“How do you know?” He demanded, his hands already balled into fists.
“I would calm down if I were you. If you lose your temper and attack a civilian with a plethora of witnesses all around you, it’ll certainly cost you your job. Are you willing to take that risk?”
“If it means wiping that smirk off your face,” he growled. “Now, tell me where she is.”
“Now, why would I do that?” I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest. “Clearly, she wants nothing to do with you. The faster you get that through that thick skull of yours, the faster we can all get on with our lives.”
“Look, I don’t know what she told you about me but I want you to know that I am genuinely worried about her.”
I scoffed in response. “You really want me to believe that when you had no problem breaking Rosie’s heart?”
“It’s all a big misunderstanding.”
“Oh, I’m sure it is.” I hissed. “But that still doesn’t give you the right to cheat on a lovely girl and crush her spirit. Now, if you'd excuse me, I have to get going. I have a hot date tonight.”
I could practically see the fumes escaping through his ears. Without warning, he got up and grabbed me by the collar. “You will tell me where she is or there are going to be some dire consequences.”
“And you call yourself an officer?” I spat. “You’re nothing more than a crook.” Without thinking, I swung my arm and my fist connected with the side of his face.
He went down with a thud.
The whole café was deathly quiet.
Suddenly, he grabbed my legs and forced me to the ground. My temper snapped right in half and I lost all control. Growling, we rolled all around, throwing punches and kicks.
Somehow, he managed to split my lip. The taste of blood disgusted me but I ignored it. My only focus at that moment was to beat this man into a pulp.
Only, fighting has never been my strong suit. I would have taken him out in a flash if I had the ability to call upon my dragon side but I couldn’t quite do so in such a public place. As a simple human, there wasn’t much I could do, so by the end of our scuffle, I ended up in handcuffs. “You’re going to pay for this.” He hissed as he shoved me into the back of his police cruiser.
Chapter 9: Rosie
The dragon village was a bit of a culture shock. When I first saw it, it really didn’t look like much. There were a few tepees here and there but no real buildings. You’d think a legendary race would have something a little more… extravagant.
“I know what you must be thinking,” Myles said as he rested a hand on my shoulder. “It gets better when we go underground.”
“Underground?” I asked in confusion.
Instead of showing me what he meant, he had me sit around a great big fire. Some of the other women looked at me with interest. For some reason, they looked vaguely familiar. It took me a moment before I realized they were all women from town. Had they been brought here by force or had they come of their own volition?
One woman who sported a shock of red hair nursed a baby to her breast. The baby looked normal apart from the tail that fell to the ground. It swayed from side to side, creating marks in the dirt.
Suddenly, one of the younger women approached me. “Hello, you must be Myles’ and Foster’s mate. It is a pleasure to meet you.” She offered her hand but when I tried to shake it, she pulled me into a hug. I was taken by surprise especially as she seemed intent on crushing my bones. Nonetheless, I could feel her fondness through the embrace. Finally, she eased her hold and grinned. “Sorry, I’m a hugger. It’s the best way to get to know someone – whether they are good or bad.”
“So, did I pass?” I asked.
“With flying colors. I have no doubt that you’ll fit right in!” She chirped, rocking on her heels. “In fact, would you mind if I did your hair?”
“Um… go right ahead,” I said not wanting to offend her or the dragon culture I had suddenly been thrust into.
So, for the next hour, I sat before the fire while my new acquaintance, Misty, braided my hair. The time allowed me to better examine my surroundings. The village was organized just like a Native American tribe and just like the Native Americans, these people lived very close to the land. From my seat alone, I could see corn, drie
d meat, and leather hanging outside the tepees. These were a people that allowed nothing to go to waste and I rather liked that.
At some point, Myles left, indicating that I should join up with him once I was done.
I took the opportunity to ask Misty some questions. “What’s it like?”
“Hmm?” She had a mouthful of beads.