Page 62 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons
But Tor just snorts as he hauls his friend up to sitting and slaps his face a couple of times until he comes back ’round. ‘Ha! Four seconds, Brax. Lightweight.’
Brax lets out a dry chuckle as he gets slowly to his feet. ‘Let’s see how well you do.’
‘Mari, try it on me this time,’ Tor says. ‘See if you can find the spot without seeing it.’
I nod and he turns around. He doesn’t bend like Brax did, so I have to rise onto my toes to find the first vertebrae. I skate down his shirt, counting quickly and then feel for the ridge. It’s not as pronounced on Tor, but I find it and give it a hard jab. I count the seconds and pass five. I think I’ve done it wrong, but Tor finally gives a small grunt, and his body goes limp around seven.
Brax rolls his eyes. ‘Show off,’ he mutters. ‘He was much less insufferable without his dragon.
Tor laughs. ‘I heard that.’
‘It’s fucking true.’
Tor stands up and hugs me tightly. ‘Stay close to Drey,’ he advises. ‘But don’t be afraid to use the pressure point. It’ll give you time to run if you need to.’
I nod jerkily, grasping onto him. Why am I panicking at the thought of being without them? I’ve known Tor a week and Brax less than that.
‘We feel it too,’ Brax whispers when it’s his turn to say goodbye. ‘We don’t want to leave you either.’
But he pulls away and, with final looks at me over their shoulders, they both leave me in the office alone.
Feeling bereft, I sink into one of the chairs opposite the desk and put my face in my hands. What have I gotten myself into?
The human doesn’t notice me at first. She sits in front of my desk with her head in her hands. At first I think she’s crying. They’re dramatic like that, the humans. But then she lets her hands fall to her lap and I see that her eyes are dry as she jumps at my presence.
Did she somehow play my friends, I wonder as I look at her, trying to glean anything I can from her appearance, from her, albeit, blank expression.
‘How did you manage it?’ I ask finally.
‘Manage what?’
Her voice is quiet, almost musical, and I feel the dragon slumbering inside open its eyes and take notice of her. But I slam the doors of my mind on him so he can’t see or hear anything Idon’t want him to. My control over him is absolute. I’m known for it and have been for hundreds of years.
‘How were you able to seduce both of them? Get them to give you their loyalty over me?’ I ask.
My eyes bore into hers, willing her to look away. Any other dragon here, even Aziel, would have to drop their eyes when met with my power, even though I’m feeling pretty under the weather at the moment. But the Tribute doesn’t quail before me.
My bleary eyes narrow a fraction.
Humans. So against the natural order. The Fall was too long in coming as far as I’m concerned, and the world is far better off without them in any real positions of leadership.
‘Maybe it was the hair,’ she mutters.
I snort at her, amused in spite of myself, but I make myself glower at her and the pretty red locks that cascade down her back.
‘What do you expect to gain from your alliance with them?’ I press.
She frowns at me as if I’ve asked a stupid question. ‘I’m the Tribute.’
When I just stare at her, she tilts her head to the side. ‘They said there was no getting out of it. They told me what it’s like here for my kind. Even for me as a political pawn.’
When I let the silence stretch out, she scowls at me. ‘I don’t want to be a plaything for some asshole reptile to abuse and kill. That’s about the long and short of it.’
‘But how did you make them agree to help you?’
She just stares at me.
‘What did you offer them?’
