I awoke to a soft knocking. It was here.

I was still holding Katira, who seemed asleep. I knew better, however. I slid my hand from hers, snaking it from between her breasts. For not being asleep, her flesh moved exactly as I thought it would.

Curious, I got out of bed, put on my fisherman’s trousers, and tried to pick her up. Her body was just as heavy as before, and her arms reflexively wrapped around me as I carried her towards the hatch, where a soft, rhythmic knocking could still be heard. I quietly settled her down in the corner, where she curled up, to all appearances still asleep. I grabbed the book and our questions from the counter, and sat down before the hatch.

“Hello, there. I hope you’re doing well,” I said aloud to the hatch.

Gentle, patterned knocking was the answer. I dutifully recorded the patterns, and quickly began to search through the book for a translation.

[Greetings, creature. Yes, I am well. Are you? I hunger.]

I smiled. Maybe I could get somewhere. “I am well. What do you hunger for?”

[Energy.]

That was interesting. I wondered what that could mean. “Energy? What kind? There are many different types.”

[Life.]

Life energy? What did that even mean? “Are you referring to the energy that animates all life, that Necromancers use to reanimate their creations?”

[Correct.]

Maybe it wasn’t a cold killer. Perhaps it was just another type of predator. “Do you seek out specific types of creatures, or will any living thing do?”

[All is food. Some food is better. Am hungry. Trapped for so long.]

Trapped? That didn’t bode well. Even a cornered pet will attack its people if pushed. “Trapped? That sounds bad. How long have you been stuck down there?”

[Don’t know. Want out. Want food.]

I sighed in frustration. I wish I could talk with Katira. She would have a much better grasp on things. “Look, I don’t want to die. Neither does my familiar. Is there something else I can do to help you?”

[Yes. Bring food. Bring life.]

“How big of a creature do you need to be satisfied for a few days and not attempt to attack me? I would like to help, but I need to converse with my familiar, first,” I had started to formulate the beginning of an idea, but I would desperately need Katira’s input.

[Last meal fed for ten years. Much smaller. Want food.]

That was a relief. It ate kind of like a snake. I had a better form to my idea, and now I just needed to talk with Katira. “I think I understand you. I will try to help you. What may I call you? Ma’alkaun feels impersonal.”

There was a pause that wasn’t evident in any other response. I logged that, as well as its length.

[Call me Drake. Will wait for food. Not attack you or familiar.]

“Okay, Drake. Call me Bubba. I will speak with my familiar, and we will find a way to help. Please release me.”

[Okay.]

Katira stood abruptly to my left, confused. “Master? What in the Nine Hells happened? One moment, I had your hand in mine, then I blinked, and I was here. The Ma’alkaun?”

I nodded. “Call it Drake. We just had a lovely chat,” I said with a grin.

“Seriously?” She looked hopeful. “You spoke with it, and it didn’t try to get you down there?” she asked.

“Nope. In fact…” I recounted the conversation to her, and she became more and more perplexed as I went on.

“And so, I was thinking. If its last meal was ten years ago, and that was probably unfortunately your most recent Master, a person can feed it for ten years. A small critter like a rabbit would likely feed it for a few days. We can easily snare a wild rabbit. Or, as it would be easier to get, buy a feeder rabbit meant for larger snakes. Leave that down there, and let Drake feed. Clean up the leavings and continue trying to help it. What do you think?” I said, leaning against the door jamb.

Her expression brightened as I continued speaking. By the end, she had her hands clasped beneath her chin, a hopeful expression bringing out even more of her beauty. “I think I won’t be losing you any time soon, Master.” She said, approaching me with her arms out for a hug.

I wrapped my own around her, and held her close. Looking down at the hatch, I said, “We’ll be back with something for you to eat soon, Drake. Just hang on.”

A single, soft knock was the only reply.

Katira looked at me, her eyes wide. “I heard it that time. Let’s go. I think it’s time we went to the Guildhall. We can get you properly registered, and then we can help Drake.” She said, smiling.

“No. I told Drake I was going to get it fed. That is my first responsibility. Whether it becomes a friend, a companion, an indifferent roommate, or whatever, my first responsibility is to Drake right now. It’s dark, and a poor time to hunt rabbits. I’m going to start by getting a feeder rabbit, and see if I can’t get something bigger, later. I keep my word,” I said, heading off to grab my phone.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Katira stood there, an incredulous expression on her face. She smiled and shook her head, then sat on the counter while I did my searching.

After a few minutes of looking, I found a breeder near Nashville who raised feeder rabbits. Since it was two in the morning, I made a note to call around nine, and looked up to find Katira gazing intently at me.

“I’ve found what we need. They’re only a couple hours away, and probably pretty inexpensive, as these things go. We will be able to figure out our situation with Drake. If nothing else, I can think of it like a pet that needs a special diet, and maintain at least cordial relations with Drake,” I said with a smile. “I think we’re gonna be okay.”

She launched herself off the counter, wrapping her arms and legs around me, and began kissing me earnestly, giggling all the while.

I stood there, holding the beautiful, plump, naked dragoness to me as she kissed me over and over in her joy. It felt amazing to be cared for in such a manner again. I’d not known it for years. I walked back to the bedroom, carrying her atop me and slipped off my trousers, letting myself spring free.

She had been kissing me the whole while, not noticing what I had done until I lowered her, slipping myself inside as I did. Her eyes went wide in surprise, and she began to fiercely assault me with her mouth and tongue.

**********

Several hours and a shower later, we were sipping tea at the table. My phone chimed, and I realized it was time to make a call.

A few minutes later, we were dressed, and on our way to Nashville. Katira was contentedly looking out the window, holding my hand.

After about a half-hour, I looked at her and asked, “What are we, Katira?”

Confused, she asked, “What do you mean, Master?”

I sighed in my frustration. This was awkward for me. “I mean, are we simply Master and familiar? Are we romantic partners? Is there something more than the blood bond that connects us? I don’t know how all this works, and I’m emotionally confused right now.” I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, “Not saying I want any of it to stop, I just want to know what’s what.”

“Oh. Well, what do you want it to be, Master? Do you want me to just be your familiar, and assist you with your work, whatever that may be? Do you want me to be your life-partner? I am yours for the molding, Master,” she replied, almost woodenly.

“I’m not sure, Katira. I find you incredibly attractive, both in body and mind, and I’m not ashamed to say that I’m developing feelings toward you. I want to know if it’s the same for you, or if you are able to feel things the way I do. I know literally nothing about what you are; how your biochemistry works, nothing. I see a beautiful draconic woman beside me, and I can’t help but be attracted to her. Your personality has made me start to fall for you, also. It’s a pretty potent combination. Not to mention the simple fact that I’ve been hurt a lot before by my ex wives,” I replied nervously.

She must have felt my hand begin to sweat as she patted it softly, attempting to soothe me. “Fear not, Master. I’m not offended or bothered by these questions. They’re actually good ones. Smart ones, even.

“For starters, yes. I am developing strong feelings for you, beyond being my Master. That has a devotion all its own that you simply cannot understand. I literally belong to you. Bound for life. That bond will allow you to do absolutely anything to me. And I won’t be capable of stopping you, or to stop being yours. Think of it as if I were merely an extension of you. You can do absolutely anything with your arm that you want, right? Tattoos, piercings, brandings, anything. It’s the same for me. You could remove my flesh scale by scale, and I’d be unable to stop you. I know you won’t, but you must know how this works.

“My feelings for you are genuine. I inhabit a humanoid body, with mostly human biological processes. As such, I feel emotions just as you do. I’ve been human before. Male and female. Sometimes both. I’ve been all sorts of animals, fantastical and mundane. I know what love is, and I know the difference between being Bonded to a Master, and being Bound to a Master. We are Bound, and we are beginning the ascent into love. I know I am, and from what I can see it looks like you are, too.

“I may be your familiar, but I also want to be yours,” she said.

My vision began to swim a little as I took all this in. It was honestly a lot. My chest was fluttery, and my whole body felt as if it were vibrating. I could feel my pulse quicken, and took a deep breath, steadying myself.

“I’m going to need time to process this. I’ve been through a lot in my life when it comes to relationships. I’ve known you for five days, Katira. That isn’t enough time for me to know what exactly I’m getting myself into. I recognize that you molded yourself physically into my ideal woman, but I have to take my time,” I said, my voice shaking.

“I don’t want to be hurt again,” I whispered hoarsely.

“Okay, Stu. It’s settled, then. We take our time, and truly learn each other. I’m not hurt or angered by this,” she squeezed my hand gently. “I want you to know that. I think you’re doing this very wisely,” came her soft reply.

We rode in silence for the rest of the trip, content with each other’s company. After another hour and a half, we arrived at the small rabbit farm, and got out to meet the breeder.

I knocked on the door to the house, and a squat, middle-aged man opened the door. “Can I help you?” he asked, eyeing Katira suspiciously.

“Hello, sir. I’m Stu. I believe we spoke over the phone a couple of hours ago?” I stated with a smile, extending my hand.

“Oh yes! I’m sorry. Let’s head on around back,” he said, shaking my hand, all suspicion vanishing. He trundled out of the house, heading down a footpath I’d not noticed. It wound around the house, and into a fenced-in backyard. He opened a gate, and we walked into what had to be one of the saddest rabbit breeding places I’d ever seen.

There were fifteen to twenty hutches spread across the yard, each containing five to ten rabbits crammed in a space meant to hold two or three at most. Spoor had piled up under the hutches to a nearly debilitating degree. While there was plenty of water and food, the critters were so piled on top of one another that it was a wonder how they ate.

“Just pick out which ones you want, and we’ll get you situated. I’ll even butcher them for you, free of charge,” he said helpfully.

It was all I could do to keep from knocking his nose to the other side of his head. The conditions here were terrible, and I legitimately felt bad for the ones I’d leave behind. I took a steadying breath and surveyed the offerings. Spotting a couple of larger ones kept in a hutch by themselves, I approached and peered inside.

The two rabbits watched me with curiosity and not a small amount of fear. I tapped on the wooden door to the hutch, and both of them hopped forward.

“What of these, sir? Are they for sale?” I asked the pudgy man.

“Yep. I’ll let them go cheap, too. Haven’t given me any kits in three years, so I figure their time is up. Was gonna eat them myself last week, but something told me I should hang on to them. Good thing, too, I guess. I’ll let you have them both for fifty. Final price,” he said, crossing his arms.

I dug into my wallet and gave the man three twenties. “Keep it. I’ll take them,” I said, eyeing the two does.

He tucked the cash into his pocket, and watched as Katira opened the hutch, and gently removed the two rabbits. She spoke soothingly to them, and carried them out to the car, as the man shook his head in surprise.

“Well, I’ll be. Usually they freak out at the slightest hint of movement. Whatever you two are doing, you’re doing it right,” he said in surprise as we walked back to the driveway.

“Pleasure doing business with you, sir. I hope you have a good day,” I said, shaking the man’s hand.

“You too. Drive safe.”

I got in the car, watching as the man went inside and shut the door. I looked at Katira, who was softly singing a lullaby to the two bunnies in her lap. Amazingly enough, they both went to sleep.

“I’m glad they’re out of that place. That was a shithole,” I said as I merged back onto the highway.

“Stu, will you tell me of your wives?” Katira asked.