The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

Things got a bit tense the following morning though.

Becks was thrilled to be bonded, obviously, and that enthusiasm translated into pure energy.

She was used to running to burn it off, her breed was practically born for it, and since Miranda was in such good shape she figured that she would enjoy running with her...

Unfortunately her new bond-mate hated mornings more than an indolent teenager, so when she enthusiastically woke her up it was much akin to stepping on a Dragon’s tail.

Becks ears were flat to her head as she languished in misery in the living room of her new home, now understanding fully why the other three girls had left their bond-mate in bed to sleep.

But she didn’t wallow long; Miranda had woken fully and realized how badly she had fucked up in snapping at the overly eager bunny and so threw on a robe and went out to meet with her to assuage her guilt.

“Sorry Becks. I didn’t mean to snap at you.” She tried.

The bunny shrugged, her pierced ears twitching slightly as she felt her bond-mate’s sincere remorse.

“I-I’m okay.”

“I know this has been a lot for you, and we really don’t even know much about each other.”

“I know the parts that matter.” Rebecca said with a shrug, though it was clear she was only trying to seem blasé about it.

Miranda chuckled and took hold of her hand, squeezing it gently.

“So do I, but the other stuff matters too.”

“Like you not being a morning person?”

Miranda nodded.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you. For a relationship to work, two people need to make room in their lives for each other. And here we are, a fivesome! It’s not always going to be all sunshine and roses.”

Rebecca leaned against her, the Lapine’s arm going around her waist.

“Maybe. But it just feels right to call you Mistress and to hold you like this. Monster girls always talk about the bond, but we never understand it, not really, until we have it. I think so anyways.”

“You like to run in the morning?”

Becks nodded.

“I’m sorry I woke you.” She said with naked vulnerability in her voice.

“And I’m sorry I snapped at you.” Miranda replied before kissing her brow, the bunny’s long ear tickling her temple as she did; “Kala’s always the first one up. She trains first thing, I’m sure she would be happy to run with you.”

“So would I.” Jan volunteered; “Sorry Mistress, you can spoon with Jez tomorrow morning.”

Miranda chuckled.

“I guess that’s all settled then. For now I need to write you an introduction letter for the academy. And after that the rest of us need to get to work.”

“Be careful.” Rebecca said.

Left unsaid was her desire to go with them, but she knew she wasn’t ready.

The human was about to brush off her concern with a joke, but thought better of it, instead kissing her brow again.

“Always. And your time will come once you’re through with the academy.”

Despite having bonded to the senior Aegis operative, Becks had no training, so she would have to go through it like any other cadet if she wanted to join her bond-mate in the field.

At least now that she was bonded to an existing member, her acceptance to the Aegis was guaranteed, so no more nerve-wracking applications to fill out.

__________

Despite their assignments being typically very different, by late morning Miranda was seeking out Nameless again, Jez riding on her back.

Her commander, Dawn Morrow, had heard a disturbing rumour and had asked for the senior operative to check it out.

She found him and his bond-mates just as they were going to break for lunch at the auction house where he’d been assigned.

Her timing was fortunate, as Ophelia had arrived to accompany them home just before she got there, but lunch was forgotten with Miranda’s interruption.

She got right to the point.

“Nina, do you know anything about Ogres?”

“Giants. Like me, only smaller.”

Miranda briefly closed her eyes and gave a quick shake of her head to dispel the confusion that always seemed to surround Nina conflating size with strength, all while typically being the smallest person in the room.

“What’s up?” Nameless prompted.

“The Aegis has had some reports of an Ogre not far outside the city, on the road towards Greyhaven, they want me to investigate.”

“Just you?” Nina frowned; “No offense to Kala and Jan, but an Ogre isn’t a joke.”

“What about me?” Jez demanded indignantly from over Miranda’s shoulder.

The Gigas smirked at the little frog, quite fond of her for her ability to create drama out of nothing, not to mention for saving Nameless’s life in Algrade.

“You’re not a joke either squirt. But you still can’t take on an Ogre.”

Jez sniffed and adopted a superior look.

“Probably maybe I could.” She muttered.

Before the frog could extol on her combat prowess further, Ginger interrupted them by poking her head around the divider that separated Nameless’s desk from hers.

“Hey Nameless, did you finish your interview with that- oh!” She stopped herself when she spotted Miranda and Jez, but she recovered quickly to snap a salute to her chest; “Sorry ma’am, what’s going on?”

“Aegis business, butt out.” Jez declared in the same gruff voice she’d tried on Cordelia just days prior.

It didn’t work any better this time, eliciting only a giggle from the not-even-remotely intimidated redhead.

“Heh, you’re a little cutey aintcha?”

Miranda ignored the interruption while Erica snickered at the frog’s pout.

“Yeah, an Ogre isn’t a joke, but we still need to check it out.”

Nameless squeezed past her to hand the interview report off to the burningly curious Ginger.

“You want us to come with you… ma’am?”

The senior operative frowned as she looked towards Nina.

“I’d like her to at least.”

“Cool.” Nina nodded; “And