Chapter 11

Khadar landed on the front lawn under the watchful eye of his mate. He always sent a message to her when he was almost home. Lalani ran to greet him as soon as he shifted into human form. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a sizzling kiss.

“Daddy! I missed you. Is everything okay in Wyvern?”

“It is. The crops are coming in to give us fresh vegetables.” He gestured to the large bag he’d carried in his claw. “I think there might be a festival to celebrate the harvest.”

“That sounds like fun. Can we go?”

“Of course. I brought some early tomatoes home so everyone could have some. Would you like to walk with me?” he invited, loving her eager cheerfulness.

After dropping several off at the kitchen and getting a promise of BLTs for the evening meal, Khadar steered Lalani back out on the lawn. He lifted the laden bag onto his back, using the handles like shoulder straps. “Let’s go visiting.”

She slipped her hand in his and they set off on the path. There had always been workers living on his mountain. Many generations of treasured employees had passed along positions at his estate. After the change, a few more families had moved to be closer to work. Khadar had assisted them with the construction of new homes. Having trusted workers close by was easier for them.

At each house, Lalani assisted him by retrieving tomatoes from the pack on his back and filling the arms of whoever opened the door. Everyone celebrated the early harvest and thanked them for the gift. As doors closed, they heard other members of the family celebrating.

“You’re good to your people,” Lalani observed. “They enjoy working here.”

“Their world just turned upside down. It’s important that they feel fulfilled and essential. I rely on my people. Some have been with me for generations.”

“Is it hard being old?” she asked before turning a delightful shade of pink. He guessed when she heard it aloud, she realized what that sounded like.

Khadar laughed heartily. “It’s okay, Princess. I know I’ve been around for a while.”

“Sorry!”

“You are right. There are good and bad things about living for a long time. The dragon horde has all survived thanks to the pact with Wyvern. With a mate, a dragon can withstand monumental challenges. Without a mate, it is easy to be lost. Look! Here comes our housekeeper’s husband.”

As they left that conversation, Khadar shifted the bag to hang from one shoulder. “We’re almost out of tomatoes, Princess. One more stop.”

“Do you all have babies?”

“Are you thinking you want to lay an egg?” he teased.

“Dragon eggs are real?” she asked.

“Yes, Little one. Male dragons usually look for a female dragon to sire a replacement for themselves when they are near the end of their lives.”

“Is it easy to find a female dragon?”

“No. They are very elusive. Very rarely a female egg will be created as well as a male. Oldrik has a sister. They have not seen each other in centuries. If he knows where she is, he would take that information to his death.”

“So, they’re like a unicorn dragon,” she observed with a bright smile as she skipped along with him.

“The most special of all dragons, definitely.”

Her positive outlook delighted him. He squeezed her hand a bit, celebrating having her in his life. “I’m glad I found you, mate.”

“I never would have considered having a dragon that shifts into a man as my love interest, but you’re pretty special,” she shared with a laugh. “I do have something I want to talk to you about. I’m totally and completely bored while you’re off saving the world. Is there something I could do around here?”

“What would you like to do?” he asked.

“I worked as a hair stylist before. Do you think the people that live here on the grounds would be interested in me cutting their hair? For free, of course.”

“People will line up to get your services. What supplies do you need?”

“Some good scissors would be a great start. Clippers and those things wouldn’t work any longer. Do you know if there’s a beauty supply place in town?” Lalani asked.

“Totally not one of the things I focus on. Let’s ask one of the staff people. There’s one more house up here,” Khadar told her.

A bright blue cheerful home stood surrounded by flowers. He watched her smile at the quaint scene it presented. “Who lives here?” she asked.

“Robbie!” Khadar greeted the large man who walked around the corner of the house as they approached.

“Khadar, what brings you on a walkabout? The last time you were here, you trampled my petunias,” the man said with a friendly expression that took any possible sting from his words. He was dressed in full sleeves and pants with hair that stuck out in all directions.

“I told you to leave a dragon landing zone,” Khadar joked with him before turning to Lalani.

“Robbie, this is my mate, Lalani. She is new here to Wyvern.”

“Hi, Lalani. I’m glad to meet you. I’m Khadar’s beekeeper.”

“Really? That’s why we always have fresh honey on the table,” Lalani said, and Khadar watched her mentally connect the dots. “I’m glad to meet you. I have to admit, I have a sweet tooth.”

“Nothing wrong with that.” Robbie rubbed his belly. “I think I have a sweet stomach instead.”

“We have tomatoes for you,” Khadar informed him and shifted to remove the bag from his shoulder.

“Thank you. I’d heard the gardens were buzzing,” Robbie said, taking the tomatoes that Lalani rushed to hand him.

Khadar noted she’d taken ownership of this job. He should have noticed earlier that she needed something to do. “Robbie, do you know if there is a beauty supply place in Wyvern? Lalani is a hairdresser. She suggested she could trim up everyone’s hair around here if they needed a haircut.”

“Put me at the top of the list. I whacked at the back yesterday with scissors and made a mess,” Robbie confessed, running a hand through his hair. “Wearing one of the netted hoods to keep the bees away from my face is tough on any style, but worse when my hair gets too long.”

He looked away as if he was concentrating for a moment. “There is one in town. I think it’s on Finegan Street toward the west end. I used to visit a curry restaurant near there from time to time.”

“Thank you, Robbie. You’ll be at the top of my list. If you have scissors, I could straighten that up for you,” Lalani suggested.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m hot and sweaty from rounding up a new swarm. I’ll come let you fix me up when I smell a bit better. I’ll take these tomatoes in to enjoy with my dinner.”

“Enjoy, Robbie,” Khadar told him as he took Lalani’s hand.

“See you soon, Robbie,” Lalani told him.

Khadar was pleased to hear how upbeat her voice sounded. As they returned to the house, he told her, “You can talk to me about anything, Princess. If something is bothering you, let me know.”

“Is there any way we could go check if that shop is there?” Lalani asked.

“You bet. It’s not far from a pizza place. They’re still open because the pizza ovens are wood-fired,” Khadar suggested.

“Pizza? Like real pizzeria pizza? Is it okay to miss dinner here? I think the cook had already planned BLTs.”

“If we don’t show up, they’ll save us a few for tomorrow,” Khadar assured her. “The cook has learned not to set anything on the table until I’m there. It’s safer that way.”

“Okay. Great! I’d give my left foot for a pizza,” she confessed.

“I like both of your feet just where they are. Is there anything you need from the house?”

“I just need to pee. Can I run behind that tree and go?”

Sensing it would take too long in her mind to get to the house, Khadar agreed as he schooled his face not to reveal his amusement. “I will wait here, Lalani.”

He watched her disappear behind a clump of trees. His super hearing could hear a soft whizzing sound that he’d never admit to her. Lalani would die from embarrassment.

“Ahhhh!” Lalani called as she tromped through the wooded area.

Khadar started toward her and controlled his expression as his mate tried to run, pull up her pants, and swat at a bumblebee all at the same time. Khadar plucked her up and carried her a short distance away. He waved her hands away and righted her clothes. “Did you get stung?”

“No, Daddy. But he wanted to,” she said, shaken.

“I’m sorry the bee scared you. You can have an extra helping of honey tomorrow just for spite.”

“Yeah!” she said, nodding. Lalani instantly looked better.

“Would you still like to go into town?”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go, Princess.”

In a few minutes, she settled onto his back with the ease of a frequent rider and Khadar took off toward town. He landed in a park a few blocks from where Robbie had described the shop. After shifting, he talked to a few kids drawn to them in awe of his dragon before taking Lalani’s hand and guiding her down the street.

“You’re a nice guy,” Lalani complimented.

“Dragon.”

“Sorry. You’re a nice dragon. Talking to those teenagers made their day. I loved the ‘when did you know you were a dragon question'. I think they were all hoping to wake up tomorrow and be a dragon.”

“Of course, they do. Doesn’t everyone?”

“I don’t want to be a dragon. Even if I’d be a dragon unicorn,” Lalani said before grabbing his arm with her free hand. “Look, there it is. The door is open.”

“Let’s go get what you need. Let me go in first,” Khadar ordered.

“Hello? Is there something I can help you with?” a friendly voice asked as they walked in.

Khadar turned to see a teenager standing behind a counter at the front of the store. “Hi. My mate is a hairdresser and hoped to find some supplies to help others with haircuts.”

“That will help people’s spirits so much. I’ve had a few people come in to grab stuff. I put the real treasures away, so I’d have something for professionals like you. What’s your favorite brand of scissors?” the clerk asked.

“I have some Equinox shears back home,” Lalani shared.

“Those are nice. I have a set of Kamisori Serenity scissors tucked away. Would those work for you?”

“Work for me? Those scissors are so good they could almost cut by themselves,” Lalani said, looking shocked. “I’m afraid I can’t afford those.”

“You can today. My parents own the store. They don’t sell anything anymore. Just give things to people who need them. You’re already helping others by cutting hair. What else do you need? A cape? A sharpening kit for the scissors?”

“I’d love all of that. And a few hairbrushes and combs.”

“You are a professional. The addiction is powerful in those who do hair for brushes and combs. Here’s a basket. Pick out what you need,” the young woman said.

In a half hour, Khadar carried a bag filled with an assortment of supplies, including an old-fashioned straight razor, a lathering brush, and a pot of shaving soap. His mate had not been greedy but had taken what she knew she would need and a few items that would allow her to give his staff an unexpected treat. Lalani had almost cried when the young woman had handed her the scissor set. She still held those close to her, afraid they’d get lost in the bag.

“Ready for pizza?” he asked, squeezing her hand to pull her from her thoughts.

“I can’t believe she gave me these,” Lalani repeated for the seventieth time. “They’re so pretty and they fit in my hand like… I don’t know what they’re like. These are so incredible.”

“So, let’s think of something we could do for the family that would be equally nice. I’ll gather some information and see what they need.”

“I would love that. Thank you, Khadar.” She darted in front of him, making him come to a stop before rising on her tiptoes to kiss him.

“You are welcome, mate. Now let’s go get dinner before I decide I want something else to eat.”

“Khadar!” she said, turning a pretty shade of pink as she looked around to see if anyone had overheard him.

“Daddy.”

“Daddy,” she whispered.

“Good girl. What do you want on pizza?”

“Cheese and anything else you want. There isn’t a pizza I don’t like,” she told him.

“So, I can have them load it up with spinach, black-eyed peas, and raw oysters?”

“You cannot like that stuff on a pizza,” she told him with a look of complete disgust on her face. “How about pepperoni, black olives, or even anchovies?”

“That does sound better,” he agreed, steering her into the restaurant.