Page 33 of Fated to the Grumpy Dragon
It was followed almost immediately by my dragon. It bellowed a denial, thrashing its tail and slamming against the walls of my mind. Talons dug painful rows of mental agony as my beast tried to assert its own thoughts on the matter.
Clenching my jaw tightly, I pounded it back into submission.Iwas the master of my own domain. Not the animal that lived with me. Besides, it was broken. What would it know?
“The woman?” the sovereign asked in a smooth tone, masking what had to be her surprise.
“Don’t play games with me,” I growled. “You know I didn’t want her in the first place.”
“For someone who didn’t want her, you two sure did bond quite quickly.”
My eyes popped open. How could shepossiblyknow that?
“It’s my job to know of these things,” she said, attempting to be cryptic.
“Someone in the village reported the incident on the boat, in other words,” I said. “But that doesn’t change my demand. Take her with you, and let me be in peace.”
I knew it wasn’t that easy. But I had to try.
“No.”
“No?” I echoed. “Why the hell not?”
“Because, Rhyse, this will be good for you.”
“I don’t need her. I’ve been fine until now. I’ll be fine after.”
The sovereign contemplated this. “Wait several days,” she said at last. “Then write me a letter of your feelings about the matter, whether you feel the same or not. Send it to the palace since I know you prefer not to travel inland if you don’t have to.”
I held back a grimace. There was a good reason for that.
“If you still wish her gone, I will consider it then. Acceptable?” It wasn’t a real question.
“No,” I said, deciding to take it at face value anyway. “But it’s probably the best I’m going to get, isn’t it?”
Her only answer was a blinding smile.
“Great.” I shook my head at Vicek. “Now, I just have to find your stupid ship while also protecting her.”
“Why protect her if you don’t care about her?” Vicek teased.
I’d done a lot of glaring already, but I wasn’t finished, sending another his way. “Because whoever is doing this won’t just sitaround idly. They know Vicek is alive. They’ll be seeking to eliminate any trace of their participation, including anyone who knows about it. Which will be me, if I succeed. So, thanks for that.”
The sovereign smiled. “I have faith in you, Rhyse.”
“It’s a large ocean, Sovereign. I wouldn’t.”
“I’m going to help you narrow the search area,” Vicek said.
“Yay.”
I wondered if they picked up on my sarcasm or not.
Chapter Fifteen
Emma
“I’ve detected a shortcoming of this bond,” I said as we headed down the trail toward the beach and the village beyond.
“Oh, and what’s that?” Rhyse asked, his voice floating down from the heavens.
