Page 73 of Training my Human

I entered and Pip cried out, “Wait, you can’t go alone.”

“I will return shortly.”

Beyond the door, an elevator awaited and beside it was a descending staircase. I chose the latter as Pip exclaimed, “Bloody hell, the edges are too hot for me to go through.”

Good. I didn’t want her coming to harm. This was my battle and given her softness in regard to my enemy, his demise was not something she needed to see.

The staircase plunged quite a fair distance, not that I climbed each step. I floated down, a silent wraith of vengeance.

At the bottom, I found myself in a room with many computers and screens but of more interest was the large window overlooking a strange place with perches set at varying heights. A giant pond for bathing. A home almost fit for a dragon but for the fact it had been built to be a prison.

My prison.

The nerve.

Through the window I could see a man prying open a crate. Was this Leo? His scent had passed through here recently, entering the domed room through a door that had been left ajar.

Quietly, I stepped in and a few paces from the man spoke. “If it isn’t my enemy.”

The male whirled and his jaw dropped. “Oh. Wow. You’re here. Hi.”

He showed no fear. Unacceptable.

“I said I was coming.” Warned them even and yet did they flee? No, hence why they faced my wrath.

The man smiled. “And here Malone thought you might give Kaitlyn a hard time.”

“Kaitlyn is dead.”

“Oh.” Leo finally looked a touch nervous. He jerked his hand toward the crate. “I got you some Cheetos.”

“I shall enjoy eating them once you are dead.”

The male lifted his hands in a pleading gesture. “I’m not going to harm you. No need to kill me.”

“Liar. You sent hunters after me,” I hissed.

“Not to hurt, though. I just wanted to bring you here where it’s safe. See”—he swept a hand—“all of this built just for you.”

“Another lie as this construction is older than I am.”

“Well, yes, I started it a few years ago. Once I found that scroll with the locations of some eggs, knew it would only be a matter of time before we found a dragon.”

“You want to imprison me.”

“To keep you safe. To learn from you. To?—”

“Use me,” I exclaimed. “Unacceptable. And for that reason, you shall die.” My mouth opened wide and I let him see the building fire at the back of my throat.

Leo gulped before hitting his knees to plead. “Don’t kill me. I can help you. I have money.”

Rather than barbecue him, I growled, “How much money?”

“A lot.”

“I cannot be bribed. Once you are dead, I will simply take your wealth.”

“It’s not the kind of money you can touch,” Pip exclaimed as she entered the habitat. She’d managed to follow me, although she’d lost her coat and parts of her hair had been singed in the process. As she approached, she kept talking. “Leo’s wealth is locked in stocks and bitcoin and some overseas bank accounts. If he dies, his entire estate will go into probate and will be divvied up and given to whomever he designated in his will.”

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