Page 6 of Fated to the Grumpy Dragon
Many ships had wrecked in the so-called “Bermuda Triangle” over the years. Some of them had carried treasure. Most of them had met unnatural causes.
It was from these ships, sunk by patrolling dragons to keep our secret home hidden after winds had blown them near us against their will, that the treasures were taken. Fewer and fewer were found every year, though.
Which was why Darius was intrigued by the idea I’d found a new ship somewhere, one nobody else had located. Unfortunately, the chest had been the only thing of worth on it, but a new discovery was always fun.
We haggled over a price for the chest and the other shells I’d fished out, along with an old compass and case of maps from a hundred years ago I’d found on a downed steamer. Once that was done, we shook hands.
“Always a pleasure, Darius.”
“You as well, Rhyse. Don’t wait so long before returning.”
“No promises,” I said, pulling the door open.
And ruining my day completely.
“Hello, Rhyse.”
I glared at the thick-browed dragon shifter blocking my way. “Move, Killian.”
The beefy brute with his prominent brow, wide chin and boxy face just leered at me, showing why he earned the nickname Gorillian behind his back. He was the one I’d seen when I’d first surfaced, and sure enough, he wasn’t alone.
Killian’s lackeys, unlike Dillon’s, laughed like a pack of hyenas, hanging off his every word, finding everything he did hilarious. Unlike anyone who had a shred of intelligence.
“No.”
The angry undertone of his voice surprised me. Although we hated each other, Killian rarely sought confrontation with me. Not after the first time I’d busted his nose at least.
I gritted my teeth. “What the fuck do you want?” My temper was quick to light on a good day. Having this prick in my way brought the fuse near to ignition automatically.
“Some nice payment you got from Darius there. Payment for things you dug up while we were gone, off fighting. Things we would have found instead.”
I rolled my eyes. Diving off the coast of the Dragon Isles was competitive, sure, but once it was found, it was claimed. That was how it had always been. “Piss off, Killian.”
My attempt to push past him was rebuffed, however, with four grim, angry faces staring back at me.
“You got rich while we were gone,” Killian said.
I snorted. “Rich? Oh, please. You don’t know a damn thing. And you weren’t off fighting. You were off being bullies like the cowards you are, picking on those weaker than you. You wanted a fight. That’s the only reason you went, and everyone knows it. You’re just a violent little boy.”
Killian sneered. “Better than being a crippled coward.”
My arm was already cocked when a soft clearing of a throat behind me stopped me cold.
“Rhyse,” Darius said.
I froze, fist clenched, and tilted my head sideways to indicate I’d heard him.
“Please don’t destroy my shop.” It was the tone of someone who understood Ishouldhave driven my fist into Killian’s face for his comment but was respectfully asking me to do it elsewhere.
I dropped my fist. Killian gloated.
“Be seeing you soon, Killian,” I said menacingly, then turned and walked through the shop and out the back door before my fury got the better of me.
It was close. But I had an appointment with the sovereign, and I intended to look decent and not like I’d just been in a dustup.
I just hopedthatmeeting would go better than the one with Killian.
Chapter Four
