Page 74 of Training my Human

Many words that amounted to one thing. “I can’t just take it?”

Pip shook her head. “Afraid not, Little Fella. Killing him won’t accomplish anything.”

“I wouldn’t be sure of that,” I grumbled. “I demand satisfaction for his temerity.”

“What you need is a guarantee he won’t spill your secrets.” Pip glanced at Leo. “Where have you stored the videos and samples of Abaddon?”

“Everything is on my servers or in the lab just beyond the computer room.” Leo pointed towards the glass window.

“If we destroy that, he won’t have proof,” Pip explained. “And if we keep him alive, we can have him set up a bank account for us with a ton of money so we can get a fresh start.”

“You wish me to let my enemy go free?” It emerged rather incredulously.

“I’m not your enemy,” the enemy dared retort.

“Silence!” I barked. To kill or not to kill? A dilemma that led to an idea forming in my head. I knew of a fitting punishment for the man who thought he could cage me. “Very well. You shall live?—”

“Thank you,” Leo gushed.

“In the prison you had designed for me. After all, didn’t you claim it was luxurious?” I glanced around at the vast space. It actually was quite nice.

“You’re going to lock me up?” Leo asked faintly.

“Is that a problem?” I hissed. “After all, you seemed to be quite determined to do so to me.”

“No. No. It’s fine. But people might notice if I don’t show up to my shop and stuff.”

Pip helped me counter his feeble attempt to avoid punishment. “Not really. I’ll just tell Kalypso you’re off on one of your travelling jaunts. Add in the occasional video conference call and no one will notice you’re technically missing.”

“But—”

Pip shook her head. “I don’t see that you have a choice, Leo. It’s either accept Abaddon’s deal or die.”

My muzzle twitched in a version of a dragon smile as I added, “Be grateful I’m so merciful. Perhaps if you show yourself to be a good prisoner, I will reward you with moments where you can bask in my greatness. After all, you did all this to get to know me better.” It wouldn’t be awful to have someone who actually appreciated my greatness, unlike Pip who yelled when I didn’t flush.

“You’ll visit me?” Leo’s smile returned, if tremulously.

“Perhaps, but only if you please me. So think long and hard about how you will comport yourself going forward and what you can do to aid me in building my prestige and hoard. In time, if you prove yourself loyal, I might allow you the honor of becoming one of my lesser servants.”

The man fell to his knees. “I’d like nothing more, your dragon majesty.”

Pip gagged. “Jesus Christ, Leo. Could you lick his arsehole any harder?”

“This is a dream come true, Pip. Not the prisoner part of course,” Leo quickly added. “But you don’t know how long I’ve wanted a chance to interact with an actual dragon.”

“Well, guess you’re getting your wish. Now that everyone is happy, I need a drink before I figure out how we’re supposed to hide all those cooked bodies.”

“Leave them out that everyone might see I am a force to be reckoned with.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Pip muttered. “I’m thinking we toss them in the burning barn and claim they had a party that got out of control.”

“Before you do that, I require sustenance. A lot of it,” I announced. It had been a busy day.

“Move away from the dragon, Leo.” A new voice spoke and I whirled to see the man in the suit standing at the window, microphone in hand. It seemed my work wasn’t yet done.

“It’s over, Malone,” Pip snarled. “You aren’t caging Abaddon.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, he’s already inside.”

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