The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Six

I shifted back, helping his taller frame up as he stood in all of his glorious nakedness.

For a man my father's age he was handsome, but as I've said... He is my father's age.

I had the ability to shift without ripping clothes, something they were unable to do. I shook his hand and watched as he held the broken one to his chest.

"It seems your father has taught you well. Are you interested in being a warrior, Little King?"

"I guess that's an option. Though I'd be best suited as a tracker." I tapped my nose. "Dragons have a keener sense of smell."

"Before we started, your eyes..." he pushed a hand through his hair before clearing his throat. "Nevermind. It's not something I can ask about exactly...

"You mean this?" I felt my eyes shift and watched as he stepped back first before eyeing my own eyes. "I can improve my vision by using my dragon eyes."

"You're just a big ball of anomalies aren't you."

I turned around to Gerard and the Prince, smiling as I lifted my nose into the air.

"I smell steak." I took another sniff of the air. "And ribs... And garlic and cheese and dough..." I heard my own stomach growling. "Pizza!"

I soon found myself following the scent downhill, away from the castle.

I came to a small pizzeria where I was surprised to smell different supernatural scents. I sat down by a booth and waited to be served, seeing the surprised look in the groups eyes. I realised too late that I'd sat down in a taken booth. I turned to see four pairs of pale green and pale blue eyes staring back at me. Smiling I twisted my body towards them and tilted my head onto my one hand, resting my elbow on the table.

"So, what are your thoughts on the new law regarding incest being legalised in the elven community?"

One of them choked on the drink in their mouth, his eyes tearing up.

The waiter arrived just then and I turned towards him with a bright smile.

"You'd best take out your pen and paper, pup, I fail to see you remembering my order."

The werewolf was actually older than me, but I was not going to elaborate this to him right about now. He folded his arms over his chest as he looked at me with a challenging gleam in his eyes.

"Very well. Don't blame me when you have to ask me to repeat my order. Five hawaiian pizzas, no pineapple with extra mozzarella and parmesan. Seven meaty surprises, exchange the red bell peppers with peppadews and jalapeño peppers and put on some feta and extra mozzarella and add hot sauce. Two chicken barbecue pizzas with an extra of bacon and mix tomato sauce into the barbecue sauce. Add garlic to the base and marinade the chicken in prego sauce before you put it on the pizza. Two pepperoni pizzas with ghost peppers. With that I'd like a triple order of fries and a triple order of chilli cheese fries. A double order of onion rings and and an order of sweet potato fries. Ten double beefy delight burgers and two veggie platters. Five super sized oreo milkshakes, five supersized vanilla milkshakes and the bottomless Coca-Cola." I looked the four gaping elves for a moment and took the drink the one was about to sip on. "For my new friends you can replace this poisoned shit with something that will not kill him and get them each a pizza of their choice on you as an apology."

He narrowed his eyes at me as another older man stormed forward, bending over me angrily, breathing heavily.

"Who the fuck do you think you are little girl?"

He had me by the collar, pulling me up in order to threaten me. I looked down at his hand before looking back up at him.

"I suggest you remove your hand before I do it for you." My voice had gone down in its tone, my playful attitude diminished.