Page 29 of Dragon in Boots

A loud mewl erupted in the air.

“Don’t make me get out the dragon, Minky.” Dash narrowed his blue eyes.

A shriek of garble erupted, followed by Dash saying, “You’ve lost the last hundred times. You’ll lose again. Now fuck off. I have things to do.”

The sound of hooves clacked across the floor, followed by the exit door swinging open and then closing.

With wide eyes, Jac looked at Dash. “What the hell was that?”

He flashed a smug smile. “Guess you’re not so tough now, are you, dart girl?”

“Wha-what was that?” she stammered.

“You’re the animal expert. You figure it out.”

She stared, her mind spinning with everything she’d just seen and heard. “Are you…a dragon?”

He laughed dismissively. “Have a good night.” He turned and began walking away.

“Tha-thank you for saving me.”

“Thank Heebie,” Dash called out. “He likes you. Oh, and I wouldn’t go out the front exit tonight. Minky is in a mood.”

Minky?Did he mean Mink?

Jac fell back on the floor, trying to catch her breath. Her heart felt like it was about to jackhammer its way out of her chest.

“So, the dragon likes you,” said a deep voice.

Jac looked up, finding the bored stripper hovering over her.

“Who are you?” She sat up, prepared for anything to happen.

“The name is Damien Greystone. Let me buy you a drink.” He held out his hand.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Damien was still fuming after his argument with Sky. Turned out that she’d arrived at his hotel just after he’d left, and she’d seen his note immediately.

Honestly, she could’ve stopped him from getting on that stage, but she said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to watch him take off his clothes in front of a room full of women. “Such a dignified man like you? Stripping?”She’d chuckled.“I’d be an idiot to say no to that delicious trainwreck. And, oh boy, it was a shit show!”

At first, when he’d stepped out onstage, he hadn’t noticed Sky sitting there—because, of course, she was a ghost—but if he’d known she was there, maybe he would’ve tried a little harder instead of begrudgingly doing the bare minimum to hold up his end of the bargain with Cimil.

Cimil never said I had to be a good stripper.She’d only said he had to get onstage and remove his clothes.

Of course, as the audience booed and spewed lewd insults, all he could think about was that he’d been a fool for not calling Votan and ending Cimil’s reign of terror.

But noooo…He’d had to play the hero again and come to Sky’s rescue. The worst part was that Sky had been laughing so hard during his non-performance that her energy spiked, and she revealed herself for a few seconds. Rolling on the floor.

The humans hadn’t noticed, buthehad.

She laughed. At me!He’d only been doing it for her.

After the show, he finally lost his temper and told Sky their relationship was over. No more contact. No friendship. Over.

Then she started crying, and now he felt like an asshole again. Sky absolutely wanted another chance at life. She begged him to help Cimil, promising to never darken Damien’s doorstep again if he came through.

In that moment, Damien had felt both sides of the coin. One side was pissed and had meant what he’d said about her leaving him alone for good, while the other side blackened at the notion of never seeing her again. So he opted to help her first and then decide later the fate of their relationship. Friendship. Whichever.

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