Текст книги "The Dragon's Favorite Strays"
Автор книги: Ruby Dixon
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CHAPTER 82
MURR
Coincidences do not occur often. I have rarely seen other dragons since I came back to myself, and yet Fothessa has appeared for the second time within a span of days.
I do not trust it.
Her scent is friendly, her expression full of smiles. There is a slight underpinning of reluctance to her aroma, though, one of uncertainty. It is that which makes me pause and draw my mate close. I cannot touch my mind to Fothessa’s and see what her purpose is here, so I must go off of what she says in the human language.
It feels flimsy, to trust words instead of thoughts, but I have no choice.
Dakota stays close to me, allowing me to pull her into my embrace and drape an arm over her protectively. I am sending a message to Fothessa with this small movement, that I am protecting my mate. Her scent does not change to one of guilt, so it is nothing to do with Dakota, and my mind eases a little. If she means to trick me, I can handle it. It is my mate that needs careful protecting, my mate and her vulnerable family.
My vulnerable family.
“I promise I have kept you all a secret,” Fothessa says. “No one knows that Dakota and her family are outside the fort, but I confess that I did tell a few of the drakoni at the fort that I met you, Murtades. They are eager to meet you and share memories, if you have any to share. Our knowledge of where we came from is fractured, and anything is welcome as we share our experiences together. If you do not want to meet Vaan or Mhal, I understand, but they wish to meet you.”
“And the Salorian? The bad guy?” Dakota asks. “Does he know about Murr?”
“I did not speak of Murtades to him,” Fothessa replies, and there is no deception in her scent. “He is better than most of his kind, but he is still Salorian and does not always think as we do. The humans trust him implicitly, but for me, there will always be a shadow of doubt.”
I understand this. It will take more than one or two actions to erase centuries of enslavement of our people.
Fothessa picks at one of her claws. “It is not because of him that I am here. I am asking for a friend. I know a human in the fort, a male with a son about the age of your Rabbit.” She nods at Dakota. “His son cannot see, and he had a dog that acted as his eyes, but the dog was old and passed away.”
“And you want a puppy for him,” Dakota says, voice soft.
“If he had a dog, he could train it to act as his sight, and he would not be forced to depend upon others. I know your animals are precious, but he would love it and give it the best care, and it would change his life. His father works for the fort to keep them fed and cannot be home with Jonah at all times, as much as he would like to.” Her expression is pleading, and there is a familiar scent drifting through Fothessa’s aroma. She has great affection for this boy…or more likely, his father.
Dakota glances up at me and then back at Fothessa. “Thess, I understand what you’re asking, but they’re not my puppies to give away. They’re Aggie’s dogs, and I can’t make that decision for her.”
“Of course not. I would never demand such a thing. I have not told Jonah or his father of the dogs, because I did not wish to get their hopes up. But I hoped you would meet them and see how they are good people.” Her gaze swings from my face to that of my mate. “And that you would greet the other drakoni, too.”
“We’ll talk about it,” Dakota says, and reaches for my hand. “But for now, we need to look for a present for a friend. Want to come antique shopping?”
“I would, as long as you explain things to me. Is it not better to throw old, used things away? Your cities are full of such garbage.”
Dakota chuckles, twining her fingers with mine. “We are a people that love stuff. You might find something you like inside. You never know.” My mate’s gaze meets mine, her eyes soft with affection, and I can almost feel her warm thoughts as she looks at me. “When we go home, we’ll talk to Aggie about the puppy situation, but they’re far too young to leave the mama dog yet. Until then, we shop.”
“Shop for old things,” Fothessa agrees, glancing at me. Her scent is full of relief and truth, and it seems this is what she truly came to speak about—a dog to be the eyes of her mate’s son. “Would your friend rather have food? We can get some things at the fort. I can bargain for corn flour and things like that. They are not cheap, but not impossible, either.”
“Just don’t tell me you have coffee or I might move to the fort myself,” Dakota jokes.
Fothessa just smiles.
From the spike of excitement in Dakota’s scent, I decide I need to find her some coffee.
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CHAPTER 83
MURR
I do not like antiques, I decide after hours of wandering through the insides of a cramped store. Everything smells like dust and mold, and nothing looks practical. There are jars for cookies and things called “salt shakers.” There are old “coins” and “records,” neither of which make sense to me.
And there are a great many things shaped like chickens.
“This is the best-looking chicken butter dish, I think,” Dakota says, wrapping a bird-shaped piece of glass in old fabric. “Not that we have butter. Or chickens. But Dottie will probably appreciate it.” She pauses, thinking. “I wonder if we could have chickens? Murr, how are you at catching chickens without killing them?”
“Dakota want food…alive?”
“I mean, they wouldn’t be food. We’d keep them and feed them so they would lay eggs for us.” She shrugs, but her expression is wistful. “I haven’t had eggs in forever.”
“We keep chickens at the fort,” Fothessa says. “I can help you trade for some, but you will want to keep them safe from your cats.”
Dakota shakes a finger at her. “You’re not going to tempt me into living in a fort. I would rather go without chickens. Now, which teacup do we like the best?” She gestures at the ones she’s gathered and put on the counter at the front of the crowded, dingy little store. “Blue? Green? White?”
I point absently at the most functional-looking of the tiny cups, each one with an accompanying equally tiny plate. They are all too small for my hands, but they are not meant for me. Nothing in this building is meant for me, and that is fine. My mate has enjoyed seeing all the things she recognized from her past, and her delight was evident.
It is her delight I am thinking of now, because it seems this fort has a lot of things that would make Dakota happy, and my goal is my mate’s happiness. If Dakota does not wish to go to the fort, perhaps I will go on her behalf and try to get these things for her. Coffee, I remind myself. Corn flour. Chicken dishes…no wait, the thing that goes in chicken dishes. Butter. And live birds. She wants live birds for their eggs.
I want these things for her.
“And these are for drinking out of?” Fothessa asks, picking up the tiniest of the cups carefully, her claws jutting around the delicate creation. “I would be afraid to use it.”
“A lot of people only used them for fancy parties,” Dakota says.
“Parties?” I ask, unfamiliar with yet another term. “Explain?”
My mate brightens. “Parties are celebrations. Everyone gets together and has a big, special meal in honor of someone or something. We’re getting these cups for Dottie because she’s about to have a birthday. She’s turning eighty, and we want to make her feel special. So we’re going to have a spectacular meal and decorate the bookstore and give her presents.”
Her delight is evident, and it makes me wonder. “Dakota like parties?” I ask, trying to be sly. Do I need to get chicken dishes for my mate and decorate her home? “Dakota want?”
She waves a hand, dismissing my words with a little smile. “I have everything I need.”
“Except chickens,” Fothessa points out. “And coffee.”
“I can do without. I’d rather have a party for Dottie. I worry about her.” Dakota hesitates, then takes the cup that Fothessa holds out to her. “This one looks fussy and special, so I think we’ll get it. I hope we can find some tea for her, too. Let me guess, you have that at the fort.”
Fothessa just laughs.
“Do you have a doctor, too? One that could look at an older woman and see if there’s anything we need to be concerned about?”
To my surprise, Fothessa’s scent heats up. Her expression grows soft and she fiddles with a lock of her mane. “Actually, Jonah’s father is a human doctor. His name is Samir, and I know him well. I’m sure he would help out.”
“Fothessa’s husband?” I ask.
“Is he my mate?” She laughs, the sound higher pitched and awkward, and she reaches out and fiddles with one of the cups as if to distract herself. “No, he’s a widower. He had a wife but she died. He spends his time tending to the people of Fort Dallas and looking after Jonah, and he doesn’t have time for a relationship.”
Dakota shoots me a look, as if she doesn’t quite believe this. I don’t believe it, either. She is a strong, capable drakoni female. Not as perfect as my Dakota, but no one is. Still, I do not see a reason why a puny human male would turn away a fierce warrior female.
“But I’m sure Samir would help out Dottie,” Fothessa continues. “I can ask him to come out to the bookstore with me. Is there a day that works best for you?”
My mate puts her hand up. “I’d like to discuss it with my friends before anything is decided. Can you please keep our secret for a while longer? Maybe we can agree to meet up again in two days at this location, and we can talk about it more.”
“I can do that,” Fothessa says.
I nod. “Murr, Dakota talk Dottie. Talk Aggie. Talk Rabbit.”
Then I will talk with them in private and see if I need to get my mate some of these things she has mentioned today, or if she would like a party, too. Rabbit will know. I will ask her later.
If there is something Dakota thinks she is lacking, I want to get it for her. I do not have anything to trade…but I will get it.
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CHAPTER 84
DAKOTA
I clutch the box of carefully wrapped cups to my chest as Murr flies me home, and the weight of responsibility feels heavy on my shoulders. I don’t know how Aggie’s going to feel about someone asking about one of her puppies. I don’t know how Dottie’s going to feel about us possibly bringing a doctor in to check on her. Yet these are conversations that have to happen, and I’m the one that has to bring them up.
Sometimes it sucks to be responsible. Sometimes it sucks a lot.
We left Thess behind at the antique store, promising to meet up two days from now. That should give me plenty of time to have some tricky conversations with the others and will give them a little time to mull their decisions. They’re both adults, and we’ll go with whatever they decide. If Dottie doesn’t want to see a doctor, I can’t force one on her. If Aggie wants to keep all the puppies, the mother in me will feel bad for the boy who needs the guide dog, but I’ll go with whatever she decides.
The bookstore comes into view, and Murr gently sets me down on the ground, so very carefully that my feet barely bump the pavement before he releases me. I take a few steps, clutching the cardboard box, and turn and wait for him. My dragon sets himself down, folds in his wings, and then disappears—in his place is the crouching, golden body of Murr. He stands up straight and grins at me, and I get an eyeful of his dick.
If we’re going to be traveling a lot, I really need to figure out how to keep his kilt around. Maybe I could wear it as a cape and hand it to him when he transforms. “Wait here and I’ll get you clothes,” I say, handing the box off to him with a kiss. “And I need to make sure Dottie doesn’t see her presents.”
He glances down at the box in his arms, and then at me. “Hide?”
“No, I think we’re okay. It’s just supposed to be a surprise.” I kiss my fingers and tap his mouth with them. “Be right back.”
The sound Murr makes is a rumble of pleasure, and he leans against a nearby abandoned car, settling in. His gaze follows me, and he’s no doubt thinking of that finger-kiss. It’s like I can read his thoughts, and they’re getting amorous. Maybe we’ll sneak away for a bit after we talk to the others.
No one’s out near the firepit at the moment, the coals glowing and an abandoned coffee pot nestled in the ash. Inside, then. I step past it and head into the bookstore. “Hello? Anyone home?”
“Back here with the puppies,” Aggie calls out.
Of course they are. I snatch up a towel for Murr’s loins and head back towards the area with the plastic swimming pool. It’s in Dottie and Aggie’s room, and when I stick my head in, I see Rabbit and Aggie seated next to the pool, with a candle lit to offer some light. A quick glance across the “room” shows that Dottie’s in bed, which makes my heart fall.
Rabbit holds up a squirming puppy, delight on her face. “Look at this fat baby! Isn’t he cute?”
“The cutest,” I agree. Who doesn’t love a wiggly puppy? They’re still young, their eyes unopened, and look more like adorable plump worms than actual dogs. My daughter is, of course, already in love with all of them. I glance over at Aggie and give her a meaningful look. “Can I borrow you for a second?”
“If you need advice on how to please Big Meat, I’ll tell you what I can,” she offers. “But he might fall in love with me after learning all my secrets.”
“I’ll take the risk,” I say dryly.
She sets the puppy in her arms down, snuggling it back next to its mother in the pool, and gives Stella’s head a rub. Then, she puts her hands in the air and looks at me pointedly. “Help me off the ground. Your hips are still decades younger than mine.”
I help haul her up.
She groans and puts a hand to her lower back, hobbling after me. “Fucking floors. They’re the worst.”
“Agreed.” I offer her my arm to help her walk, but she bats it away. Neither of us says anything until we get outside, and Murr comes over to us. I wrap the towel around his waist while he holds the box out to Aggie. I speak up, now that we’re alone. “We found some antique cups, but we also found a problem.”
Aggie’s brows go up. “What is it?”
“We ran into Thess,” I say. “And she had a few proposals for us. I wanted to talk to you alone before we decided anything.”
“Sounds ominous.” She crosses her arms over her chest and gives me an impatient look. “Well, go on. I’m old and don’t have forever.”
Is there a good way to word this sort of thing? If there is, I can’t think of it. “Someone wants one of your puppies.”
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CHAPTER 85
DAKOTA
Aggie doesn’t freak out like I thought she would at the thought of someone wanting the puppies. I tell her what I know of the situation from Thess, and her eyes get soft when she hears Jonah needs a guide dog. “I don’t know how to train for that,” she admits. “And Stella’s kinda dumb. I love her, but she’s about as observant as a brick.”
“I think Thess said that he’d be able to teach it some commands, and whatever he can do is better than nothing.”
She nods, thinking. “I’d have to meet him. I’m not giving my babies to just anyone.”
“Of course not.”
“Did that shitty-ass nomad show back up at the fort? Is that why they’re asking after my dogs?” She scowls. “Is that what this is about?”
I shake my head, then take the box from Murr and set it down. “No, I think Thess is close to the family. She remembered that we have dogs and wanted to come and talk to us about it first. I told her I’d run the idea past you but I couldn’t guarantee anything. No discussion of money or goods. And she didn’t mention a nomad.”
Aggie glances at Murr. “You think your buddy could have made it back to the fort by now?”
He huffs as if the idea is ridiculous. “Tiny legs. No go far.”
“I do like the idea of him having tiny legs,” Aggie admits. “And okay, we’ll assume everything is on the up and up. I still want to meet him before I decide anything, and they’re far too small to leave Mama just yet.” She pulls the lid off the box and frowns at the mess of old newspapers and fabric in the box. “What the fuck is all this?”
“A couple of teacups from an antique store. We looked for the most gilded, ridiculous ones.”
She puts the lid back on and her eyes look suspiciously misty. “That’s perfect. We’ll have to hide this so she doesn’t find them ahead of time. What about ingredients for a cake? Party hats?”
I grimace. “We didn’t get that far, but we might be able to trade for foodstuffs at the fort. Thess suggested it. That might be easier than having to hunt down ingredients that haven’t been picked over a dozen times already.”
Aggie makes a face. “Sounds like we need to visit the fort. I hate forts.”
“I do, too.” So much. In my experience, the people that usually run the forts get power-hungry and start lording over everyone. They tend to treat women like they’re commodities, and I’ve heard of forts where they kicked out the elderly because they were considered a drain on resources. It’s like they’re the worst versions of humanity, all clustered into one spot. “But I can’t deny that they have a lot of stuff that we don’t. Thess assures us that we’d be able to come and go without being bothered, and I have to trust her.”
“You might have to, but I don’t,” Aggie grumbles.
Murr puts a big hand on my shoulder, then steps forward and puts a hand on Aggie’s shoulder, too. “Murr no leave Aggie fort. Murr keep safe.”
“I trust you, Big Meat.” She pats his hand. “Maybe it won’t be so bad. We don’t have to stay overnight if we can just fly away. It’ll be like an afternoon visit to the store or something. A store in a shit part of town.”
Which brings me to the other thing we need to discuss. “And speaking of forts…there’s a doctor there. Thess knows him well and says that he’s skilled. I think he should take a look at Dottie.”
Aggie just arches one brow, her forehead crinkling up. “Dottie ain’t gonna like that.”
“Is she okay?” I ask. “She’s lying down again. I’m worried.”
“She always says she’s fine. It’s not like I’m gonna waterboard the truth out of her. If she says she’s fine, she’s fine.”
Saying that you’re fine and actually being fine are two very different things. “Do you know if she has any ongoing medical issues? Anything we should be aware of?” When Aggie shrugs, I try a different suggestion. “What if we all go to the fort to meet the boy, and the doctor just happens to be there to look her over? What do you think?”
The look on her face is disgusted. “I think she’ll hate you for tricking her.”
She might. But is that better than watching an elderly woman slowly die in front of me because she doesn’t want to speak up, for whatever reason? Or is this my anxiety running away with things again? I can’t tell. “Should we ask her to see the doctor, then?”
“You know her answer as well as I do.”
Ugh. I do. “Then I might have to be the bad guy. Let’s watch her for the next day or two and see if she seems better. If she’s back to her old self, we’ll table it and forget we ever brought it up. We’re supposed to meet Thess again in two days to talk about coordinating things.”
Aggie nods. “I’ll keep an eye on the puppies and see if I can tell which one is the smartest. Just in case. I ain’t promising shit, though!”
“Of course not.”
She pats her wig. “Maybe I’ll break Shakira out for our visit to the fort. She’s my fancy wig for when we have visitors.”
God help us. “Sounds great.”
“Even if we do decide to go to the fort, how’s Big Meat here going to carry us all?” She thumbs a gesture at Murr, who’s still resting a hand on her shoulder.
That’s a great question, and one I haven’t figured out the answer to just yet.
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CHAPTER 86
DAKOTA
After the two days pass, we head out to meet Thess again.
By this time, I’m even more determined to get Dottie to a doctor. She never complains about anything, but I notice that she’s quieter than usual. She sits in her chair and knits and lets Aggie do all the talking, and she takes lots of naps. Any time we ask her how she’s feeling, she snaps at us, as if we’re being ridiculous.
It just reaffirms my decision. She can hate me, but I’m going to get her looked at. I won’t have anyone getting sick on my watch. Even the smallest cold can be deadly when there are no doctors and no medicine in the area, and all the stuff I’ve gleaned from pharmacies is haphazard and older than the hills.
Someone’s got to be the adult around here.
“More scavenging?” Rabbit asks as I tie Murr’s kilt to my neck like the saddest superhero cape. It’s morning on the day we’re supposed to meet Thess again and I’m getting ready to head out. My daughter looks disappointed. “I guess I can’t go?”
I pull her in for an apologetic hug, tucking Rabbit close. “I wish, baby. But Murr might need to carry something and he’s only got two front legs.”
“I could ride his back, like a horse.”
The thought terrifies me, and my brain is suddenly filled with images of Rabbit slipping off a nonexistent saddle and crash-landing to Earth. “Not right now. We’ll get it figured out, but not today. We’re meeting up with Thess again to talk about the fort stuff.”
She looks disappointed, but nods. “Okay. I’ll stay behind and keep an eye on things.”
“Any requests?” I ask, smoothing her hair back from her face.
“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.
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