yes, she should make sure. Besides, those liars had threatened the lives of the tiny, brave one. They no longer deserved any gems in their possession.
Ilith,Tate said cautiously.
Dewdrop glared. “Don’t you think about it, crazy dragon. The sapphire isn’t real. Remember last time?”
The liar frowned at Dewdrop. “Threats against the emperor will only see your punishment increased.”
“Idiot. Your emperor’s not the one in danger,” Dewdrop snarled. “Ilith still wants his crown. She won’t do anything to him.”
Ilith nodded in agreement. There was also the small fact that this experience had proved the shiny one’s threat level. He was dangerous. It might be fun to mess with him—but not unless the incentive was right.
“You idiots are the ones in danger,” Dewdrop said.
Willa strolled a few paces away, putting distance between herself and the rest before sprawling on the ground to watch the show.
“Sir Daniel makes a good point,” the shiny man said. “Perhaps antagonizing her isn’t your best move.”
“Your majesty,” the man protested.
“I’m not going to say it again.” There was a threat in the shiny man’s words. One that made the guard shut his mouth.
Bored with the chatter of lesser beings, Ilith fixated on the maybe fake gem. She really wanted to know if it was real or not.
“Don’t you dare,” Dewdrop warned again.
Ilith made a sad sound in the back of her throat. She deserved that gem.
“I mean it.” Dewdrop moved so he was between her and the other guards.
Ilith inched forward. Rath came up behind the two leggers, curling his tail around the group while he spread his wings.
The shiny man looked up. “Ryu.”
Ilith snorted. Not Ryu. Rath.
Rath held Ilith’s gaze.My horde. Not yours.
