Page 61 of Training my Human

Leo pulled up in front of his house and put the truck in park before replying. “Yes, and I do apologize for their less-than-amicable manner. Kyle and Brittany are kind of intense about their work.”

“What work? What the fuck is going on Leo?”

My boss, my friend, a guy I’d known for years, turned and smiled. “I’ll explain everything inside. You know, I’ve been dying to talk to you about this. I’m so glad we can finally be truthful. It’s been torture holding in my questions. Even harder waiting to finally meet the hatchling in person, although he’s not really a baby anymore, is he? They grow so fast.”

With every revelation that spilled from Leo’s mouth—a man I thought I could trust—my panic grew.

I have to get to Abaddon.

I grabbed at the door handle, wanting to get away from Leo. Oh the irony that I’d brought Abaddon into the grasp of the very man who sought to capture him.

The door didn’t budge. A glance at Leo showed his hand resting on the master control switch.

“Unlock this door,” I demanded.

“In a moment. You really shouldn’t be running off in this storm. You might lose your way and freeze to death. We can’t have that. I need you, Pip. Your dragon does, too. He appears very attached to you.”

“You leave Abaddon alone,” I growled.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. His existence is much too important, but at least now you don’t have to hide him anymore. I’d hoped to have more time to prepare his new quarters but the storm forced my hand. Fear not, the accommodations I had built should be adequate for the moment. Oh, and before you worry, a team was dispatched to fetch the dragon as soon as the power went out. Dragons don’t like the cold, you know. Especially the fire breathers.”

He knew so much and every word out of his mouth only served to chill me further.

“Don’t you dare hurt him.”

“Never!” Leo huffed. “On the contrary, the dragon shall be treated like a king. The habitat I had designed offers plenty of space for a growing dragon and his servant. You’ll be glad to know I had my construction crew add some amenities for you. After seeing your bond, it became obvious we should keep you together.”

“You’re going to make us prisoners.” A dull realization.

“Temporarily. It’s only until you both realize that I, and those I partner with, have your best interests at heart. We want dragons to return. To flourish.”

Somehow, I doubted that, hence why I suddenly lunged and head-butted Leo, blinking back tears at the sharp pain as I scrabbled for the switch to unlock the doors.

Click.I pulled away from Leo and quickly exited the truck into the blizzard, immediately stung by the cold and snow. However, the extreme weather wasn’t what foiled my plan to flee.

That would be the guys in snow gear who suddenly appeared and sent my consciousness spiraling into darkness.

ChapterNineteen

Once more Iwas abandoned by my servant. She didn’t seem to take the peril hunting me seriously. In her defense, we had spent a week without intrusion. My enemies must have discovered our wily measures meant to expose their subterfuge. Must have realized they couldn’t get past my protector. It didn’t come as any real surprise that the one night he did not stand guard they sent me and my servant into a deep sleep.

Despite Pip trying to hide it, I noticed the toppled cans by the door, the clatter of which should have woken us. The triggered warning system wasn’t the only evidence of intrusion. I’d also been tampered with, poked in my sleep.

Even without that subtle pinprick between my toes, I would have known. The enemy’s scent lingered, a smell that I hadn’t realized didn’t belong until we went days without it. The proof of peril mounted, but did my servant listen and remain with me where she belonged?

No. She left to go to work, a reminder that I really needed to start building my hoard. With wealth to support us, Pip would lack an excuse to leave me every day. With wealth, I could build myself a fortress. With riches, I could buy more of those delicious, crunchy snacks she called Cheetos.

After Pip’s departure, I kept myself ready. The skylight was closed, but unlatched, the remote to open it within reach. I also pulled out the new bugout bag Maddox outfitted me with, one adjusted so I could strap it to my front and not impede my wings. It held a few snacks and a phone. When he gave it to me, my protector had said, “Any trouble, you call me right away, and I will come.”

But how long would that take? He should be with me at all times! Again, something that could only be achieved by collecting treasures to support my retinue.

The television played in the background as I stalked the length of the loft. A woman on the screen kept warning of a snowstorm, using ridiculous words like snowbomb, snowtrastrophe, snowmaggedon, and more. How fascinating the way the purveyors of news liked to sensationalize everything. Pip claimed they did it for something called views and clicks, a concept I still struggled to understand. Why wouldn’t people prefer the unvarnished truth?

When I became Dragon Overlord—the title currently ranking as my favorite—I would emit a decree that only the facts would be allowed in news broadcasts. I would also ban social media because from what I’d browsed, it seemed to be a never-ending argument between humans about who was more righteous.

Late morning and two bags of chips and a jar of pickles later, the dark sky finally began producing the promised inclement weather. White specks began to fall.

Snow.

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