Seventeen
Nolan
"Hey, Touya, is theheadmaster in?" Zamir asked as he stuck his head around a door labeled simply 'The Office.'
Touya didn't answer, but a moment later, the door opened wider, and a Japanese human came out and closed the door behind him.
"He is, but he's napping. He's been working so hard the last few weeks, I don't want to wake him unless it's urgent," he said, and then his eyes slid to me and widened. "Oh! You must be Nolan. It's nice to meet you. Touya." He held his hand out and I shook it with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Touya. And it's okay, let him sleep."
"Yeah, he needs it," Zamir agreed as he took my hand. "Come on, let's go see the others, and I'll introduce you to the headmaster on the way out."
Nodding, I let him lead me through a door labeled Forest. I whistled as I looked around, impressed by the intricate magic that'd built this place. This 'headmaster' was clearly a powerful sorcerer, which meant that the issues this place was having were truly serious if he couldn't handle them on his own.
"Is that him?" someone shouted, and the sound of clattering wheels preceded the young centaur that came to a stop inches from us, his blue eyes sparkling as he scanned me from head to toe.
"Keoni?" I guessed, and he grinned.
"Hey, Nolan. I see you've heard about me," he said, waggling his brows at Zamir.
"I have, yes. It's nice to meet you," I said with a smile, then sucked in a surprised breath when Keoni stepped forward and threw his arms around me.
Shooting Zamir a bewildered look, I returned the hug, and he chuckled as he took a step back, his cheeks flushed. "Sorry about that. I... Zamir told me you might be able to help Zephyr, so I'm glad you're here."
"Zephyr?"
"The headmaster," Zamir explained, and I blinked. The sorcerer's name was Zephyr?
I was reminded of my dream last night, of the sorcerer named Jeff whom I'd failed to help. Could it be... no. That would be too much of a coincidence, wouldn't it? Jeff could be a random name he'd picked, and not because it sounded similar toZephyr.
"You okay?" Zamir checked, his eyes worried, and I nodded.
It was because I'd spent so much time thinking—and dreaming—about the kid sorcerer yesterday. That was it. I was trying to make a connection where none existed.
"Come on, I want you to meet the others. Then we'll go to the Darkness and visit Shade and Diego."
For the next few hours, Zamir dragged me from one area to another, introducing me to all the people he cared about. I spent half the time marveling at the magic that held this place together, and the other half getting to know the people Zamir loved.
Dots found us at some point, and he clawed at my pants until I picked him up. He nuzzled my cheek, and Zamir smiled as he watched us.
"Aww, he missed you," he murmured, and I smiled as I scratched Dots's side.
"I missed him too."
"Maybe you should take him back for a few days," he mused, and I, without much thought, blurted out something I'd promised myself I wouldn't mention until much later in our relationship.
"Or maybe he could live with both of us."
We stared at each other, and I couldn't decide who was more shocked. After a moment, Zamir asked, "You want to move in together?"
My lips moved without words, but then I reminded myself I was a centuries-old dragon, and a conversation like this couldnottake me down. "Yes."
"You, me, the cats, the dogs, the bunnies, the Murder Triplets, all of us? Together?"
"Yes."
Zamir thought about it for a moment, then asked, "Your place or mine?"
