Never Deal with Dragons by Lorenda Christensen Read Free Book Online Page A

Luxuries such as this posh limo were exclusive only to those with money to burn. Or, in other words, dragons.
    The car even had a selection of small, handheld electronics devices. Both the GPS system and the built-in television had a wireless remote tucked into the seat pocket. I didn’t have the courage to try them out, but I’d bet they were the expensive, EMP-resistant models. Tech companies started manufacturing EMP-R devices when people started to realize all their cord-free, circuit board electronics couldn’t handle the residual electromagnetic pulses floating around from the hi-tech weapons attacks we’d traded during the war. The devices worked, but they were expensive. I’d been campaigning for DRACIM to get some of these, but so far the budget wouldn’t allow it.
    Twenty minutes later, instead of waiting outside my boss’s house for Emory to find his favorite tie, I was still alone and rolling through the gates to Lord Relobu’s home. The dragon lord must have sent a separate car for Emory. My palms were damp and I wiped them on my thighs. One of the joys of dragon-treated clothing was that I didn’t have to worry about sweat stains on silk.
    When the car glided to a stop, I stepped cautiously from the vehicle and onto the white flagstone walkway. I’d been right. Not a pothole to be seen. With my attention able to be directed at something other than where I put my feet, I looked up to the sky. Dragons flew overhead, their wings making a faint whoosh as they maintained altitude. Every so often I could hear them snort status updates to one another as they passed midair.
    Relobu’s security. No wonder the paparazzi kept their distance. The movement of the dragons’ wings stirred the air around me, infusing it with the unique smoke and forest scent of dragons. Surreal.
    I had almost managed to tear my gaze away from the show and step inside with the waiting butler when I spotted it. A great black dragon, flying silently above the herd. As if it knew I was watching, the dragon dipped into a lazy set of dips and circles, twisting midair like the most limber of acrobats. It was February, the days were short, and the moonlight gleamed a pearly white from the dragon’s outstretched wings. He was magnificent.
    Angry voices sounded behind me—Emory and his wife had arrived—but I didn’t turn to greet them. “Myrna, can you believe it? They won’t allow Amy inside!” I stumbled a bit when Emory bumped into me from behind, and I had to put a hand on one of the house columns to stay upright.
    “Emory. Look.” I pointed to the sky. “A black dragon. That’s something you don’t see every day.” Dragons came in all shapes and sizes, the more colorful the better. But black dragons were pretty rare, and I was pleased I’d been present for the air show. The dragon’s head tilted slightly as it returned my regard. He was too far away for my voice to carry, so I waved, hoping the beast understood that the gesture was in thanks for the performance. I grinned when he spread his wings wide and executed a mock bow.
    “Good Lord!” Emory shoved off the hand of a human servant who had offered assistance. The movement caused Emory’s elbow to jab into my arm. The black dragon flashed his teeth and rumbled, causing Emory to take a cautious step backward. “Scary bastard, isn’t it?”
    “I think it’s gorgeous.” I rubbed absently at the sore spot on my forearm, watching as the dragon picked delicately at its claws, almost as if it were cleaning its fingernails.
    Emory wasn’t listening. Apparently his mind was already back on his wife. “They told her she hadn’t been invited and shoved her back in the limo. Shoved!”
    I blinked and forced my attention back to Emory. “I’m sorry, what?”
    “Amy! They wouldn’t let her out of the limo! Said the seating wasn’t sufficient for uninvited guests. They’re taking her home now. Can you believe it?”
    My lips twitched dangerously but I held my