GAHRYE

Gahrye swallowed. There were supposed to be cards on the presents? Oh dear. He hadn't known that. But it was too late now.

Frowning in frustration that he hadn't thought to ask, Gahrye thumbed open the small, square card that hung off the ribbon to find Kalle's handwriting inside.

"To my Mate,

Because I want every little girl

to find her Protector.

Merry Christmas!

Kalle.

"

Gahrye swallowed a lump in his throat and glanced up at her.

"Thank you,

" he said roughly.

Kalle was biting her lip.

"Just open it!

" she groaned, her eyes alight and fearful at the same time.

He snapped the ribbon, then peeled the paper off at the back where it been adhered by some of that awful smelling plastic stuff, opening it to find a small, colorful book, with a shiny cover and small type on the back.

"Turn it over! Turn it over!

" Kalle giggled, then clapped her hands over her mouth.

Gahrye stared at her a moment, he'd never seen her so alight. Her eyes sparkling and dancing over her hands. Then, nerves trilling in his stomach, he turned the book over.

THE HORSE WHO COULD SLAY DRAGONS

Gahrye frowned. The picture on the front—in sweeping, colorful lines, showed a girl in metal armor, holding a sword, and a horse rearing in front of her, mouth open and hooves pointed towards a massive, evil looking lizard-creature. It's scaly skin a bright green, eyes a sick yellow, breathing fire from its fanged mouth, with a tail curving high in the air over a pair of massive wings.

Gahrye gaped.

"These creatures exist in your world?

" he gasped.

Kalle giggled.

"No! They're a legend here. But… look, Gahrye, open it up. Look.

"

Gahrye opened the cover and it cracked. The title was written on the first page, but then on its reverse, a small, slanted print of the same text she'd written in the card.

To Gahrye

Because I want every little girl

to find her Protector.

"They didn't like me calling you that because they didn't want readers to think it meant that the girl was weak and the boy was strong. But they won't think that once they read it,

" she said, her voice hushed. Then her eyes met his.

"It's the story of you learning you're a Protector, Gahrye. I made myself the Knight, because I wanted to. And in the story, when the knight meets the horse, the horse doesn't believe it's strong enough to be a warrior. But the Knight does and she… she talks him into trying and then after he believes in himself, they go out and slay the dragon together and… and… and I thought you wouldn't mind and…

" she trailed off looking scared.

"You hate it, don't you.

"

But Gahrye was gaping at her, his jaw slack.

"You wrote a story about me?

"

She nodded, still looking uncertain.

"Even though people here can't know about you, I wanted to tell them about you. I wrote it when you were gone and I was afraid… afraid you weren't going to come back and I couldn't bear it. So I wrote it and I paid an illustrator to make the pictures. I was just going to put it in our library, but Eve sent it away to some agents and… and they think they can get it published. So maybe more people are going to hear about you than I thought.

" She stared, searching his eyes.

"Do you mind?

"

"Mind?!

" he gasped, then pulled her into a deep kiss, shoving away the cascade of emotion that threatened to send him into tears.

"Kalle, I've never… that's… I don't believe it.

"

"Neither do I, honestly. But apparently even the humans are into this whole Protector idea,

" she said, blushing.

"I had to fight to call you that because it's not really fashionable right now. But they got it when they read the story. And since we slay the dragon together…

"

He held her face in both hands and gazed on her, praying she could feel the love that was making his chest feel tight.

"Thank you,

" he whispered.

"That is… thank you, Kalle. Thank you, my mate. You have made me very, very happy.

"

He dropped the book and leaned in to kiss her again. She clung to him, sucking in. He rolled her onto her back, one hand stroking down her body, and she arched into his touch. But then he remembered he hadn't given her his gift, and he pushed back.

"What—

" she said, frowning, her eyes glazed.

"I have a present for you!

" he said, reaching one arm down and under the little night stand next to his side.

Kalle rolled back to her side, peering over to see what he was doing.

"That's where it was!

" she cried.

"I can't believe I didn't think of that.

"

Gahrye snorted and made a mental note to thank Eve for the warning, then passed her the little box. It was plain, brown paper, but he'd folded both halves into a working box himself, from some card Eve had given him. There was no ribbon, and no card. He prayed that wouldn't stop her enjoying it.

"I didn't know about the cards. But if I'd known, I would have said… For my mate, who makes my heart run away with me… or something like that,

" he said sheepishly.

Kalle's mouth tipped up and she took the box, her eyes even brighter than before.

"How did you even get me anything? We're never apart!

"

"I can't tell you my secrets. I have to keep them for next Christmas,

" he grinned. That part had been difficult. It had involved several whispered conversations with Eve at times when Kalle was distracted, and one trip into the city in that Creatorforsaken car that Kalle still thought was him helping Eve move heavy boxes at the library.

"Can I open it?!

"

"Yes, of course.

"

With a giddy grin, Kalle slide the top of the box off to reveal a small, velvet bag inside.. She looked him again before putting it to the mattress, and pulling the little bag out and tugging at the drawstring to open it.