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)
I suppose the fact that I’m even thinking like that means our lives are safe and comfortable. I glance over at Murr and give him a warm look full of affection. He’s changed everything for us in such a short period of time. I can’t imagine our lives without him. With Murr, I’m safe and happy…and I can think about the future.
We return to the fort that night, heading to Samir’s home to check in on Dottie and Rabbit. Dottie looks good to my eyes. She’s got a crossword puzzle out and a nub of a pencil, and is working on one with Rabbit at her side. “Where’s Samir?” I ask as we go in.
“Someone cut themselves with a saw,” Rabbit says, getting to her feet with a yawn. “I’m on nursing duty.”
I fold my daughter into my arms, pulling her in close. “Does that mean you’re staying again tonight?”
“I think so. That okay?” She snuggles against me, and she smells like rubbing alcohol. “Plenty of time to go back to the bookstore once Dottie’s all better.”
I nod and press a kiss to the top of her head. “All right. We’ll be back tomorrow. You want anything from home?”
“Maybe another crossword book for Dottie,” she says. Her gaze slides to Jonah, and she watches him head in, moving to his favorite chair. “How were the puppies, Jonah?”
I release her from my hug, sensing that Mom is no longer the most interesting thing in the room. Jonah immediately launches into a recounting of what it was like to hold each of the puppies, his face glowing, and Aggie, Murr and I visit with Dottie.
“Can’t tell if I’m any better,” Dottie confesses, her hands smoothing the thin blanket over her legs. “But I don’t feel any worse, so I suppose that’s something. You’ll be back tomorrow? All of you?”
I nod. “Can we bring you anything? You want a pillow? A change of clothes?”
“Just come back.” Dottie gives us a thin smile. “It’s nice enough here, but I don’t want to stay forever. And speaking of coming back—Vaan and Gwen were looking for you guys earlier.”
A prickle of unease moves through me. “Oh? Did they say what they wanted?”
“No, just to look for them whenever you came back. They just wanted to chat.”
I’m not sure if it’s just the couple being friendly or if it’s something more sinister. I don’t trust it, though. Gwen and Vaan are nice, but they’re also fort. Sometimes those two things don’t go together that well. “We’ll be back tomorrow. If they come by again, tell them we’ll see them then.”
She nods. “I’m sure they’ll be back.”
I’m sure they will be, too.
CHAPTER 108
DAKOTA
We return the next morning. Five minutes after we enter the fort, Gwen and Vaan approach. Vaan is in human form, wearing a pair of pants and a casual T-shirt with a logo on it for a burger chain. He scratches at it as if it bothers him, and his feet are bare, his toes curling in the dirt. His mane is tidy and neat, as if he’s just run a comb through it. He looks fairly civilized, for a drakoni.
In contrast, Murr’s longer, wildly thick mane is windblown, and he’s wearing nothing but his usual wrap around his loins. I’m oddly happy about Murr’s quiet refusal to change who he is. He’s perfectly fine with not blending in with humanity, like he doesn’t need to impress anyone in the fort. Murr nods a greeting at Vaan, clasping hands in an awkward handshake that looks as unnatural as it probably feels.
“Hello again,” Gwen calls out, waving us down. “Spending the day here?”
I nod, indicating the backpack I’m holding. “Visiting Dottie, and we’ve got a few books and some dried meat to trade.”
I’ve also included the book Introduction to Homesteading. If I need to bring up the herd of cattle, I can use it as a bargaining piece, just in case we need more power than we have.
Vaan scratches at his shirt and eyes Murr. “Hunt?”
My mate nods. “Hunt good.”
“You go have fun,” I say. I imagine hunting together is probably a lot of fun for the drakoni. He could use some time in his dragon form anyhow. Back at the bookstore, he stays in human form a lot just to be near me, and he could probably stretch his wings a little. “You know where I am if you need me.”
Gwen’s smile remains friendly as she moves in close. “Do you like coffee? Melina is brewing a pot, and I thought we could all sit down together and chat.”
A shiver goes down my spine. “Melina? Isn’t she the mate to the Salorian?”
“She is, but she’s good people. It’s not a bad chat, by the way. It’s just a bit of talking. I promise. No one’s going to manipulate you or try to get you to stay.” Gwen raises a hand. “Scout’s honor. She really does just want to chat.”