Page 20 of Her Dragon Daddy Disaster
“And who would have hurt him?” I asked, dispelling the myth yet again. “There’s no way. No, he’s just a fool who stumbled his way into their ‘care.’ Shame he got back out.”
The other two shared in my chuckle at the idea.
“I have one more question for you,” Malakai said, the laughter evaporating instantly. “If you were just delivering the terms, why the fuck was there a human in your place when we got there?”
I’d been planning for the question and smiled wickedly in answer. “Spoils of war,” I told him, voice dripping with evil intent.
Malakai stared, then threw his head back and laughed. “Very good. Even if you did help the sovereign out.”
I shrugged, earning me a narrowing of his eyes.
“I’ve been thinking of that, actually,” I explained. “And while I know it helps her, I’m starting to think it’s going to help us, too.”
Lydia and Malakai shared a look that suggested I’d lost it.
“Hear me out,” I said, waving them down, urging calm. “With the war over, a lot of those who happen to see things our way will be coming home. War always creates a group of those jaded with current rule. I don’t foresee this one being any different.”
Malakai stroked the short hairs of his jet-black goatee thoughtfully. “You know, my old friend, you might have a point.”
“IknowI have a point,” I said dryly. “Even if you don’t like to admit it. But these people will be looking for a cause, Mal. We just have to make sure it’sourcause. If we bring enough of them to our side, we’ll have the numbers. Face it, we’re never going to overthrow the sovereign with a dozen diehards and another twenty or so who listen to our rallies but won’t do anything.”
Lydia nodded, leaning closer to talk directly into Malakai’s ear. She always did this when I was around, draping herself over him. Reminding me she was almost mine first. Teasing me.
“He’s right. We need to start reaching out to them when they come home. Soon, Mal. The first wave will probably arrive in another day or two. We need to plan to get out there and reach out to them.”
We all exchanged looks, thinking the same thing. I was the one who said it.
“The Summer Solstice Festival.”
Three days from then, the city would be draped in colors to celebrate the coming of summer. A parade would work itsway through many of the streets. Vendors would line the major streets.
And there would be people. All kinds of people, including many of those who were hurrying back to the Dragon Isles just in time for the festival. Like those who had so recently been at war.
“It’s perfect.”
Malakai looked at me. “This will be the biggest speech you’ve given yet, Lev. Make it count.”
I grinned at him, the antsy tension in my gut about wanting to get home to Sarah now amplified by my new purpose.
We were going to do it!
“I should get to work on it.”
Malakai glanced at Lydia, something passing between them. She uncoiled from his arm and glided across the rooftop to me.
“Make it good, Levi, okay?” she purred in my ear. I clenched. Her voice was … it was good. “We need you at that festival.”
“You can count on me,” I said, licking my lips, my dragon eager to take to the air. To return home.
“Good,” she said, resting a hand on my forearm, her touch lifting all the hairs nearby. “We’ll see you then.”
I nodded a little jerkily.
“Go,” she said, gesturing to the sky.
Moving swiftly, I took to the sky, eager to get home and get to work. That was it. I could feel it. We were going to finally do it.
Buoyed beyond the lift my wings could provide, I practically floated home, landing lightly on the fourth-floor roof of my condo and stepping breezily inside.
