FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Jenny followed Nodrog closely as she was instructed to do. They were outside the castle in a town straight out of a fantasy movie or book. The air was full of wonderful smells and the sounds of a busy town. Like inside the variety of people and monsters they saw was staggering. Jenny did not feel terribly out of place since a few of the monsters from other cultures were human animal cross breeds like herself. She saw a pair of very lovely multi tailed fox girls as they walked down the busy street.

"Here we are." Eitak said.

Nodrog held the door for them both before following them in. He placed a hand on Jenny's shoulder mainly for reassurance.

"This is not what I expected." Jenny said. They were inside a jewelers' shop. There was some very beautiful pieces and ornate clocks and pocket watches.

"Can I help you?" A Dwarf with thick glasses asked.

"I need a collar for her." Nodrog said.

The Dwarf looked at Jenny. "Certainly is a pretty thing. The case at the end there has what you are looking for."

Nodrog walked to the case the dwarf had pointed out. "Might be easier than I thought."

Jenny was quite nervous at this point and walked over to him. "Those look like chokers..."

"The difference between a choker and a collar are simply collar's do not have clasps." Eitak said.

"I think this one." Nodrog said and held out a pewter choker with a very brilliant emerald stone set in the center. The band was a little under a half inch thick and had blunt ends.

"How does it close?" Jenny asked.

"Magically. Only I can put it on you or take it off." Nodrog said.

"You need not worry about your blood contract affecting you engagement to Alice." Eitak said.

With that Jenny turned and pulled her hair aside. She watched Nodrog in the mirror. He gently placed it on her and said something in monster. Jenny tensed up as the choker flowed like liquid the rest of the way around her neck. It did not feel cold or metal, or even heavy.

Jenny took a step back as her and Nodrog's eyes glowed icy blue for a brief moment. The emerald shone brightly against the dull silver of the pewter, it was pretty. "And now I really am yours."

Nodrog put his arms around her. His hot breath teasing her ear as he whispered "Yes you are, my love."

Jenny did not feel different, the collar was nearly weightless. Only enough to sit naturally on her neck. She was greatly relieved it was more jewelry than what most people think of when they think collar. She was not sure what the meaning of their eyes glowing had.

'It means we can talk telepathically now.' Jenny heard Nodrog say. She spun around he was not even looking at her.

Nodrog turned and spoke to her again. 'It does take a little getting used to.'

Jenny heard him clear as day, but his mouth did not move at all. "What else does it mean?"

"He will know where you are at all times. If you call out to him, he will hear you no matter the distance." Eitak said.

"If you are sick or hurt, I will know that as well. It allows me to even use magic on you without being near." Nodrog said.

"If you did not trust him so much, you would not be wearing it. Those who know what they are, may treat you differently. But seeing as who your master is, I doubt any will be disrespectful to you." Eitak said.

Jenny ran her fingers along the smooth metal. "So it is more for my protection than anything."

"Yes, however he can use it to punish you." Eitak said.

Jenny turned to look at Nodrog. "You need not worry about that. We should head back and check on the others."

"I will have someone bring you a human version of the rules." Eitak said as they walked back to the castle.

"Cause lord knows I did not get enough proper training when I was younger." Jenny muttered, though still loved the little town.

"As I said, you will not really have to worry about them." Nodrog kept his arm around her waist as they walked. "Besides you haven't noticed."

Jenny blushed a little and tried to be more observant. She was surprised that a few females looked a little jealous of her new position. "No I hadn't."

Stacy and Randy were not as freaked out when the large shadow reappeared in the apartment with them. Nodrog and Jenny came out at roughly the same time.

"Is everything okay?" Alice asked and noticed Jenny's choker immediately.

"It will be, unfortunately Jenny earned more ire than any of us thought from her stunt at the trial." Nodrog said.

"That is a pretty choker." Stacy said as Jenny sat down next to Alice.

"It's not a choker, it is a collar." Jenny said.

Alice watched Nodrog as he sat on the far end of the couch. "So what did she do to get a collar?"

Nodrog sighed he hadn't figured Alice would be mad. "The same thing that got the anger of some other monsters. She willingly gave me her blood."

"I got most of the story, but I am still a little confused." Randy and Stacy were cuddled up on the other couch.

"When Jenny willingly gave me her blood, she entered into a blood contract with me. Basically she became my slave. The collar along with a mark you cannot see tells other monsters and magic users Jenny is wholly mine. Which is why I had until the trial refused to drink her blood." Nodrog said.

"Why not refuse it then?" Randy asked.

"Because someone else could have taken her. The other times no one had seen or heard her, but that time there were witnesses and she had cut herself. I had to for her own protection." Nodrog said.

"What about our engagement?" Alice asked.

"Eitak said it would not affect it." Jenny put and arm around Alice.

"So can she take it off?" Stacy asked.

"No, only I can take it off." Nodrog said.

"It does not have clasps or a hook, it is solid all the way around." Jenny said.

"What did we see up in the lab? It looked like you, but clearly it was not." Randy asked.

"Fairies, like dreams, some can manifest images from dreams, or in Jenny's case a nightmare. Jenny had a nightmare caused by me using magic on her. What you saw was an image from her nightmare." Nodrog said.

"The one she had the night I was over?" Stacy watched Jenny just nod yes. "No wonder you were so scared."

"I think any of us would be with that thing in it." Randy said.

"Since we were interrupted, how was your date?" Jenny asked.

Stacy and Randy both told them what they did after Stacy got out his training. They had lunch, went to a movie and did a little shopping where Randy had bought him a necklace. They were just killing time when they had meet Nodrog at the shuttle bus stop.

"That sounds like a fun afternoon. And how did you like working with my mom?" Alice and Jenny's tails twisted together behind them.

"I enjoyed it immensely." Nodrog said with a smile. "I look forward to working with her again later in the year."

"I should probably head to my place. I have some more orientation tomorrow." Stacy said.

"I'll walk you up." Randy said.

"Goodnight." Alice and Jenny said.

"Have a good evening." Nodrog said.

Randy and Stacy both left and Jenny snuggled closer to Alice. "I hope you aren't mad at Nodrog or me."

"I am a little annoyed at you both but why now?" Alice asked.

"If they had left her alone we probably could have let it slide for a while longer. Neither of you need to worry about it affecting your, or our relationship. Actually I will ask Nightrunner and Eitak if it would be okay for Lilith to help Jenny understand it." Nodrog said and moved closer to them.

"Why her?" Jenny asked.

"Because she is in a very similar position. Except her collar belongs to her mentor." Nodrog said.

"So she is a slave too?" Jenny asked.

"Yes, that is part of her punishment for nearly destroying a world. She wears it so they can keep an eye on her." Nodrog said.

"Jenny's collar is a magic tracking device?" Alice asked as the three of them now snuggled on the couch.

"Among other things." Nodrog said.

"Can you really punish me?" Jenny asked.

"I can, not that I ever would. I can also do other things with it." Nodrog smiled wickedly as he did a little demonstration with it.

Jenny moaned as she was slowly over come by warmth and desire. Neither Alice or Nodrog were touching her down there and she felt greatly aroused. "Oh... I believe you on both counts."

Nodrog chuckled as he stopped what he was doing. "I am not familiar with all the rules myself. Still I think you look beautiful with it on."

"I agree, it certainly is not what I think of a collar being. We won't get hurt if I touch it?" Alice asked.

"Only if you tried to take it off. If you run your hand across it when the two of you are playing around in bed you will be fine." Nodrog said and kissed them both.

Jenny and Alice both got up and headed for bed. It had been a long day for them both. "I think it looks pretty." Alice said as she put her arms around Jenny and kissed the back of her neck.

"It was the first one he picked out." Jenny said and put her hands on Alice's.

"He does know green is your favorite color." Alice said.

"If I had know this would happen I would not have cut myself open. I'm sorry Alice." Jenny said.

Alice pulled Jenny back to their bed. "Don't be silly, this does not change a thing." Alice held Jenny's hand and pulled her onto the bed and on top of her.

"You are right as always." Jenny said with fingers interlocked they kissed each other slowly.

As soon as Jenny and Alice got a little more intimate, Nodrog realized it would take a little more concentration to keep from constantly being connected with Jenny. All part of his and her learning curve. Still he smiled when he heard Jenny moan loudly as he added some magic pleasure to what Alice was doing.

"All though that part will be fun." Nodrog said to himself as he watched TV.

Alice had fallen asleep and Jenny laid awake pondering her position. Eitak had said as much and the way others looked at her made it clear she was his slave... But a few seemed to want to be in her place leading her to believe it was not as bad as the word slave indicated.

Actually Jenny was beginning to think it was a little like marriage, she was completely his. He always looked after her and always would. Now he just had something to help him protect her. With that Jenny drifted off to a peaceful and un troubled sleep.

Nightrunner showed up early in the morning. "Eitak told me what happened."

"She handled things very well." Nodrog said as Nightrunner sat in a chair.

"I understand you finally put a collar on Jenny. That is probably a safe idea after what happened." Nightrunner said.

"It is going to take a little getting used to, for the both of us. I wanted to ask if Lilith could explain the rules when you find a human version of them." Nodrog said.

"I will have to ask her mentor. Though I do not see that being a problem. You will have to know them as well." Nightrunner said.

"Eitak gave me a scroll with them. I can read monster, Jenny cannot." Nodrog said.

"Why do you and Eitak want to get her a human tongue version?" Nightrunner asked.

"Because Jenny wants to be able to read them herself." Nodrog said.

"Fair enough. Those two fairies were not very happy you handed them over to Eitak." Nightrunner said.

"I don't really care. What they did was completely uncalled for." Nodrog said and glanced out the window. The first rays of sunlight beginning to lighten the sky.

Nightrunner stood up and walked over to the window. "Eitak was impressed with how well Jenny and Alice are handling these incidents. And in Jenny's case of realizing the magnitude of her actions."

Nodrog stood up and joined him by the window. "They have not had much choice. Although it must help since there is so much leniency in dealing with me."

"I am sure it does. How is Sherman handling things?" Nightrunner asked.

"He seems to have adjusted quickly as well. I really will not know for certain until his first century passes." Nodrog said.

"Well then I will speak to you later my friend. Have a good morning." Nightrunner said.

"You as well." Nodrog said. Nightrunner left a little before the girl's alarm went off.

The two got around a little better than yesterday. The three left at the same time. Nodrog had a meeting with Mr. October and Sherman this morning. He had put on his suit before they left.

Sherman joined him on the elevator to head up to the penthouse Mr. October lived in. "Morning. So are Stacy and Randy and item?"

"Judging from how they were acting last night, I would say so." Nodrog said as they got off the elevator and entered the foyer.

"Does Randy know about Stacy?" Sherman asked as they walked into the large living room.

"Yes he does." Nodrog said. Mr. October was standing in the living room with his suit jacket laying on the back of a sofa.

"Damn, her phone is off." Mr. October growled and looked up at a large TV.

"Who's phone?" Sherman asked as they walked over to him.

"Roslyn's phone, she is two days late checking in." Marko said as he turned to look at them.

"Sir. I think I know why." Catlin said and changed the channel on part of the TV.

They watched as a news agency reported on a conflict in Africa and the mostly unmarked plane Roslyn owned was in the back ground missing part of its wing. Apparently the aircraft was smuggling weapons.

"Do we know who her last contract was with?" Marko asked.

Catlin scrolled through screens on her tablet. "A merc platoon."

"According to the scroll along the bottom two of the people are alive and in government custody." Sherman said.

"Should we..." Nodrog was surprised Marko interrupted him.

"No. I cannot have you and Sherman intervene. Not with the government of that country holding her." Marko said.

Nodrog crossed his arms. "Then I will go by myself."

"I think that going by yourself is not going to change his mind." Sherman said.

"Sherman is correct. I will order you not to go if I have to." Marko said.

"Go ahead. What makes you think that will stop me?" Nodrog said firmly, a slight smile on his face.

They were all a little shocked, but this was the first time he had refused to follow orders or do as he had been told. And that was actually a bit frightening to all of them.

Marko sighed. "Very well, we do not know if she is alive. However I cannot give you any support. You will have to do everything on your own."

"I don't need any help." Nodrog said and simply vanished.

Chapter.

Nodrog changed out of the suit and into his normal combat clothes. He left both weapons in his room and headed down to the lab to find Alice and Jenny.

"I thought you just had a meeting?" Alice asked as he came in.

"Change of plans. Roslyn's plane was shot down and if she survived, she is being held prisoner." Nodrog said.

"So you and Sherman are off to rescue her." Jenny said.

"No. I am going alone Sherman is staying here. I am not sure how long I will be gone." Nodrog said.

"Just be careful." Alice said as she gave him a hug.

"You will let us know if she is alright?" Jenny asked as she gave him a hug.

"I will. This is just between us, you cannot tell anyone where I have gone." Nodrog said and looked at Jenny. "That goes double for you. Since I am telling you not to do something, or you will find out what happens if you do not listen."

"Oh." Jenny said and reached to touch her collar. "What do we tell anyone who asks?"

"It can't be related to company business. So either you don't know or Nightrunner asked me to do something." Nodrog said and gave them both a kiss before vanishing once more.

Three days ago in the jungle of the Congo.

Roslyn had managed to crash land her plane after they had been shot at. The plane had come to rest near a small clearing. She drifted in and out of consciousness. She thought her leg was broken and the pain in her chest indicated bruised or broken ribs.

"Hey any of you guys make it?" Roslyn asked hoarsely.

"I'm alive, I think." Johnson said. He was one of the mercs she had been flying in. He called out to the other guys... they were alone.

Roslyn managed to get free from her belts. She even managed to get out of her seat and partly back to Johnson before falling to the floor, screaming in pain.

"Calm down, I'm not going anywhere." Johnson said.

Roslyn lay on the floor taking deep painful breaths. She could see Johnson, the ferret anthro was partly pined to a wall by some heavy boxes. The others had lost a lot of blood or had been killed when their equipment broke free.

"No I guess you aren't. What's broke?" Roslyn asked. She scooted herself along the floor.

"My leg for sure. I managed to get a strap around it to stop the bleeding." Johnson said.

"Well between the two of us we have a good pair of legs. I think I broke some ribs, fuck it hurts to breath or pull myself along." Roslyn had to stop moving and let the pain pass.

"How far did we get before we landed?" Johnson asked.

Roslyn scooted a little closer. "A good fifty miles. With the engine fire, anyone who happened to look up would have seen us."

"I guess we are screwed. We are not going to get far in this condition and someone is going to come looking for us. I doubt they will be friendly." Johnson said.

It took the better part of the day to get Johnson free. They managed to get some first aid on their injuries before night fall once more. Unless one of them could crawl over the scatted freight to reach the food, they might starve to death.

"All that food less than ten feet away... The irony is not lost on me." Johnson said.

"Oddly enough I figured this is how I might go out." Roslyn said.

"Starving to death?" Johnson asked.

"No being shot down over less then friendly places." They both froze as they heard approaching vehicles.

Johnson pulled his pistol and they both waited. The hatch was pulled free and bright spot lamps shown in. Neither of them spoke whatever the person yelling at them did, but Johnson dropped the pistol and they both raised their hands.

Two days after Nodrog left, five days after the plane crash.

It was raining rather hard when Nodrog found the plane. The tire tracks were about the only thing discernible in the mud. The dead were conveniently left in the plane, as was everything not useful to those that found it. The weapons were gone as was the ammunition and any useful equipment stripped from the aircraft.

"I don't suppose you know where they took the two survivors?" Nodrog asked in monster.

The snakeman took a long drag on his cigarette. "They took a man and a woman back to base. About a day's drive that way."

Nodrog looked down the muddy tracks of what might be a road. "Thanks for the help."

"Thanks for the smokes. I got to ask, why the sudden change of heart dragon?" The snakeman asked and laughed with a hiss.

Nodrog looked back at him. "The world is soft. Maybe I have been spending too much time in it." Nodrog picked up Roslyn's bag. "Besides, I like being the knight in shining armor for a change."

The snakeman laughed loudly as he turned to head back into the jungle. Nodrog turned and followed the mud tracks. He laughed as the sky flashed brightly and thunder ripped through the air.

Location unknown, time unknown.

Roslyn groaned as she came around. They had patched her and Johnson up enough to torture them. Johnson was not high enough in rank to know the answers they wanted and she was just the bitch that had a plane.

Her chains rattled as Roslyn sat up. Her and Johnson were in a concrete cube, with nothing. Nothing to sit on, no blankets or even a pot to piss in. They both stunk and needed real medical treatment if they were going to last much longer.

"You still with me?" Roslyn asked, her voice barely audible from screaming and the lack of water.

"Yeah. I would feel bad if I died before you." Johnson coughed instead of laughed.

"How considerate." Roslyn groaned.

"If we had thought this out I could have put a bullet in each of us." Johnson groaned. He couldn't even manage to sit up.

Presently.

Nodrog sat on the corner of the largest building on site. No one could see him. Hiding in plain sight Nodrog scanned the area like the nightmarish predator he really was. It had taken him two days to find the plane and a day's travel to reach the compound.

He waited and listened as the sky continued to dump rain and flash lightning. Nodrog needed to figure out where Roslyn was kept and if they had made any records of her being here. He could kill them all, but that might tie him back to Mr. October. No this would take patience and skillful subtlety.

Nodrog smiled wickedly, this was a game. Of course he held all of the cards, if he did not use them it made it more enjoyable. He knew Roslyn was alive when they brought her here. The snakeman had said both of the prisoners were injured so he did have to hurry.

"There you are." Nodrog said to himself as he found the person who had been interrogating Roslyn and the merc.

Nodrog searched the man's thoughts. They took all of the IDs from the dead and the living. Nodrog glided to the building that man entered. All of the paperwork and evidence of who the plane belonged to was conveniently in his office. He walked along the roof of the squat two story building. He stopped when the interrogator stopped and sat at his desk.

A little more searching and Nodrog found where they were keeping Roslyn. Nodrog smiled as he quietly appeared behind the interrogator. Nodrog covered his mouth as he drove his fingers deep into the man's back. The man quit struggling when Nodrog bit his neck draining most of his blood.

"While I do not think that is enough, it will have to do." Nodrog said as the terrified man silently screamed on the floor. His spine severed in two places and he had a punctured lung.

He laughed cruelly as he started and electrical fire adding some of his napalm to the blaze.

"Johnson?" Roslyn asked she had moved close enough to him she could nudge him with her foot.

The man didn't move or even groan. He was either passed out or dead. Roslyn felt sick to her stomach, the dry heaves worse than actually vomiting. She heard numerous guards and soldiers run past. She figured from the alarm and their frantic yelling something had caught fire or they were under attack.

"I hope they don't shoot me by mistake." Roslyn said to Johnson. She froze as very distinctive heavy metal footsteps made their way slowly down the hall. Whatever was coming, was big and well armored.

Roslyn had laid down hoping to look asleep or dead as those footsteps stopped in front of her cell door. The metal door groaned loudly as it was slowly pushed open. Her vision was bad enough she could not make out what was walking up to her until he was within a few feet.

"Nodrog?" Roslyn asked as the metal monster bent down to check her pulse.

"I am glad you are alive. Is he?" Nodrog asked as he helped the woman sit up and gave her a little water. He kept her from drinking too much or too fast.

"I don't know. Did Marko send you?" Roslyn asked as Nodrog went to check on Johnson.

Nodrog checked the merc's pulse. He was dead. "No one sent me. I came on my own."

"Oh." Was all Roslyn could manage as he picked her up with very little effort. She felt and odd warmth come over her, and hoped she wasn't dying just as he had found her.

Roslyn opened her eyes. Her first thought was she was dead since the pain was gone. She sat up and looked around. Where ever she was, it was not the Congo. This was someone's bedroom, it was neatly decorated. She felt... great. Her ribs did not hurt, her leg was no longer broken, she had been cleaned up and was... completely naked.

"How in the hell..." Roslyn muttered. Next to her on the bed was a dark red bathrobe. She stood up and pulled it on tying the belt tight. She turned as someone lightly knocked on her door.

A young woman opened the door. She had dark hair and wore a house maids dress. "Good you are awake. My master had just sent me to check on you. I apologize but I have not finished getting your clothes washed."

The young woman spoke good English but had a very distinctive Italian accent. "That's quite all right." Roslyn said.

"If you follow me, I will take you to my master and the dragon." The young woman said softly.

Roslyn followed the young woman down the hall. With the clear view of a vineyard and rolling hills, they were a very long way from the Congo. The smooth and warm wood floor felt so good to her bare feet. She heard two men speaking Italian as they approached a covered patio or sun room.

Nodrog was sitting at a small table playing chess with a good looking man in perhaps his forties. Each had a glass of red wine by them. "Thank you Triela for checking on our guest. I am Jean Giusseppe." Jean said.

"If I am not needed, I will help the chef get supper ready." Triela said softly.

"You are excused. You may have my chair Roslyn, I will get another one for myself." Jean said as he stood up.

Roslyn sat down and eyed Nodrog carefully. He spoke first. "We are now up in central Italy. Jean is another old friend of mine and was kind enough to allow me to bring you here. I tended to all of your injuries and Triela gave you a bath."

"I am very appreciative of both. I was a little worried you had cleaned me up." Roslyn said.

"The trance Nodrog placed you in allowed him to heal your wounds and Triela to bath you, without you feeling or remembering it." Jean sat down so he could look out the window.

"How long have we been here?" Roslyn asked and realized they did not have glasses of wine, but wine glasses of blood.

"Not even a full twenty four hours. How are you feeling?" Nodrog asked and moved one of his bishops.

"I feel incredible considering what happened to me." Roslyn said.

"Considering how good of health you are in, it greatly helped in healing your injuries." Jean said and moved a knight.

Roslyn didn't know what to say. To think Nodrog has seen all of her...

"As I said when we first met, you have a very beautiful figure." Nodrog smiled coyly as the older woman shown a little more embarrassment.

"I have to ask, why did you come alone?" Roslyn could not believe how good she felt. Ten years younger easily.

Nodrog eyed the chess board and took one of Jean's pawns with a rook. "Due to the political nature of who held you. Mr. October could not officially intervene." Nodrog looked up at Roslyn. "Actually I was ordered not to come and get you."

"So you disobeyed orders to save me?" Roslyn asked. It had been a long time since anyone had given her that much thought.

"We are monsters dear, no one tells us what we can and cannot do. A step further than that is Nodrog is a dragon, and no one commands dragons." Jean said with a chuckle.

Nodrog smiled as Jean gave him an opening. "I couldn't let you rot in a third world prison, it would be bad form." Nodrog moved his second bishop. "Checkmate."

Jean tipped over his king. "Well played. I agree a lovely young lady such as yourself should be saved."

"Funny I thought handsome young men saved maidens from dragons? I am flattered, though I am an old woman." Roslyn said.

Nodrog and Jean chuckled. "Actually my dear, you are the youngest person in this house."

Roslyn met Nodrog's eyes. "What about Triela?"

"She is two hundred and twelve years older than you. Jean you are... five or six?" Nodrog asked.

"Six hundred years older." Jean said with a smile.

"I guess that makes me a whipper snapper." Roslyn chuckled.

Nodrog smiled. "You pesky kids these days."

"Pardon the interruption, but dinner is ready." Triela said softly.

"One of my fishing boats caught some wonderful scallops. I hope you like seafood." Jean said as he got up and held out his hand.

Roslyn took his hand and stood up. "Italian seafood is one of my favorites."

The small villa was quaint. Tasteful even. Art hung sparsely and with the high ceilings and the light colors gave it a very warm and open feeling. Dinner smelled simply marvelous, even if she had not been starved for a week.

Roslyn felt a little out of place eating in a bathrobe but she had no clean clothes at the moment. Nodrog poured her a tall glass of iced tea and Triela set a large plate down in front of her. It took considerable effort on her part to not eat fast.

If she ignored how hungry she was, it was a fantastic meal. Given how long it had been since she had a substantial meal, this was heaven. Everything seemed to be made from scratch, it was hearty and tasted fantastic. As it did to not eat fast, she had a hard time setting her fork down. Roslyn knew if she ate too much, she would make herself sick.

Triela brought all of Roslyn's clothes to the room she was staying in. The young woman hung them neatly. She returned to the dining room to let their guest know.

"The clothes you were wearing, I am afraid were ruined. Your clean things are in your room." Triela said softly.

"Thank you very much. I feel a little odd just wearing a bathrobe. If you will excuse me." Roslyn said and got up from the table to get dressed.

Roslyn gathered undergarments, pants, a shirt and took them into the bathroom. She ran a comb through her hair before taking the bathrobe off. She looked herself over in the mirror.

There were no scars, bruises or marks on her at all. Triela had done a very thorough job cleaning her up, embarrassingly enough. For being fifty six Roslyn did have a moderate hour glass figure and was in excellent shape. Her light tan fur and eyes had a healthy glow.

Usually she hated being bare foot, but the warmth of the wood floor felt soothing after a week on cold hard concrete with soaked boots and socks. "Well now I feel better. I do not know how I can thank you enough for your hospitality."

"Nodrog is the one you should be thanking, he saved my own life shortly before they locked him away. If not for him, neither of us would be here." Jean gave the blood in his wine glass a playful little swirl.

Roslyn sat down across from the two monsters. They were out on the covered patio watching the sun set. "What happens now?"

Nodrog set his wine glass down. "That is entirely up to you. We can stay here a few days if you like. I can instantly take you home in the same manor I brought you here. Or you can take a more traditional way home."

"Don't you have things you need to do?" Roslyn asked.

Nodrog grunted. "I might... However, we are alike in that we can do mostly what we wish."

"I have not had a pleasant break in a while..." Roslyn said. She eyed the wine glasses the monsters had. "I don't suppose you have any White or Blush?"

Jean and Nodrog both smiled and laughed. "I have a large selection. What do you prefer?"

Jean got up to find something more to her taste leaving the two of them on the patio.

"You really dropped everything on a hope I was alive?" Roslyn asked.

"I did. You should have seen their faces when I said I still would no matter what they told me to do." Nodrog looked the otter anthro over.

"I can imagine the look on Marko's face, no one tells him 'no'. I think I might have been the first." Roslyn couldn't tell if he was making sure she was okay, or if he were imagining her naked again.

"Your tenacity is part of the reason I had to look for you." Nodrog said.

Roslyn turned and looked him in the eye. "Really, what is the other part?"

"You stand out from the hundreds of people I have met over the years. Not just a pretty face lost in the crowd. You have character and tenacity, you know how to live." Nodrog said.

"How do you figure?" Roslyn asked as Jean came back and handed her a glass. "Thank you."

"You didn't eat a slug to escape capture. Even in the state I found you in, there was clear defiance in your eyes." Nodrog said.

"The simple answer is, he has a thing for diamonds in the rough." Jean chuckled.

Nodrog shrugged and finished off his glass. "And there is that too."

"I find it amusing how honest a vampire and a dragon are compared to most men. I am flattered." Roslyn said and sipped her wine.

"We have the benefit of time my dear. Mortal men have such a short time to learn. What is it, seventeen, eighteen hundred years and you have told exactly two women you love them Nodrog." Jean said and looked at Nodrog.

"There was a third, but I never got the chance to tell her." Nodrog said sadly.

"I cannot imagine..." Roslyn said.

"I know women don't normally kiss and tell but, how many have you been in love with?" Jean asked.

"Only a handful, maybe seven or eight." Roslyn said and gave her own wine a little swish. "I don't have any children and never married. Guess I was too busy living life."

It was Roslyn's turn to grunt. "I should probably call my brother and see how he and his family are doing."

"I hope you know his number, I only took your identification and passport." Nodrog said.

"That's all right, I have it written down at home." Roslyn said and finished her wine. "Actually, would you take me home tonight?"

"If that is what you want." Nodrog said.

"I do. Let me get my things." Roslyn said. It didn't take her long to toss her clothes back into her bag.

"Feel free to come back any time." Jean said and gave her a quick kiss on each cheek.

"Thank you again for your gracious hospitality." Roslyn said.

Nodrog held her bag in one hand and put his other on her shoulder. "This will feel rather strange."

As the world came back into focus, strange was a poor description. Still she did better than Sherman and did not even get sick. The six hour time difference meant they were back in her place before dinner.

"You need to work on your descriptions." Roslyn said and held out her hand for her bag. "Let me toss this in my room."

Nodrog handed it to her and watched her walk down a short hallway to what he figured was the only bed room. It was half the size of the apartment he shared with Alice and Jenny. He walked a few steps over to the fireplace and picked up a photo. Only Roslyn and he figured her brother were in it.

"I don't know what you did, but between that and the nap. I feel fantastic." Roslyn said as she came back out.

Nodrog chuckled. "Glad to hear that. Unless you need anything else."

Roslyn caught his arm. "Wait... don't go just yet."