Page 35 of Dragon in Boots

“You mean Mink?”

“Minky. Mink. Same evil unicorn.”

Okay. I really can’t digest this right now.That included understanding where unicorns came from, why it was evil, or how it had appeared human.Then invisible?

“Thanks.” She stepped out the doorway. “By the way, why aren’t you afraid of Cimil? I mean, given what she is?”

“We have an arrangement of sorts. We both get something we need, so…” He shrugged.

“But why doyoudo it, Dash? Why do you strip? I mean, you seem smart. I bet you could find something less—”

“We all need to eat, and the money is good.”

The wordeatmade her think. “You don’t eat people, do you?” He seemed so against it, but she didn’t know for sure.

“Never.”

Never?Dash must’ve been a young dragon at one point. Maybe he just didn’t want to talk about it.

“Good to know. Thanks for the chat,” she said.

“Night.”

Jac went to her truck, feeling like this new world wasn’t as frightening as she’d thought. In fact, part of her felt relieved. If a dangerous creature cared enough about the world to end his own species, maybe there was hope for everyone else. Not that everyone was in it for themselves. For example, she was here to help in any way she could. So were all of her volunteers.

Jac drove home and got into bed, knowing she had to get up in a few hours to start the rounds with the animals and prepare the volunteers’ schedules.

At five a.m. her alarm went off. She showered, made piping hot coffee, and texted Damien that the deal was off. She wasn’t going to push Dash to do something he felt morally against, and she couldn’t blame him.

Unfortunately, that left her right where she’d started. No money.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.” She sighed and stepped out onto her porch.

Sitting there was a big white box with a black satin bow. She opened it, finding bundles of hundred-dollar bills.

“Oh my god.” She read the note inside.

Jac,

Sorry about your giraffe. But if you have any doubts about what happens when dragons get hungry, now you won’t.

–Dash

Jac’s eyes went wide. “Larry?” She bolted toward his enclosure, finding it empty except for his prosthetic leg.

“Oh, Larry.” Dash had said he didn’t eat people, but her giraffe?

Her eyes teared up. She could only hope that he’d been killed mercifully.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Deal’s off?Lying in his king-size bed in the presidential suite, Damien set down his phone and tossed his head back on the down pillow. The dragon must’ve slammed the baby-daddy door in Jac’s face last night, which meant Cimil wouldn’t help Sky. And it wasn’t like he had any leverage with the winged lizard. According to Jac’s text, the monster simply did not want offspring. Period.

If Damien believed he had a unique angle to argue with Dash, he would, but who was he to lecture anyone about the obligation to carry on one’s genes? Damien was basically a male spinster, who reveled in his bachelorhood.My life’s the best. I am the epitome of happiness.

So.

Happy.

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