7. Korr
Chapter seven
Korr
“Why do you insist on pissing off the already temperamental Alpha?” Kali reprimands, lazily stepping in front of me despite the obvious threat ready to scorch me.
“I didn’t DO anything! She’s late to take her medicine, and she’s pushing herself too hard on her first day.”
“She’s sitting in a chair, not trying to run a marathon,” she mocks, her own irritation with me present for all to see as smoke curls from her nostrils and the tip of her tail lashes me in the back of my leg.
Almost begrudgingly, she takes another step forward, solidifying the barrier between Tyr and me.
“And don’t even try saying you didn’t sprint over here because you thought she was having a panic attack.”
“I didn’t sprint.”
“You absolutely did. You tripped over the biggest root sticking out and barely had the wherewithal to save yourself from face-planting like a fool.”
“The root came out of nowhere!" I argue pointlessly. "And Dean Stevens would have my ass if I merely sat here and watched her fall into another spiral, or worse, another dissociation."
“Glad you're not being dramatic about your new guardian role. I'd hate to see what you do if she sneezes since she can't do more than breathe in a chair without you claiming she's having an episode."
“Uh-huh. And Tyr saw you try to take his bonded away from him because you acted like he was threatening her, which I don’t think I need to point out, but he is now doing to your life and mine.”
“He snarled in her face. You know what happened the last time I yelled at her, I’m not having it happen again on my watch.”
“She’s his bonded! Not only would he give his life to keep her safe, but he is literally in her head at all times.”
Fuck! I hate when she’s right.
Slowly, I step out from where Kali's hidden me behind her, my hands raised in submission to a very pissed-off dragon who has single-handedly raised the temperature in this area of the forest by at least ten degrees.
“Do you have a death wish?” Kali snaps, but I have no intention of using her as a shield.
“Annalise—” I start, but Tyr’s next roar is furious, his hot, wet saliva instantly drenching me.
When I look up, his razor-sharp teeth are far closer to my face than someone who has spent years around dragons should have ever let happen. If my dad were here, he'd be calling me every name in the book and threatening to make me muck the fields for being so stupid.
“You deserve more than a few insults,” Kali shoots down the bond, and though she’s right, I block her out.
“Annalise—” I try again, “is due for her pain meds, and we need to talk about the plan for her living and schooling until she’s healed. I know she’s safe with you, but I was assigned to keep an eye on her, too.”
Right as I'm about to ask Kali for a translation, the woman of the hour tries to stand, but her legs give way beneath her.
I rush forward to steady her, but Kali knocks me back with a quick jerk of her head at the same time Tyr's low, menacing growl echoes through the trees.
“I know you aren't this stupid," Kali chastises.
“Can everyone please chill the fuck out?” Annalise shouts.
“Stop acting like an untrained junkyard dog. You and I both know he isn’t trying to attack me, so whatever that was, was excessive,” she chides Tyr loudly, her voice far steadier than her still wobbling body.
Still, she removes one hand from the chair steadying her, reaching up to gently stroke his face—a bold move, bonded or not, when he's still so angry.
I can't help but grin as Tyr curls his tail in response to the scolding Annalise just gave him. But when his face nuzzles into her hand, I lose all control and snort out a laugh. It’s the wrong move. Tyr growls, and Annalise’s eyes snap up to meet mine.
“And you—” she barks, knife-hand aimed directly at me like a weapon she could actually wield, “What kind of dumbass move was that?”
“I—”
She raises her hand, cutting me off before I can say anything, and I can feel Kali’s amusement radiating from her like her chuffs are being blasted through a speaker.
“You are bonded, which is both shocking, and makes so much fucking sense.”
What the fuck?
“What does that mean?”
“Shh, I’m not done," she cuts me off again, her glare sharpening. "Instructor or not, you lost your turn to talk when you thought charging an already on-edge ALPHA dragon was a smart idea.”
Annalise’s body sways slightly, but before even Tyr can react, she rights herself, and I'd bet money it was done through spite alone.
“Not only would Tyr never hurt me, but he would happily kill anyone who tried to—which, based on what you told me yesterday, you already know. So please, Sir, tell me why you'd come barging into what little space you were only pretending to give us?”
Kali gives me a pointed look. “Based on the expectant look she’s giving you, I’d say you have permission to speak now. But, if you’re not going to, at least close your mouth. It’s not an attractive look on you.”
Only then do I realize my jaw’s hanging wide open.
“You…”
“Please don’t say something creepy about you watching her breathe," Kali interrupts, stopping me from saying exactly that.
“…forgot to take your medicine this morning.”
“I did?” she asks, scrunching her forehead as she tries to replay her morning.
“Yeah. Sasha left it in the fridge, and the bottle got pushed behind the pickle jar.”
Her eyebrows shoot up, the fight draining from her face in one slow motion.
“Ugh. You’ve got pickles?” she asks, voice full of longing.
“Looks like you owe—what was it you called him? The insufferable man-child?—a thank you for saving your ass,” Kali chuffs, abandoning me to flop down onto a sunny patch of dirt.
“We’re never telling him this conversation happened,” I mutter to Kali before answering Annalise. “Of course. A big jar of dill I opened the other day.”
“Opened, gagged, and threw two away so she wouldn’t think it was a new jar.”
“Shhhh. I know why I did what I did. Now, go take your cat nap you've been whining about all day and pretend the rest of us aren’t here.”
Annalise’s eyes widen, a small smile tugging at her lips—something I haven’t seen in far too long.
I offer my arm for her to grab onto, but I’m hit with a burst of smoke in the face right before Tyr takes a small step toward me—and conveniently toward the house so he doesn't get in trouble with Annalise.
He extends his neck for her to hold onto as she takes unsteady steps across the clearing and up to my back door.
Tyr's eyes burn holes into me as I approach them, but without looking, she reaches back, her fingers brushing against his jaw once more.
Whatever passes between them seems to dull his edge, and stupid as my dad would say I am, it's all I need to see before meeting his eye contact until I make it to where she waits for me at the threshold.
"He said he'll be right out here if she needs something," Kali passes along, as if that's any different than every other day.
"Oh, and he'll block all of your exits and set your house on fire if you hurt her," she adds, not even bothering to open her eyes.
"Your concern for my wellbeing is truly overwhelming," I say sardonically before speaking to the Alpha directly.
"She's safe here with me," I promise before helping her through the door while Tyr's eyes burn holes in my back.