I gathered my magic.
The ice shattered around us with a swipe of the dragon’s claws. Like giants, they were magical creatures in their own right and could counter most types of magic.
Which sucked.
Because that was just lame.
And it became even worse when the dragon lowered its massive head toward me and said in a loud, rumbling voice, “I really hate wizards.”
I blinked. Because dragons weren’t supposed to talk. “Um. What?”
“Cocky shits,” he said. “With your whizbangs and pretty sparkles. Too bad too. I’d really have liked to wined you, dined you, then fucked you stupid.”
“What?”
And then it brought a massive arm back, and before I could move, it brought it forward, and I managed to think This is going to hurt before I was flying through the air. I smashed into the side of the weapons shed, my breath knocked from my chest as I crashed through the wood. My head struck something metal and I saw stars, more than I’d ever seen before in my life. I landed awkwardly under a shelf in the far corner as the shed collapsed around me. As darkness started to fall, I heard Justin shouting.
“Get the fuck away from me!”
“You on the other hand,” the dragon said. “You are darling. I think I’d like to hoard you.”
“Hoard? You can’t—”
Then Justin yelled again, but honestly, I couldn’t be bothered because the stars were growing brighter and brighter until they were all I could see. And as I heard the snap of those great wings taking flight, I followed the stars into the dark.
CHAPTER 9
You Mad, Bro?
I WOKE up in the labs. “Ow,” I said. “Motherfucking ow.”
“Yeah, that’s what happens when a building falls down on top of you.”
I opened my eyes. Morgan, Gary, Mom, Dad, Tiggy, Ryan, and the King all stared down at me.
“Were you all staring at me while I was passed out?”
They all nodded slowly.
“You’re so creepy.”
“Your beautiful face,” Gary said, sniffing, big eyes wet with tears. “It’s gone. The burns. All the burns.”
“What?” I yelped, sitting up. “What?” I was not vain by any means but it was my face, and I was so fucking vain because it was my face. “I’ll never be a model—”
“Just kidding,” Gary said, eyes suddenly dry. “Now you know how I felt when Knight Delicious Face pulled your unconscious body from a pile of rubble, you arrogant bastard!”
And then he started wailing and put his head on my shoulder. I rolled my eyes but hugged him anyways because I could. And also because I still had my face.
“Knight Delicious Face?” Ryan asked. “What’s he talking—?”
“How long was I out?” I interrupted. Because now was not the time to discuss nicknames that should never be discussed. Even if they were true.
“A few hours,” Mom said with a frown. “You’ve got a bump on your head and some bruising on your back and face. You were very lucky.”
“Luck is my middle name,” I said.
“Your middle name is—” Dad said.