"I look forward to it," I said, and we stayed on the line for a minute before we ended the call.
"Zamir's coming over, everyone. We're going to have a 'low-key' home date," I said, and Clip barked, then danced around. She liked Zamir, huh? All of my fur children did. Well, except for the Murder Triplets, I corrected as they clucked in dismay, then strutted over to the window seat, where they settled in to keep watch. I had no idea what their issue with Zamir was, but at least they couldn't actually cause him harm.
I spent the hour rushing around the house with a feather duster, which then led me to take a shower because I had dust in my hair. When I came out and got dressed, I had enough time to order some groceries to be delivered in time for dinner when there was a knock at the door.
As I reached for the handle, I glanced down at the chickens crowded around my legs. "Behave."
"I'll try to," Zamir said with a grin when I opened the door, and I shook my head, smiling as I let him in.
"I was talking to the chickens."
"Hey, girls. You still want to murder me?" he asked, and the birds shot him mirroring beady glares before fluttering away.
Zamir shook his head as he removed his shoes and followed me to the living room. "Theyreallyhate me, huh?"
"They're not used to people," I assured him as I took his hand and pulled him to the couch with me.
"Yeah? You don't have many visitors?" he asked, and I shook my head.
"Not in a long time, no," I said, and he hummed. "What about you?"
His lips curved in a smile full of mischief. "Do I have visitors? Not really, unless you count the people I live with."
"You know what I mean," I murmured, and he chuckled.
"Yeah, sorry. It's been a while for me too, and even then, there hadn't been any... emotions involved."
I couldn't tell him how happy it made me to hear that. I wasn't happy that he hadn't shared an emotional bond with any of his past lovers, but my dragon sure was, the possessive bastard.
"I've been in love before," I said, unwilling to keep things from him. "But it was a long time ago."
"I don't expect you to have spent all those centuries without sharing your life with someone, Nolan," he said, his brown eyes warm and bright with understanding.
My eyes dropped to his as I leaned forward, but before I could kiss him, Clip stuck her massive head between us, and we both ended up kissing her.
"Aww, were you feeling neglected, Clip?" Zamir asked, instantly distracted, and I sighed, smiling as I sat back and watched him shower the dog with kisses.
Muffin rushed over, not about to let Clip hog all the affection, and she nudged her sister aside and thrust her head under Zamir's palm, making him laugh.
The chickens clucked, displaying their annoyance at the dogs as Nugget flew up to Muffin's back, glaring at Zamir. Zamir stared at the chicken head on, and I snickered. Neither seemed willing to look away, and I wondered who would win.
"I think Nugget's gonna win," I said, earning a growl from Zamir, but before she could prove me right, Muffin's wagging tail whacked her in the head, and she let out a loud shriek, then flew to the other side of the room as her two buddies clucked in unison.
"Yeah, now she thinks I cheated," Zamir said with a sigh as the chickens shot him a look of pure loathing before pattering away to the pet bedroom.
Muffin, done hogging my mate, padded away toward the kitchen with Clip hot on her tail. The sound of water being lapped reached my ear a moment later, and Zamir chuckled.
"Getting loved makes you thirsty," he murmured, and I smiled. "Quick, before they come back."
Zamir's lips met mine, soft and warm and right, and I grabbed his waist, pulling him close. Strength pressed against me, his muscles lean and firm, but underneath, I could feel the weak flicker of his magic, and I hated it. I hated that he'd done this to himself, and I wanted to make it better.
My dragon roared within me in agreement, and as we kissed, my life force floated up my throat of its own accord, slipping from my mouth to his in wisps that I could almost taste on my tongue.
Zamir didn't notice it at first, and his lips moved over mine with a quiet intensity. But then he stiffened, his body went cold under my touch, and he jerked away, like I'd burned him.
He scrambled away from me, his palm pressed to his lips as if he was about to vomit, his eyes wide and fearful. I'dscaredhim. That was the last thing I'd ever want.
"I'm s-sorry. I didn't mean to do that," he mumbled, his voice wispy as the life force he'd tasted. He looked ready to run, and I couldn't let that happen. I slid over to him, and grabbed his hand.
"It's not your fault. I did it. I wanted you to have it."
Zamir blinked, then frowned. His hand twitched in mine, as if he wanted to pull away but restrained himself.
"Why?I told you I didn't want to feed from you. I told you."
How could I explain the panic that filled me every time I thought about that night he'd fainted in my arms? Thought about that happening again? How did I explain the ache in my chest every time I sensed how he'd starved himself, how he was still starving himself out of some false belief that he was a monster?
I didn't know how, but I knew I had to if I wanted Zamir to stay.
