Page 65 of Training my Human

And that left only one male—or would have if he’d not fled the barn into the storm. Would he return? Given his cowardice, I thought not.

But what of the female who’d gone to contact her superior? Would she return or had she finally fled as well?

In case she proved too stupid to grasp the futility of her endeavor, I waited in the barn, which grew warmer by the moment as the barbequing bodies spread their crackling heat. Flames licked the wooden stalls and walls. A river of it rippled along the ceiling. So pretty. All those dancing red, orange, and yellow flames with thick bands of blue rimmed in white in the center.

Perched amidst my fiery art, my patience paid off. Kaitlyn, sans helmet, peeked inside.

I opened my mouth, a ball of fire forming and she quickly exclaimed, “We have Philippa Smith in custody.”

The claim made me pause. They’d captured my Pip? Utterly unacceptable. A dragon’s servants were sacrosanct.

“You would dare accost one of my retinue?” I lifted my chin and narrowed my gaze. “You will release her at once.”

My demand, for some reason, eased the tension in Kaitlyn’s body. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. However, perhaps we could do a trade. You agree to come with me and in exchange, we’ll let her go.”

Did she take me for a fool? I could hear the lie. Would have probably smelled it if she didn’t wear a tin suit.

“This is not a negotiation,” my firm reply.

“Actually, it is.” She paused. “You really can talk.”

“You don’t say.” I’d been working on my sarcasm.

“I mean, I knew you would be able to, but you’re the first dragon I’ve managed to converse with.”

For some reason, the statement brought to mind the thing she’d said at the trailer. “Oh, did you not speak with the one in South America?”

“No. Perhaps if we had, the mission might have ended differently.”

The finality of her tone led me to blurt, “You killed the dragon.”

“Not on purpose. We found it not long after it hatched, but it panicked when we tried to catch it and ran off a cliff. Without wings… Well, it fell like a rock and must have sunk like one since we dragged the river but never recovered its body.”

Not knowing this dragon didn’t lessen my sorrow to hear of its death. “Why are you trying to capture us?”

“To study,” she quickly replied. “We don’t want to hurt you. On the contrary. We’re dedicated to learning everything about you so that we can properly introduce you to the world and have you accepted.”

Did she really think I wouldn’t hear the lie? “And you thought that attacking me and taking my servant prisoner would convey that?”

“We didn’t realize you’d be so coherent so quick. We thought we’d have to wait until you matured more before you could grasp our intent. While we do have some knowledge of your kind, it’s not complete. It’s why you should come with me, that you might teach us.”

“Come with you?” I would have curled my lip in disdain if I had one. “I won’t be your prisoner.”

“More like honored guest.” Kaitlyn spread her hands. “You should see what Leo’s been preparing. He had a special habitat designed for you. You’ll love it. It’s big. Bigger than this barn. With aerial perches and a pond that will be filled with fish for you to hunt. Hammocks for napping. Even a hunting area that will be kept stocked with animals.”

“Sounds like a luxurious prison,” my dryly delivered retort.

“Oh, no. It’s meant to be a safe place to protect you from those who would see the dragons eradicated again.”

More lies. I couldn’t have said where my certainty came from only I knew she didn’t speak the whole truth. “Where is Pip?”

“Leo has her. She won’t come to harm so long as you cooperate.”

“So you claim. How do I know you speak the truth? This could be a ploy.”

Kaitlyn bit her lower lip. “You want proof.”

“I only have your word and I’m afraid that isn’t enough.”

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