Nim followed Emeton on into the same room he had found him in earlier. Emeton shut the door and motioned for him to sit. He did so, wondering if he’d done something wrong. “Nim, I’d like to ask what your relationship with Jo is.” He didn’t sound angry, and right along, he seemed supportive of Nim pursuing a relationship with her. Nim didn’t know how to answer, though. Emeton must have understood. “Are you mates, chosen, pledged, something from this world?” “No, sir, we’re friends.” “I saw her kiss you this morning. Friends don’t kiss like that.” “I don’t know what to call it. I’d like to be mates and so would she but it’s too soon. There are so many ways we’re different. Plus, we haven’t figured out where we’d live yet.” Emeton nodded. “Don’t let the unknown stop you. I see how you look at her, and I saw that same look for five years on Pt’this every time Sapphire was near. Don’t wait that long.” “Yes, sir.” Nim nodded. “That wasn’t a command. That was advice.” “Sorry, sir.” “You know that I generally allow court members to discuss confidential matters with their spouses. Don’t keep things from your mate. I’d like to include Joanne in that. I’m not saying get married or mate. I’m making an exception. That’s why I didn’t get upset this morning when you said you had told her why we’re here and why I had you fill her in on the details.” “Thank you, sir.” “Now, go spend time with her. Get rid of those doubts.” Nim smiled. “Thank you, sir.” *** “Is your head spinning yet?” Sapphire asked Joanne once the others had left the room. “I think it’s beyond spinning,” Joanne said. “Spinning was when his face appeared on my vase wanting to talk. Now? Now I think you could say the sky was green with purple stripes, and I’d believe it.” “I saw that once. It was pretty,” Sapphire told her. Joanne gasped, and Sapphire smiled. “I’m joking. When Kith unofficially adopted me, he started teaching me about dragons. I was surprised at how much there was to learn. And I wasn’t even learning it to be in a relationship. It was just a conversation. Did he tell you about the bonding?” Joanne nodded. “Did it start yet?” “No. We decided to wait.” “He told you the bond doesn’t form until you have sex?” Sapphire asked, surprised. “They always say it that way, but I know from experience that’s not always the case. I started feeling what Pt’this felt less than a day after we became chosen. I thought I was going crazy. If you start knowing what he’s feeling or start feeling things that don’t fit with where you are, you’ll know the bond is starting.” “Thanks. What’s it like?” “It’s a bit disorienting at first. You feel everything he feels. It’s not just emotions but physical senses too. It didn’t start that way. First, it was just extreme emotions and pain. You’ll probably feel strong pleasure too. We just didn’t have any of that. It was the start of the battle against Lyra. Now, I can feel everything. It took a little to learn to separate what Pt’this feels from what I feel. It’s nice not having to wonder if he’s so withdrawn because he is upset or just because he’s tired. And, it makes for great sex. You feel his pleasure as well as your own. I do feel sorry for him when I go into labor, though.” “What about when he sheds?” Joanne hoped it was okay to talk to her about this. She knew Nim was uncomfortable discussing shedding. “I couldn’t feel that. I could still feel his emotions but nothing physical. It was very weird. I’d gotten used to feeling him, and then I couldn’t. Fortunately, it did come back. Like everything else, it feels different here. It’s like touching something through a cloth.” “Dragons are so different. How do you do it?” Sapphire smiled. “Like I said, Kith sort of adopted me when I was nine, so I sort of grew up around at least one dragon. Are you having second thoughts?” “No, just wondering how I’m going to keep it all straight.” “Nim’s a patient teacher. He must be if he didn’t roast Ann. He’ll help you through this.”