I was certain if she could, the dog would have heart eyes. So would Brenton if I was being honest.
I finally left the barn to go fishing at a pond one of the shifter mages had discovered a week ago. After healing the land around it, the pond had unfrozen, revealing fish and frogs. One shifter swore he saw a turtle, but no one had seen it since.
Even with the marvel that was magic, it didn’t make sensehow anything had survived beneath the frozen pond after thousands of years of endless snow.
With a makeshift fishing pole a few of the shifters had made, we headed for the pond with Luana trotting by Brenton’s side. When a dark shadow cast around us, I smiled at Nalari flying above. Two other dragons flew at her side. They circled the small pond several times before Nalari coasted down and landed beside the pond while the other two dragons flew away.
Luana stopped, leaning her body against Brenton’s legs, so he crouched down in front of her to pet her face, and although his dog kept a wary eye on Nalari, she didn’t back away but rested at Brenton’s feet. Brenton gave her a piece of something that looked like jerky that she all too happily ate.
“Many of the dragons have been watching the warriors-in-training at the military school,”Nalari said.“They are all impressed with your Javier’s resilience and drive.”
My Javier.If only that were true.
“Sama, who was Commander Hudson’s Guardian, is considering approaching him about Javier being . . . not his ward, as we are not Guardians, but something else. Something more.”
With my eyes stinging, I rubbed my chest. Elias took my hand and kissed my fingers.
“That would be incredible,”I told her.
“It would be a huge honor for a dragon to choose a warrior for themselves,”Elias said.“Do other dragons wish to ally themselves with other warriors-in-training?”
“Possibly.”She blinked her golden eyes, seeming to consider her next words.“We are friends—the three of us. Do you wish for us to also be allies as warriors?”
“I do,”Elias said without hesitation.“I hope we have peacefor several lifetimes to come, but should the need arise, I would like us to also be allies.”
“Have you considered a school for dragons and their riders?”she asked.
“Dragon riders,” I whispered in awe, remembering the many stories I’d read of fae or people going into battle with their dragons.
“Dragon riders,”Nalari said.
“I hadn’t considered it since I didn’t know dragons would want to ally with us,”Elias said.“But I think a school for dragons and the riders they choose would be an excellent idea.”
“Alastor has a few dragons who would like him to be their rider,”Nalari said, eyeing my cousin as he helped Leah step into the pond with her pole in hand.“Your foolish friend, Brenton, does as well although I fear either Alastor will have to choose for them or the battle for him will end in bloodshed.”
“That might be a new, fun sport to bring to Niev,”I teased, widening my eyes for emphasis.
White smoke blew from Nalari’s nostrils, and she snarled.
“Okay.”I held my hands up.“No dragon battles. Got it.”
Elias pulled me to his chest, nuzzling my neck as he laughed quietly against my skin.
“Javier is at your cottage,”Nalari said.“He is aiding Kieren with the painting in the nursery. When Delaney and Aidas arrived, they took a break to train. When I flew over the cottage, several lirio were training with them in swordplay.”
Warmth spread through me. Although we weren’t there, Javier was home. He was leaving his mark in the boys’ nursery. I was glad the boys and Delaney were training with the lirio.
Was it foolish of me to hope Javier would stay the night in his room? Or that he’d still be there when we returned the following night to watch a movie?
“I was thinking, if you truly want me to take Tori for a fly, I’ll consider it only if Teddy agrees to fly with us.”
Excitement shot through me.“You want me to fly with you?”
“If you wish.”
“Yes,”I agreed.“A thousand times yes.”
Elias laughed.
