Page 25 of Conning Her Dragonkin Boss

“Exactly. Start working late, sigh dramatically at your screen, rub your temples, drink tea instead of coffee. By the time we get to next Thursday, people will be telling you to take a break. Oh, and don’t forget that menthol stuff that your mom uses as a cure-all. It not only signals SICK!—it will also be an effective cover up for your scent.”

“My scent?”

“Yeah, you know, so the Otherkin won’t smell the lie coming off you. I don’t know how but they can tell when we lie. Something chemical inside of us changes.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “I legit just said that I can’t lie to save my life and now you’re telling me yet another thing that will make me nervous around my bosses?”

Mei carries her phone over to her counter where she props it up so she can start her food prep. She gained some notoriety being featured on a viral cooking show that landed her tons of sponsorships and gigs. She’s a natural on camera and with video editing, so she’s been helping me with the video portion of my competition application.

I know that I’m beginning to annoy here when she starts chopping veggies. She might get angry at me, but she will never take it out on me. “Look, Sunny,” she says whittling down an onion with the grace of a ballerina, “the more you establish a base line now, the easier it will be to not-quite-lie to your bosses. Matter of fact, don’t even think of it as lying because anyone who knows you knows that you need more rest.” She emphasizes the last word with a sharpchopof her prized French chef knife.

The more I think on it, the better the idea looks to me. “I work hard, as I always do?—”

“As you always do!” she echoes

“—and then, when we get closer to the date?—”

Mei grins. “Boom. You’re so sick.”

I clutch my phone like it holds the answers to the universe. “This is evil genius level planning.”

“I do what I can.” Mei curtsies, while scraping her veggies into the mini wok on her stove top. “Now, let’s move on to important matters. Have you finished your costume?”

I brighten immediately. “Almost! I just need to finish detailing the bracers.”

“Oooooh.” Mei wiggles her fingers excitedly. “That warrior priestess set is gonna be lit, I already know!”

“Obviously.” It’s my turn to be a little self-satisfied. “And I still say Khanner would be a perfect dragon knight.”

Mei groans. “Oh my god. You so have a crush on him.”

I choke on my tea. “I DO NOT.”

“Uh-huh. Keep lying to yourself.”

“I—” I start, then snap my mouth shut.

Because arguing too much makes it seem true.

I don’t have a crush on my terrifyingly powerful boss.

I refuse.

I have a mission.

I am getting to that convention.

And I am keeping my job.

And No One Ever Has to Know.

Chapter Nine

THE PROBLEM WITH STUBBORN PEOPLE

Khanner Rokoth

Sunny and Ihave settled into a perfect rhythm over the past few weeks.

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