“Hit up a pet store? Maybe some toys for the cats and the puppies?”

A pet store? Of all the things… But I should have known. Rabbit lives for the menagerie in our home. I give her a quick kiss. “I’ll see what we can find.”

Dottie’s sleeping in and Aggie’s with the puppies (and secretly watching over Dottie), so I don’t check in on them before heading out. I slip out the heavy doors of the bookstore and pause by the morning fire, pouring myself the last few sips of pale coffee and chugging it. Then I set my cup down again, brace myself for another flight, and head over to Murr.

My handsome dragon-husband is in his dragon form this morning. He left bed early to check on his cats, and when I find him, they’re tearing apart what looks like what’s left of a wild turkey, judging by the feathers everywhere. Two of the bonded tuxedos are curled up against each other, tucked against the side of his head. It’s the cutest picture, and I hate to disturb them. Murr opens one whirling eye, the color changing to a rich gold the moment I stroke his scales. “I’m just about ready. Rabbit wants us to look for a pet store if we have a chance.”

He blinks once, and I know it’s a quiet acknowledgment. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I can feel love and affection radiating from him today. I drape myself over his enormous head and hug him, giving him a kiss right on the horns.”I told you that you’re my favorite husband today, right?”

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.

OceanofPDF.com

OceanofPDF.com

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.

“We’ll get up early and make a day of it at the fort,” Dakota says, beaming at the group. “Everyone dress warmly, and if you have something to trade, pack it up and we’ll see what we can get for it.”

“I’ll break out my Dolly,” Aggie says.

“Like a baby doll?” Rabbit asks.

“No, my Dolly. My hair.” She pats the strange fake mane she’s currently wearing. “She’s for when I feel sassy.”

“I thought that was Shakira,” Dottie says.

“She’s for sass and ass,” Aggie says.

“Lord help us,” is all Dottie says to that.

My mate gives a fake yawn and stretches. “Well, I’m going to get ready for bed since we have a big morning. Whoever’s up last, bank the fire, please?”

“I’ll handle it,” Rabbit says, trailing the herbal toy in front of her to make Kermit grab it.

I get to my feet, nuzzling my cat before releasing it. “I come.”

“That’s what she says,” Aggie snickers, and earns herself a smack on the arm from Dottie.

Dakota smiles, but it seems forced, and I know she is worried. I put a hand on her back, and follow her inside. She does not speak until we are behind the curtain of our quarters. Instead of pulling out the things she spoke of earlier—bags of scavenged items for trading—she hugs her waist and gives me a miserable look. “Please tell me I’m doing the right thing, Murr.”