For the Heart of Dragons by Julie Wetzel

meekly. “You can keep it on.”
    Slowly, Byrd relaxed back down into the tub.
    Kara picked up the loofah and reached for him again.
    Byrd flinched away.
    “It’s okay, Byrd. I’m not going to touch it,” she reassured him while she rubbed the soap down his side. As she worked, she stole glances at the leather band around his neck. The black leather blended into his hide so well that it was hard to see if you weren’t looking for it. Curiosity ate at her. Why is he wearing a collar? Why doesn’t he want it off? She recalled the tingle of magic she’d felt as her hand brushed it. What does it do? More questions swirled in her head as she washed him, but his reaction to her touching it kept her from asking.
    A musical note broke into Kara’s musing. It took her a moment to realize her new doorbell had just been rung. “The pizza!” she yelled as she remembered the food they were waiting for. Jumping up from the tub, she raced out of the room. How could she have forgotten about food? “I’m coming!” she yelled as the doorbell rang again. Grabbing the door, she yanked it open before the guy could leave. “Sorry!” she huffed as she leaned on the door.
    “It’s cool,” the pizza guy said as he pulled open his bag to get her food. “That’s $34.85.”
    Shaking her head, she cleared the fluff from her brain. “Hang on while I get my purse.” Backing away from the door, Kara tripped over something large. She shrieked as she fell over the unknown object. It took her a moment to realize the large, wet thing was Byrd.
    He sniffed at her for a moment before turning his attention to the guy at the door.
    Cursing to herself, Kara pushed up from the floor and went to get cash from her purse. She hadn’t considered the possibility of Byrd following her out of the bathroom. Glancing back at him, she rolled her eyes. Not only was he dripping with suds, he’d backed the pizza guy out onto the porch. “Byrd!” she called as she went to save the poor man.
    Byrd glanced at her but turned his head back to the man standing on the very edge of the porch.
    Reaching out, she grabbed him by the collar around his neck and pulled him back before the delivery guy bolted. “Enough,” she said, pushing him behind her.
    Byrd circled around her and looked up at the guy from her other side.
    She smiled warmly at the man. “Sorry about that.” She held out the money for him to take. “He’s just excited about the food.”
    The man chuckled as he took the cash and pulled the pizzas out. “I completely understand. Do you need change?”
    Kara shook her head as she took the food. “No, keep it.”
    “Thanks, ma’am,” he tipped his cap. “I hope you and your boyfriend enjoy it.” Before Kara could correct the man’s assumption, he was gone.
    Kara let out a deep sigh and looked back at the small dragon. He was still soaking wet, but at least he was dripping soap on her porch and not on her living room carpet. Squatting down, she rested the stack of pizzas on her knee and reached out to scratch Byrd’s head. “What am I going to do with you?”
    Byrd ignored her touch and shoved his nose into the boxes, sniffing.
    Letting out a laugh, Kara grabbed the boxes and stood up. “Come on,” she said leading the way into the house. “Let’s finish getting you cleaned up so we can eat.”
     
    ***
     
    “Byrd!” Noah yelled, frustrated that the dragon hadn’t listened to him since Kara had bolted from the bathroom.
    Overjoyed with the prospect of food, Byrd continued to ignore Noah as he started into the house behind Kara.
    Noah’s irritation got the better of him. “ Stop!” Concentrating hard, he locked his knees, forcing the dragon to stop.
    “What?” Byrd snapped back.
    “Get back outside!” Noah yelled.
    Byrd stood in the doorway. “ Why?” His eyes followed Kara as she made her way through the house.
    “Because you’re soaking wet!” Noah growled. “ We’re going to ruin Kara’s carpet.” He eased his