Page 22 of Accidentally a Dragon Daddy

“You’re bleeding,” she said, pointing at my shoulder.

“I was in a bit of a fight,” I said wryly.

“You were? My goodness!” she gasped with equal falsity.

“Yeah, but it’s okay. You should see the other guy,” I bragged.

Elanya covered her mouth and what sounded suspiciously like a giggle-snort. Her eyes danced with laughter, the brown circles coming alive. That was what I longed to see more of from her.

“All right,” she said in a very different tone of voice. “For whatever reason, I feel like I can trust you.”

And she climbed on my wing without any further hesitation.

“Whoa,” she said as I shifted under her, courtesy of my dragon losing its damn mind the instant her hands touched my scales.

“Sorry,” I grunted, clamping down on the animal with steeled willpower.

If I fucked things up now, she might never trust me. Trust us.

I also shut down the triumphant cry of victory from the beast as she settled her legs on either side of my neck. All we’d done was convince her to climb aboard.

It didn’t have its mate. Not yet, and maybe never.

Because when we landed and I showed her the truth, there was no chance she would take it well.

Chapter Twelve

Elanya

I clung to the dragon’s back, hunching over his neck as we soared through the air, heading swiftly to our destination. Wherever it was.

You’re an idiot. There is exactly zero reason to trust this dragon over another. You have no idea where he’s taking you or what he wants to do with you once you’re there. No idea at all.

My brain was screaming that logic at me. Every bank of his wings, every jolt of turbulence, however mild, sent my pulse jackhammering. What sort of idiot let herself climb on to the back of a dragon unsecured. A creature who, until days ago, had been at war with my people, slaughtering them by the thousands.

And there I was, riding it like some sort of giant horse. With scales. And wings. Only an idiot would do something like that.

So, why couldn’t I shake the odd feeling of familiarity the red dragon produced? Unlike the other one, I felt at ease in his presence from the moment he drove Dayvin away.

Should I be flattered dragons were willing to fight over me? I’d never been that highly sought after in high school, that was for sure. It was weird. Watching them fight had been terrifying. Yet a part of me was almost thrilled, knowing one of them wanted me that badly.

“My” dragon started descending rapidly, spiraling down toward a cluster of buildings next to a river.

“Your home is down there?” I called over the wind rushing past.

“Yes.”

Shortly thereafter, we settled down gently upon the roof of one of the stone buildings, landing with barely a bump.

“What now?” I asked, sliding down his wing as he kept it extended for me. “Make myself at home, I suppose?”

“Not yet,” he replied. “We won’t be staying very long.”

I looked up sharply, catching a note of tension in his voice. “Why not? Am I not allowed to stay here? Humans can’t defile your humble abode or some ridiculousness like that?”

“No, nothing like that,” he said, baring his teeth in what I sincerely hoped was the dragon version of a smile.

“Then why can’t we stay?”

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