Page 115 of Sacrifice
"He's giving you kisses!"
The drive home is interesting.
Three dogs who've clearly never been in a truck before, trying to see everything at once.
Odin discovers the window button, sending everyone into chaos when he opens it at forty miles per hour.
"Security assets my ass," Saga laughs as I struggle to close the window while Rex tries to climb into my lap.
"Shut up."
But I'm grinning too.
This is ridiculous and perfect and exactly what our fortress family needs.
Back at the loft, the dogs explore cautiously.
We introduce them to each room, show them the backyard.
They're well-trained—no accidents, no destroyed furniture.
Just three giants learning their new territory.
"Look," Elfe points out. "They're already doing patrols."
She's right.
The dogs move systematically, checking windows, doors, corners.
It's not random exploration—it's them understanding what they need to protect.
"Previous owner knew what they were doing," I observe. "These aren't pets. They're protection dogs."
"They can be both," Saga insists, watching Luna investigate the kitchen. "Protection dogs who also get cuddles and treats."
"And Christmas sweaters?" Elfe adds innocently.
"I clicked that by accident!"
"Sure you did." Saga grins. "What about the Halloween costume page?"
They're both laughing at me now.
Even the dogs look amused, though that might be my imagination.
"Fed, watered, and settling in," Elfe reports an hour later.
The dogs have claimed the living room, sprawled across each other in a massive pile. "They're perfect."
"They're huge," I observe.
"Perfect and huge." Saga curls against my side on the couch. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"This. All of it. I know it's not how you planned your life—instant family, three dogs, wounded and recovering."
"Plans change." I kiss her temple. "This is better than anything I planned."
