Natalie
Inside the shoulder bag, Donald had packed this huge, fold-up bag he uses for gathering plants. It can fold into a tiny little square, but when you unfold it, the thing is fucking huge. It’s at least four feet high. We fill it completely with the weird little blue leaves. The process leaves us tired and exhausted and by the time we’re finished, it’s past nightfall.
“We should head back to Fablestone,” Donald says.
“Tonight?” Anthony looks at the sky. “It’s dark.”
“We’re in kind of a hurry,” I tell him. “We need to get back to my father.”
“I know you’re in a rush,” Anthony says. “And it may not be my place, but I would urge you to reconsider flying this evening. It’s not safe to travel in the darkness when you’re tired. Trouble can be lurking anywhere, and although Donald is an experienced flyer, the truth is that you’re both very tired. When was the last time either of you slept?”
I blush, and I feel Donald tense beside me. I don’t want to admit that Anthony is right. I’m exhausted and I know that Donald probably is, too.
“That’s what I thought,” he shakes his head. “Follow me,” he says. “You can stay in my home.”
“The house with the sex club in it?”
“No,” he chuckles. “I have another house. One without whips and chains.”
“What do you think?” I ask Donald, but something tells me he’s going to be more than ready to take a rest. I know he wants to help the clan as much as I do. Not knowing how they’re doing is killing me, but Anthony is right. If we try to leave now, while we’re both tired, something could happen. We could be attacked and unable to fight back due to fatigue or we could do something stupid, like flying in the wrong direction.
If there’s one thing my father drilled into my head, it’s that personal safety is important, even when you’re trying to save someone else.
“I think it’s a good idea,” he says finally, and Anthony nods. The two of them strip out of their shoes and then Donald removes his clothes. We shove everything into one of the bags and then Donald shifts first. I climb onto his back and Anthony helps to ensure the bags are comfortable and arranged well and that I’ve got a good grip on the back with the plants. Between the backpack, shoulder bag, and plant bag, my hands are completely full and I’m feeling a little overloaded, but I know that everything is going to be okay.
Everything’s going to be fine.
In the fading light, we fly to Anthony’s home. It’s huge: bigger even than the other mansions I’ve seen on the island.
“Beautiful,” I murmur, but I don’t think anyone can hear me over the flap of their wings or the rush of the wind as we land. As soon as I’m off Donald’s back, he shifts into his human form.
“Why, hello,” I look up to see a man and a woman standing on the front porch. The man has his arm slung around the woman’s shoulders.
Anthony strides up to the house, kisses the woman, and gives the man a hug.
This must be his best friend and his mate.
The trio turns to us, seemingly waiting for us to approach. Donald takes the bags, carrying them for me, and I thank him. Then I swallow any nervousness I feel and move toward the beautiful porch. Donald is by my side the entire way.
“Hey,” the woman says, stepping forward. “I’m Audrey.”
“Natalie,” I say slowly. The woman is beautiful, but I don’t think she’s a shifter. She’s curvy and has long, dark hair. She smiles brightly and comes over. Then she hugs me tightly.
“Oh, it’s so nice to have another girl around!” She says. Jerking her head toward Gabriel and Anthony, she adds, “I’m always surrounded by guys.”
“Watch your mouth, pretty girl,” Gabriel says, but there’s a twinkle in his eye. This is a game they play, I see. “Or I’ll have to give you a spanking.”
Audrey covers her mouth in mock surprise and then winks at me. Turning to Donald, she holds out her hand to shake his.
“Audrey,” she says.
“Donald.”
“Now that the introductions are over,” she says. “What’s up? I assume you’re here to stay the night?”
Anthony smiles. “Audrey loves having guests. You’ll have to excuse her.”
“It’s true,” she says, not bothering to deny it. “A trait I picked up from my mother, I suppose. Well then, come on in.”
She motions for us to follow her and we head into the beautiful house. I instantly feel nervous as I wonder if I’m tracking in mud or dirt or anything else from the jungle.
“Don’t worry about dirt,” Audrey says, practically reading my mind. “We have a great cleaner and besides, a little bit of mud never hurt anyone. If you are worried, though, I’ll show you to your room and you can get cleaned up. Then we’ll eat, okay? Are you hungry?”
“Starved,” Donald says. “And thank you.” He nods to a painting and starts asking Audrey about it. She happily starts explaining that most of the artwork in their home was commissioned from artists right here on Dragon Isle.
Anthony reaches for my arm and places his hand on it gently. “If you’d rather have separate rooms, that’s completely fine,” he says, lowering his voice. “I obviously haven’t had time to explain your situation to my darling mate. She assumes you’re a couple.”
Now’s my chance.
Now’s my opportunity to tell Anthony that yes, Donald and I will be needing different, separate rooms.
This is the part where I’m honest and blunt and stand up for the things that are right and proper. What would my mother think about me staying with an unmated dragon male in the middle of Dragon Isle? At a house run by a dungeon master?
Your mother isn’t here.
A little voice whispers in the back of my head, and I pause because it’s right. My mother isn’t here. She’s with dad. They wouldn’t have approved of me leaving the clan, either, but I did. I made the choice on my own, and I stuck with it. I left because my people needed me, because someone had to go and as a human, I wasn’t a possible carrier of the virus. Besides, Donald left because of my family. I had to be the one to speak with him.
Now I’m faced with another choice.
Somehow, this one seems almost harder.
I should tell Anthony that we need separate rooms. I should explain that although Donald and I are traveling together, we aren’t a couple, but something in my heart won’t let me do that. This day has been crazy for many reasons, least of all the fact that Donald is about to return to the clan that he left many years ago. I’m not so naïve that I think that’s an easy choice for him.
I may not be able to make things easier for him, but I can keep him company tonight so he doesn’t have to be alone.
I can help protect Donald, if only his heart.
“We’ll stay together,” I whisper to Anthony, and a sly smile spreads over the dragon’s face.