Page 128 of Between Soul and Vessel
I sputtered as a pile of dirt landed in my mouth.
I spat it out then hissed, “I should breathe my fire into this tunnel and roast you alive for that.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you were there,” she called, her voice echoing down the tunnel.
“You are a terrible liar,” I growled.
“And you are a terrible companion,” she tossed back.
A companion? I had never been referred to as such. The word struck me odd. Perhaps I was even a bit dumbfounded.
“Actually, you know what?” she snarled at me as she slowly crawled back down to the opening, careful not to lose her grip this time. She poked her dirty little head out at me. The gall of this woman. I didn’t know if she was stupid or obscenely brave. She pointed her makeshift shovel at me. “You are the worst dragon I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m the only dragon you’ve ever seen,” I stated flatly.
“Yeah, well, that doesn’t matter. Aren’t you supposed to be powerful beings? But all you do is lay around all day likesome lazy house cat!”
I chuckled at that.
“You find me funny, do you?” she seethed.
“I do,” I said. “Which is lucky for you, because I had fully planned on eating you a few moments ago, but now, perhaps I shall let you live for another day, for entertainment purposes.”
I didn’t bother to wait for her reply as I turned around. I was about to start back toward my spot when something smacked the back of my head. I barely felt it, yet it still annoyed me, because the act lacked respect. My claws dug into the ground, cracking the earth beneath me.
“I would advise you not to do that again,” I warned.
“And if I do?” she challenged.
“Then I will drag you out from that hole, bend you over my knee, and give you the spanking you deserve for acting like a brat,” I hissed.
She gave me a funny look, equal parts insulted and confused. “You can’t do that. You’re a dragon.”
“On the contrary, I can, and I’m not just a dragon.” My iron bones hissed and cracked as they started to shrink and rearrange themselves. The black faded from my scales as the gaps between them filled, and they became smooth as velvet. Tanned skin stretched over my forearms, inked with black markings. Clothes, forged from shadow, wrapped around my vessel. I stood as a god before her and raised my hand, eyeing it. “Well, would you look at that.”
“You’re a god!” she stuttered.
“Indeed, Iam,” I said, smirking.
Surprise lit her features as she went to press her hand against the dirt, but she wasn’t looking, and she reached too far and went ass over teakettle. I caught her before she hit the ground. Her scent washed over me, her blue eyes locking with mine.
I had never realized how beautiful they were before. My gaze lowered to her plump lips. I wondered if they were as soft as they looked.
She cleared her throat. “You can set me down now.”
“I could. I definitely could,” I said, still mesmerized by her mouth.
“So then . . . why don’t you?”
“Why are you so eager to get out of my arms?”
“You’re being weird. I think I prefer the side of you that would rather eat me.”
“I just caught you. A mere thank you would suffice,” I hissed as I set her down.
She rolled her eyes. “Thank you. There, happy?”
I couldn’t believe how rude she was. Had her mortal parents taught her nothing? Was she raised in a barn? Under a bridge?
