When my feet touch the ground, I shift to my two-legged form and straighten. I move quickly to Dakota’s side, putting a hand on her weapon when she raises it. “Is ok, Dakota. Is friend.”

“W-what?” She’s shaking with fear, her face colorless.

“Friend,” I say again, and cup her face. “Murr protect Dakota. Yes?”

Her mouth works quietly, no sound coming out. She thinks for a moment and her shoulders relax. She nods. “Okay. Thank you, Murr.”

I turn around as the female lands. She tucks her wings in daintily, and as she does, I can see one of her horns is slightly twisted and crooked atop her head, marring her otherwise perfect frill.

I…know that horn. It matches a slightly twisted tooth.

The female drakoni immediately switches to her two-legged form, getting to her feet and beaming a wide, human grin at me. “I know you!”

“Yes,” I say slowly, my mind buzzing with awareness. I know this female. She is younger than I am, easy in her own hide and with a fierce streak of rebellion. She served alongside me when we were a fighting unit under the Salorians. I have forgotten all of that.

Fothessa. I know her name and how it feels in my mind, but I do not know how to say it aloud.

She moves forward, smiling, and that crooked tooth is evident in her mouth. “I didn’t know you were nearby, Murtades.”

Oh.

My name.

All of it. I had forgotten so much of it.

“Murr-ta-deez?” Dakota echoes, surprise in her voice. Her hand touches my back. “Is…is that you?”

“Me,” I agree, tasting the word on my tongue. “Mur ta des.” It feels a little different in the mouth than spoken in the mind, but it still feels comfortable…and like it belongs to me. “I did not remember.”

“Some of us recover faster than others,” Fothessa says, all smiles and delight as she approaches. “I’m Fothessa in the human tongue, but you can call me Thess. I’m from the nearby fort, and I mean you all no harm.”

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OceanofPDF.com

CHAPTER 56

DAKOTA

Thess is gorgeous.

Unabashedly naked and perfectly made, she’s got the same scale-patterned skin that Murr does, but instead of a rich gold, hers is a dull brick red. Her features are sharp and almost catlike, making her seem impish and fun. Her hair is a thick, wavy fall of red that flows down her back. Her eyes are the same bright gold that Murr’s are, and when she smiles, she has the same sharp teeth.

I don’t hate her. I want to be her. I’m envious that she can stand in front of us, so comfortable with her gorgeous body, and not care a whit about being naked in front of strangers. Hell, I’ve been snuggling with Murr for a month now and always make sure I go to bed fully clothed. Why? Fuck if I know. It’s stupid to think about being modest around a couple of nudists. I guess my worry was that I wanted to be ready in case Rabbit needed me in the middle of the night, like she did when she was younger and had bad dreams.

Looking at Thess, I feel supremely stupid.

I also feel like I’ve somehow lost the battle. Like Murr has been taken from me and I didn’t even realize I should have been fighting.

They’re gazing at each other with such joy. He’s found a friend again. I’m thrilled for him. He’s said a few times in his halting words that he has huge gaps in his memory, that he doesn’t recall why he’s here or how he got here. I’m genuinely thrilled that he’s going to get some answers.

“Murtades,” he says, rubbing his chin. “My full name.”

“Makes you wonder how you forgot any of it, doesn’t it?” Thess says, full of smiles. She has a strange way of speaking, some of her syllables not as crisp as they could be, and it sounds a lot like how Murr speaks. Thess walks up to me, her nostrils flaring, and I know she’s taking in my scent. A moment later she puts out her hand. “Hello. I’m Thess.”

“Oh god, where are my manners? Hi, I’m Dakota.”

Thess glances around. Murr does, too. In this, they’re united.

“I’m not actually looking for manners,” I clarify, and some of my stress over Thess’s arrival disappears at her confusion, mimicked in Murr. “It’s something humans say. I’m sorry. I’m Dakota. We live here.”

She smiles, showing a crooked fang that only adds to her impish look. “And you are friends with Murtades.”

“We are.” She says his name as if it rhymes with “ladies” or “Mercedes.” How did you know he was here?”

“I did not. I am flying in from Fort Dallas. They asked me to come and look for you.” Her hand is still out for a handshake, and I grab it. She squeezes mine, so tight that I yelp in surprise. Immediately, she releases me, her expression contrite. “Oh, I still do not have that right. It is not a show of strength? I thought I was doing it proper.”

I shake my head. “It’s just a friendly greeting. You just kinda…hug hands for a bit.”

Her mouth turns down in a miserable frown. “May I try again?”

We do, though I’m bracing for my hand to be squished once more. This time she holds it gently, pumping our hands together like a used car salesman, and her expression changes to delight once more. “Like that?”

“That was great, thanks.” I extricate myself. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

“I like meeting you, too,” Thess gushes. She turns to Rabbit, who’s been hovering behind me in silence, and holds out her hand. “Hello! I am Thess.”

Rabbit shakes her hand, and the greetings continue. Dottie and Aggie reluctantly emerge from the building and eye Thess with skeptical looks. “Are you here to steal Dakota’s man?” Aggie asks point-blank.

“What? Oh no, I am not in heat.” Thess laughs as if the thought amuses her. “Murtades is simply an old friend. We were warriors together back home.”

“Hmph,” is all Dottie says.

I glance over at Murr. He’s being awful quiet, but perhaps he’s just in shock from his friend arriving again? It’s hard to tell. His eyes are swirling fast, usually a sign that he’s agitated, but he looks calm. I don’t know what to make of it.

“Do you want to come and sit near the fire?” I ask Thess. “Join us for some hot tea and wrap up in a blanket? The weather is cold today.”

“You are kind. I would love tea.” She beams at us, oblivious to Murr’s silence or the scowls Aggie is sending her way.

OceanofPDF.com

OceanofPDF.com

CHAPTER 57

DAKOTA

“I can’t believe we’re meeting another dragon,” my daughter says, squeezing my arm. “I’m freaking out.”

“Me too,” I whisper, but probably for different reasons.

Thess sits by the fire, wrapping a blanket modestly around her long, beautiful limbs. She takes the cup of tea handed to her and smiles sweetly at Dottie and Aggie, asking about Stella. She can scent her (and the blood from the birthing) from afar and wants to make sure she’s not in pain. They chat as Murr approaches our fire, and I automatically hand him his loin wrap. He pauses, giving it a thoughtful look before putting it on.

“Tell me more about how you arrived here,” Thess says to us as we gather around. “I am very curious.”

“We don’t have solar panels, if that’s what you’re asking,” Dottie says, a hint of aggressiveness in her tone.

Thess isn’t bothered. Her smile remains friendly. “I figured. No one does, and if they do, they have a lot more of a protective set-up than what you have here.”

Aggie waves a hand at the female dragon. “So now you can go back and tell the fort that they don’t need to come rob us. We’re just a bunch of old ladies and a kid.”