Lily swallowed as a shiver of trepidation raced through her. Would they be able to tell that she was a new Little? Would they not want to be friends with her? What if they could tell that she’d come to Bratburg under false pretenses, even if her life had been threatened?
Sailor glanced at her then frowned. “What’s wrong, little flower?”
She looked up at him and blinked, trying to force back the tears that were once again filling her eyes. “What if they don’t like me? What if they don’t want to be my friend?”
The grumpy expression Sailor wore most of the time softened. He brushed a strand of hair from her face as he asked, “And what if they love you and want to be best friends with you forever?”
Lily blinked, and slowly the fear drained out of her toes. “Do you think they might?”
The corners of Sailor’s mouth tilted up until he was smiling. “I do think they will. And if they don’t, I’ll tell their Daddies to spank their butts every day until they do.”
She giggled at the threat. “You’re silly, Papa. You can’t make them like me, not like that. Friendship has to come from them.”
Sailor frowned then turned his attention back to his breakfast. “They’re going to love you. After all, you’re one of them.”
“Okay.” Lily shrugged to try and loosen her shoulders as she dropped her gaze to her plate.
All at once, having her sandwich cut into triangles wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
Sailor liked holding Lily’s hand as they explored the clearing that housed Bratburg. The physical connection sent a hum through him that made him feel lighter than he had in years. He wasn’t sure, but he thought what he was feeling was happiness. It had been so long since he’d experienced that emotion that he couldn’t be sure. All he knew was that he liked whatever he was feeling and would do whatever necessary to keep the feeling going.
“Goaties!” Lily squealed as they approached the fenced in area just in front of the bar where they kept a few farm animals and some that the Littles considered pets.
Sailor tightened his grip when she tried to pull free so she could run to where the goats were grazing.
“Papa, let me go. I have to see the goaties.” Lily pulled on her arm.
“No,” Sailor said, going so far as to stop walking.
“But Papa,” Lily whined as she turned to look at him. Her bottom lip poked out in a perfect pout that tore at his heart. Blinking slowly, he took a breath and frowned down at his mate.
“Put that lip away; it won’t work on me,” he said though his heart told him differently.
Normally he would do anything to make her happy but letting her run toward the fence and scare the animals would only piss off Sullivan, and the last thing he needed was the centaur shifter who was in charge of the barn and all the animals to be mad at them.
“Before you can meet the goats, little miss, you need to come meet us.” Sullivan appeared in the open doorway of the barn.
Sailor could not hide his smile when Lily moved closer to his side, pressing tight against him, and then sliding half behind him.
“Lily?”
“Yes, Papa?”
“You okay?”
“Uh-huh,” she said, pressing her face into the back of his arm.
Pleased she looked to him for protection, Sailor walked around the fenced area and toward the barn. His mate kept pace with him, staying half behind him, as if hiding from Sullivan and Hollister who were now both standing in the open doorway.
When they reached the barn, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to stand beside him.
“Lily, this is Master Sullivan, who is in charge of the barn and all the animals, and his Little girl and mate, Hollister Rose, who works with him taking care of the animals. Sullivan, Hollister, this is Lily, my mate.”
“Your mate? You found your mate?” Hollister began bouncing with excitement, every bounce bringing her closer to them until she could wrap her arms around Lily. She hugged tightly, forcing Lily to happy-bounce with her. “Congratulations, Lily! Welcome to Bratburg.”
Sullivan nodded at him. “Congratulations, Sailor.”
Lily looked over her shoulder at him, looking wide-eyed and a bit panicked though she ended up giggling with Hollister by the time they settled.
