Dragon's Isolation - Miranda Martin Page 0,2

from the floor into my lap.

I bite my tongue as he slams into me, and tears well in my eyes. I suppress crying out my pain as stars fill my vision. I don’t want him to feel bad, but damn, that hurt.

“Please, Mommy, please, please, please!”

He peppers my face with kisses between each please. It’s adorable and helps me ignore the throbbing pain of my tongue.

“Okay, okay,” I say. “Go play in your room now.”

“Isn’t it time to go?” he asks.

“Let me talk to your mother first,” Shidan says.

“Okay, don’t leave me,” Malcolm says, running for his room.

There’s a massive crash almost the moment he walks in. “I’m fine!”

“What was it?” I call back.

“I’ll fix it,” he yells.

“You know it’s bad, right?” I ask Shidan.

He slides closer to me on the couch and pushes some hair out of my eyes. “I’ll help him fix whatever it was,” he says.

I nod and agree because I don’t want to lose this chance to talk to him without Malcolm in the room.

“Why did you bring that up in front of him?” I ask.

It’s clear he’s surprised or confused by the look on his face.

“What do you mean, my treasure?”

“You asked, in front of him, about taking him out. You’re making me look like the bad guy!”

“Oh,” he says, he pulls me close, enclosing me with his body. He kisses down my neck.

“I’m serious,” I say, pulling away. “That was not cool.”

He rises on his elbow, giving me his full attention.

“I am sorry,” he says. “I didn’t think it was a big thing.”

Are you sure about taking him out?” I ask.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” Shidan asks, running his fingers through my hair.

“We’re under quarantine,” I say. “I don’t want you going out, much less him.”

“It will be fine,” he says, paying more attention to his fingers running through my hair than to me.

“Shidan,” I say sternly. “I’m serious.”

He stops fiddling with my hair and gives me his full attention.

“Yes,” he says.

“Yes, what?” I ask, exasperated.

“Yes, I am sure. Yes, I think it’s a good idea. I will not cower in fear. My work must be done, or we will not have food. Already we have shortages. Our stocks are dangerously low, we might have enough food for a week if everyone complies with the rationing.”

“That’s a big if,” I observe.

“Exactly,” he says. “The bivo breeding project is our hope for the future. The Tribe’s garden is growing well, but it’s not nearly big enough to feed the City and the Tribe by itself. Besides, we need meat in our diet.”

“I know,” I shake my head. “I wish I didn’t. I wish I was like all the regular people living out their lives here in the City. They have no idea how close to disaster we dance every day. If they did, they wouldn’t have enough worry left over for their bitching about Rosalind.”

“That seems to be a human trait,” he says.

“Hey, I’m human!” I say.

“No.” He shakes his head. “You are an angel sent to me from the stars.”

My cheeks warm. “You’re cheesy as hell.”

“Perhaps, but I am also right.” He smiles.

I roll my eyes, but his cheesiness always makes me smile, and it eases my fears.

“Fine,” I say. “But that doesn’t change the facts. Ladon and Ormarr have the virus. We don’t know who else has it. Any human you meet could carry it and we apparently don’t get sick. We don’t know if the kids can catch it or not. I don’t want to risk it. I can’t lose you or him.”

“My love,” he says, shaking his head. “I do not want to argue with you, but I must do what I must. If you prefer, I will leave Malcolm home, but I think it would be good for him to get some sun and air.”

“I’m not only worried about him and you know it,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I do,” he says.

“And you’re still going to do it?” I ask.

“I am,” he says, pulling his arm back from my shoulders. “I must. It is my duty.”

“Your duty is to your family,” I say.

“Yes,” he says. “But we must eat. I must provide for you and for Malcolm.”

“For us, sure, but why all the masses? You could hunt for us by yourself. Go outside the City and not risk exposure,” I argue.

His brow furrows deeply as he frowns. “Amara…”

He doesn’t finish his thought, snapping his mouth shut. He shakes his head and stands up without a word