Ilith nodded for emphasis. With a sneer, she watched the two leggers pick themselves off the ground.
A chill skated down Ilith’s back when the shiny man fixed her with a powerful stare. There was little expression on his face, but that didn’t detract from the feeling of danger radiating from him. As if he was cataloging Ilith’s weaknesses and calculating his odds.
Ilith rejected the sense of trepidation almost as soon as it registered. She was dragon. What did she have to worry about?
Even this predator wearing sheep’s clothing wouldn’t be able to match her if she put her mind to it.
You sure about that?
Ilith nodded once. Of course, she was sure.
A second later she frowned as a thought occurred to her. She was sure she could win. Absolutely certain of it. But a battle could spill over onto others. Not even counting Willa and Dewdrop, there was the crown and the large shiny gem on the top of the shiny man’s home. What if their fight damaged either of her treasures?
Not to mention he still hadn’t given her the reward for killing the amalgam. It would be difficult to get the gems for her hoard if he was dead.
Hmm. This needed careful consideration. Acting thoughtlessly might damage Ilith’s hoard. Such an action was unthinkable.
Very well. She’d do what Tate was always harping about. She’d be the bigger person.
Ilith let out a long sigh. The things she did for her Savior.
Your arrogance is breathtaking.
Not as much as my greed, Ilith thought smugly.
Tate’s growl, that would have made even a dragon proud accompanied Ilith as she nudged Willa away. The Veles went easily, her gaze focused alertly on the two leggers a short distance away. The cub might not look like it to the adult two leggers, but she was ready to kill if any of them became a threat.
Same for Dewdrop. His face was still pale, but he watched the shiny man’s protectors with the focus of a predator.
Ilith felt approval. Tate’s companions were young but showed considerable promise, standing beside her without thought to their own wellbeing and safety. Even more important, they extended that same mindset to Ilith, despite knowing Tate and Ilith were two different beings.
It was something not even those companions from the before time were willing to do. They feared Ilith and as a result some of that fear spilled onto Tate.
Worse, they came to expect Tate to put herself into danger for the greater good. As if it was Tate’s duty to rescue everyone else. Never once considering she might need rescuing too.
Tate never looked at it that way, but Ilith did.
It was why she didn’t act as she normally would and chose to compromise instead of use the aggression that formed her foundation.
Careful to keep her gaze on her paws to ensure the ink blot didn’t escape, Ilith scooched and slid in an awkward shuffle until she faced the shiny man.
His gaze dropped as she lifted one paw. Seeing its chance to escape, the ink blot fluttered madly even as Ilith kept her other paw firmly in place.
The shiny man froze, grim realization descending. The faces of those around him reflected understanding as their gazes went to the man still hunched over, one hand on his throat. Sensing the gazes on him, he looked up, his eyes widening in fear when he realized he was the focus.
“William, who was on duty when the palace caught fire?” the shiny man asked.
The William man observed the guard. “He was.”
“Was he the only one?”
That’s why they said they didn’t see anyone enter,Tate said in understanding.They infected one of the guards with the amalgam and used it to control him.
Ilith’s tail swished. Her Savior was finally getting it. Took long enough.
I still maintain that you’re a stupid dragon.
Ilith sniffed. She was not. She was the best and smartest dragon in the world.
