Page 21 of Training my Human

He grimaced. “Came up mostly empty-handed. While there is much folklore of dragons existing, there is little information about how they came into being, how to care for their young, or anything much more than what we’ve seen in movies and books.”

I glanced at Abaddon. “Exactly how long was your egg in that volcano? Do you know?”

“Long,” Abaddon admitted as he prowled the space, poking his nose into everything. “Longer than I should have been. I felt at least two eruptions before the one that dislodged me.”

“How come you weren’t born during those events?” Maddox questioned.

“I am unsure, but given the need for intense heat for curing, I can only assume my maternal progenitor accidentally placed me in a crevice that the magma did not reach. Even after my expulsion it was only by luck that I hatched.”

“Because I put you in the firepit,” I murmured. “What would have happened if I hadn’t?”

“Nothing. I would have remained caught in my shell, unable to be born.”

“Glad she found you, little buddy,” Maddox declared.

“Must you call me little?” Abaddon complained.

“You are, compared to me.”

“Not for long…” My dragon hopped on the couch and gave the cat a smug look as he nestled in my lap. Guess I should enjoy it while he remained small.

“I’m curious, what does a dragon do? Like what is your goal or purpose in life?” Maddox sat across from me on a chair.

Too shy to share the couch? Being a gentleman?

“We collect treasure for our hoard. Eat. Claim an area as our own. Take humans into our service. And then protect it all from other dragons, or those who would try and encroach.”

“What if there are no other dragons?” I asked.

“Then as I get bigger, my territory will expand until I eventually rule the world.”

Abaddon said it so nonchalantly it took me a second before I burst out laughing.

“Oh, man, that’s funny,” I chortled.

I received a disdainful glare in reply. “Dragons are the apex predators of this world.”

Blame the wine for my truthful and slippery tongue. “And yet you’re the only one left.”

“Because we are hunted,” Abaddon hissed. “Greedy humans want our treasure.”

“A treasure you stole from them,” I pointed out.

“Then they should have guarded it better,” he spat back.

Maddox interjected himself. “How about before embarking on a mission to rule the world, we figure out a plan to ensure you can remain free instead of in captivity?”

“I will not be caged.” Abaddon tossed his head.

“You won’t have a choice if people find out about you. Rare creatures don’t get to live in the wild,” I pointed out.

“I do not like this modern world,” Abaddon stated before scooting into a corner of the couch and tucking his head in a sulk.

I grimaced as I eyed Maddox. He topped up my wine and said, “Wanna go up on my rooftop patio and look at the stars?”

“Hell yeah,” I agreed before realizing I had to use a ladder to get there.

Maddox nicely carried my wine so I could use both hands to climb and I needed them as it turned out because a glance below showed him staring intently at my ass. And when he got caught? I finally understood the expression “panty-wetting grin.”

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