“Yes,”Tawera said.“I was young then.What I feel for Nyree is very different to those I had for Aroha.”
“Glad to hear it.Ah, here is Hone with clothes for you.Do you think you can shift now?”
“I must,”Tawera said.
“I have a few theories about your shifting problems.We will talk later.It might be best if you eat something first while you are in dragon form, then attempt to shift.”
“Very well.”
Tawera ate strips of meat Hone tossed him and drank a bowl of water.The rest and the food helped.Although, he still had to grit his teeth to contain his pained bellows while he shifted.He emerged from his dragon form in a shaky heap, his legs refusing to hold his weight.
Manu helped him to stand and handed him a pile of clothes.“You have a full facial moko.You were a warrior?”
“Yes,” Tawera said.“I understand this will make integrating difficult for me, but I still wish to try.”
The three men glanced at each other before turning back to him.
“You will fit in fine,” Manu assured him.“We will find a position that suits your interests and skills.We’ll speak with Nyree before we leave, but I think she’ll agree with our plan.”
Tawera enjoyed the men’s company.Manu and Hone had mates, while Kahurangi had a casual girlfriend.He learned of their jobs, their lives, and told them more of what had happened to him.
There were other men on the boat, but none of them approached them.It raised Tawera’s curiosity, but he wasn’t standing close enough to do a sniff test to ascertain their race.
“These other sailors.Do they know you’re taniwha?”he asked.
“They’re taniwha too—a fishing crew from near Wellington.”
Tawera frowned.“I do not know this place.”
“It is our capital city and lies at the bottom of the North Island.The crew are water dragons and have an affinity for the sea.”
“Ah!I have heard of water dragons but never met one.There were none where I lived in Northland.”
“We were lucky they intended to come down south for a jaunt.From there, it was easy to arrange with our contacts at the MC club to use us to pick up Ari and Nyree.”
Tawera nodded.“Ari thought he’d arranged the boat when it was you.What will we do next?What if Ari is not dead, or if he has told someone we cannot control?”
“Nyree will let us know Ari’s fate,” Manu said.“There’s no point worrying until we learn what has happened to him.Once we have her report, we can plan from there.”
Tawera had read several of Manu’s emails.He’d known Nyree respected her tribal leader, but the more he spoke with him, the more Tawera understood what a great man he was and how lucky he was to have Manu’s help.
Nyree arrived during their dinner.She landed with a bag clutched in her talons, and Tawera shot to his feet.Despite the pain still pounding his muscles, he reached her in three long strides.He waited impatiently for her to shift and pull on her clothes before he yanked her into his arms.
He held her and breathed in her floral scent.“Are you injured?”
She hugged him back.“I’m fine.A few bruises and sore parts, but I heal fast.”
“Ari?”
“He’s dead.He was alive when they hauled him up the cliff, but he died while receiving medical attention from the ship’s doctor.”
Relief swept Tawera.“Did anyone see us in our dragon form?”
“No.We’re safe.”She pushed away from Tawera and threaded her fingers with his before she turned to Manu and the others.“Excellent timing.I didn’t realize you were heading this way.”
“The plan came together fast.Once we realized Ari’s scheme, we kept him under surveillance and acted accordingly.”
Nyree sniffed.“You didn’t think to clue me in on your plan?You kept me waiting for ages for replies to my emails.I didn’t hear a word about you heading my way.”
