Page 88 of Her Dragon Daddy Disaster
Damon didn’t make a sound, nor did he move far, but the sudden stilling of air around him as he shifted his bodyweight was enough to put everyone on high alert.
“No,” the sovereign said, addressing her man. “He’s not a threat.”
A tiny tilt of his head was the only protest from Damon, his posture not relaxing a single iota.
“It’s interesting,” she said, “the progress you’ve made, Levi, since last we spoke. Back then, you were a hothead firebrand who did not like me. To that, I take no offense. I wish I could be loved by all, but that is simply impossible. I must walk the middle, which means I will hurt many even as I keep more happy. It’s a thankless position, and one I would not wish upon my closest friend.”
Levi winced.
“You have my sympathies for what you were forced to do here today,” she continued, acknowledging his pain. “And my thank you. To you and the one who has changed you. So interesting, it seems that what turned out to be a mission of punishment has resulted in the saving of my own skin.”
“Punishment?” I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. “What do you mean, punishment?”
The sovereign looked at me, then Levi. “He never told you why he was at the White House?”
Levi cringed, looking away.
I frowned. “I figured it was because he was important. Although I never reconciled that with how he felt about you until just now. So, you sent him there?”
“Yes,” the ruler of all dragons said. “He was in trouble after inciting a riot against my rule. I figured maybe this would help him understand things better. And if he were attacked while there, well, he was …”
“Expendable,” Levi said harshly. “That’s what I was.”
I shook my head. “You made me think you were someone important. You made thepresidentthink that! It’s the only reason he gave in to your additional demand.”
The sovereign perked up, her green eyes landing on me. “Additionaldemand? I made no allowance for such a thing.”
“The one where he said I had to be one of the women who were sent here. Otherwise, the terms were null and void.”
As one, our looks turned to Levi, who wilted, though whether it was my or his sovereign’s glare that cowed him must, I wasn’t sure.
“Well, look at that,” he said. “The two of you are bonding already. That’s great. Just great. Hey, look at that, I should probably go—”
Damon’s hand landed on his shoulder. “No, I don’t think you’re going anywhere.”
“Well, shit,” Levi said, hanging his head in defeat.
“Well, shit,” a little voice repeated from at my side.
Four pairs of eyes swiveled to stare at Jakub.
He just smiled from ear to ear, thinking we were proud of him.
“Well, shit!” he repeated louder. “Well, shit. Well, shit. Well, shit!”
I never knew who laughed first. It didn’t matter. The tension was broken, and we laughed with relief at the situation.
“Are you sure you’re not mad at me?” Levi asked as he inched past his sovereign to come over to Jakub and me. “I didn’t mean to keep that from you, I just sort of forgot.”
“I mean, you’re going to pay,” I said. “Foot rubs and massages are in my future. But no, I guess I’m not mad.”
“You’re sure?”
I smiled at him, meeting his eyes. “It’s hard to be mad at the one you love.”
I hadn’t intended for the words to come out like that. They’d been in my head, but I’d intended to say something else. Instead, they flowed out, filling the air.
“The one you …” Levi licked his lips. “You don’t have to say that, Sarah. If you don’t mean it. I know I said it, but—”
