Chapter 1
Klynn
Earth Side
He was…uncomfortable.
No.
Stressed?
There was an English word I was missing…or maybe an American one because those were not the same languages…but my human agent was on the side of being an unhappy human.
My books had said action was necessary in moments like this one, but I did not feel like the predator in this situation no matter how Toman kept describing Wren.
Still, rescue was imperative because Toman’s slightly strange mate was clearly frustrated as we waited to go through the gate, and in that mood, he enjoyed making my human agent uncomfortable.
No.
Something related to uncomfortable.
I was going to have to reread my book about the angry spy who had to deal with the naughty submissive again. They used a variety of good emotional words, but I had not read that one enough times to have them memorized.
Still…I could not leave my human agent to Toman’s mate.
Wren was difficult.
I knew I was right in my assessment when he glared at Agent Murphy and spoke too loudly, even by Earth standards. “Clothes on for now, Daddy, but later you’re mine.”
“Your behavior will impact that, my mate.” Toman understood the negative behavior as well, but his rebuke was more subtle than many of the Doms in my books would have been.
I wasn’t sure I believed the implied threat, but Wren’s behavior changed as he shivered. “Yes, Daddy. I’m going to say goodbye to Pierce really quick. You talk to Klynn and make sure he’s ready? Ask him if he remembered to pack his ereader.”
Toman winced before I could respond and subtly point out that they were being too loud. “No one knows if it will work once we are through the portal.”
It would work.
The sparkly dragon was very confident…confusing, but confident…and I had found he was very rarely wrong.
He was annoying but generally right.
That in itself was annoying too.
“You guys figured out how to charge it with those crystal things and he’s got a ton of books.” Wren seemed worried about my reading, however, his volume decreased as I stepped out of the woods and moved closer. “It’s going to be fine.”
Wren did not seem to believe his words as he kissed Toman and hurried off to speak with his cousin, but he at least looked happier to have someone new to torment.
They all looked happier and my human agent even relaxed his body, which was a signal of emotional change. The people of Earth had lots of signals, but I had read about many of them even if I didn’t have a significant amount of first-hand experience.
Reading was very informative, though, so I knew I was prepared to deal with my human agent.
I was very prepared.
Very.
Yes.
My feet did not seem to understand the confidence my brain had about it, however, so it took much effort to get them to move in the right direction toward Toman and my human agent.
Toman aimed a very neutral expression in my direction that he probably thought would make me more comfortable, but my human agent nodded and shifted his body to face me.
It was an opening gesture that meant he was focused on me and wasn’t guarded, so I returned the nod and mimicked his minor facial expressions. “Agent Murphy.”
“Klynn.” My human agent shifted his stance again so he was leaning toward me and let out a low, exaggerated breath. “I know you have everything in order, but is there anything you need help with or want to confirm?”
He trusted me.
He knew I was not one of the dragons that could be termed as flakey.
“No, thank you for your offer, though.” He had good manners and was offering to handle any situation I could not.
He instinctively understood his role even if we had not discussed it in words.
“I am confident that my ereader will work and I have done a quick patrol of the area to make sure everything is packed.”
And that we had not picked up any extra members of our party…to our party…for our party?
Hmm.
“I’ve double-checked the members of the party going through and everything seems to be in order.
” Agent Murphy frowned as he looked around and studied the people around the gate, but he did not seem to be overly stressed.
“I’m slightly concerned that they’re not worried enough about going through the gate. ”
Hmm.
“Curiosity and overconfidence seem to be traits we all suffer from, no matter which side of the gate we were born on.” I shrugged, feeling pleased when my human agent flashed a quick smile.
He gave those out rarely in public settings, so I understood they were special.
“Some of us were born with enough common sense to overcome those more dangerous traits, however.”
Ha.
He smiled at me again.
I’d made him smile.
“I appreciate those of you with common sense.” Nodding slowly that time, the gesture should have meant he agreed with something but that wasn’t how it felt as he kept his gaze on me. “It’s made planning and organizing this much less chaotic.”
He appreciated me.
Yes, that was what my books would have said.
“I’m glad.” I was also glad to be able to help confirm the final details and to go over the list of members one last time. My human agent was very focused on safety and caretaking, even when he did not particularly like the people he was put in charge of.
It was very commendable, but it took up all the time we had before Wren came bouncing back to Toman. “Reporting for duty, Daddy Manny. Family commitments handled and ready to leave Earth.”
Toman seemed to find the attention-seeking behavior amusing as he wrapped one arm around Wren, but he kept his feelings to himself mostly.
“Thank you.” Toman kissed his cheek in a Daddy gesture that was meant to provide an emotional connection.
“Everyone else seems to be ready as well. We’ve double-checked the list of visitors coming through the portal, everyone is claiming to have their gear, and there doesn’t seem to be any last-minute issues. ”
My human agent had done a remarkable job of attending to the details and understanding what must be done. I knew his background must be impressive for him to be such a confident leader. However, his desire for privacy in public left me unsure about how he had become so remarkable.
“Agent Murphy has done a good job of keeping track of everyone and keeping our people on this side of the gate organized.” Toman gave an Earth smile as Agent Murphy sighed in a dramatic human way. “It has been a big job but it has been appreciated.”
“No one else was levelheaded enough to get it done.” Wren’s words were finally polite and not designed to make my human agent react. “Thank you for helping us even though this hasn’t been what you were probably expecting to be doing this week.”
No, I didn’t think there was any way Agent Murphy could’ve expected to deal with all that was thrown at him.
Still, I was cautious as Wren smiled and nodded toward Agent Murphy. “See? Some people from Earth can behave themselves. You just needed to find a human to talk to instead of the men at the diner.”
Yes.
“They’re…” I paused, not wanting to disappoint my human agent with a rude response, since he had gone out of his way to be firm but not unmannered.
“Frustrating.” Agent Murphy seemed to decide that we did not have to be polite in the current situation. “Although I have a few other choice words if you need help with your English.”
He would give me permission to be politely rude?
That was…
He was…
Yes.
Giving him a human smile that I thought I had practiced well enough, I nodded. “Someone to practice with would be helpful.”
When he looked pleased, I frowned at Toman with what seemed to be the right human expression. “Everyone has been busy with…other things lately and I haven’t practiced as much as I should have.”
My human agent would help even if others were not as mannered…not as polite. Yes, that was the word most used in books.
Toman looked like he disagreed with that assessment, but Wren stepped in to distract him. “We’re going to go make the rounds one more time and start moving everyone toward the gate before they get distracted. Will you guys take the end of the line and make sure no one wanders off?”
They had short attention spans, so it would not be unexpected.
“I’ve already explained to one man that he could not bring a cage for a dinosaur.” I nodded to show understanding and emotional agreement as Agent Murphy sighed at my words. “They will need supervision. He wasn’t even in the list of people going through the gate.”
I could not understand how he thought we would let him.
“That doesn’t surprise me at all.” Agent Murphy understood how difficult managing them was but looked confident as he gestured for me to walk with him. “They get an idea and just go with it without thinking.”
More thinking should be required of the locals…
and it seemed that we were not the only ones to have that opinion because after trying to wrangle everyone, a unique word that meant attempting to get everyone under control and in line, the dragon Boyd finally lost his shit as my books would have said.
“If you don’t line up and get your shit in order I’m going to—” The angry dragon was speaking loudly at everyone, but a male from the land of Canada decided it was not the time to push the limits on his behavior and got back in line.
Thankfully, Boyd’s mate was trained in the best way to save others and rubbed his back while probably sending soothing emotions through their bond. That was an assumption on my part, but it seemed logical based on how Wren and Toman behaved.
But with Boyd being dangerously close to the limit on his patience, Toman decided to take over. He was much less likely to damage anyone who argued with him, so it was a good decision. “Please assemble in order, so we can proceed through the gate.”
His glare was not as strong as Boyd’s but it was good enough to keep their attention. “Remember that some of us coming through felt a bit of nausea, but it faded quickly. Walk slowly so we don’t have an accident on the other side and once you are through the portal please move to the right.”
I doubted their ability to follow his directions, and I was pleased when my human agent sighed softly. “There’s no way they can do that.”
I had to agree.
“When they hurt themselves, we will be able to quickly mend them.” I shrugged, pleased as he gave a short puff of laughter. “Unless they fall over each other, however, they should not be able to hurt themselves too much. The other side of the portal is a flat desert area.”
“A desert on another fucking planet.” His expression did not change, but he groaned softly and seemed to become more stressful. “I’m going to ask a favor.”
“Whatever you need.” I would be pleased to help.
“Don’t let me look stupid.” His low words were filled with grumbling and frustration, but I gave him a faint nod. “I’ve never been to another planet and first impressions are everything. I need your people to see me as confident with my emotions under control.”
Agreed.
“I will do my best.” He was right. They would not understand the highly emotional reactions of the others. “Your average demeanor will please them.”
Average demeanor?
There was a better way to say that.
I needed more time to read.
“Thank you.” Standing straighter, he looked around as the lecture finally came to a close.
“You’re representing Earth.” The dragon Boyd looked highly skeptical of their ability to behave.
“Don’t do anything a local would do and don’t start any interstellar incidents.
Don’t do anything that would piss off your mothers.
Keep your fucking clothes on and don’t try to bring back any fucking dinosaurs.
We’re not looking to start a zoo or change the ecosystem. ”
“I’m not sure any of them can follow those directions either.” Agent Murphy spoke so quietly, I knew the words were just for me. “We need to warn someone on the other side of the gate that they can’t bring back dinosaurs through the damned thing.”
The local ecosystem could not handle new species of that nature.
I had seen movies and books related to it and they all indicated terrible results.
“I would have to agree.” With his assessment on everything related to the locals. “But you are a highly accomplished individual and will be able to explain the reasoning for that decision. You will make a good impression and I will guide you in new situations.”
That was my job as his mate…and I would explain that eventually.
Yes.
Eventually was a good word.
Eventually I would explain everything to my mate.