Page 74 of How to Hide Your Angel Kid

“That seems like too much to kill someone over.”

“My parents were murdered for their hides,” Galent muttered. “And others have been killed for less.”

Pinks swallowed. “Please stay.”

“What about I try to apologize,” Galent said. “And we’ll see where things go from there?”

“I’m getting a very bad feeling about this.”

“I’ll be harder to kill in my dragon form.” Galent shucked off his clothes, stepped out through the back door, and shifted into a glittering sapphire dragon.

Pinks held back even though he wanted to rush forward and give Galent a quick hug for good luck. “Don’t use your wings. Keep them tucked in tight.”

Galent flashed him a sharp-toothed smile. “I will, Sweety-Pinks.”

Pinks couldn’t help the dreadful foreboding that filled him, seeing Galent stalk away.

A sudden thought struck him: if Galent turned into stone now, where would his magic release spot be? His balls were hidden inside his body. Pinks wouldn’t be able to reach them.

“Crap, crap, crap!” Pinks brought Zarrie back to the kitchen, pacing nervously.

Galent appeared from the side of the house. The cloaked creatures had gathered in a line, ominous in their stillness.

Handsome nudged Pinks’ side, watching the scene unfold. “I texted for help.”

Would help even arrive on time? None of the dragons could fly in broad daylight, because the last thing they needed was more kidnappers trying to target them. Telos was away and couldn’t fly anyone in—everyone else traveled by car. Help was going to arrive too late.

Zarrie made a loud sound of protest; Pinks was squeezing her too hard.

“I’m sorry!” Pinks tried to loosen his grip.

Galent had stopped in front of the creatures, puffing up his chest to appear bigger. “I would like to formally apologize for hurting you. Will that be enough to appease your grudge?”

“Want baby,” the creature said in a reedy, hissing voice, raising one arm to point straight at the window where Pinks and Zarrie were.

A ball of green magic gathered at its fingertip.

Pinks swore and dove out of the way, but not before he saw Galent breathe fire at the creature.

This was going to hell, right now, and they had no backup.

Strong hands gripped Pinks’ shoulders. “We need to get you to safety,” Handsome said urgently. “Lord Fangy will want you and Zarrie safe.”

“But who’s going to watch Galent’s back?” Pinks cried. “I don’t trust those things!”

“I’ll watch his back,” Handsome said.

The thing was, they were both shifters. Neither of them had any real power against a magical entity that couldblast a hole through several wards. Even if Handsome shifted into a dragon, he could be cursed just like Galent had been.

Pinks allowed Handsome to guide him to the basement entrance. Handsome tapped a long series of numbers into the scanner. Then he urged Pinks and Zarrie down the gentle stairs, Limesicart bumping along after them.

As they reached the bottom landing, Pinks closed his fist around the rune cloth in his pocket, thinking hard. He hadn’t managed to gather enough magic for anything. Would the spindly sculptures help? Could he transfer the metal magic into Limesicart, and make the cart stronger?

He swept his gaze through Galent’s hoard.

And landed on the giant steel AlphaBot prop at the far end of the room.

Pinks’ breath snagged. If his idea worked...

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