Page 4 of When Dragons Play

“Ye-yes, sir,” Cameo replied.

“You four have been a pain in my ass. You’ve disrespected the uniform you are wearing. You’ve disrespected the commanders who have tried to guide you.” He paced back and forth, punctuating his displeasure. “You’ve disrespected your teams. But most of all, you’ve disrespected what it means to be a Valdier warrior and your families. What do you have to say for yourselves?”

“No disrespect, sir, but we don’t have any families. If it’s all the same to you, sir, I’ll take this uniform off right now. That should ease the pain in your ass.”

Kelan turned to face Laser. He opened his mouth, ready to wash his hands of the lot and let them rot in the cell, when he felt Trisha’s gentle touch on his arm.

He’s hurting. They all are. I’ve seen this before. Do you mind if I talk to them?

He glanced at Laser’s face, noticing the utter lack of any expression, a stony mask that gave away nothing. The younger warrior’s face remained stoic until his eyes met Trisha’s. Then a flicker of emotion passed across his face. A sense of vulnerability, unexpected in the warrior’s hardened expression, shone through his eyes like a fleeting shadow. Kelan turned his back to the men, a silent message passing between himself and Trisha as he nodded.

If anyone can break through their defenses, you can.

Thank you.

Trisha stepped forward, an amused expression on her face as she faced Laser. She tilted her head, studying him as if he were a fascinating new species she had never seen before. She did the same with each warrior before she shook her head and tsked.

“I could beat the lot of them with my hands tied behind my back. Shoot, I bet even Bálint could tag them before they knew what hit them,” she stated, looking back at Kelan with a grin.

His lips twitched at the sparkle in her eyes. She really wanted to play—and if these four took the bait, they definitely wouldn’t know what hit them. Kelan shot a quick glance over the four men who were staring at Trisha with a confused expression.

“There isn’t a creature in this galaxy that can tag us,” Timber snorted, slightly insulted.

Trisha’s lips curved up and she stepped forward until she was standing in front of Timber. She stared up at the tall, broad-shouldered warrior, and stared him down as if he were no taller than a toddler. Timber’s expression grew wary and he glanced nervously at Rumor.

“Are you willing to bet on that statement?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” Rumor asked.

Kelan’s expression was a mask, his eyes steady as he watched the young recruits, taking in every detail of their actions. The sound of his dragon’s delight reverberated through his thoughts. The men were undeniably captivated by her.

“You guys against me in a game of tag,” she suggested.

“Define tag?” Laser asked, his insolent voice tinged with curiosity.

She hook him! They going to play! They going to play!

Will you settle down?

Hoo, hoo! They going to play tag! They going to play tag!

Kelan’s lips curved into a silent chuckle at his dragon’s joyful antics. Images of its fiery breath, billowing out in joyous bursts, and its proud prancing made it nearly impossible to keep his expression stern. The moment Laser sought to clarify the game, Kelan knew his dragon was right. Trisha’s words had ignited their curiosity and challenged their pride. The four of them all had an unshakeable belief in their own invulnerability. She would show them they weren’t invulnerable and were capable of more, without shattering their confidence.

She paused in front of Laser and shrugged a delicate shoulder. “It’s a game I used to play with my dad when I was a kid. We picked a starting point and a finish line. Whoever makes it to the finish line first without getting tagged wins.”

“That doesn’t sound so hard,” Laser muttered, his lips quirking as he looked her up and down with an arrogant expression.

“I enjoy it,” she replied. “So, are you in?”

Trisha wiggled her nose, a small smile playing on her lips, as Laser’s dismissive tone filled the air. A mischievous twinkle danced in her eyes, while her lips remained curved in a smile that was both playful and innocent. She handled the group with such skill and grace, as if she was a master conductor leading an orchestra. Kelan was looking forward to the cocky foursome learning a few harsh lessons in reality.

Suckers, his dragon hooted.

Kelan’s throat tightened, and he couldn’t help but turn away, his own smile mirroring the infectious joy radiating from his dragon. The guard, normally bored and apathetic, now watched the conversation with a newfound curiosity. Taking a deep breath, he composed himself before turning back as Trisha sealed the deal with the skill of a master negotiator.

“The four of us? Against you?” Timber asked.

She nodded.