Page 59 of Red Dragon’s Heart

“I know. But I couldn’t be with other dragons for a while. I missed you a lot, though.”

He gave her another hug, and then said, “I want you to meet my friend Maddie. She helped keep me company while I was gone.”

Kendra twisted in Zak’s arms and looked down at Maddie, her head cocked to one side. Her assessing look also reminded Maddie uncomfortably of the king. She realized this innocent-looking child would grow up to be an awesomely powerful creature who could probably level a city—if she wasn’t one already.

Luckily, Kendra seemed to approve of her. She announced to Maddie, “I like your hair. Were you nice to Unka Zak?”

Zakerek gave her his sexiest smirk and said, “Absolutely.” Maddie elbowed him in the ribs.

Kendra went on obliviously, “He used to babysit me and take care of me, and we played together.” Then she leaned over and whispered loudly, “And he cleaned my poop.” She sat up again. “That’s when I was much littler, of course.”

“Of course.” Maddie bit her lips to keep from laughing.

Zak said, “You’re a big girl now.”

“Yes! I can be my dragon whenever I want.”

Maddie said, “It’s a very pretty dragon.”

“Thank you.” Suddenly Kendra’s eyes got wide and she said, “Oh, oh!” She waved her little arms in excitement. “Look what I can do!” She screwed up her face in concentrated effort reminiscent of a toddler pooping, and then her long-sleeved sparkly pink shirt changed to a blue one with a dragon on it. With only one sleeve.

Kendra looked down at her bare arm. “Ooopsie. Sometimes I don’t do it very good yet.” She turned to Maddie and said confidentially, “Yesterday I forgot any underwear.”

“Happens to the best of us,” Maddie said gravely.

Kendra nodded. “Unka Flynn forgets his underwear all the time, and he’s not even a dragon.”

The big man with the dreadlocks looked over and gave a snort of laughter.

Zakerek said, “Are you kidding? Half the time he forgets his pants.” Flynn amiably shot him the finger, and Zak grinned at him.

Kendra leaned up against Zak. “I’m glad you didn’t forget all about us.”

“I never did,” Zak said. “I have a drawing you made me framed on my desk, so I can see it every day.”

Maddie said, “He does. I’ve seen it.”

Kendra beamed at Zak. “I draw you pictures a lot. Mommy made me a place to save all the ones I made you, for when you came back. Now I can give them to you.”

Zak blinked hard, obviously trying to hide his emotions. “I can’t wait to see them.”

Emon’s voice rose above the crowd. “Okay, people, the party’s over. I need to see Zak and Madeleine in my office. Now.”

Chapter 26

Emon led them through what seemed like miles of stone corridors and stairways. The majority of the crowd followed, though they lost some at each intersection until it was just the three of them, walking in silence.

Zak looked over from time to time and gave Maddie encouraging half-smiles, but he didn’t say anything. Maddie started getting nervous again.

Finally they arrived at the office wing. They passed through a large open room, where they were greeted by several people working at desks, and then through a carved wooden door into Emon’s private office.

It was a big, old-fashioned room with paneled walls interspersed with bookshelves, and velvet drapes lining the long, narrow, deep-silled windows. It held a large desk and a small conference table, both of polished, hand-carved wood, and surprisingly modern rolling office chairs. From the looks of the papers and files scattered around, the man did actual work—so he wasn’t just a figurehead king.

Emon flung himself into his desk chair and gestured for them to pull up chairs of their own. After they did, he fixed those inhuman eyes on them and proceeded to grill them both about everything they’d been doing.

He concentrated mostly on Maddie, which was utterly nerve-wracking. It seemed like he wanted to know everything she’d ever done—at least, everything involving shifters. Even though she wasn’t quite as scared of him as she had been, his intense presence made her feel like he was rummaging around in her mind.

Which, considering that dragons seemed to have mind powers, he very well might be. That made her even more nervous.