Page 25 of Accidentally a Dragon Daddy

“Because it’s fun. Because I want you.” I shrugged. “Just because I won’t take advantage of the situation doesn’t mean I’m faking it.”

“I guess.” She nodded tightly. “It’s definitely better than the alternative.”

“What alternative?”

She looked away but not before I saw the shifting of pain in her eyes.

I sat up straight on the log I’d hauled into our little clearing under the canopy of trees in the forest near the western edge of the main island.

“You thought I was going to take it from you,” I said harshly, though my anger wasn’t directed at her.

Elanya shrugged, still not facing me.

“Look at me,” I said gently but firmly.

She slowly pulled her eyes back across the little fire pit, meeting my gaze.

“You thought I was going to rape you,” I said bluntly. “Didn’t you? That’s what you were getting at.”

Her little pink tongue flicked across her bottom lip.

“I would never do that,” I growled so emphatically I scared her. “Ever. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” she said meekly. “I—I don’t think, deep down, I expected you to.”

“Then what?”

A surge of confidence filled her, stiffening her spine and filling her eyes as she stared into my eyes. “My job, before I came here, was to go into the dragon territories, the lands you invaded, and help people get out. To help them escape the new ‘civilization’ slowly forming in there under dragon control. Where humans are pitted against each other by cruel, vicious dragons. I’ve seen it, Damon. And I don’t like it.”

I reared back, shocked by the vehemence of her words.

“Are you sure that was us?” I challenged without thinking. “Or could it be opportunistic humans taking advantage of the situation?”

Elanya’s mouth opened, but I held up a hand, stilling the sharp reply I could see coming.

“No, I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “That wasn’t fair of me to say it could only be other humans. There’s no point in pretending all dragons are good. We’re individuals, just like you. We have our own problems.”

“Like what?” she asked, her curiosity shining through.

“Dragons tend to fall into one of three main camps when it comes to humans,” I explained. “The War Party wants to resume the war. They feel you didn’t properly learn your lesson. Many of them want to fully destroy your civilization and install dragons as your rulers. Overlords of all humanity.”

“That’s how it is in the occupied territories,” she said quietly.

“It shouldn’t be,” I growled. “That will get fixed, I promise you.”

She nodded, but it was obvious she didn’t really believe me. Which was fair. I wasn’t sure I believed me either.

“Why do they believe that? Why hate us so much?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Because you’re arrogant. As a race, I mean,” I said, forestalling her protest. “You found one of our kind, hurt and floating in the ocean. Your first thoughts were to kidnap him and start experimenting on him. Despite the very obvious fact he was an intelligent race, capable of speech, and more. That sort of thinking needs a counter. To show you that you aren’t as superior as you think you are.”

“You sound like you believe in that,” she said.

“I do to a degree,” I said, not compromising my position. “Your people did do all of that. Without even thinking. A lesson had to be taught. What I don’t believe in, however, is the wholesale slaughter of your people and making you our slaves. That’s ridiculous. To me, at least. But to say there are none who think you should be subservient to us would be a lie on my part. Just like there are a great many who would rather retreat here and ignore humans as we had for so long. Or the ones who would prefer we simply integrate with you, live among you, adopting your way of life.”

“I like those last two options better,” she said.

“So does our sovereign,” I said. “But right now, there’s a lot of anger at how Vicek was treated while in captivity with your people. A lot of it. He may be home now, but that anger won’t fade quickly. We dragons are quick to ire, and we hold a mean grudge, so—”

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