Chapter 2
“Zohar—” Abby’s voice faded as she remembered that Zohar wasn’t there.
“Zobar? Zobar?” Aurora called, trying to mimic her mother.
With a tender gesture, Abby leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Aurora's chubby, dirt-streaked cheek.
Aurora's voice echoed through the empty rooms as she gleefully called for her brother.
When Aurora squirmed in her arms, Abby carefully lowered her to the polished marble floor of their living room.
“Zohar went bye-bye. He’ll be back in a few weeks,” she said.
“I go bye-bye?” Aurora asked with bright eyes.
“No, you get to stay with Mommy and Daddy,” Abby said. “You need a bath. I think you’ve been watching your cousin Spring.”
“Spring! Spring! I dig,” Aurora growled, shifting into her jade and gold dragon.
In a surge of energy, Abby swiftly grabbed hold of her daughter in her dragon form, preventing her from escaping underneath a nearby table.
It was difficult to distinguish whether the spots on Aurora were natural markings or dirt from her frolicking in the garden.
Aurora's growl filled the air, but Abby quickly silenced her with a playful belly tickle.
“Goldie, a little help, please,” Abby called.
“Goldie! I play with Goldie!”
“Yes, you play with Goldie… in the bathtub,” Abby laughed.
She released Aurora, and the sound of her paws echoed down the hall as she bounded toward the bathroom.
Goldie, the protective gold symbiot that belonged to her and Zoran, followed Aurora with a cheerful expression on his face.
When three miniature versions of Goldie appeared from Aurora's bedroom, Abby couldn't help but release a tired chuckle.
Each miniature symbiot took on a unique shape, adding a touch of whimsy to the scene.
In the mix, there was an adorable kitten, an enthusiastic puppy, and one of Amber and Jade's peculiar symbiots.
“Thank goodness it is only in the shape and not one of those little terrors,” Abby murmured, following at a slower pace.
Five minutes later, Aurora was joyfully splashing in the garden tub, surrounded by her shimmering gold friends.
The top was on the verge of overflowing with an array of vibrant, colorful bubbles.
As she collected Aurora's nightclothes, she hummed softly, listening to Aurora's joyful laughter and the splashes that hinted at a wet floor.
Curiosity getting the best of her, she couldn't resist taking a quick peek inside the bathroom.
Goldie kept a watchful eye, taking in every detail of the intense battle between Aurora and her miniature companions.
“Thank you,” she said.
With a yawn, the massive Werecat bared its long, dagger-like teeth, before licking its lips with a tongue made of pure gold.
It then flashed a wicked grin in her direction.
Laughing, she rolled her eyes before making a beeline for the kitchen.
She quickly prepared a simple dinner of macaroni and cheese, Aurora's current favorite dish, accompanied by a peculiar vegetable that resembled broccoli.
She silently thanked Aurora for her love of the dark green vegetable.
The sound of a loud giggle caught her attention, indicating that her daughter had slipped out of the tub and was now being chased by her golden guardian.
True to form, Aurora raced down the hallway toward the kitchen, her naked body glistening with soap and leaving a trail of suds behind her.
Goldie bounded after the squealing little girl, but only make it halfway down the hall before being unexpectedly hindered by three miniature symbiots playfully darting around him.
The poor symbiot's plight worsened as the smaller symbionts mistook the large towel hanging from Goldie's mouth for a toy.
“Mommy!” Aurora shrieked and giggled as she wiggled her way between Abby’s legs.
“I’ve got this, Goldie. Thank you.”
Abby retrieved the towel from the large symbiot while the demented symbiot playfully nipped at its back leg.
To prevent creating a larger mess, Abby bent down and quickly dried Aurora, skillfully absorbing the bubbles to keep the floor clean.
She scooped her rambunctious daughter up in her arms and carried her into the cozy living room.
“I hungry,” Aurora announced, trying to wiggle free.
Abby continued to try Aurora. “After you get dressed.”
“Veggie and worms.”
“Yes, I’ve made your favorite. Don’t move, I need to put this on you. I swear I’m going to have to take you shopping again soon. You’re getting so big!” Abby exclaimed, tugging the animal-print nightgown over Aurora’s head.
“I big,” Aurora said, standing on one foot while she slipped her foot into a pair of nighttime pullups.
“Yes, you are. Okay, dinner.”
“Daddy. I wants Daddy.”
A frown creased Abby’s brow before she gave Aurora a gentle smile. “Daddy is working late. He’ll be here to tuck you in.”
She picked Aurora up and carried her into the kitchen. After a brief battle over utensils, Aurora decided to eat her veggies with her fingers and her 'worms' with her spork. By the time Aurora was finished with her meal, her head was drooping with exhaustion.
A sudden purr escaped from Abby's dragon, filling the space with a comforting vibration.
A smile of amusement played on her lips, adding a touch of mischief to her expression.
Whenever Zoran was near, her dragon's keen senses immediately alerted her.
Her attention was momentarily diverted from cleaning Aurora with a warm, damp cloth as she noticed him quietly observing them from the opening to the dining room, prompting a smile to appear on her face.
Aurora noticed her distraction and quickly scanned her surroundings.
“Daddy!”
Zoran stepped forward, his strong arms reaching out to lift Aurora out of her chair. Aurora embraced him tightly, burying her face in the crook of his neck. As he bent down, Abby leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on his lips.
“I was hoping you’d make it before she fell asleep,” she murmured.
“I wouldn’t miss tucking her in for the galaxy.”
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.