Page 48 of Surge of Ice

He gives me a look. “Like you’re out there strutting around because youthinkso much.”

I grin. “You’re right about that.” Then my grin falls away. “So, we try to force them to slow down. We try to stay in control for as long as we can. And if everything feels right, we eventually accept what’s happening.”

“Right.”

We’re silent for a long minute before he says, “But this storm dragon stuff is shit, right?”

I laugh. “Absolute shit.”

“There’s no way there’s some giant dragon, bigger and more powerful than you or I, just walking around the street waiting to be awakened.”

Except that Zane seems to be right about a lot of other things. Maybe he’s right about this too.

“Not a chance,” I say, with a wave of my hand as I try to ignore my nagging thoughts.

The car stops. I can already see that the news stations are set up along with my stage and podium on the grass. This space was chosen with care. There are no buildings nearby, just a large hill next to a large parking lot that leads to some walking trails owned by Specter Inc. It’s an area that can easily be secured and Aydan can shift out of sight on the other side of the hill.

I spot dozens of my security guards, and those are just the ones I can see. I also know there are more security guards sitting in cars in every direction, and snipers out of sight but skilled enough to handle anything that anyone might throw at us. Overhead, I’ve already warned Aydan about the jets.

We’re also close to Specter Inc., so we shouldn’t have to worry about the asshole dragon who had caused some chaos in the city, and we’re close enough to fly to Sam in minutes should trouble arise. Not that I was worried. The doctors had already informed me that brown dragon was an hour out of town. And, luckily for us, even with all the trouble, the reporters are willing to show up for a good enough story.

“Get out here,” I say, “then go hide over there and wait for the signal.”

He gives me another one of his infuriating looks.

“If you want,” I concede.

He opens the door, ducks down, and climbs out as fast as he can, slamming the door behind him. I watch him trot into place. The partition between the back of the car and the front lowers. The two huge security guards glance back at me.

“Proceed.”

They drive right up to the crowd where more of my security guards join these ones, jogging up to my door and opening it. Cameras flash all around me, and I resist the urge to squint, knowing how stupid it’ll look in all the papers and online later.

Reporters are already trying to shove their mics in my face to get some kind of scoop, but my team keeps them back thebest they can as I make my way to the podium. I climb the steps and stop in front of the microphone. Cameras continue their blinding flashes and mics stretch toward me like giraffes. I wait, as I always do, for it to get quiet.

Then, it does. Everyone is waiting and staring.

Keeping my face blank, I begin. “Specter Inc. would first like to acknowledge how difficult these recent events have been. Lives have been lost, and our hearts go out to those who have been hurt or lost loved ones due to the recent emergence of dragons. We have started a fund that will help any victims of the dragons.”

I wait, letting my words sink in. Luckily, there hasn’t been an excessive number of deaths, but any deaths are tragic.

“With that said, the public should be made aware that Specter Inc. has been researching the possibility of dragons for a long time. We never had anything outside of theories, but many of those theories have been proven correct. The research conducted by Specter Inc. presents a way forward, even in the face of the undeniable difficulties that we are currently experiencing.”

The flashing of the cameras is obnoxious, as are the shouted questions. The throng of people who only care about getting the best scoop are irritating. But this is all part of the job. I know that, even if I don’t like it.

I stay silent until everyone settles down once more. “Specter Inc. has also been in contact with some of the first dragons of our generation. These dragons are not only capable of learning, thinking, and communicating with us, they intend to get along with mankind.”

“Then why are they attacking us?” someone shouts.

“Some of the dragons that have come in contact with humans have been asleep for a very long time. They don’t know how things work. For now, we have a handful of dragons who arewilling to work with us, but we hope to create relationships with all the dragons in the future, and establish boundaries that can help us coexist peacefully.”

“And we’re just supposed to believe that Specter Inc. has a relationship with several dragons just because they’ve been spotted over your base?” a man says, pushing out his mic.

I smile. “Don’t take my word for it. Let me show you.”

Lifting both my hands, I do the gesture that Aydan and I had agreed on. I know they see him when he leaps into the sky in dragon form, because suddenly the crowd is full of gasps and screams. I look up to see Aydan twirling in the sky above us. Then he sweeps down, coming so close to us that the wind from his wings forces everyone to hold onto their belongings and duck down.

He circles, then comes to land as close to us as he safely can.

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