"Lian?"
"Yes?"
"This is Nevair. I was hoping to have dinner with you tonight." Damn, he should've called earlier.
"Sorry, Nevair. I'm out with one of the other medics right now but I'd love to have dinner another night."
Disappointment stabbed at him with pointy knives. "That's all right. I'll call back when you're not so busy." His dragon half rumbled angrily.
"Hey, Lian, come dance with me," a voice said in the background.
The image of someone else rubbing against his Lian sent a spike of rage roaring through Nevair. His fingers ached at the tips as they elongated into claws. Before the transformation finished Nevair struggled to speak. "Lian, run!" he growled.
"What?" Lian asked.
The communicator dropped to the floor shattering with the impact. A dragon paw finished the job in one crushing stomp. Throwing back his head, Nevair roared.
* * * *
Lian looked at his communicator in confusion as the line went dead.
"Problem?" El asked, watching his expression.
"Yes. No… I don't know." Lian told El of his conversation.
El choked on his bright green drink. "Nevair, as in speaker of the goddess, religious leader, Nevair?"
Lian nodded. "Why do you think he told me to run?"
"Shit!" El's eyes scanned the room in a panicked jerky rhythm. "Nevair is the leader because he's not only closest to the goddess but also closest to his dragon. If he's telling you to run it can only be because…"
A loud crash sent people running and screaming.
Lian turned at the sound of an animalistic roar.
"Shit! He's shifted and coming for you." El backed away from Lian. "No offense buddy, but I don't want to be eaten today."
Lian watched as an enormous multi-colored dragon stomped into the bar. Frozen in place, Lian couldn't move his feet as his entire body seized in terror. The dragons at the training grounds hadn't seemed so frightening but they also hadn't been searching for Lian. When the giant head spun in his direction, any doubt over him being the target evaporated from his mind.
Familiar green eyes gleamed at Lian with satisfaction.
"Look at what you've done," Lian scolded, hoping he sounded braver than he felt.
The dragon's eyes lost a bit of their smugness. Undeterred, the beast leaned its scaled head closer so it could sniff at Lian like the puppy he'd had as a child. Lian guessed he smelled right because the dragon gave a contented growl.
"Are you happy now? Pleased at the damage you've caused?" Lian waved a hand, indicating the bar. He had no idea if the dragon understood him but he figured he'd give it a try. After all, the worst thing he could do was discover he made an excellent dragon snack.
The dragon set its enormous head on the ground beside Lian. He waited a moment to see if it were a trick but the longing in the dragon's eyes sealed the deal.
"Fine." Leaning forward he scratched the dragon's nose, right above the nostrils. The beast let out a happy sigh. "But I'm still not happy with you."
A little whine had him rolling his eyes. "I don't care. You're paying for the damage."
Sighing happily, the dragon lay there as Lian pet him. Lian wondered if Nevair would be naked when he returned to his human form. Before he could ask, a slim blond in black religious robes scurried into the bar.
The blond came to a screeching halt at the sight of the dragon lying calmly beside Lian.
His narrowed gaze landed on Lian. "You must be Lian."
