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“Garnet needs hot sauce,” my father told my mother, and he engaged her in a staring contest. “We should just get her all three.”
“All three it is,” my mother announced, and she grabbed two of the cases they’d been arguing over and hauled them to the register. “Grab that other one, then we’ll load up that duffel bag. Kinsley, we’ll take the firearms over to the Millson home for storage until your safe and locker are installed.”
“Except her derringer,” Alastair stated, and he waggled his finger at my mother. “It is loaded with non-lethal rounds and should stay with her.” The dragon reached under the counter and pulled out a small box, which I recognized as containing more of the 10mm pepper spray rounds. “You should purchase these for her, as it would allow her to keep her protection piece loaded at all times.”
My mother examined the box, spotted the marking for pepper spray, and nodded. “We’ll take two boxes. Those are useful.”
Alastair grabbed another box and added it to the pile.
“A hundred rounds each of everything she needs, and I’ll call John and warn him she’ll need space in his safe until hers is installed,” my father said, bringing the third case over and patting the counter. “A hundred rounds of that pepper spray for that other brat’s derringer, too.”
I rolled my eyes over my parents’ behavior. “No more shopping. Garnet needs her hot sauce, and then I have to head home and make her supper.”
“We can go out for supper,” my mother replied. “We’ll make sure your little baby has her mashed potatoes and hot sauce. Stop worrying. We can go on a venture to buy hot sauce tomorrow.”
By the time my parents decided to set me free and go back to Miami and terrorize people there, I’d be spoiled. While I would be spoiled, I’d also be in a better position to enjoy life and advance myself. I would still take the tests and make my own path, but if I fell, help would be a call away.
That would take some getting used to.
“All right. We’ll go out for supper, but we need to stop at a grocery store first to buy Garnet hot sauce.”
“We can swing by a grocery store so Garnet can pick out a few bottles of hot sauce.” My mother reached over and petted my kitten and scratched beneath her chin. “We’ll make sure you have everything you need, sweet baby.”
We’d both be spoiled by the time my parents finished with us, as would Tourmaline, who had decided to take a nap in an impromptu nest of cloths I’d purchased to help care for my new weapons. Rather than comment about it, I went to the counter where my bird slept, rubbed my finger against his breast, and cooed at him to wake him up. Once he’d stirred, I encouraged him to get on my finger and transferred him to my shoulder. “We’ll have to make sure Tourmaline is fed before we go. He’s tired, and he’ll probably sleep through the night again.”
“He’ll be like that for another week or two,” my father said, and he came over to give my bird a gentle petting. “And don’t you worry about a thing, either, Tourmaline. We’ll make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep, even if we don’t drop you off first. Your mommy likes having you close, so you’re not going to be in the way. Why don’t you come ride in my pocket and take a nap in your nest?”
To my amusement, my father had a tiny wicker style nest that fit in his jacket pocket, and Tourmaline made the short flight to him, crawled inside, and settled in. Unable to resist, I got out my phone and took a picture of the bird. “You just get some rest, little baby. You’ve had an exciting week.”
We all had.
“Why don’t you step outside for some fresh air,” my mother suggested, and she claimed Garnet from me. “We’ll be out in a moment. Garnet is going to pick you a present, and then we’ll be along.”
“I’ll deliver the firearms with the safe and locker tomorrow,” Alastair announced. “That’ll save you a trip. If you really want the lot delivered to the Millson residence, I can place a call and handle the delivery myself.”
“Tomorrow’s fine,” my father said, staring my mother into submission. “She has her derringer for today.”
“Tomorrow’s fine,” Mom conceded, heaving a sigh to let everyone know we tested her patience. “Run along while we finalize the payment. It wouldn’t do to have you faint dead away at the total.”
Considering they were buying two Blazewings, more ammunition than was sensible, a few extra firearms, and whatever Garnet selected, the total would vex me. Rather than deal with any additional commentary, I headed outside. According to the sky, we’d burned away most of the day in the gun shop, and we’d be foraging for dinner in the dark. Unlike at my arrival, the street bustled, and I picked a spot near the door but out of the way, observing the people as they went by.
A metallic glint caught my eye, and I turned my head in time to observe a heavyset man, less muscular than my father but on a broad frame, take a swipe at me with a blade reminiscent of a surgeon’s scalpel on a hatched stick for a hilt. Rather than bring my arm up to protect my face, I spun around, whipped my leg up, and kicked, aiming for the man’s hand. He twisted his wrist in time to score a hit across the back of my calf, which would make a mess of my ability to walk for a while. I yelped, followed through, and touched my foot to the ground long enough to reset my stance, spin again, and smash my heel into the bastard’s face.
He bellowed his fury, and the deep sound, louder than any human could make, warned me I dealt with a dragon—an angry one out for my blood.
In good news, he dropped the blade, which bounced along the sidewalk.
The man transformed into a dragon, an old one with silvery scales that shifted and reflected light in such a way it appeared to be molten. The displacement of his size knocked me off my feet, and I hit the concrete hard.
My cut calf, which I had disregarded while defending myself, informed me nothing was all right. Having been stabbed before, I recognized something else was at play.
Being sliced hurt like a bitch, but not with the same searing level of pain the wound inflicted upon me.
With a clawed paw far larger than I, the mercury dragon swiped out, snatched me around my chest and waist, and launched into the sky with a bone-rattling roar.
TWENTY-THREE
I needed to find a phone before my parents burned Dragon Heights down to its foundations.