My gaze was stuck on the huge beast. The dragon was a deep indigo, her iridescent scales darkening to black on her back and lightening to violet near her claws. She was slowly getting to her feet, and every muscle in my body tensed as her bright gold eyes landed on my face.

Recognition gleamed in those eyes. She yawned, displaying teeth longer than my fingers, and I took a step back.

“Relax,” Samael murmured. “Scylla won’t hurt you. Will you, darling?”

Darling? Are you kidding me? The dragon seemed to read my mind, a low snort escaping her throat as a curl of smoke drifted up from one nostril.

“Come closer, witchling. Or are you afraid?”

I rolled my eyes. If Samael wanted me dead, there were many, many ways he could achieve that without needing to bring me all the way here. I took a step closer, and the dragon watched me.

Her back arched as she stretched, her tail swiping across the dirt floor like a cat's. The last time I was here, she was hugely pregnant. Now, her belly was flat.

I shifted my gaze behind her, and my mouth dropped open.

“That’s a dragon egg.”

Samael nodded. “Scylla has passed her egg and will now stay in this cave until it hatches. She spent her pregnancy eating more food than she needed so she can stay with her baby until it has hatched. Come, Danica, introduce yourself to the dragon you tricked.”

I glowered at him, and he merely raised his eyebrow back. Fine. I took a few steps closer, until I was within touching distance of the dragon.

“Hi,” I said, shifting awkwardly on my feet. “My name is Danica.”

She stared at me for a long moment and then lowered her head. I went exceedingly still as she inched her head closer, watching me out of gold eyes.

She nudged at my hip, and I nodded. “Yeah, that’s the dagger. But Samael said I could have it.”

She blinked at that, her gaze shifting to Samael. He nodded at her and she let out a low growl. A drop of sweat slid down the back of my spine.

“Your hoard is still more than large enough,” Samael soothed. “If you like, I can bring you some more rubies. I know you enjoy them the most.”

Scylla let out a sound like a purr and I pinched my arm. Ow. Okay, so the dragon could understand everything we said. Great.

I glanced at Samael. His smile said he was very pleased by how this date was going. He should be. Screw a fancy dinner or a night at the movies. The way to this girl’s heart was through meeting a dangerous beast that could tear me into pieces.

“Would you like to stretch your wings?” Samael offered. “We will stay with your youngling.”