3. The Dragon Tree
Herbie was being a giant butt head. Percy had very distinctly told her to go home, but they were not headed back toward Rogue at all. He tried to steer surreptitiously so his Fate wouldn’t notice he didn’t know where the holy heck they were going, but Herbie was having none of it.
Percy studied the landscape and wherever they were going it wasn’t far from home, because they were in the wolves’ territory called the Reserve. But he didn’t know why in the world Herbie would bring them out in the middle of forest. Until he saw the Dragons tree, and then the Christmas ornaments. This wasnt December and the Dragon tree wasnt your usual Tannenbaum. It was a big oak tree whose branches and trees were the shape of a dragon and its trunk was a portal to... other realms.
He only knew one witch who was eternally obsessed with Christmas ornaments and decorated with them every month of the year. The mate of the Red Dragon Wyvern, Fallyn. She was kind of paranoid if you asked him, and honestly a little bit scary. But once she decided you were on her side, or maybe that she was on yours, shed protect anyone with her life, and had.
If shed decorated the Dragon tree, it probably meant that she had used her particular kind of magic to protect it too. It would mean a safe place. And if Herbie had decided not to take them home, it was for a good reason. Oh crud on a muffin. Maybe someone else had seen the fallen star and was after his Fate too.
Herbie pulled right up to the trunk of the tree where it glowed with residual magic and turned her motorcycle rumbling engine off as soon as they were in the shade. Percy glanced around to make sure they werent going to be seen entering the tree and then gave his Fate a little squeeze. “Looks like this is home for tonight, darlin’.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him and then over at the tree. She clearly did not understand why he’d brought her here. Those English lessons couldn’t come soon enough. He had so much he wanted to ask her, even more he wanted to tell her. Like that he hadn’t meant to scare her earlier. Like how pretty she was. Like how she made his insides feel as squishy and warm as freshly made Rice Crispy treats.
Percy swung his leg over the back of the bike and walked over to the spot on the tree that glowed with the most magic. Not everyone could see magic like he could. Came with the territory of being a witchs familiar. He patted the bark looking for the hidden entrance he knew must be here, all the while hoping his Fate didnt think he was crazypants.
She watched him for a moment and then joined him, only tripping over her feet a couple of times in the five steps it took her to get there. He should have helped her. Percy patted the tree trunk again and shrugged. “If you’ve got any idea where the magically enchanted entrance might be, I’m all ears.”
He swiped his hand up and down where he thought he felt the buzz of Fallyns magic, but nothing happened.
His fate closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and reached toward the tree. Her fingers danced over the bark and then a whoosh sounded as the sparkling veil of protection opened.
“How did you do that?” Did she have witch powers like Fallyn or Kady? That would be cool. Then she could be friends with his witch. But not too good of friends. He and the Fate were the ones who were gonna be BFFs.
She shrugged in the same way he had a few moments ago. He wasn’t sure she knew what that meant and was simply imitating him again or she didn’t understand her own powers. Kady and her sisters hadn’t, so it’s not like it was to be unexpected. What worried him more was if his Fate was also a witch, did that mean she had a familiar waiting for like he’d waited for Kady.
He did not like that idea. Not one bit.
Percy grabbed his Fate by the hand and stomped across the threshold, letting it tingle across his skin, and led her into the interior of the tree. She squeaked as she tripped over the uneven ground. Percy mentally chastised himself and slowed, softening his grip. Just because he was freaking out, didn’t mean he needed to treat her anything other than a delicate freaking flower.
Dumbass. “Sorry about that. My thoughts got away with me. Please come in and let’s find you someplace soft to rest and maybe someone has stashed some clothes.
She would look really good in the Zena-Princess-Warrior type leathers that Fallyn wore. His brain went a little fritzy when he imagined her wearing them. He swallowed hard and forced his head to get back in the game. And snacks. I bet you’re starving. I am.”
He tossed his pack down on a carved out area that resembled shelves and searched the interior for hidden treasure. How many wonders could one tree trunk hold?
Up ahead were some twisted roots that someone had clearly coaxed into some make-shift chairs, with a small table between them. A little deeper into the tree behind a divider of more roots, the corner of a nice big bed peeked out. For some reason that made his face feel hot.
That would be the most comfortable place for his Fate to rest. He pointed toward the bed and motioned her over. She tipped her head at him, not understanding. Hmm. Well, when he’d strictly been a hedgehog and Kady had wanted to get him to come out of hiding, she’d laid a trail of snacks for him to follow.
That would probably work. Percy whipped open his pack and pulled out the bag of Goldfish crackers. His Fate watched him very closely as he laid a trail of them along the shelves, across the table and chairs, and into the makeshift bedroom. When he was finished, he popped back to the front of the fishy conga line and held out one cheesy cracker to her. “Taste this, I think you’ll like it.”
She took the snack from him, but simply held it in her hand. Percy picked one up from the shelf, popped it in his mouth, chewed slowly and made mmm-mmm sounds while rubbing his belly. He swallowed in an over exaggerated way to show her what he was doing. His Fate watched him and stared at his mouth. Percy opened it to show her the snack was gone.
She very carefully placed the Goldfish on her tongue, which made him feel weirdly jealous. She made a funny face, and then closed her lips and moved her jaw up and down. Her eyes lit up and she swallowed, then rubbed her belly. It was all so incredibly cute, he couldn’t wait to see her do it again.
Percy pointed to the trail of crackers and his Fate pulled a whole pile of them together and picked them up and shoved them all into her mouth. She chewed happily, crumbs falling out in huge chunks.
Watching her eat with such enthusiasm had Percys pants becoming uncomfortable, too tight. He had to adjust them, but couldn’t look away from his Fate and her mouth as she thoroughly enjoyed the snack. She moved to the next section of the Goldfish and gobbled them up as well.
He carefully stayed several steps ahead of her until the backs of his legs bumped into the bed and he couldnt go any further. His Fate crawled up onto the nice soft nest of leaves and picked up the last of the snacks one by one until there was a single, solitary lonely fish awaiting its doom. She made the cutest little sad noise and held the cracker up to him, little tears clinging to her eyelashes.
Dont worry, darlin. Ive got plenty more where those came from. He practically jumped away from the bed to go around the corner and grab his pack. Not looking at her, not being surrounded by her scent, and her swirl of emotions, he could breathe again. He sucked in several deep, long breaths.
Strange how he didnt get any satisfaction out of those inhales and exhales. They did their job, filled his lungs with oxygen, but she was the one who had his blood pumping.
It would take far too long to riffle through his pack and retrieve the individual baggies of trail mix, pretzels, bacon jerky, strawberries, and popcorn. Besides his Fate was hungry and they had some English lessons to attend to so she could tell him which ones she liked and if she wanted to kiss him.
Nope. Hold on there, pardner. Shed already clearly expressed she didnt want his kisses.
Once she was comfortable, felt safe, and hed earned her trust. Maybe hed try again. There was a small, insulated container at the very bottom of the pack that hed intended for emergencies only. Hed save that too woo her.
Percy wasnt entirely sure he knew how to woo. He should have paid more attention to the rom coms. He would in the future.
If they had a future. How long could he expect a Fate to stick around? He was being silly thinking they could be BFFs or that she would kiss him.
He knew he shouldn’t be, but somehow, hed accidentally become obsessed with the idea of a kiss from his Fate.
Better that he feed her, be helpful, and kind. Then he hope that she might grant his wish to change his fate. Just because he was having all the feels, didnt mean anything. Shed already told him no once. He didnt ever want to be the bad guy.
That decided, he took another deep breath and made sure this one filled his lungs so he was prepared for being in her presence again without expectation of anything from her. She was his damsel in distress and he would be respectful of that.
Percy carefully stepped back behind the screen and set his pack on the bed. His Fate looked at the bag so expectantly, he decided to dump the majority of the contents out so she could pick and choose what she wanted. Along with the snacks came his tablet, which flipped open and started playing the last movie hed been watching. Beauty and the Beast.
His Fate stared at the little screen entranced. She couldnt look away from Kevin Kline singing about a moment lasting forever.
He knew exactly how that felt.
Very gently he sat on the bed next to her and opened a bag of trail mix. He set it in front of her and pinched a handful of the nuts and candies for himself. His fate grabbed at his shirt and at first, he thought it was because she wanted his share of the food back.
No, she said. Then tugged on his arm again and touched her cheek to his skin.
You want me to, uh, lay down on the bed and watch the movie with you? Please dont say no again, please, please, please.
Kay, she said and tugged on his arm again.
At least she seemed to have figured out the basics of yes and no. That was a start. He kicked off his boots and stretched out beside her, trying really hard not to let his body bump into hers. The second he was fully prone, she scooted closer until every inch of her left side still covered in only his too-tight shirt, touched all of his right side, which he bemoaned wasnt fully clothed. Or maybe that was a good thing.
Crap it all if he couldnt talk himself into moving even and inch away. Her warmth was too dang nice. He reveled in the tingles she gave him. Percy relaxed and when he did, so did his Fate. She popped an Mamp;M in her mouth and made the cutest little sounds and bobbled her head as she chewed. She gasped at all the right spots in the movies and her face was absolutely hilarious the first time she laughed out loud because it surprised her so much.
Hanging out with her, snacking, and watching movies, reminded him of those first few years with Kady. But not exactly. This was different. His feelings for his witch werent the same as this disarray and mishmash of emotions swirling around inside since hed found his Fate.
She freaked out for a minute when the movie ended but he distracted her with candy corn and pulled up their next selection. Soon enough she was settled back in and enthralled with E.T., Elliott, Gertie. Percy really wanted to skip ahead to the part where E.T. learned English from Sesame Street in hopes it would give his Fate ideas, but when he reached for the tablet, she slapped his hand away.
The sun had set and a cool breeze blew into the entrance of the tree. His Fate shivered and immediately Percy pulled a handy dandy blanket of leaves up and over her. He didnt remember it being there before, but he hadnt exactly been paying attention to the bedding, as much as who was on the bed. She lifted one end so he could get under too.
Percy shook his head. He was already feeling a bit too hot but his Fate reached over and touched his lips. Kay.
That invitation he couldnt resist. He crawled in under the covers with her and gently brushed his lips across her cheek. This might be the only kiss he ever gave her and that would have to be enough. Zings and zippidy-doo-das sung through his lips, jaw, chest, and core at the simple, soft touch of her skin.
She put a hand on his face, not to stop him this time though, but cupping his cheek. She stroked her fingers over the same spot on his face that hed kissed on hers.
No, she whispered softly.
Percys heart sank right on out of his chest, through the leaves and branches, down to the floor, and must have landed in the dirt, because thats what he felt like...dirt. She didnt want any kind of his kisses. Shed made that perfectly clear before, and yet again. It was kind of her to let him down so gently with her soft no, instead of the slap in the face he deserved.
His Fate moved her hand from his cheek to his lips and Percy waited for another, firmer no. Instead he heard the word he craved from her mouth. Kay.
Okay? he whispered back. He wasnt screwing this up again. There could be no miscommunication, no him taking what he wanted that she didnt want to give. He had to be sure, because dang if the look in her eyes didnt say yes, yes, yes.
He waited, barely breathing, searching for a way to communicate, to ask what she meant. But she only knew two words so far. Language wasnt going to do it.
Be brave, cowboy.
Be kind, be gentle, but be brave.
Percy brushed his finger across his lips like shed done, then very slowly reached out to touch hers. She didnt move, didnt flinch, didnt say no. He smoothed the pad of his thumb carefully across hers in the same way. Okay?
She smiled, lighting up her face like a star in the sky. Kay, kay, kay.
Faster than he could say giddy-up, she leaned over and pressed her lips to his.