Her Dragon Captor (Her Dragon King Duet 1)

“Master,” I repeat, shaking my head at Kirk. “You didn’t want my uncles or me to run the pack, but now you’re calling that dragon shifter Master?”

Kirk’s eyes widen. “Is that what he is? A dragon shifter? I knew it had to be something special, but I was thinking a vampire or maybe even a demon when I saw those wings of his. A dragon! Who would have thought it?”

“Yeah, the asshole who kidnapped your state queen is major impressive,” I start to answer. But then I stop.

Patience…patience, Ola. You need this guy to get out of here. Even if he is a Civil Wolf War Prepper turned abettor.

Okay, okay…assuming that he’s underneath the same weird spell as Akwasi, I ask, “What exactly are your orders here? What did the dragon tell you to do?”

“You know, get the house ready for lady company. Make sure you were comfortable and attend to you—at least those were my orders before you punched me in the dick and tried to run away. After you broke your arm, he brought out the silver chain.”

Kirk answers so casually. Like we’re talking about plans for a formal tea that didn’t quite pan out. How far gone is this guy?

Panic rises like bile in my throat.

Remember Ola, most of being a good state ruler is figuring out what the problem is and making it look effortless when you solve it.

My uncle’s past advice shores up my mind and keeps it from caving in as I perform the first step in the good queen equation. Okay, what’s the problem?

I’m stuck in a room with a guy who’s been so thoroughly hypnotized he’s not only being nice to me but also holding me prisoner. How do I solve it?

Kirk’s first command had been to attend to me while I was here, and it had probably been made with some diabolical consideration. But the second command Kirk was given sounds hasty. Something Damianos shot off in the heat of the moment. Just how thorough was the supervillain’s mind hack? I wonder.

“Your…uh…master told you to attend to me.” As a descendant of slaves, the word master stuck in my throat. But after choking it out, I ask, “What would happen if I told you to attend to me by releasing me from this chain and driving me back to the North Dakota kingdom house?”

Kirk stares at me for a long blank moment. But then he says, “Well, I guess I would have to release you and drive you back to the kingdom house.” He sounds just as surprised as me by his answer.

And I know I’m supposed to make this queen shit look effortless, but my mouth drops open before I recover and say, “Okay, yeah, great. Exactly the answer I was expecting. Let’s do this thing then. Take this chain off and drive me back to the kingdom house.”

“Yes, I will take the chain off and drive you to the kingdom house!” he repeats as he stands up and comes toward the bed.

I flinch. Having the Yellow Mountain wolf who spat tobacco at my feet last night come straight at me does not feel right or safe. But, once again, Uncle Kyle calms my mind from afar.

Remember, Ola, they’re all our subjects, even the ones we don’t like. We have to figure out what each and every one of them needs. Figure out how to help them. That’s what real kings and queens do.

More good advice from Uncle Kyle. Okay, instead of shrinking away from Kirk, how can I help him?

Well, we’re going to have to get him unhypnotized as soon as we return to the kingdom house. That’s for sure. Can it be fixed? I’ve never seen anything like the power Damianos seems to be wielding over Akwasi, that young driver dude, and Kirk.

But at least we found a workaround for now. That thought gives me solace.

That solace disappears when instead of putting on thick leather gloves and handling the silver gingerly as any other wolf would have, Kirk picks up the chain with his bare hand.

“Kirk! What are you doing?” I ask.

“Letting you out like you asked,” he answers. His face has contorted into a painful grimace, but he pulls the key out of his pocket, nonetheless.

“But your hand!” I’m gagging on the smell of burning flesh. If I had anything left in my stomach, it would probably be all over the front of his gun silhouette t-shirt by now. And I’m no nerd like Fensa, but I have to wonder if he’ll even be able to drive with a severe silver burn on the palm of his hand.

Megafrown emoji face, another problem. “I’ll bandage you up after you’re done and drive us both back to the kingdom house myself. Just give me your keys.”

“Okay.” He repockets the key and reaches into another pocket in his cargo pants.