Page 3 of Anaki

“Anaki?” His voice grew softer, and he sat on the ground next to me. “Have you seen Bones lately?”

Right, Bones. If I went to Bones, he would suggest checking in every day. He would put me on a ‘watch list’ for everyone to stare at me. Then he would test me, see how much I can lift, ask how long I can hold my breath, and if I can maintain my body heat while in the water.

I did not need that. I’d been successful at not having to get a physical in a while by giving him free beers.

“Nah, don’t need to.” I shrugged his hand off my shoulder. The act was cold, and Bear’s body stiffened beside me.

“Anaki, this isn’t something to joke around about.”

“Yeah?” I snapped, my eyes darting to him. “And what did you do when you were having problems? Did you run to Bones?”

Bear snorted and played with his beard on his face. “No, and when I got my physical for my supposedly last mission, I told him where he could shove his stethoscope.”

I chuckled and threw on the woolen, tan sweater that had been closer to the water’s edge. I knew I would freeze when I got out, and I wasn’t about to make myself look worse in front of my friend. I didn’t need him to be worrying more than he already was.

“You ready?” Bear asked, talking about covering myself, when we heard footsteps coming through the forest.

I couldn’t smell very well anymore, but the person was prancing and from the rhythm of their steps, I immediately knew who it was.

“Anaki!” Nadia scolded when she approached. “You shouldn’t be swimming. You are going to catch a cold.” She came up behind me and ruffled my hair.

I smiled, enjoying the contact she brought me, and let out a contentedgrowl.

Bear nudged me and looked much more at ease when his mate sat down on his lap and her feet landed in mine. “You aren’t supposed to be swimming when it’s this cold, you know?” Nadia raised a brow.

I huffed and leaned back on my elbows. “You know, just because you are becoming a certified nurse, doctor, whatever under Bones, doesn’t mean you can sass me. I still make your drinks. What if I spike it with something not so nice?”

Nadia gasped. “You wouldn’t dare!”

Bear deeply laughed and stroked his mate’s cheek. “I don’t know, we’ve talked about sleep fucking before.”

“Bear!” Nadia screamed and covered her face. “You can’t—” Then she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye. “I guess you can tell Anaki. He knows everything.” She wiggled her feet in my lap.

We all broke out into laughter, and I watched as Bear placed a kiss on Nadia’s forehead. I knew they were trying to make me feel welcome, a part of their family, but I wanted one of my own.

I moved to stand, and they followed. Bear cleared his throat and rubbed his hand behind his neck.

“Anaki, there is something I needed to tell you. But after seeing you—”

“Don’t.” I cut him off.

“What you were doing—”

“I wasn’t doing anything!” I feigned innocence. “I went for a swim. I needed to feel the water on my scales.” I gritted my teeth together. “Skin. I needed to remember, just like how you used to go for hikes in the forest.”

Bear took Nadia off his lap and stood. He stomped away and smashed his fist into a tree. “But I wasn’t bare ass naked. I wasn’t freezing to death!” he snarled.

Nadia’s head bounced from us both, and I hated the way she looked sosad, how Bear was upset.

“It’s really nothing.” I pulled on the string of my sweater. “It was colder today, that’s all. If it upsets you so much, I won’t do it anymore, alright? Come on, why are you both out here?”

I gave them both a big smile and patted them on the back to lead them back up the pathway in the forest. My cave leads down by the lake, but I didn’t want them to have access to it. Not that I didn’t trust them, but even dragons had to have their secrets.

Nadia leaned into me, and her arm wrapped around my waist. “We were inviting you to dinner.”

“Nadia,” Bear growled and pulled on one of her space buns that looked more like fake bear ears.

Nadia rolled her eyes. “Well, we are inviting you to dinner, but Bear was at a meeting last night, and he was supposed to tell you that you have important orders.”