Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 119764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Murr huffs, blowing air out his nostrils.
“Just making sure.”
This time when we fly, I’m a little less anxious about being dropped. Murr’s claws hold me tight, and he tucks me against his chest, right over his heart. The warmth of his big body pressed to my back is reassuring, and with time, I think I could get used to flying. I’m going to have to, given that I’m married to a great big dragon.
Thess is waiting in the parking lot of the antique mall for us when we return. She’s also in her dragon form, her scales a dull red-gold. As we circle overhead, she stretches like a cat, extending her claws and then arching her back before yawning. We land, and she transforms to her human form, her thick hair tousled and wind-blown. “Hello again, friends. Glad to see you again.”
“You too.” I touch the knot at my throat, wondering if it would be weird to hand Murr his kilt while Thess is as bare as the day is long. I guess I can be the only one wearing clothing at this get-together. I turn to my husband as he shifts into his human form, and he immediately approaches me, wrapping his arms around me from behind and tucking me against his chest once more.
Again, I feel that hot surge of affection, and I want to curl up in it and just bask. Even if it’s just my imagination running away with me, I’ll take it.
“Is all well?” Thess asks. “How did the discussions go?”
I rub my hand over Murr’s forearm. “We talked about most everything. Dottie isn’t any better and I’d like for her to see your doctor. I don’t think she’d go willingly so we’re not going to tell her about him. It’s going to be a surprise and she’s going to hate it, but I’ll take the responsibility for that.”
Thess looks unhappy at this. “I don’t wish to cause issues in your clan.”
“I’m the one that’s causing the issues, not you. Aggie is open to possibly giving a puppy to your friend, but she wants to meet him first. And we’d all like to do some trading with the fort. So we’re all going to go together.”
Thess nods. “I’ll let the fort guardians know that you’re coming for a visit and for trading only. There will not be problems, I assure you.”
Of course there’d be fort guardians. That makes me a little worried, but what choice do we have? Murr rubs his face against my hair, reminding me that he’s with me, and I relax. He wouldn’t let anyone take advantage of us. “When do we want to do this? The sooner the better for me. If Dottie really is sick, I don’t want to wait.”
“We can meet up tomorrow. I can come to your home and carry whoever you’d like,” Thess says.
I hesitate, because I’m picturing my daughter and myself in Murr’s claws, and the two older women in Thess’s claws. It still doesn’t seem safe. I’d feel better if we had seatbelts.
Murr points to a nearby car. “Humans in car. Murr carry car?”
It’s like he read my mind.
CHAPTER 87
MURR
Carrying my mate in the car while I am in battle-form is going to be interesting. Even though the things are made of metal, the tops are flimsy and crumple when I grab onto one with my forearms. It must be held by only one drakoni, because we cannot fly so close together without bumping wings and sending both of us spinning to the ground. I try to hold the car with clawed hind-feet but I flex my legs when I fly in order to gain altitude, and end up knocking my poor mate around in the inside of the car. It only made her dizzy, but she worries about the others who are far more fragile.
So I will carry the lightest car I can find, pressed to my chest, and fly low to the ground. Not ideal, but the safety of my family is everything.
Once we are satisfied with the method for carrying, Dakota and I leave Thess, promising to meet again in the morning at the bookstore. We return home, and my mate gets quieter. I know she is thinking about tomorrow, and the good and the bad of it. She worries Dottie will hate her, yet wants her to be checked anyhow. She has a kind heart and a resolute spirit, my mate. I send her reassuring thoughts, as if I can somehow comfort her from afar as she sits near the fire with the others, making food and chattering as if tomorrow’s trip is purely for fun.
I lounge at Dakota’s feet, content to hear her talk, and tease the cats with one of the feather toys we picked up today. Rabbit is ecstatic at all the things we got for the cats, currently teasing Kermit with a soft, squishy fish that smells of old herbs. Nearby, two kittens are chasing a ball in a plastic track. Aggie has her crossword out, asking questions, and Dottie clacks her sticks together, making her knitting. It feels warm and cozy to have everyone around, peaceful and content. These are the moments that make me happiest, and I curl one hand around Dakota’s calf, feeling the joy of the moment.