The beast let out a deep, guttural huff, almost like a sigh of surrender, and sat its massive, grumpy butt down next to her.
Success!
She turned to Eyrx, grinning triumphantly.
He stared back, arms crossed, mouth a thin unimpressed line.
The expression screamed: This is the stupidest thing I have ever witnessed.
But then again, she could have sworn she saw something different in his gaze.
Thalina beamed, brushing dirt off her dress like a proud general after winning a war. "See? Told you I could handle it."
Eyrx said nothing, but the slight lowering of his gauntlet was the closest thing to a reluctant acknowledgment she was going to get.
The beast, now officially tamed (or more accurately, emotionally blackmailed into friendship), plopped its huge head into her lap like an oversized puppy.
Thalina giggled, scratching behind its massive ears. "You're gonna be my good luck charm now, alright?"
