Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
As they walked through the aisles, Brooks announced, “No diapers and formula.”
“Those probably went fast.”
“Toilet paper is gone, too.” Brooks pointed to the candy selection. “Those disgusting circus peanuts are still on the shelf. No one likes those. Everything chocolate has disappeared.”
His mate’s voice sounded so sad that Rogan stopped in the grocery section and snagged a tub of cocoa powder. His cook could make something chocolatey for Brooks. One last stop in the personal aisle and Rogan grabbed the last three tubes of lubricant.
“Let’s take these for the girls,” Brooks suggested, pointing to two last boxes of tampons on the shelf.
“I’ve got a case at home. We’ll leave these for someone without supplies,” Rogan told him.
“Why do you have a case?”
“Dragons collect useful things. My mate could have been female.”
Brooks was quiet as they walked back to the front of the store. Rogan suspected his mate was worried about something. “Is there anything else you need or want?”
A sound caught his attention, pushing his worry that Brooks was upset out of Rogan’s mind. He pulled Brooks behind him as he zeroed in on that noise. Two people.
“We’ve left lots of supplies. There’s plenty for both of us,” Rogan called.
“Now, that doesn’t work for us. We want it all,” a man’s voice answered and laughed. “We’re armed and not afraid to shoot you. Drop what you have and walk out. We might let you leave without extra holes in your body.”
“I’m afraid those options don’t work for us. Here’s your choice. Put down your weapons and clear out or I’ll let my dragon flambe you,” Rogan offered his options in a pleasant tone.
“Right. Because so many dragons are pets. Does he like belly rubs, too?” a higher-pitched female voice asked sarcastically.
“He does. Those scales get itchy,” Rogan said, gesturing for Brooks to get down lower. His mate followed his instructions for once without argument, before plucking a can of bath salts from the bottom shelf.
Jerking to the side, Rogan avoided a gunshot as he changed into his dragon form. Instantly, he allowed his dragon to take over. Knocking shelving over like dominoes, the red dragon created his own space. A loud, pain-filled shout echoed inside the store. Rogan swiveled his head. One of the two hadn’t moved fast enough from between the aisles.
“Help! I can’t breathe,” he wheezed.
Rogan focused on the other one. Rage brewed inside him. One of them had fired at his mate, putting his life in danger. Rogan stalked forward, causing havoc with each giant foot he set down with a ground jarring thump. He allowed smoke to leak through his nostrils.
Flaming the last attacker would set the interior of the store on fire, destroying all its contents, including the items Wyvern needed. Rogan could escape through the ceiling with his mate, if necessary. He wouldn’t be able to rescue the items they’d collected. He’d try intimidation first.
As he moved toward the hidden foe, a second gunshot sounded. It slammed into his side and ricocheted off his scales, not injuring him in the least, but pissing Rogan off completely. As he turned to eliminate the man pinned under the shelving unit, a projectile whizzed past his snout to smack into the attacker’s forehead with a solid thump. A second thud followed as the man’s head struck the floor. He didn’t move this time. Scurrying footsteps sounded as the other ran for the door.
Good shot, Adventurer.
“I was the star pitcher of the Wyvern baseball team in high school,” Brooks told him.
Of course you were. Let’s get back to Wyvern, shall we?
“Yes, Daddy.”
Chapter 17
Brooks sang on the way home—not because he was celebrating surviving the attack, but because he wanted to keep Rogan from reading his thoughts. When he spotted the walls surrounding Wyvern, he asked, Can you drop me off at home, Daddy, before you take the supplies to the doctors?
Don’t you want to go see your grandmother?
Not today. I’m tired. I think I’ll take a nap, Brooks told him, yawning widely.
Do you feel okay? Weird vibes are coming my way.
I’m fine. I didn’t sleep well last night.
Rogan was quiet for a few seconds before he asked, Are you worried about something, Brooks?
No. I’m just tired, Daddy.
You can talk to me about anything, Brooks.
I know.
Okay. I’ll come in and tuck you in before I go.
No need. I don’t want to delay you. I’ll crawl into bed, Brooks insisted as Rogan landed. Brooks quickly slid down to the ground and turned to go inside.
Would you take Daddy’s things and put them in the nursery? Rogan asked, lifting his right front claws that held several bags.
Of course. Brooks quickly checked for the bag containing the cocoa and the tubes of lubricant. He discovered Rogan had slipped a bottle of bubble gum scented bubble bath into the bag. That seemed like something a female mate would enjoy. Brooks forced himself to smile and waved the bag.