Page 83 of Dragon Me Through Space

“That thing defies all logic and reasoning,” Preston grumbled.

“Some have said the same about me,” I whispered in response.

Preston smirked. “Yes, you and Scout are definitely two peas in a pod in that sense.”

“Peas? Pods?” I asked, uncertain what he was talking about.

Preston’s and Gage’s eyes both widened and they looked at each other and back at me.

“I see we will have to add idioms to your training,” Preston muttered.

“You’re an idiom,” I grumbled back, feeling insecure about not knowing what they were talking about.

Gage laughed and Preston’s lip twitched, but he held back from smiling.

“So, what’s first on the agenda?” I asked. “Proper bowing and curtsies?”

“How to dislocate someone’s arm,” Preston answered. “Gage, you’re the best at it, so go ahead and show her.”

“I need someone as the sacrificial arm,” Gage reminded him.

“Call over Wayne, he’s more willing to get injured for Xoe than Zeke is.”

“What about you?” I asked with a teasing smirk.

Preston dropped his head and narrowed his eyes. “I’m the leader and need my arms in full working order. Especially since they’re likely going to try to drug us tonight and kidnap you.”

“Wait, what!” I shrieked.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Scout chirped once high and loud to alert me to an intruder. I rolled over the bed, surprised to find it empty of Preston, who had been in it when I’d fallen asleep, and onto my feet.

The next second, my dagger was at the throat of a female about my height. “What do you think you’re doing in my room?” I growled.

“How … how did you know I was here?” she squeaked in fear and held her hands up in surrender, one of which held a dagger.

“I think you’d better answer her question first,” Preston growled behind her and I could see the shine of his eyes in the darkness over her head. He stood by the door, likely waiting to see what she was up to before he grabbed her.

“I, um, I⁠—”

“Too slow,” I snapped and swung my fist down, hitting her temple with the butt of my dagger.

She fell to the floor and Scout made its tee-tee-tee laughing sound.

“Were you going to just stand there and let her stab me?” I demanded from Preston and put my hands on my hips, being sure my dagger was pointed away from my body.

“Pet, I would never let anyone harm you,” he assured me, pressed a kiss to my forehead, and picked up the unconscious female.

Without waiting to see what he did with her, annoyed for some reason I couldn’t place, I climbed back into bed and pulled the covers back up.

Preston returned shortly after that and climbed into the bed beside me. “Pet?”

“Sleeping,” I mumbled with my face against the pillow.

His hands slid around me and he pulled me tight against him. “I was about to grab her when you rolled off of the bed. Since you didn’t need my help, I thought it better not to intervene. I would never let anyone hurt you. Do you understand?”

“Hm,” I grunted in reply as tears built in my eyes. I was glad for the darkness, so he couldn’t see the tears and I quickly blinked them away.