Page 6 of Her Dragon Daddy Disaster
“Shut up,” Sarah said.
I returned my attention to her. “If I do that, I won’t be able to tell you why I’m here, or why I revealed myself to you.”
The same curiosity burned in her eyes.
“Youdowant to know, don’t you?” I couldn’t resist taunting her a little. It was too fun to tease Sarah.
“Spit it out, asshole,” Hendricks snarled. “No more games or stalling. What are you doing here?”
I looked him square in the eyes. “I’m here as the official representative of the Sovereign, Ruler of All Dragonkind. I’m here to deliver her terms for peace.”
“He’s here to negotiate our surrender,” one of the other agents said bitterly.
“I wish that were true,” I said.
“That’s what you just said.” Sarah rejoined the conversation.
“No,” I corrected gently. “I said I was here to deliver her terms for peace. A ceasefire as she called it.”
They all looked surprised at that.
“The terms are simple and more than generous. Too generous, really,” I said. “But I’m only to discuss them with your president. So, please take me to him.”
“Not a fucking chance.” Hendricks shook his head. “You aren’t getting anywhere close to him.”
I met his eyes. Reallymetthem and let the shift leader get a good long look. “Trust me, Hendricks, if I wanted that, he’d be dead already. I didn’t have to reveal myself. Didn’t have to tell you what I was. I could have just bulldozed this entire place before anyone reacted. Instead, I’m here talking to you. Using words to tell you why I’m here. So, go relay this to him. Let him decide what to do.”
Hendricks didn’t move, but he didn’t shut me down either.
“I’m here toenda conflict,” I added. “Not start another one.”
He was torn.
“Go,” I said, sitting on the floor, moving slowly so I didn’t scare anyone. The bullets wouldn’t hurt me, but there was always the chance Sarah would get caught by a ricochet or something. I couldn’t chance that. “I’ll stay here with Agent Detfield for company. You have my word I won’t try anything.”
“Why should your word mean shit?” one of the agents sneered.
“Shut up, Rickle,” Hendricks ordered, his eyes focused on me as he spoke, likely trying to determine whether I could be trusted or not.
“Do it, Hendricks,” Sarah said softly, shaking her head. “He’s serious.”
The team leader’s eyes shifted their gaze, staring at her for a count of ten before nodding. “Wait here.”
Then he was gone, leaving us in silence.
Nobody spoke. The tension was unbelievably taut.
“You can put those down now,” I said to the agents, gesturing at their guns. “You won’t need them.”
“My sister was in New York,” one of them hissed. “If it’s all the same to you, dipshit, I’ll keep my gun right the fuck where it is.”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the agents. There was a full dozen of them now, plus Sarah. Word was spreading about who, and more importantlywhat, I was. I could only imagine the panic their commanders felt, knowing a dragon could beanyone.
It was enough to bring a half-smile to my face.
“Something funny?” Sarah asked, crouching down to look me straight on where I sat.
“Lots of things,” I murmured, before sitting up straighter and patting my lap, indicating she should sit. “We need to talk.”
