by Zoe Chant
I hope kissing and true love aren’t out of the question, she thought. It might not be the time just now, but she couldn’t deny the pull she felt any more than she could deny what she’d seen.
A second later she thought, It’s a shame you’re not a dragon anymore, though. I really wanted to see a dragon.
She smiled back at Ilie. “Do you—do you need anything? Can I call someone for you? You must want to—to see your family.”
“Well.” Ilie looked down at himself. “I guess I need to borrow some clothes from Gus, at least. And—” He looked in the direction the dog had gone, his smile fading. “And find Mouse.”
“Mouse?” Becca repeated, though it was obvious he meant the enormous dog.
“He’s mouse-sized to me,” Ilie said, and an odd expression crossed his face. “I mean—he was. When I was a dragon. But it’s too late to change his name now.”
“Of course,” Becca agreed.
“I don’t think he knows it’s me,” Ilie added, frowning down at his own body. “He’s never seen me like this. I must smell all wrong to him. He’s—he was—”
He looked so stricken that Becca wanted desperately to hug him. She settled for leaning forward and setting one hand on his knee.
He twitched all over, his eyes going wide and meeting hers again, and she realized that she was the first person who’d touched him on skin instead of scales in—how long? Probably a very long time. She started to draw her hand back, but Ilie caught it and pressed it down.
His hand was warm on hers, strong but not crushing, and Becca shivered a little herself, at the touch and the intensity of his gaze.
“I’ll—I’ll call someone,” Becca said after a moment. “We’ll find Mouse.”
Ilie nodded and looked away, letting go of her hand. After another moment Becca remembered to take her hand off his knee and take out her phone.
***
Ms. Stafford called Cara, and announced herself to Cara as Becca. Learning her first name was almost enough to distract Ilie from worrying about Mouse. When he reached for the dog in his mind, he got no answer now, just a sense of Mouse running through the woods. Looking for Ilie?
Did Ilie have to trade? Mouse for Becca? His dragon shape for his mate?
He was vaguely aware of Becca explaining the situation to Cara, but she’d only begun when Ilie heard Gus’s voice in his mind. It sounded different, more distant, than when he was in his dragon shape, but at least he hadn’t lost that altogether.
Ilie? Gus said. Are you—are you okay?
I don’t know, Ilie admitted. I think she’s my mate, Gus. I saw her and I changed, just like that. And now I’m naked. And Mouse doesn’t know me. He ran off.
I’ll check on Mouse, Gus promised. Cara will bring you some clothes. And… congratulations, little brother.
Ilie looked at Becca and shaped his mouth into a smile again. His mate. Whatever it cost, he knew she was worth it. Every time he looked at her he wanted to earn another glance from those sky-blue eyes, another kind touch, anything. He had been right to change for her. A dragon’s mate was a treasure beyond any other.
Even if it meant he couldn’t be a real dragon anymore.
***
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