He nodded once to Desmon before his eyes scanned behind him to land first on the egg, then me. He cracked a predatory smile that turned his strict, almost terrifying demeanor into something dangerous in a wholly different way.
Desmon’s voice broke the chokehold his gaze had on me. “You are getting weak, brother, if Gillisandra can steal from you.”
Desmon tossed the scale Seth had found in my purse to the other dragon, who caught it casually and tucked it into his pocket.
“Yetsheis the one sleeping for a hundred years, and I am about to reunite with my future dragonlet. And to think I never had to contract her for an egg. You may call it weak, but I call it winning.” Emmett was the epitome of smug, “And if I recall correctly, you owe me. Hand me the egg, and we’ll call it even, brother.” He stressed the last word.
Desmon turned and motioned me to go forward with the egg. I opened the case and picked up the warm orb, holding it close to my chest.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I murmured to it, though I wasn’t sure if I was reassuring it or myself.
Then, with it held close to my chest, I approached the dragon. I’d only made it halfway when I felt magical threads seem to wrap around my body, pulling me forward until I stood directly in front of Emmett. I swallowed hard.
“Ah, you must be Meera. You are just as pretty in real life. Tell me, have you considered my offer?”
I reminded myself to breathe as I tried to search for the words that suddenly decided to flee me.
“A life of luxury and comfort. Anything you wish for, fortune, fame… say the words, and it will be yours. All you have to do is devote the rest of your life to me and my child. A dragonlet needs a mother. And I need a companion to warm my bed. You have proven yourself brave and resourceful.”
“Thank you again for the offer. But I must decline.”
Suddenly, his wings came to wrap around me, shielding us from view. I inhaled sharply when strong arms hauled me and the egg into a strong embrace. There were a series of shouts and footsteps shuffling behind me, and an order from Desmon to everyone else to hold.
Outside the cocoon of his wings, I knew things were tense. But in here, there was nothing but calm.
“The offer of riches and fame does not entice you?”
“No,” I said honestly.
“Then that makes you an even better candidate. I trust few people, human or otherwise, to not take the job simply for the riches alone. Any way I can change your mind? I can be very convincing when I want to be. Is it commitment you want? I can offer you that too. I can stay with one female for a human lifetime.”
“Thank you,” I said again. “But no. I have a simple life I wish to return to.”
I thought of Graham and his angrily growled, “I thought you weremine!”
Had this been why he’d not wanted me to meet the dragon? Because he’d been worried I’d take the offer? I truly wasn’t interested. As much as I wanted to keep the egg safe and bring it home, I knew I wasn’t up for the task of raising a dragon child. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if I could manage a normal human kid!
The wings around me opened, and I felt the magical cords that had held me in place relax.
“Ah, too bad then. You shall receive a sum deposited in your accounts at my discretion for your troubles.” Emmett took the egg from me, tucking it under his arm. Then he reached into his pocket and brought out the scale again. “For you. If you ever change your mind or are in need of help, feel free to contact me. Just rub it and think of me.”
Real smooth, Romeo. I did not miss the tacky innuendo as I took the scale from him.
Then he was walking away, and my friends were coming up to surround me and make sure I was okay.
“Goodbye, little Omelet,” Seth shouted after the disappearing trio. He turned to Desmon. “Sorry you didn’t get anything out of the exchange, boss.”
“Fate has its way of evening the odds. I suspect Emmett had wanted to get the egg without using the favor I owed him. I owe him nothing now. It was a fair trade.”
“I, for one, am glad we don’t have an Omelet to look after. We can portal back.” With a wave of his hand, Seth opened a portal right in front of where we stood, and soon we were all filing in.
“Areyoureadytotest the theory?” Carly asked as she replaced the mostly eaten bowl of veggies in Q-Tip’s fenced-in area with a fresh one.
“I guess so. I mean, we won’t know until we try it, right?”
It was the next morning, and I was good and ready to see if I was finally free of the ghouls.
“Are you okay with Dragon Junior being gone?”
