Page 96 of Catastrophe

Dralie interrupted my merriment. “And me? You and Charlie already have a bond and ordinarily drakorians don’t meet their mate until after an emergence. But Charlie has. What can I offer if not a hoard, and if Charlie has already provided what you needed? Am I redundant to you as a mate?”

“No,” she exclaimed, and patted his scales. “Dralie, you are part of Charlie now. You are the same and you are as essential to me as he is. You offer wisdom, which I’m sure Charlie needs-”

“Hey.”

She continued, “You offer knowledge and a dragon body which protects me and our family differently from how Charlie does. You aren’t redundant at all.”

“I would feel better if you accepted a hoard of gold,” he mumbled, and I thought he was probably pouting. “but I see your point. You accept the bond?”

“Yes.” She said. Dralie’s joyous roar made ripples across the water, and he lifted Clawdia into the air. She screamed and laughed as she fell into the water and Dralie set a shot of flame into the sky as he scooped her up in his claws.

Our bond changed. The golden thread on her side seemed to get fatter and wider and pushed into my side. A bond that was always a little more lopsided and heavy felt even for the first time.

Coughing and laughing, she patted his chest as he declared, “I’m going to be the best mate to you. I’m so glad to be with you and Charlie. This is the best placement in the entire realms.”

“Aw Dralie, you big softie,” I told him. It was easy to get attached to the dragon. He was a good egg.

He nuzzled his muzzle into her chest and arms and she giggled as she petted us, “You make a very handsome dragon.”

“You aren’t scared?” I asked, because the last dragon she had experience of tried to kill her and so happened to be her ex husband.

“She has nothing to fear from us,” Dralie added. “We protect our mate. Our family.”

“Exactly. I can’t be afraid of you knowing how soft you are,” she replied.

“We aren’t soft. You can’t feel how hard our scales are? Do you have an injury to your hand?” Clawdia laughed, and Dralie preened. “Already, I provide.”

“So smug over a laugh.” I rolled my eyes. My internal eyes. The eyes of my spirit form. Don’t question me about this, it’s a real thing.

Dralie waded toward the dock where Baelen and Zaide sat, swinging their legs as they watched. They didn’t move as we came closer, but they stiffened, watching with suspicious eyes.

“They envy our wingspan. It happens.” Dralie told me.

“They don’t want to be singed. Maybe you should introduce yourself.”

“That’s a great idea, Charlie,” Clawdia praised, and I resisted the urge to preen as Dralie did only seconds ago. Dralie set her down on the dock and she took a few steps back into the arms of her soul pair and mate. “Baelen, Zaide, this is Dralie. He’s different from Charlie, and he’s my mate, too. He’d like to hoard of gold once we can afford it.”

“What an introduction.”

“He is different from Charlie? But you’ve spoken to Charlie, too?” Zaide asked.

“He’s in there too.”

Zaide laughed. “Charlie will be shaking his head to clear it so much he’ll never be able to look us in our eyes.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Dralie. I’m sure we’ll get to know you much more in the future.” Baelen nodded his head.

“Thank you for saving Charlie. We welcome you to our family.” Zaide also nodded.

I could feel how much it meant to him to hear that, so emotional that he settled down, retracting from my mind and let us change back to human.

I spluttered as I swam to the surface of the lake. Note to self: don’t change form in the water. Drowning may occur.

Clawdia peered over the boardwalk and asked, “Are you all right Charlie?”

“I’m fine.” I sighed, catching my breath as I floated on my back, the late afternoon sun warming my face. The lake was cold now I was a puny human again, but it was refreshing.

“Are you going to get out?” Clawdia asked.

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