“Tiggy, all right?”
“Sand in my trousers,” Tiggy said, sounding grumpy as he sat up, pulling us up with him. “Sand, Sam. In my trousers.”
“Yeah, dude,” I said, patting his arm. “That’s terrible. Believe me, I know. I have sand everywhere too.”
“Stupid snake dragon monster thing,” Tiggy said.
Speaking of.
The dust was clearing by the time I stood. I shook myself out, trying to get as much sand off me as I could. I took a step forward as I brushed off my arms and—
A shadow fell over me.
Because apparently the day couldn’t get any worse, Jekhipe rose above me. Its body was still mostly on the ground, muscular and agile, red scales bright in the sun. The lower third of its body was wrapped around Kevin, holding his arms against his chest, Gary tucked under his neck, trapped in its grip. Kevin was trying to snap down at it, but he couldn’t reach. I thought for a moment he’d breathe fire at it, but it would run the risk of burning Gary, and I knew he wouldn’t take that chance.
But Jekhipe wasn’t focused on them.
It only had eyes for me.
And I was furious.
“That’s it, then?” I growled up at it. “That’s all you got. Come on, you bastard.”
For a moment, I thought I saw its eyes widen slightly.
“Um, maybe not anger it, huh?” Ryan said. “That’s probably not—”
It jerked its head toward the sound of his voice, hissing at him, tongue out and tasting Ryan’s scent.
Which, no.
It squeezed Kevin and Gary tighter, causing Gary to cry out in pain.
Which.
No.
“Hey!” I shouted at it, taking a step back. “You look at me when I’m talking to you!”
It reared its head back as it turned to me.
“That’s right,” I said, taking another step back. “Thaaat’s right. It’s me you want. And I’m right here.”
“Sam? What are you—”
“Don’t move,” I said, not taking my eyes off Jekhipe. “I got this. Tiggy, get him out of here when I say.”
Ryan sounded furious. “And you get pissed at me for acting like a martyr?”
“Tiggy! Do you understand me?”
“Sam got a plan?” Tiggy asked, sounding worried.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Yeah, I got a plan.”
That was a lie, but they didn’t need to know that.
“Bullshit,” Ryan said. “Tiggy, he’s going to—”