Page 21 of Becoming One
Smiling, and gently running his hands through the fox’s soft pelt, Orion asked, “Did you bite Jewel, Cuddles?” Orion asked.
“I’m not a display at a petting zoo,”the little fox insisted.
Orion walked closer to Jewel and Ezra, as Jewel sniffled allowing Ezra to suckle his finger and heal it. “So, I remembered the willow tree from our dream walk and thought that Nelson’s fox might like one. Nelson shifted and dang it, I tried, Ezra, I really did, but you know my magic is all wonky since I got pregnant. First, we had those falling flower showers, then ivy took over the yard and got a hold of Nelson’s fox by the tail and feet. I got rid of those and then finally was left with a seedling. That’s as big as I could get the poor tree. I really tried.”
Ezra held Jewel close to his chest, consoling his mate, whispering, “I know, sweet baby. I know.”
“He bit me, Ezzie. Bite him back and show him what it’s like,” Jewel muttered in Ezra’s chest.
Orion felt his protective urges rise. “No one is biting my Cuddle bunny.”
Ezra turned angry eyes onto Orion. “Well your Cuddle bunny bit my Cuddle bunny, so it does only seem fair.”
Orion felt the fox tense in his arms at the anger coming from the Re.“I didn’t mean to. He grabbed my tail and I thought it was those vines coming after me again and I reacted. I didn’t mean to bite him, Orion, I swear. I’m really sorry. Please don’t let the Re eat me.”
“No one is going to eat you. I know you didn’t mean to, Cuddles, but you should have apologized. Jewel is going to have a baby and right now, he is feeling alone, scared, and freakish. His magic is unpredictable, and he just wanted, and maybe needed, to feel something that might make him feel better. He wasn’t thinking of you as a zoo pet,” Orion softly replied.
Jewel gasped and slightly turned his head. “I never thought of you as a petting zoo animal. I just… You’re so beautiful and look so soft. I just wanted to feel if you were as soft as you look. I never meant to make you feel like a freak. Trust me, I’m freak enough for the both of us.”
“You are carrying my child. You’re not a freak,” Ezra firmly stated.
“He thinks I’m beautiful?”The tiny fox asked in awe. Then slowly wiggled free of Orion’s hold, climbing up his shoulder and behind his neck. Slowly making his way closer to Jewel.“He can pet me, if it’s okay with you, Orion.”
“Jewel, he says you can pet him,” Orion said with a smile.
Jewel turned around with Ezra holding him close, and tentatively placed his hands on the fox’s neck and slid his hand down his back, lightly gripping the tail. Next, Jewel touched the fox’s tiny horns. “You’re amazing, Nelson. Truly amazing. I can feel the magic coming out of your fur. It’s almost energizing.”
Jewel turned and pointed his other hand towards the willow tree and a small tornadolike funnel swirled around the tree. Seconds later, the willow tree was tall, filled with leaves and looked like a healthy willow that had been there for years. “Holy cow. You centered my magic, Nelson!”
The fox tilted his head one way and then the other. Seconds later he leaped from Orion’s shoulder and made his way into the gazebo. Returning as a clothed human Nelson.
Jewel rushed to his friend. “How did you do that, Nelson? I don’t get it at all. I mean I know that you can boost a power with your energy, but what just happened there was more than a boost. It was as if you fixed me. Well, while I touched you at least.”
Nelson shrugged. “Like the butterfly dragons, we are all magic, Jewel. Maybe that means we can focus a power, I don’t know. I’m sorry I took off like that, but using my magic that way is kind of tiring and I didn’t want to overdo it again with my fox. We’re just getting to know each other again.”
Jewel hugged Nelson close, tears falling as he rasped, “Thank you, Nelson. You are the best friend ever. Even if it was just for a moment, I felt like my old self and you have no idea how badly I needed that.”
Ezra looked at Orion, and he knew they were both thinking the same thing. However, Orion was thankful when Ezra took charge to suggest it himself. “Maybe with Nicu on the loose, Nelson should stick close to Jewel. This way if Nicu makes an appearance, Jewel will be able to help defend them.”
Nelson hissed, “I will not have my fox used for his magic.”
Orion went to his mate, saying, “We aren’t trying to use him, we are saying that together you and Jewel would be safer than if you were apart. It’s using magic for what it was intended for—protection.”
Nelson opened his mouth to speak then gasped. Orion became highly concerned when tears started to fall from Nelson’s eyes. “What’s wrong, my love? If it’s not something—”
Nelson shook his head rapidly from side to side, blubbering, “No. No. It isn’t… He spoke to me, Orion. He spoke to me. My fox has not spoken to me for so long.”
“What did he say?” Orion asked, gently running his hands through his mate’s hair.
Nelson swallowed and glanced at Jewel. “He said, ‘Together as a team’. He wants us to help keep Jewel and the baby safe.” Turning to look at Ezra, Nelson whispered, “We would be honored to do as you ask.”
Orion felt pride rush through him, but it was quickly followed by fear. Nicu was going to try and get to one of these mates. Orion just hoped that with the guards, himself, the Re, and now this plan, that his mate and Jewel would remain safe from harm.