“I’m saying it’s okay if you’re my dad.” She points a finger at me. “But you need to let Mom know how you feel. She will push you away if she thinks it’s not safe. Mom loves safe. Don’t let her push you away if you want to be her…lover.” Rabbit chokes on the last word.
I think I understand now. Dakota must see me as an equal to her if I wish for her to be my mate. If she fusses over me like she does Dottie and Aggie, I am not a partner, I am another thing she must safeguard, must take care of. Dakota’s instinct is to protect all those she comes into contact with, but who will protect her?
She needs me to be Murr,herprotector.
“Yes,” I say to Rabbit, letting her know I am following. “Murr kiss Dakota. Show…lover.”
She blanches. “I mean, maybe not in front of me. Young eyes and all. Kissing is okay in front of others, but nothing else. OK? But I think it’s a great idea that you show Mom you want her to be yours. Show her you want her to be your wife, not just for kisses.”
This is encouraging. It is not that there is something wrong with me. I have been patiently waiting for Dakota to give me a sign that she wishes to be my mate, but I have not shown her enough. Rabbit thinks if I do not indicate that I am looking to Dakota to be my mate that she will assume I am another stray to be tended to.
I can show Dakota what I want. Tell her that I want to be this “lover” word and not friends.
I like this idea very much. “You are…good, Rabbit.”
“I know,” she says proudly. “Regular matchmaker over here.”
“Explain?”
“Never mind.” Rabbit waves off my confusion. “Let’s check on the strays a little longer and then head back. I want to make sure the hay is doing the job.”
We move around in my old nest for a time, checking on the cats that fear humans and only show up for feedings. Rabbit seems to be satisfied that they are warm enough, and we head out of the doors and into the sunshine.
The moment we do, a shadow flies overhead, casting the parking lot into momentary darkness.
Only one thing can be that big. Another dragon.
Instantly, I shift into my battle-form and launch into the air, ready to defend my humans and cats.
CHAPTER 55
MURR
I taketo the air immediately, a natural instinct in response to a threat. Power surges through my wings, my shift from two-legged form to battle-form something that takes place between one breath and the next. As I rise to meet the other drakoni, I send my thoughts out automatically, looking to touch the mind of the stranger, to find out who it is and what their purpose is.
The sensation of reaching to be met with nothing is as jarring now as it was the first time it happened, and just as disappointing. I circle higher, trumpeting a warning sound that is universal. Go no closer to my territory. Dakota is mine. Rabbit is mine. Aggie and Dottie are mine. Stella and Kermit and all the cats are mine.
I will protect my new family from anyone that approaches and means them harm.
The strange dragon bugles an affirmation and rises higher as I do, an agreement without words that she acknowledges my claim. A female. Unmated, judging by the scent of her. She smells like fire and ash and drakoni…but also faintly of human settlements. Her color is a dull red, a signal that she is not crazedwith a mating heat. This strange female is not a danger. She is not flaming, not attacking. She is letting me set the pace. When I fly higher, she goes higher, as if to reassure me. I try to send her a greeting once more, but it fails again. There is nothing but silence on the other end, and as we circle each other, I realize this will go nowhere unless something changes.
So I decide to land.
I glide down carefully to the ground, where the females are in a panic. Dakota is covered in fear scent and squatting on the ground, loading her weapon. Rabbit is behind her, gathering up cats and herding them into the building. Aggie and Dottie’s chairs are vacated, and they are probably hiding inside, too. Their fear makes me feel bad. The female has indicated to me that she is no threat. She is likely just curious and wondering why I do not touch my mind to hers in greeting. I need to calm my humans and somehow explain to the female drakoni that I have lost my telepathy.
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!”
