CHAPTER 7
Gordy had no idea how he had gotten to Texas so fast. At least, it felt fast. He didn’t even remember the plane ride. It was like one second he was standing in Beer and Brats, and the next he was sitting in a black SUV in front of a nice two-story house with a two-car garage and white picket fence. Where Pennsylvania’s weather was cool and drizzly, here it was hot and dry. Nothing was as it should be. At least that was how Gordy felt. It was like he was in a vortex from a sci-fi movie and was just spat out into suburbia.
He shouldn’t be here. He should be home, sleeping, getting ready to wake up and watch his new ovens and walk-in freezer being put in, so he could open the diner back up and feed his friends and the people of Drago he hoped would become friends.
Wow, now what was going to happen? Was he ever going to get to go back and open Munchies? That was the new name for the diner. He smiled every time he thought about it.
“Gordy, baby, it’s clear, we can go in now.”
Gordy looked up to see Gunner staring down at him, looking concerned. Turning around he realized that Gio had already gone inside and it was only the two of them… well, three if you counted the dragon. “What’s your maharishi’s name? I mean, I can’t just keep thinking about him as Gunner’s dragon. So what is it?”
“Let’s get you inside where no one is around and we’ll talk,” Gunner suggested. “Cobra and Gio are going to make a run into town to get us some clothes and food supplies.”
It was as if Gunner had given some cue to the two men. Both walked out of the house, said their “see you laters”, and took off.
The moment they were inside, Gunner’s maharishi lifted off of Gunner’s arm and once again grew. “I don’t really have a name. Gunner and I have a mind link and so we never really had a cause to use names. I’m sure I had one many, many, many years ago, but when called upon to join souls with Gunner, any memory of that name was long gone. It has been told to me that I will be given my name when our sentience decides what I shall be called.”
“You want me to name you?” Gordy gasped.
Nodding, the dragon said, “It would be an honor to have you name me, Gordy. To many magical beings and honestly to many cultures, a name holds great power. It is said that when the great Ra’s name was revealed to Isis, it was used by Isis to rule over Ra and place her son on the throne. In my world, the name you give me will give you power over me.”
“How so?” Gordy asked.
Smiling, the maharishi answered, “Simple really. If ever you call my name, I will come to you. If you ask me to do something… anything… I will do it. You are my sentience as much as Gunner is as well. Few know his real name and there is a reason for that.”
“I don’t understand.” Gordy said with a tilt of his head.
“To know the name of the D.O.A. means it opens us up to being discovered… for all Drago to be discovered. That could mean the death of many. However, you will know it and that will give you power over him as well. Tell anyone and it could mean his and many more people’s deaths.”
“I would never do that.” Gordy insisted.
Again, the dragon smiled, at least Gordy hoped that toothy look was a smile, otherwise he might think the beast wanted to eat him. “I know this as does our other mate. I was just trying to get you to understand why I will be honored to have you give me my name. Like I said, a name holds power. I also wanted you to understand that with a name I am trusting you with my life as well as all those around us, because, make no mistake, if you ask me to harm someone or protect you from someone or something, I will do that, even at the cost of another.”
“That’s insane. You can’t go around hurting people just on my say so, or for any other reason… I mean, unless it’s because of your work. I understand not everyone you go after can come out of it alive. I don’t like it, but I understand. However, you can’t just go around killing people willy nilly, it isn’t right.” Gordy quickly said.
The dragon smiled, “I do understand that, and yes, we do our best not to randomly kill people even if they do deserve it after what they have done to the humans on this planet. However, you, Gordy, are worth anything and all to both Gunner and me. If someone threatens your safety in any way, they will die. There is little I will not do for you, Gordy. That is the point I am trying to make. It’s the way of the maharishi. Why do you think Spirit went against everything the D.O.A. stands for and lied to the leader? He did it because his sentience asked it of him.”
Gordy opened his mouth to say something, but the maharishi quickly continued. “Oh, he tried to talk Rylee out of it. I know, because I was there when Rylee and Jude came up with the plan. But when Rylee refused to listen, Spirit did as he was asked to do by his sentience. It’s just how we are and there is nothing anyone can say or do to change that… well unless it threatens your safety.”
“Will you guys get into trouble?” Gordy softly asked, hating that the sweet dragon or his friends might be in trouble because of him. He had known about the threat from his father and what could have happened. He had even argued with Gio about going, but even Gordy knew he didn’t put up a big enough argument. The thing was, Gordy had been so lonely lately. He had watched his friend and the other mates and had seen the happiness each of them had when out with their men. He wanted that. He wanted that special someone to share his life with. That special someone that he could come home to every night, sit and have a meal with, watch a movie as they cuddled together. He wanted to laugh like Gio always seemed to do with Taco and Cobra. He wanted someone he could share his innermost fears, thoughts, and dreams with… no, he hadn’t argued nearly enough and it damn near cost people their lives.
Gordy wiped his forehead. Dang the heat in Texas was like nothing Gordy had ever had to deal with before. He really wished the air conditioning was on.
“How about we go and sit down and get to know each other a bit. There is so much I wish to know about you, Gordy. So many questions I have asked myself all those nights I sat on your roof doing my best to keep you safe.” The dragon said, holding out his large spiked-talon hand. Gordy didn’t even hesitate to take it and that kind of freaked him out a bit. Not just because it was a dragon’s hand, but because he didn’t question his own actions that went completely against everything he would normally do.
“It’s the pull.” The maharishi said.
“Pull? What do you mean?” Gordy asked.
The dragon pursed his lips, saying, “You know, when you ask questions like that it makes me both sad and angry.”
“What? Why?” Gordy asked.
Gunner snorted as he took a seat in one of the recliners, “Because every shifter is taught at no later than puberty about mates and the mating pull. For your father or even your mother not to talk to you… not to explain it… it’s justwrong.”
“Every shifter, when they find their mate, feels an urge to be with them.” The dragon said, then quickly continued when he saw Gordy’s ruby-red cheeks. “I’m not just talking about sex. I’m talking about the need to be close to them, touch them, get to know them. It’s like your brain goes into overdrive to be with that one person… well, in your case person and dragon.”
“How does that even work? I mean I like you and all, and I think you’re really a cool-looking dragon… unique… I just… I don’t see you in a…”
