Page 12 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
Concern flickered through brown eyes. “Among other things. Do you need a healer?”
“Sometimes.” This was very confusing. “Usually, they send humans.”
“Pardon me, lady.” He bent closer and changed his grip to her wrists. But before he could begin any of the healers’ rotes, her sister inserted herself between them.
“Horse clan?” Zuzu asked, rubbing her fingertips over the bristling stubble on one side of Colt’s head, where the gingery hair had been shaved.
“Yes. I’m Colt.” His surprise faded into amusement. “Would you two lovely ladies happen to be sisters?”
Zuzu whirled to wrap her arms around Fumiko. “I like him, Sister.”
Fumiko did, too. However, she couldn’t help holding this newcomer up against Juuyu, who’d made a rather dramatic first impression. “How many are there?”
“Six total. One of our teammates will be coming in later, so it’s five for now.” Colt shifted into a receptive posture. “If you’ll show me the way to our rooms, I’ll shift our baggage.”
Akira caught up. “I’ll help!”
Colt nodded. “Ours are probably too heavy, but your case is in there somewhere.”
“Zuzu moves fast!” Akira was all admiration. And acceptance. “Did you ever meet a tree?”
“A few. Enough to understand.” Colt offered his palms to Zuzu. “Thank you for allowing us to shelter under your branches.”
She was in his arms in an instant, and Fumiko hoped he didn’t mind. But he chuckled and went to pat her head, only to hesitate over Zuzu’s flowers. Fumiko caught his eye and touched her own shoulder. Colt flashed a grateful smile and gently enfolded Zuzu, who was dwarfed by his larger frame.
“I like him,” Zuzu repeated with a blissful sigh. “Oh! But where has the dragon gone?”
And just like that, Colt’s arms were empty.
Akira jogged after her, calling, “Wait for me! I’ll introduce you!”
A slender young man was just pulling himself out of the water and onto the dock. Long green hair and a yellow tunic clinging to pale skin. He waved and called out to Akira in Japanese, but when he spotted Zuzu, he froze.
Her embrace only flustered him further.
Akira laughed and said, “English for Fumiko, please.”
The green-haired Amaranthine asked, “Tree-twin?”
“Yes.” Fumiko thought he might be blushing. “Zuzu is my sister.”
“You are very pretty,” cooed Zuzu, nuzzling the young male’s throat. “And you smell nice.”
“Thanks, I guess.” And to Fumiko, a tight, “Call her off?”
Fumiko had seen this sort of thing before. “Gently, Zuzu. I think this one is shy about girls.”
“I could teach him.” Zuzu’s smile turned sultry.
“Don’t tease,” Fumiko scolded. “I think he’s your dragon.”
She drew back, eyes wide. “Is that what this feeling is? Are you a dragon?”
“Sinder Stonecairne of the Icelandic Reach. And yes, I’m from a dragon clan.” Rolling his eyes toward Akira, he muttered, “This was easier when the tree was male.”
“Oh! Sorry, sorry.” Akira gesticulated at Fumiko. “Sinder’s a dragon without … what’s the word?”
He tried a few in Japanese, and Sinder looked scandalized. “Did you just call me a gelding?”
