A scream slices the air and the four of us are running toward the front yard as fast as possible.
Ryder shudders out of sight and I almost curse him for his ability to do so.
When I round the corner, I expect bloodshed, gore, a battle of some sort to be storming into sight.
Bekka stands with a frying pan in hand. She wields it out at arm’s length as if she’s a trained kitchen assassin.
And at the end of her fearless attack is Nefarious.
“Stop. No.” I rush forward, pushing past Ryder as he tries to talk Bekka down.
“He’s not harmful. Zakara will train him well. Lower the frying pan, Bek.” Ryder’s calming voice does little for Nefarious’ anxious pacing. A low, huffing snort pushes through his snout and, for a second, I’m terrified he’ll show Bekka just how untamed he really is.
“You brought a longma to my house?” she yells at him. She lectures him the way a mother would a child.
Rahston slowly walks up to her side. His palms push down her arms until she does, in fact, lower the threatening pan.
Kela and Nika wander out, standing a few feet behind everyone.
My hand pushes down the dragon horse’s soft mane, attempting to calm it the best I can. Daxdyn steps closer to me, with a simple touch of his palm to its snout I feel the tension in the animal relax into a lazy stance that makes my heartbeat settle into a steady rhythm again.
“Thank you.”
Daxdyn nods once before looking back at his sisters. Darrio keeps checking behind the house on what I’m sure is a crowd of waiting soldiers.
“We have to go,” Darrio tells us all.
This isn’t how I thought we’d leave. I thought for sure I’d have time to make them like me. To understand how much I care about these men that are letting me into their lives.
But I don’t.
“It was nice meeting you,” I say to fill the silence.
Bekka’s eyes grow wild as she levels me with a stare. I’m still clinging to the longma who she sees as a threat. Nika rolls her eyes at me.
Gods above, I’m such a fuck up.
Kela pushes past them all and Rahston slides his palm down her back as she passes.
“It was really nice meeting you, Zakara.” Her thin arms wrap around my neck and she crushes me with an unexpected hug.
Daxdyn, Darrio, and Ryder all share the same small smile as they look at us.
She smells like vanilla. The soothing scent fills my nose and even though I hate unwarranted affection, I wrap my arms around her as well.
A weird feeling pushes into me.
A feeling of love.
A feeling of acceptance.
A feeling of family.
***
Midday comes quickly as we trek across the land. A unique quiet has settled over our group. The steady pounding of footsteps is the only sound. Nefarious keeps pace with me as we walk, and I start to realize we aren’t going the same way we came.
“You look stressed.”
