“Yes,”Manu said.“We got word of the kidnap plot and moved them to friends in the South Island.They are safe and helping Jessalyn with her work.We’ll leave now.You’ll find us in King Haakon Bay, near the start of the route that Shackleton took to make his land crossing.We’ll meet you there later tonight.”
Men’s voices carried on the air, and Nyree nodded.“I can deal with this.Thank you for coming for me.”She smiled at Tawera and stepped close enough to kiss him on the snout.“Manu will look after you.”
“Move out now,”Manu ordered.
Tawera doubted he had the energy, and his liftoff was not the best.He groaned inwardly, the pain a notch higher than earlier.
“Great job,”Manu encouraged.“We’ll fly out of sight and let you rest.No hurry.We have the remainder of the day to travel to the ship.We’re happy to explore on the way.”
A surge of gratefulness filled Tawera.“Thank you.”
Four hours later, they reached the coast, and Tawera landed on the pebbled beach with a clumsy thump, his muscles screaming in agony as he skidded across the gray stones.A group of lazing elephant seals jolted upright in alarm.The bulls postured with their prominent noses but soon gave way to the dragons.The animals lumbered to the far end of the beach at a speed Tawera admired even as pain tormented him with each muscle twitch.
The other dragons shifted and dressed in clothes they produced from a bag.Tawera sat where he’d landed and struggled to calm his breathing.He didn’t even mind the ugly stench from the bulky seals.Each breath was a gift when every muscle in his body throbbed like an aching tooth.He wasn’t sure he’d manage a shift.
“I’ll grab clothes for Tawera,” one man said.
“Bring food too,” Manu ordered.“Something to drink.”He turned to Tawera.“Can you shift, or do you need rest first?”
Tawera sighed.What sort of taniwha was he?He didn’t look any older than these dragons, yet he felt immeasurably senior to them.
Manu gripped his forearm before releasing it.“Can you tell me about the problems you’re having?Perhaps I can help.”
Tawera explained shifting was difficult.It could be painful, although this time, he’d managed better.He became starving, and sex worked far better to counteract his moonlust than shifting.
“You and Nyree had sex.”
“No,”Tawera snapped.“We made love.I like and respect Nyree.I wish to have a future with her.”
“What does Nyree think about this?How did she react to the fact I thought you might be mates?”
“Mates?When did you say this?”
“When I replied to your email.”
“I did not see this reply.”
“I see.”Something in Manu’s tone had Tawera studying him closely, and he noted the quiver of his lips.
“How did you know to come to Nyree’s aid?”
“Ari wanted to sell Nyree, her mother, and her sister to the local MC club after he discovered she could shift to a dragon.Unknown to Ari, the vice president of the club is my cousin.He informed me, and we came up with a plan to help Nyree and trap Ari in a place where we could deal justice and put a stop to his plan.”
“You intended to kill Ari all along?”
“He beat Nyree and threatened her family.Our people.That is not acceptable.”
“No, it isn’t,”Tawera agreed.“She allowed him to beat her to protect those she cared for.”
“I understand that now,” Manu said.“She should’ve come to me earlier, so I could help her.We thought she’d be safe here, but I underestimated Ari’s determination.Nyree’s departure pricked his pride, and he wanted to punish her for the slight.”
“You understand him.He bears an uncanny resemblance to my brother, although his skin is much paler than Rawiri’s.Half-brother.The one who placed the curse on me.”
“You think Ari is a descendant of your brothers?”
“It is possible since you told me my brother married and had several children with Aroha.”
“The woman you were to marry.”
