Dashing devil omnibus 2.., p.38
Dashing Devil Omnibus 2: Books 4-6, page 38
The blackout had indeed been lifted and Boyd’s contact permissions were restored.
“You’re going to do it now?” Daisy turned a confused look on him.
“Would it be a bad time? I don’t want to interrupt a study session or anything,” Boyd responded.
“That’s not what…” Daisy still wore a confused look but shook her head and dropped whatever it was she failed to understand. “Never mind. No, they gave the kids a few days off to celebrate you killing the Last Dragon. You get that you probably created a new holiday today, right?”
Boyd blinked. He hadn’t considered it yet, but she was probably right.
“News2 is pushing for it to be called Dragon Deliverance Day,” Kayla said, “the day the literal Last Dragon was finally slain.”
Kayla had not been made aware of the baby dragon they were monitoring out in the cave. When Boyd had checked on it before dinner, the little dragon—little being a relative term—was sleeping soundly. Boyd wanted tonight to be a well-earned celebration, so would steel himself for what needed to be done in the morning.
‘If things were different, I would argue against it, if only to prevent you from having to kill something you did not truly want to kill.’ Mindy sounded concerned. ‘Me and Silvie will come with you, I will insure it sleeps until the end. All we can do is prevent it from suffering.’
The reporter continued before Boyd could put any thought into a reply. “Of the options floating out there, I like that one the best because of the alliteration with Dashing Devil. Although you are also being called Dashing Dragon Slayer. If you like that one better for a Hero name, you might be able to make the switch.”
Kayla was an expressive woman, practiced to the point where it came naturally. Just then, she conveyed worry and regret while also clearly hoping he didn’t like Dashing Dragon Slayer better than Dashing Devil.
Boyd had never seen big brown puppy eyes that simultaneously begged for forgiveness and a favor so well.
So, Boyd made a face that let her know the new option repulsed him. “How egotistical would I have to be to name myself Dragon Slayer—let alone Dashing Dragon Slayer? I’m not the type who needs to remind people of the things I’ve done… and even if I was, I would never go that far. The only reason to do that, at this point, would be to have the press remind everyone about today every time they wanted to ask me a question.”
He shook his head. “I won’t be changing my Hero name. Dashing Devil is honestly perfect for my mission.”
“Oh?” Kayla dropped the puppy eyes as a familiar inquisitive fire entered her gaze. “And what mission is that?”
“I’m afraid that is classified, Miss Bailey,” Boyd rumbled with a grin he was sure she would find infuriating before turning back to Daisy. “But anyway, back on topic… should we call Connor as a group or should I do it privately? Also, should that call be now or another time?”
“Um, I think he would like to talk to you alone, at least once—not that he isn’t everyone’s fan! It’s just that…” She faded off as she glanced around the table.
“Boyd is his Hero,” Raev finished for her with an unconcerned shrug. “No one is offended.”
Daisy glanced around, but no one refuted the statement so she continued, “Well, yeah, that’s right… but um… now should work. Dinner ended hours ago, so he should be back in his room.”
“Well then, I’ll excuse myself for a moment and give Connor a call. You all decide what we’re doing next while I go do that,” Boyd replied as he set his utensils on his plate and stood.
He had gotten used to Daisy clearing the table after having been scolded by the tiny spitfire for trying to help her a couple of times. Before he turned to walk the long way around, to avoid passing too close to Sinoe, the woman in question spoke up.
“Wait, I would say something before returning to my room for the night.”
“You know you are welcome to join us, right?” Silvie offered, although this time Boyd was sure it was without ulterior motives. Silvie just didn’t want Sinoe to be off all alone when everyone else was celebrating. “You don’t have to be too far away. Mindy can help Boyd if…”
“No.” The nymph shook her head, her perfect lips settling into a sad smile.
Boyd took a shuffling step back as her cut garnet eyes started to catch his own with their shimmer.
“Thank you, but no. While I am happy the beast that killed my husband is dead and I was able to play a part in it, I am not in the mood to celebrate… I doubt I will be for some time.”
“That’s understandable,” Silvie agreed with a frown. “I’m so sorry.”
“It is fine. You were trying to be kind,” Sinoe assured Silvie before turning back to Boyd. “I have duties left to fulfill. Now that I have helped avenge Silas, I must return to his family and tell them how he died.”
“We could take you in our ship,” Boyd offered, “at least part of the way.”
“They are in a private village and would not like me revealing their home in that way.” Sinoe shook her head. “I have my own ways to travel. I will leave in the morning, after a good night’s sleep. I do not want to seem… ungrateful. I am. I will sleep better because you let me assist with the hunt, but I must leave early on the morrow. I will stop and erect a memorial for Silas on my way.”
‘She will not be dissuaded,’ Mindy informed him sadly. ‘She has spent her entire life in the Wild Lands; she will be fine.’
“Very well.” Boyd sighed. “Please make a list of any supplies we can send with you. Are you bringing it up now to say goodbye or can we see you off in the morning?”
“I do not like goodbyes,” Sinoe said, then shook her head.
“Too bad…” Raev frowned at Sinoe as she rose from her seat. “I’m saying goodbye, anyhow. Come on, I’ll walk you back to your room while Boyd makes his call.” The redhead paced down the table to the nymph, who frowned at her approach but rose.
Boyd rumbled, “Instead of saying goodbye, I will say that it was a pleasure to meet and work with you. If we can ever help you—with anything at all—please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please also send Silas’s family my respects and inform him that we will do what we can to honor him, if they have any requests.”
“I will,” the achingly gorgeous woman replied as Raev reached her and guided her away from the table.
Boyd took another small step back. He was united with himself on not letting her Power change her off-limits status. He didn’t want to figure out an excuse that would get her to stay.
“Have a safe trip!” Silvie cheered as she blurred around the table to give the woman a quick hug before blurring back to her seat, leaving Sinoe to blink at the sudden and unstoppable gesture of affection.
“Be careful out there,” Laura said as Raev led her away.
“It was nice meeting you,” Tinker called from her seat.
Mindy likely kept her well wishes to a private mental conversation.
“Thank you. I enjoyed meeting all of you as well,” Sinoe said over her shoulder as Boyd averted his eyes from her mostly bare and perfectly sculpted butt.
‘Part of why I’m not fighting her on leaving is that, like you, she is worried that a moment of weakness would lead to something she would later view as a mistake,’ Mindy informed him.
Boyd wouldn’t let it happen—if he could help it. His first experience with her Power left him uncertain that he could. Her swift departure might be for the best, and… he couldn’t resist a glance… it was rather fun to watch her go.
“Darn,” Kayla murmured, breaking his focus. “I’d hoped to have at least the evening to talk Sinoe into making a public statement.”
“You wouldn’t have been able to,” Mindy promised. “Besides, you still have your Omega Ray exclusive to look forward to.” Boyd realized Mindy didn’t want Kayla asking too many questions about their honorary team member, so was trying to distract her.
“Right!” the reporter cheered, and then her head snapped back around to stare at Boyd. “When can we do that?”
“Likely sometime tomorrow. I’m off duty tonight and talking to the press is considered… work.” Boyd grinned. “Now, I’m going to go call Connor. You all can discuss what off-duty activities we are going to do when I get back.”
“Do you hear yourself sometimes?” Daisy asked with a snicker.
“Hey, now!” Laura grinned at the fairy. “That was perfectly innocent. If you heard any innuendo, it came from your mind dipping into the gutter.”
“Did not!” Daisy denied with a firm shake of her head. “Come on, ‘off-duty activities’… I can’t be the only one that thought…”
The petite fairy woman trailed off and her face turned red as every female eye at the table turned to regard her with ‘the look’.
Boyd chuckled and shook his head. “I think Raev might have had your back, but I actually meant like… ping pong or maybe watching a movie. You all can pick.” He shook his head again, knowing that if he suggested something—anything—that Silvie would instantly start campaigning for it.
“I’ll be back soon.” Boyd turned and made his way to his office for a chat with his favorite fan.
Chapter 39
“Call Connor Baker,” Boyd told the system as he settled into his desk chair.
The massive chair was almost as comfortable as Boyd’s command chair on the Osprey, but not quite. His desk was nice, larger than he needed, but it fit him. The wood was well treated, the varnish even stood up to some light scratching from his nails. He hadn’t wanted to risk damaging it.
It took Connor longer than Boyd had expected for him to answer. And when he did, he was panting as he excitedly smiled into the screen, “Hi-haaah-hi Boyd!”
“Hi Connor, is everything okay?” The boy looked and sounded more excited than anything but it also looked as though he had recently exerted himself quite hard.
“Yeah, I was just, hah, over at a friend’s room, hah, when your call came, hah, and I didn’t want to miss, hah, it so I ran back to my room,” Connor got out as rapidly as he could, his words being interrupted by the need to fill his lungs.
“Well, take a minute and catch your breath.” Boyd chuckled. “I’m not going anywhere. Go and get a little water, I don’t mind waiting.”
“Okay!”
Connor nodded and promptly picked up a water bottle from out of the frame and took several deep glugs before gasping and needing to catch his breath yet again. He looked good, not that he had looked unhealthy the last time Boyd had seen him. He suspected that his first encounter with the, at the time, filthy-looking pickpocket was an exception.
The boy wore a white dress shirt that had probably been neat and tidy at the start of the day. Now, though, it was a wrinkled mess, with the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Connor looked happy and whole, well-fed, and cared for. His face was clean and so was his hair—if a little disheveled. Boyd’s Gestalt was as pleased to see this as Boyd.
As Daisy’s little brother caught his breath, Boyd decided to take the initiative and ask a question before the child could get started. “How’s school been going?”
“School is good.” The boy frowned at the boring question. “I have to catch up a little bit, but nobody is mean about it or anything. If I don’t understand something, someone always wants to help instead of making fun of me… it’s not like my old school at all. Um, thanks for hiring Daisy so I could come here.”
“No problem, buddy.” Boyd smiled. “It sounds like you’re happy there. That’s great! I know moving had to be at least a little scary. I never liked moving, so I’m glad it is working out on your end. And Daisy is great at her job. The dinner she made tonight was amazing, five stars.” Boyd figured he would appreciate the compliment by association.
“It was maybe a little scary,” Conor admitted, but then he shrugged, “and I do miss Daisy sometimes, but we talk every day… so it isn’t so bad. It’s really nice here, though. Look at my room!”
Connor picked up his viewscreen and showed Boyd his dorm. It was a lot nicer than what Boyd had back in the PAC, that was for sure. For one, he had a four-post bed. It even had those curtains that blocked out the morning sun that his room’s two large windows undoubtedly let in. It had a nightstand on one side of the bed, with a wardrobe on the other and he had a chest of drawers at the foot. A simple but high-quality desk and chair sat next to a bookshelf. There was even enough room for a little sitting area with a couch and two chairs. All this still left a decent amount of hardwood floor open.
“Wow, Connor, that looks really nice.” The big Hero made sure he sounded suitably impressed.
Of course, it had nothing on the Boyd’s current accommodations, especially if you accounted for the company Boyd shared it with. But it was a lot nicer than what he’d had at Connor’s age.
“It is!” Connor cheered as the camera panned back around to his excited face, “And it’s always, always, in the seventies and sunny here. It never rains! We can go outside every day! There are all sorts of things to do, too. The classes are even fun… well, most of the time. The food is really good and you get so much of it! You don’t have to finish it if you can’t, but you get a star if you do and if you get twenty stars in a month you get a prize.”
Boyd grinned as he pondered how different a normal child’s issues were from the ones he’d faced growing up. Needing to be encouraged through a reward to clean your plate? That just seemed like an alien concept, given his experience. Of course, so was the concept of outdoor time—at least outdoor time that didn’t involve constant vigilance or actively fighting for your survival.
“But my school isn’t important, you killed the flipping Last Dragon today!” Connor cheered as he propped his viewscreen down on his desk and jumped back, “You were so cool, Boyd! You were all like shwoosh and then skhaaa.” He held his arms out like wings and mimicked Boyd’s airborne battle with the dragon.
He didn’t stop there though, dramatically pantomiming the entire fight, start to finish. Boyd chuckled and nodded along until Connor ended with, “And then that jerk Archangel attacked you, even though you totally saved his life. What’s his problem? Why was he saying all those things about you? I never believed him, because I know you, but some of the other kids did… despite the teachers telling us not to believe everything we see in the news.”
Boyd considered how to explain the situation to a child who lacked the required context.
“I mean,” Connor continued, “is it really because he’s just jealous that Hopewing loves you instead of him? That’s what one of the older girls said after your interview. You were so cool there, too!”
Or… maybe he did.
“More or less, yeah,” Boyd shrugged and shook his head.
“That’s dumb.” Connor looked confused. “Why was he saying bad things about you if he wanted a girl that loved you to like him? Wouldn’t that just make her not like him that much more? I wouldn’t like someone that said bad things like that about Daisy. It would have been smarter to try to be like you, but even better… wouldn’t it?”
And just like that, Connor proved that he was more intelligent and put together than Archangel.
“Yeah, Connor, that would have been the smart thing to do… but Archangel isn’t as smart as you.” Boyd chuckled.
“You’re going to kick his butt, right?” Connor asked, but his tone made it clear he thought Boyd winning was a foregone conclusion.
“Yeah, Connor.” Boyd grinned. “I’m going to show him why training is so important. No matter how hard he trains in the next month, it won’t be enough to make up for all the years he skipped out on training.”
Seeing an opportunity, he added, “Which you should keep in mind regarding your own studies. Make sure to keep up with them, because trying to get it all in at the last minute like Archangel is going to try to do doesn’t work. You have to put in the time.”
“Okay,” Connor said, nodding firmly. “I’ll make sure to study lots. But right now I’m not supposed to… not during the celebration. Is that okay?”
“Of course!” Boyd backed right down. He was willing to admit that he had picked up some unhealthy habits in his youth, and he didn’t wish to impart them on the boy.
“You should listen to your teachers about studying more than anything I say. Ask them how much you should study and what kind of schedule you should keep, but then make sure you stick to it—as long as it doesn’t tire you out too much. You’ve got to make sure you have enough time off for fun to balance it out too.”
“Okay!” Connor nodded much more happily. “I’m already doing that, so it won’t be too hard to keep doing it.”
“Good, I’m glad to hear it.” Boyd smiled as Connor mulled something over.
He could see the gears turning as the boy’s forehead creased in concentration and his eyes zoned out. Connor must have made a decision in regard to whatever it was, because he blurted out, “Um… so in the interview, everyone said that they’re in a relationship with you. Is that like, a husband-wife relationship?”
“Yeah, Connor,” Boyd nodded and then chuckled, “like that.”
“I thought so.” The gears resumed turning for a moment before he said, “one of the kids said that they’re a Hero’s brother because their sister married a Hero. Is he really his brother or is he just making that up to sound cool?”
Boyd did not like this turn in the conversation or the gleam in Connor’s eyes. “I thought you weren’t supposed to discuss the Heroes you are connected to?” he asked with a raised brow.
Connor rolled his eyes. “It’s against the rules to say who we know, not how we know them. I’m one of the only kids that’s friends with a Hero, but is that other kid really a Hero’s brother or not?”
“The term is brother-in-law,” Boyd explained, “which is a kind of brother… just not one related by blood.”
“Oh, okay.” The gears went back to turning until he came to a conclusion. Connor very carefully didn’t blurt out, as if it was totally unrelated to their prior conversation, “Daisy said you were pretty cool today.”
