Page 9 of Starfall
“And he’s...”
“He is.”
Nori paused, “Glad I delayed the neutering.”
Archie growled with his tails tucked in.
Rowen reached out, and Archie’s muzzle sniffed his fingers. “Even if Emery cannot take care of you and yours, I will take it on.”
There was a weird sort of shimmer in the air.
Nori whispered, “An oath from a season. He’s locked in now. As long as you are alive, you are in charge, but as soon as you pass, it will be all him.”
Emery asked Archie, “You are good with that?”
He purred and rubbed up against her.
Rowen pulled her away and went, “No more marking her.”
Emery was off her feet and dangling. She had shifted to her tall form and was still dangling. “You don’t know what you are promising.”
“You will tell me when it is too much, and I will take care of it,” he murmured.
She turned her head, and his stag-like face was near hers. “Well, at least the rescue, café, and hostel will be okay if I get booted out of town.”
Nori sighed. “And your other businesses will simply be sold off.”
Rowen smiled. “Other businesses?”
She shrugged. “One or two.”
Nori snorted. “Six more plus the three she mentioned. She’s an owner of small businesses that need help. She gets them up and running and popular again while keeping a certain amount aside to help the magical who are having a rough time. She gives meals, lodging, and medical assistance to a variety of creatures.”
He smiled at Emery. “You do?”
“Well, yeah. I know what it’s like not to know where your next meal or a safe place to sleep is. My adoptive parents were great, but they wanted me to be a responsible adult the moment I turned eighteen.”
Nori snorted. “You mean you took off because they were after you to have your soul split.”
“They wanted what was best for me and thought that if they could get the ogre portion out, I could live a nice, normal life. They tried; it hurt; I left the next day. I don’t go home for holidays or anything.” Emery sighed. “Can you put me down?”
“I can. Yes.” He nuzzled her temple and inhaled. “I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
“You fit me, body and soul. I want to see your star blaze and your teeth bite.” His voice was a rumble of sound that barely formed words. “Have you ever ridden a stag through the woods?”
“Um. No.”
“Would you like to? I can arrange it. I will kneel down, and you can climb onto me, moving around until you are comfortable. Then hold on, and I start to move.”
She blinked slowly. “Uh. I have no idea how to respond to that.”
“You just have to say yes when you are in the mood for it. I will handle the rest.”
Emery stared into his eyes and at his horns.
Nori chuckled and cleared her throat. “Well, if he isn’t infected, can I get fresh venom samples from you for antivenin? Your contribution works on all ogre bites. Takes care of them right away.”