Page 14 of Training my Human

“Who says I’m going to live with you? And the issue I was referring to had more to do with keeping you hidden from public scrutiny.”

“First, servitude is for life, so yes, you will be accompanying me where I go. Second, the home I select will have adequate safeguards from the knights and hunters that would try and slay me for a prize.”

Maddox interrupted at this point. “How is it possible you can talk? Where did you come from? Is this some kind of joke?”

Little Fella eyed him and sighed. “Did you not explain anything to the male before recruiting him to be in my service?”

Uh-oh. “First off, I did not recruit him. Maddox is here to visit me, not you. And second, exactly how am I supposed to tell someone, ‘Hey, I found a talking lizard who claims he’s actually a dragon’?” I’d be placed on a seventy-two hour involuntarily hold at the psych ward.”

“Dragon!” Maddox caught the word and gaped.

“Yes, dragon,” Little Fella snapped. “Try and keep up.”

I felt bad for the man and offered a recap that included the truth in all its insanity. “After the volcano erupted, I found this big stone and tossed it in my firepit. Little Fella here?—”

“Stop calling me that!”

“I will when you choose a name,” I growled right back. “Now don’t interrupt for a second while I explain to Maddox.”

“Bah. While you do that, I’m going to eat. I smell something interesting.” With that, Little Fella waddled to the fire pit and the leftover Mexican food. I wished I’d eaten one more churro because I highly doubted he’d leave any.

A stunned Maddox watched him and murmured, “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”

“Nope. As I was saying, the volcano spewed a rock onto my roof, I put it in my firepit, and poof,he”—I pointed—“appeared. Stole the steak right off my plate. Ate the whole thing, which was impressive, because he was smaller than you see now.”

“I thought you found him days ago.” Maddox glanced at me.

“I did. He’s probably a third bigger than when we met. He eats way more than I do and gets quite testy when I’m late with his meals.”

“I wouldn’t have to be irate if you did your job,” Little Fella hollered before dumping the container of refried beans in his mouth.

“How is it possible he talks if he was just born?” Maddox asked.

“A day in front of the television. Don’t ask me how he learned so quick. All I know is, I came home and he wouldn’t shut up. I did find out a few things, such as his egg was dropped in the volcano by his mother?—"

“I told you, we dragons don’t use that term.”

“Stop interrupting,” I yelled back.

“Insolence,” muttered Little Fella.

“He’s a dragon.” Maddox stared at him with a frown.

“So he claims. Says that, along with increasing his girth, he’s supposed to have wings, too.”

“Another molting or two and you’ll see.” Little Fella finished the savory part of our meal and discovered the churros. And by discover, I mean he took one bite and the rest vanished.

“This is a lot to take in,” Maddox stated.

“I know. I’m sorry. If it helps, I honestly thought I might have been imagining things until you heard him too.”

Maddox rubbed a hand over his jaw. “What are you going to do with him?”

“She will serve me as I need,” Little Fella declared before flopping on the heated stones ringing my fire.

My lips pursed. “He seems to think I’m going to be his personal maid.”

“He’s not shy, is he?” Maddox observed.

---