Page 21 of Taught By the Dragon

“Soon. Trahern’s being thorough, for good reason.” Trahern was another doctor on Stonefire, originally from Clan Snowridge in Wales. “The results will tell us more about what she’s been given, what we can try, and what to avoid.” Layla glanced at Percy. “It’s a miracle the sedative Sid gave her worked. Some of the other inmates didn’t react as well.”

Before he could ask what they did know so far—Bronx relied on text updates but hadn’t had a chance to talk with anyone in person or on the phone yet, for fear of Percy overhearing him—Violet said, “Come on, Dad. I always forget which cheese goes best with which meat. And it really makes heaps of difference.”

After Layla nodded, signaling that their conversation was done for now, they went over and helped plan out a few different toasties, until Percy admitted she liked the ham and Swiss one with tomatoes and onions.

She devoured it, confirming Bronx’s suspicions that food had never been reliable for her.

Well, that was one thing he could guarantee she’d never want for again. He might be her teacher on the surface, but he kept adding to his list of duties—because he would help this female, no matter what it took.

He couldn’t fail with her. Provided the drugs hadn’t irrevocably changed her dragon or the ability to shift, he would see she accomplished that someday. But even if that was her only goal, he would take it further. For some bloody reason, he wanted to see her smile or laugh. Or maybe relax around others, play a game, and act a little more like her age.

Because on paper, she was fairly young. However, her heart and mind were older than some people twice her age.

An old soul in a young body or something like that.

His dragon spoke up.If you want her to have some fun, then you’re going to have to be the one to show her. If you still know how to do it.

He grunted mentally.I know how to have fun.

Really? Because I can’t remember the last time you did. Violet always asks us to take her off Stonefire, to visit other places, to see humans, and you say no.

Because humans can be bloody dangerous. Did you forget they killed Hudson’s first mate? Or that one beat Edith so badly that if we hadn’t found her in time, she would’ve died?

Of course I bloody well didn’t forget. But what about all the humans on Stonefire? Are they evil or bad or just waiting to hurt us?

He sighed mentally.No, of course not.

Right, then stop equating what a few horrible bastards did to the rest of humankind. If Hudson can move past it and mate Sarah, we can help Violet get to know her mother’s heritage a little better.

Maybe.

His dragon snapped his wings in triumph.Good. I’m going to hold you to that.

Then his beast curled up and went to sleep.

Bronx spent the rest of the hour helping to clean up and let Layla and Violet do most of the talking. He still needed to feel out how Percy acted around males in general. Edith had given him a lot of practice in being patient, but Percy’s past was a hundred times worse.

Not that he’d let that stand in his way.

ChapterNine

As soon as she could get away, Percy fled to her bedroom with the cookbook in hand and shut the door. Bronx and Violet had said it was fine for her to spend time alone, provided she let them know about any signs of her dragon waking up or anything else that might concern her.

She’d agreed even though she’d probably never say a word. If her dragon acted out or she started having some sort of reaction from the withdrawal—Layla had explained it could happen, given all the drugs administered to her over the years—she would tough it out on her own. No one had ever helped her when she asked for it in the past. To start doing it now would only make her weak and scared or release the emotions she didn’t dare let out.

Percy relied on Percy; no one else gave a shit.

Sitting on the bed, she traced the title of the book, which she could read:Easy Meals for Beginners. Opening it, she looked at the pictures, her mouth watering at the variety of foods, and itched to make a list of things to try.

However, she resisted. Wanting certain foods or trying to learn to cook them would be a waste of her energy. She needed to save her strength for helping her dragon.

Still, the pictures almost made her happy, as she imagined eating one thing and then another. Some of the ingredients, she couldn’t make out, and while she could understand most of the directions, sometimes key words kept it from making sense.

She shut the book and tossed it to her side, onto the bed. Somehow, some way, she’d have to hide her low-level reading skills from Bronx and his daughter. Given how her emotions kept breaking free, one well-aimed barb about her being an idiot could send her into tears.

Tears, like when she’d been eight and had tried to befriend one of the new orphans. The words still stung:Of course your mum gave you up. You’re a freak. That must be some kind of evil mark. Or a curse. Yeah, a curse. She had to give you up to avoid being hurt or killed.

Even though Percy didn’t believe in actual curses, not even when she’d been eight, she’d rushed away to cry alone in the toilet. None of the other kids had disfigurements like her, so she’d always been the easy target.

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