Page 83 of Myths and Shifts

“I’m voting to table the alien discussion for now. We have enough on our plate without trying to make that determination.” And we hadn’t been sent to discuss that, so I wasn’t going to deal with it. “But yes, we do need more information. Thank you, Kenzie.”

“You’re welcome.” Sitting straighter, Kenzie used his extensive knowledge of storytelling to start things off. “I’ve read enough to know where to start. We need to know if we’re still sexually compatible, we need to know when you figured out the portal was open, why you decided to come through, if you’re some kind of specialized hunter or military soldier, and why you look like us. We look human and so do you. Oh, and how do you speak English?”

He paused, cocking his head and making an exaggerated thinking expression that made his Daddy smile. “I think that’s a reasonable start.”

I agreed.

Toman seemed to be working on keeping a blank face, but judging by Wren’s giggly grin, he wasn’t worried about what his mate was feeling. “Mates are always compatible. I think that explains the first question.”

It was obvious that all Kenzie was reading was romance novels, but I wasn’t going to be the one to explain that to Toman.

That was Wren’s job.

“On our side, the portal is in an area that has been desert for the last million years as you would count time. That slowly leads into the more populated areas, but even the dragons of the desert do not venture that far on a regular basis.” Toman paused before shrugging and it almost looked like Wren was feeding him the right gesture based on how focused their expressions looked.

“A…beacon might be the right word…was placed there after the portal closed unexpectedly. It allows us to be informed of any movement.” Frowning, he gestured around the room. “It is not located in a currently habitable space as yours is.”

Around the town…he’d been gesturing toward the outside.

Okay.

Everyone started to open their mouths, probably to complain about the lack of actual people watching the portal, but they quickly closed them when they realized how stupid that would’ve been.

“There were notifications over the last six of your months. However, when we checked through a small device that allows viewing, nothing was found. We assumed the spell was faulty.” His frown said they shouldn’t have made assumptions either. “It was not. The first creatures to cross to our side were insects and animals that were gone before we were able to check out the notification.”

Oh.

That would’ve been a problem.

A few people around the room started muttering and whispering softly to the people around them, but their gazes stayed firmly on Toman. “It has been so long since the portal was active our viewing device was angled in a way that was not conducive to viewing the portal itself. Outside of our regular monitoring and study, we were more worried about small…what is the word, my mate?”

Toman paused, sending some kind of thought or image to Wren, who perked up quickly. “A cult or a very small, interesting religion.”

A cult.

“Ah, thank you.” Toman didn’t look worried but everyone else’s interest went up again and even Kenzie grinned. “The viewing is mostly to observe their safety. They do not always bring enough water when they visit the portal twice in our year.”

So the portal had been closed so long they were only watching to make sure their version of the locals didn’t accidentally die of exposure.

Got it.

We were definitely related.

“There was a great…excitement when insects and what I have now learned is called a fox came through the portal.” His expression looked like he wanted to shake his head. “That is when we realized what had happened and a small party was sent through.”

How small?

“One returned home to explain we could make the trip safely and the other waits by the portal. He has come into town enough to absorb the language but he was confused and has chosen to stay away.” Toman usually had a pretty good blank face but he was trying not to smile this time. “Our search for food led us to meet some of your locals.”

Great.

They’d gone to the diner.

Lips pressed together around the table and most people managed not to laugh. Even Kenzie knew it was the best he was going to get, so he ignored it as he focused on the newcomer. “Welcome to Earth. We’re still debating who’s the alien and who’s not, but you get to be an alien. Congratulations. We’re glad you found your mate and that you’re not some kind of cannibalizing dinosaur.”

The room went silent as Toman turned to Wren again, who was happy to supply a visual. “Oh, you call those dinosaurs.”

Wait.

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