Page 151 of Dragon Her Heels

Lucifer snickered. “She wants to be picked up. If Hagnar doesn’t take her, you need to, Crystal. She’ll become one of the dangerous ones, too confident around humans to be safe near them. On your land? She will be affectionate and fine. Elsewhere? She will become a killer.”

I sighed, and to make myself feel better, I touched noses with my little boy, who rewarded me with his affection. “My magic completely changes their fate, doesn’t it?”

“For ones like her, yes. You do what is necessary to give each one their own slice of paradise. If nature did as nature did here, she would be killed for being aggressive.” The Devil tilted his head. “She would begin with biting tires, and she would eat several pets before attacking a child. The child and the gator would both perish that day.”

“Let’s avoid that. I don’t suppose you have a way to communicate to Hagnar he needs to pick her up? I don’t want to lose her.”

Lucifer nodded, and after about twenty seconds, Hagnar scooped up the alligator and rose. “I am feeling benevolent today. I do like alligators, and this one could use some care.”

I eyed the Devil. “If she’s sick, you will make her all better.”

“She’s quite healthy, I assure you. He leads them on. Patience.”

The other executives of the company emerged, and as warned, they were all armed.

A chill passed through me at the realization Hagnar was in far more danger than we were.

“Don’t fret. Just watch,” Lucifer suggested. “You’re about to see something quite interesting.”

Yuless bowed his head. “He’s going to show off, isn’t he?”

“I would count on it. They came here with the intent of killing the Queen of the Dragons—no, that’s not what he’s thinking. Mother. He views you as the Mother of the Dragons.”

Both were accurate enough. “I accept these titles with glee.” I pointed at Yuless. “I’m not his mother, but I will accept being his queen.”

“You just want to keep ruling over me,” Yuless muttered.

“Yes. I very much enjoy being the ruling conqueror, but I will be a benevolent tyrant and give you some chances to play at being the conqueror.”

“I’m accepting that as an opportunity to convince you I should be the supreme ruler.”

I smiled at that. “Should you succeed, I’ll even bake you a pie.”

“You are so being conquered tonight, health allowing.”

“She couldn’t be healthier if she tried right now, so conquer away,” Lucifer said.

There was no better friend than the Devil. “Should I be worried about what Hagnar does?”

“It depends on a lot of things, including how much magic he can access,” Lucifer admitted.

“He should be able to draw directly from my node, so magic should not be an issue, but his is connected nearby. He should be fine.” I considered Yuless, who had gone from eager to worried. “Your friend’s node is fine. I already fixed it, and it’s connected to here, so even if he visits, he won’t be harmed.”

“I still worry. He is so tired.”

“He’s no longer tired,” Lucifer replied. “In fact, he’s itching to stretch. It’s been a while.”

Yuless’s eyes widened. “I don’t want any more brushes with death this week.”

“Everyone except them will be fine.”

The promise in the Devil’s tone worried me, and I drew upon the weave to quietly whisper to the alligators and other native life to retreat to the safety of the lake’s cool waters.

“A wise decision. And do not worry for the one Hagnar holds. She will be the safest of us all.”

“Well, now I’m really worried,” I confessed.

“Do not be. It is his moment to shine. He’s just angry over more than a few things. You’ll see.”