Page 85 of The Dragon's Gambit
“We’re hosting one of the biggest gatherings here. Do you really think we’re out of fruit?” Dex asked with a mischievous smile.
Reiya’s eyes perked up. “Are you sure your royal, pampered self can handle it?”
Dex grinned. “Reese, come with me. We have some fruit to gather.” He took his arm away from Reiya and the two men left. It was time to prepare for war.
Reiya grinned as they hauled in several large baskets full of fruit.Oh, this is going to be brutal.One of the best things about Dex joining in was that all the blame would now fall on him. One thought did slip into her mind, though …Is this going to be a dragons versus fairy sort of thing?
She watched as another table was prepared as a third barrier. “So, is this just a free-for-all? Or am I going to be fighting two brutes off?” She played the weak, innocent girl routine and raised her hand over her chest.
Dex chuckled at her innocent act. “It wouldn’t be fun just picking on a weak fairy now, would it?”
Oh, he’s going to hurt for that one,Reiya silently promised herself as she positioned herself behind her table. It was funny how a spontaneous game earlier was now a methodical match.
“You sure you don’t want to back out? You won’t get another lucky shot on me again.” Reese grinned at her as he tossed a pear in the air.
“I bet you would love that, so you won’t have to be humiliated again.” Reiya smirked and wiggled her brows in triumph.
“Well, if you two lambs are ready, it’s time for the slaughter.” Dex ducked down behind his table in excitement. It was funny. These big, scary dragons were just a couple of kids. They were no different from the brothers she grew up with. Maybe that was why she got along with them so well and so quickly. Being around them sort of felt like … home.
The first fruit was thrown, and it was on. There was no going back now. The shadows of fruit were seen over the ground as they each made plopping and pounding noises as they landed. Fruit met with fruit in the air and splattered their fragments over the battlefield. Reese sent a menacing barrage of attacks toward Dex, who countered back magnificently. Meanwhile, Reiya sent deadly shots of fruit toward both distracted men. An orange clipped Reese in the arm and an overripe apple splattered on Dex.
Both men turned and glowered at her, with an intense desire to maim. Reiya gulped. She was now the pinnacle of their attention. The fruit soared toward her from every direction, and she leaned in close to the table to try to avoid the deadly siege. She cautiously peeked over her barricade when it happened. A lemon that Dex had thrown hit the corner of her table. It splattered, and the juice went right into Reiya’s eye.
She grabbed onto her eye and inhaled sharply.Ugh, woman down.The tears instantly poured out. She squinted her eye shut and began waving her hands frantically trying to fan her eye out.
“Ugh. Sorry about that. Are you okay? Here, let me help.” Dex grabbed onto Reiya’s hand and tilted her chin up, blowing into her eye.
“Do you want a cold washcloth, Reiya?” Reese watched her as she began to giggle at herself sympathetically.
“No no, I’m fine. No, Dex, you’re making it worse.” Reiya tried pulling back from Dex, but he held her firmly so there was no escape.
“What happened in here?” A low snarl sounded from the doorway.
Using her good eye, Reiya looked toward the door and met with Xander's eyes. Through her blurry tears, she could see someone else was behind him. It was Lee, and he did not look happy. Xander was now glaring at Dex and his hand on Reiya, a gesture that Dex did not miss.
“Is he possessive much?” Dex chuckled as he watched Xander stomp over toward them.
Xander reached out and gently took Reiya into his arms. “What happened in here? Are you okay?” He reached his hand up and began wiping her tears away.
“Ouch, no, no. It still burns. Don’t touch it.” Reiya pouted and rubbed her eye. “Geez, Dex, you’re such a sore loser.”
“Aww, come on. I didn’t mean for that to happen.” Dex smiled at her, though still looking at her with concern.
She squinted at Xander. “I got lemon juice in my eye.”
Xander reached his hand up and wiped her eyes. He ran his palm over her gently, trying to make sure all the juice was gone. He then shot a dark look at Reese. “Go and get a wet cloth already!” he growled angrily. Reese shot out of the room in a sprint, in fear for his life.
“Xander, he offered to get me a cloth and I told him I was okay.” Her voice was quiet, and she gave him a soft smile.
“He should have gotten it anyway. Let me see.” Xander examined her eye, which was red from being irritated. Reese handed Xander the damp cloth and quickly backed away. “Why were you throwing food at my mate?!” Xander turned his head, glaring at the two men.
Reiya giggled and cupped her hands on Xander's face. “Will you calm down, grouch? We were having fun. It was a game. Besides, you would be proud of me. I drew first blood. Oh, don’t you even look at me like that, mister. I can already tell you’re waymore competitive than me. You would have done the same thing in my shoes. Spare me the lecture, because I am not listening.”
Xander chuckled at her and shook his head. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Hmm ... how about joining in the next time there’s a fruit fight?” Reiya scrunched her nose up and bit her bottom lip.
“Sweets, playing with them is not like playing with me. That’s like going from the amateur division straight to professional.” Xander rolled his shoulders back smugly.
