That wasn’t going to happen again.
Ilith signaled for one last banshee scream. The sound lingered yet none of the amalgam fell.
“Is that the last of them?”
At the last second, before the final notes of Dewdrop’s death song faded, Ilith twisted, pointing him at the rest.
TWELVE
Ilith, what are you doing?Tate screamed as the shiny man and those beside him fell to the ground, trying to cover their ears in a futile effort to block out the sound.
Dewdrop tried to cut off his banshee scream, but too late. The damage was done.
Ugly sounds came from one of the shiny man’s guards. He bent forward and opened his mouth. His face was twisted and red, veins popping out along his temple and throat. Those around him drew back as a black ink blot the size of a fist used tiny, human looking hands to crawl out of his throat.
It fell to the ground with a splat. Its hands acted as feet as it fled.
Stupid, amalgam. Did he really think he could escape with the great and mighty Ilith present? She wasn’t the same dragon she’d been during their first battle. She’d learned and wouldn’t give him the chance to replicate again.
With an evil chortle, Ilith pounced. Dewdrop screamed in surprise at the sudden motion, reminding Ilith she hadn’t put the boy down yet. Willa flattened her body on top of Ilith’s head, her claws scrabbling for purchase along the dragon’s scales. Another person Ilith had forgotten.
It made Ilith’s landing much gentler than she’d initially planned as she held her head carefully to ensure Willa didn’t tumble off.
The ink blot darted away, but not fast enough. Ilith slapped a paw down, one claw spearing through the edge of its body, trapping the ink blot in place.
Gotcha.
It flailed as Willa slid off Ilith’s head. She crept up on the ink blot, her belly brushing against the ground as she watched the last remaining piece of the amalgam with fascination. Ilith did nothing as Willa reached out a paw slowly, smacking the ink blot before hopping out of reach.
Smart Veles. Brave but cautious.
When nothing happened, Willa reached out again, playfully batting the ink blot back and forth as Ilith carefully lowered onto her belly, shifting so her front paws encircled Willa and her new toy.
The ink blot’s capture assured, Ilith curled her tail around, setting Dewdrop down next to her head.
To her surprise, the boy looked worn and weary, drooping where he stood as he stared at Ilith with an appalled look.
Ilith’s head reared back. What? Why was he looking at her that way?
She glanced at the rest of the two leggers, hoping they could shed some light on the odd behavior of Tate’s companion.
To her surprise, the others appeared even more disbelieving and horrified than Dewdrop. There was animosity on more than one face.
Ilith didn’t understand. Shouldn’t they be happy she found the last piece of the amalgam?
Or maybe they didn’t know what would happen if even the smallest sliver of it escaped. It was possible. They weren’t as intelligent as a dragon.
Except even Rath had an exasperated look on his face. He shook his head at her before his body folded away, leaving his bonded standing in his place.
Ilith reared back, feeling uncomfortably as if she’d just been chided by an elder. Affront filled her. How dare he? Who was Rath to act like she’d done something wrong when she hadn’t?
His status as potential mate just saw a reduction in points.
Ilith squinted at the rest of two leggers, feeling a little unhappy. Where was her praise? Her worship? Didn’t they know the appropriate behavior for when a dragon saved them?
They probably see what you did as an assault. They’re going to say it’s an assassination attempt. Of course, they’re not going to give you a medal for that.
That was just stupid. If she’d wanted to kill the shiny man, she wouldn’t have used Dewdrop to do it. She would have used her teeth and claws as any proper dragon would.
