Rhydian looked around the room a second before returning his gaze to hers. "We haven't used this room in years. As you know by now, we're in a remote part of Wales. I don't usually need to keep prisoners."
Delaney had no idea why she’d be a big enough threat to merit time in Hotel Prison Cell, but she focused on what was more important. "I have no reason to trouble you any longer than necessary. If you give me a proper room to sleep in tonight, I can take Rian and be off in the morning."
"No."
She frowned at the finality in his tone. "What do you mean no? All of the paperwork should be in order. If your people couldn't find it, I can contact the DDA liaison right now and prove it to you."
He shook his head. "That’s not it. We confirmed your paperwork. However, judging by your desire to leave first thing, I'm guessing you didn't read the fine print of the contract you signed."
She clenched her fingers into fists. After everything, there might be another damn obstacle to overcome. "What bloody fine print? I read every word in those documents, so just tell me plainly what you mean."
The dragonman smirked and it took everything Delaney had not to cross the floor and clock him. Hitting the dragon clan leader was most definitely not something she should do.
Besides, that sort of behavior belonged in her old life, the one she'd left because of an injury. The new Delaney Murphy didn't fight anyone unless it was in self-defense.
Clearing her throat, she tried to make her voice more even and polite. "Please tell me about the fine print."
Rhydian shrugged. "The type is small, maybe too small for human eyes unless you zoom in. I think the DDA does it on purpose." She opened her mouth to ask again, but Rhydian put up a hand and continued. "It says that Rian must live with a dragon clan. It gives any guardian of the boy the option to live with him on any clan inside the UK or Ireland as well, but Rian can't live amongst humans. He's half dragon-shifter. It's too dangerous."
Damn. Taking Rian back to her home near Dublin wasn't an option, nor could she ask the dragon clan near the city for help since they weren't fond or even tolerant of humans. If she kept Rian, she’d have to live elsewhere.
And not just anywhere, but on one of the dragon clan’s lands. Maybe not for the rest of her life, but at least until Rian reached adulthood.
Maybe some people would see that as a deal breaker and walk away. However, Delaney had little keeping her back in Carrickmines. She could do her graphic design job anywhere, and she couldn’t let her sister down.
Still, it might not have to be inside these bloody cold mountains in Wales. Maybe she should remind the Welsh leader of that and see if he started being nicer toward her or not.
So she straightened her shoulders a little more and said, "It doesn't have to be this clan though, right? You said it can be any clan in the UK or Ireland. And if that’s the case, I'm not sure I want to risk being thrown into this cell whenever I irritate someone here. And believe me, that will probably happen often."
He tilted his head. "Irritate them? How?"
Great. She'd gone and hinted at some of her flaws, all within minutes of meeting him. Her sister had been the much more tactful one out of them. And in circumstances like these, Delaney wished she could be a little more like Rosaleen.
Rhydian remained quiet, waiting for an answer. Since there was nowhere to run, Delaney decided bluntness was probably best. "I tend to tell the truth. A wee bit too much, according to others. And since most people don't want to hear it, they get upset, or storm off, or report me to HR."
"I prefer the truth," Rhydian stated.
His eyes flashed to slits and back and Delaney leaned forward. Had his dragon just spoken to him? Her earlier research said the pupils flashed when that happened. "What does your dragon say?"
He raised his brows. "You did some reading about us, I see. Most humans jump back or faint when they see our pupils change."
Even more of the truth slipped out. "I used to be a professional boxer. If I can stomach blood and even a few odd teeth on the ground, I can handle some flashing eyes."
Rhydian took a step closer. "A boxer, you say?"
Most men made a quick exit or turned wary whenever she mentioned how she'd been a boxer. But not Rhydian Griffiths. He was different.
But then of course he was, wasn't he? He was a dragonman.
Not that she was going to let his reaction change her mind about taking Rian and leaving. "Yes. So be forewarned—if you or any of your clan try something, I'll defend myself. You lot living inside a mountain definitely works to my advantage. No sane dragon would shift inside of solid rock."
Rhydian stared at her, his eyes flashing, and remained silent.
But she didn't back down. Confidence was one of the few things she had in the moment, so she stood tall and waited to see how the dragon leader would react.
~~~