Page 3 of Love and Dragons

Aurora lifted her hand, slid her thumb into her mouth, and mumbled, “’Tory, Daddy.”

Abby released a low chuckle. “She had a busy day. I’m going to mop up the bathroom and then get a shower while you help her brush her teeth and tell her a story.”

“I’ll take care of the bathroom. You go get your shower,” he said.

The low rumble in his voice caught her attention, causing her to pause and smile knowingly. At the sound, her dragon's ears perked up, alert and attentive. Longing swept through her, accompanied by a profound sense of yearning. Her dragon longed for the familiar presence of Zoran's dragon.

“I won’t be long,” she promised.

She walked slowly down the hallway to the master bedroom. Her stomach tightened with anticipation. Even with their frequent flights, it never felt long enough.

When did life get so busy?

Life full, but?—

Pausing in the doorway, she could hear Zoran's soothing voice guiding a drowsy Aurora through her bedtime teeth-brushing routine. The sudden hesitation from her dragon caught her off guard. Her dragon was normally quite vocal about expressing her desires. Suddenly, she realized that her dragon had been gradually becoming more and more silent in the past few months.

What’s wrong?

The silence was so deafening that she could hear the sound of her own heartbeat. A heavy sigh escaped Abby's lips, the air carrying the weight of her frustration. Silence was never good. When Zohar was mad, which thankfully wasn't often, he would give the silent treatment, refusing to utter a word. The image brought up the memory of her grandmother's furrowed brow and crossed arms as she recalled the moments when her grandmother would get upset with her grandfather. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she shook her head, amused by the thought. The silent treatment must come from her side of the family, she decided with another sigh.

I can’t help if I don’t know the problem, she added.

With a huff, her dragon made its displeasure known, the sound reverberating through her. In her mind's eye, she could see her dragon gracefully sitting down, its front legs tucked in, its lower lip slightly pouting. The thought made her wonder if dragons could pout, the image of their fiery breath and sulking expressions filled her mind.

Dragons don’t pout.

Then what is the matter?

Another huff escaped from her dragon's mouth, but Abby sensed a subtle change in its tone. In the master bedroom, she wasted no time in shedding her dirty clothes, feeling the relief of removing the weight of the day. She eagerly tossed the items in the cleaning unit before stepping under the soothing spray of the hot shower, letting out a low moan of pleasure as the warm water cascaded over her. Patience was all she needed. While she waited, she decided to take advantage of the opportunity to freshen up.

It anniversary.

Anniversary?

Pausing in washing her long, black hair, Abby felt the water cascade down her back. Her mind raced as she desperately tried to calculate the exact date. A month had passed since she and Zoran had joyously celebrated their anniversary.

Not your anniversary. Mine.

Abby struggled to keep up with her dragon's words, her mind lagging behind. Her lips parted and she had to bend her head not to choke herself in the spray. Today was the anniversary of her dragon and Zoran’s meeting for the first time! It felt as though an eternity had passed. So much had happened… and well, the lead up to her transformation had been anything but pleasant. The memory of Ben’qumain sent a shudder through her before it was replaced by the one of Zoran’s dragon’s appearing in the meadow. She clung to the happy memory of feeling his wings wrapped around her.

I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think of that.

Her dragon let out a deep sniff, its nostrils flaring. Abby still marveled at the way she could almost distinguish her dragon's voice and visualize its presence during their conversations. As a human, she had to constantly reinforce the idea that she was a separate entity from her dragon self.

What would you like to do?

Something special, but don’t know what.

Abby pondered on what unique gift she could find for Zoran's dragon. Her lips curved into a smile, as a delightful thought bloomed in her mind. She shared it with her dragon, their laughter echoing through the air. The sudden warmth flowing through her body had nothing to do with the warm water; it was her dragon's growing excitement that made her feel alive.

Chapter 3

As Zoran closed the door to Aurora's bedroom, a sense of peace and quiet settled over him. As he entered the room, Amber and Jade, who had volunteered to babysit Aurora, glanced up from their activities. When he saw they had brought one of their new inventions, he couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.

“Should I be worried about this? You aren’t going to create any little monsters or time travel to far-off worlds, are you?” he warily asked.

Amber snorted. “Naw. This is a worm house for Spring. She wanted something to help keep them warm and safe from Roam when he comes.”