The short dragonrider bounded forward, but it was the roar of the dragons at Sophia’s back that got her attention and made her turn for a split second, giving Tanner what he thought was the advantage as he reached for Sophia’s shoulders from behind.
Chapter Fifteen
Sophia briefly caught a glimpse of the black dragon lunging at Lunis as Tanner’s hands came around her shoulders. However, she had to trust that Lunis would take care of himself without her attention. She had to show this newbie toad how badly he’d underestimated her.
As Sophia had done to Evan when they first sparred and he tried to take that same advantage, she doubled forward and used the momentum to throw the guy over her back. It was much easier than with Evan due to Tanner’s smaller size and Sophia’s enhanced strength from training. She flung him down so hard that he yelled, sounding like a frightened child.
He coughed and tried to push up, but Sophia pulled out her sword and whipped it through the air, then brought the blade down close to Tanner’s throat. He froze in place.
She darted her eyes to the side and noticed that Coal, the black dragon, seemed to have taken the same cheap shot when lunging at Lunis. However, the smaller dragon lay on its side, his head pinned to the ground under Lunis’ back foot. The dragon tried to wiggle out of the grasp, but Lunis’ superior strength and size kept him from moving.
However, Sophia couldn’t celebrate the victory although the sight was comical because she noticed crimson on Lunis front leg. He was bleeding from the landing.
“You all right?” she asked over her shoulder, careful to keep any emotions off her face.
“Reminding this little squirt who’s boss since he seems to have forgotten and gotten too big for his britches.” Lunis leaned low and spoke straight into Coal’s face. “Do you need me to change your diaper, little guy?”
Coal tried again to squirm to safety, but it was no use.
Sophia almost laughed, but her concern for Lunis kept her from any such relief. She returned her attention to Tanner, lying flat on his back and not daring to move with a sharp blade close to his throat.
“It’s sad that you couldn’t be more cooperative. We’re the nice guys, but we aren’t pushovers. If the Rogue Riders are going to be a problem, there will be consequences. You have a choice though. Join us or fight us.”
Tanner narrowed his eyes at her. “You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
“Coming from the guy lying at my mercy, I think I know exactly who I’m dealing with.”
“Whatever,” Tanner sputtered, obviously at a loss for a reply.
“By the way,” Sophia stomped close to his face as though she was going to smash it with her boot. He flinched. “Don’t call me sweetheart. If anything, you can call me boss, because that’s what the Dragon Elite is. We’re the ones in charge, and you’re going to figure that out or you’ll pay the price.”
She spun her sword, then sheathed it as she casually stepped backward, not at all worried about retaliation. Then she opened a portal so Lunis didn’t have to chance more injury and waved to her dragon.
“Come on, Lunis,” she said to him over her shoulder while striding for the shimmering gate. “Let’s leave these losers to pick up their egos.”
He nodded, pulled his foot off the black dragon’s head, and strode after her while putting great effort into not limping, although Sophia knew he was in a lot of pain.
Chapter Sixteen
Hiker Wallace was unusually calm as his dragonriders explained their various experiences trying to recruit the demon riders. Most of their encounters had been the same. He nodded from where he sat behind his large, elaborate desk.
“I expected this,” he stated with his gaze pinned to its surface.
“You expected that there was a new society of dragonriders that governs the criminal world?” Evan boldly asked with a laugh.
“I expected,” Hiker’s tone was authoritative, “that the demon dragons and their riders wouldn’t be cooperative. Like Thad. They want power and do what they want. Serving the greater good isn’t in their value system.”
“What value system?” Wilder asked. “The guy I met seemed to value mouthing off and getting his ass handed to him.”
Sophia lifted her legs and draped them over him on the sofa, then put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He was fine, but all the Dragon Elite riders had a few bruises and bumps after their interactions with the Rogue Riders. Apparently they didn’t fight fair, and as happened to Sophia, had taken cheap shots. Wilder sported a cut on his cheek, but it was nothing that wouldn’t be fully healed by morning.
Mahkah had a black eye. Evan broke a finger punching a dragonrider in the face, stating that he had an especially hard head like it was full of rocks. The dragons all had skirmishes with the demon dragons and were recovering in the Cave. Lunis was stationed on the Expanse like before, also healing.
Mahkah thought that Lunis would be fine but would have to be more careful until he was entirely healed. He had advised that they not go out on any dangerous missions for a little while, but with the Rogue Riders' development, that seemed unlikely. Sophia didn’t like to think the worst but had strong suspicions that the Rogue Riders would only create problems that the Dragon Elite had to clean up and fix. She didn’t think they’d mind their own business and keep to themselves.
“I’m not surprised that these demon dragonriders aren’t cooperative,” Hiker began. “What I’m surprised about is that they’ve so quickly formed a group that’s governing criminals.”
“Because they’re associated with the demons, doesn’t mean they aren’t intelligent,” Mama Jamba reasoned. “All dragons and riders were meant to be exceptional. How they use those powers depends on the alliance.”
“That’s the thing,” Hiker grumbled. “Somewhere out there, I have a new leader of the Rogue Riders who is using his powers to exploit evil.”
“It could be a good thing, sir,” Evan began. “I mean, we need someone to watch after the criminal world. Maybe this new leader is doing us a favor so we can watch after the good mortals.”
“The Rogue Riders are taking a cut and benefiting from criminal behavior,” Sophia argued. “They aren’t stopping crime. They’re encouraging it.”
“But is that so wrong?” Mama Jamba asked the question, which surprised everyone in the room.
“Scandalous. Meow.” Evan clawed the air like he was pretending to be a cat.
She smirked at him. “As much as I love the idea of everyone being good and getting along, that’s not realistic. That’s why it was decided there would be both angel and demon dragons in the first place. It’s about balance. Hiker, as much as you might not want to admit it, these Rogue Riders could end up serving a purpose eventually. Criminals can’t be stomped out. We’ve tried that since the beginning and those who want to break the rules will always find a way. So instead of trying to eliminate them, the Rogue Riders are embracing them. Governing them. It’s not all bad, depending on how it’s done.”