“I was scouting along the Forest of Ruin at the northern border of our lands.” He shrugs and sits beside me. “Grabbed a few fallen trunks while I was there. I thought you might want something more your size. Is it to your liking?”
“Yes.” I can almost see him in dragon form, huge trees clutched easily in his talons. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
He dips his chin, his mouth turning up at the corners in a small smile while his green eyes flash in the candlelight. “I’m glad you like it.” He tilts his head to the side, the golden scales along his throat glinting, as if he hears something. “My brothers are coming. Don’t be alarmed.”
“I’m not.” I settle back against the seat, the cushion under my bottom a luxury. “I’ve learned quite a few new salty words from them over the past few days. They’re loud.”
He groans and grabs my napkin, laying it in my lap for me. “Just ignore them. Brin will likely be here too. Nilufer might join, but I haven’t heard from her in a while. She’s been attending to her people’s business.”
My ears prick up at that. “There’s another woman here?”
“Nilufer? She’s a female, yes.” He leaves it at that, which only piques my interest more. The only other female I’ve seen in the keep is Lenka, and she acts like a mother to everyone here, including me. She’s grown on me from the moment I got here. So much so that I trust her, probably more than I should.
Raucous laughter floats down the hallway, and in short order Vander’s brothers appear.
“We’re doing this again?” The first one says with a smirk, his gaze flicking from Vander to me. He’s tall and broad just like all of them, but his hair is white and the scales along his throat and upper chest are a bright silver. His shirt is open to an alarming degree. In Raingreen, he’d be run out of town for showing so much skin—not to mention scales—but here it seems perfectly normal.
“Everyonebehave,” Vander’s voice is low, far rougher than it was with me only moments ago. “Larellin, this is Faraday.”
The white-haired DragonKin gives me a small bow. “Pleased to make your mortal acquaintance, Larellin.”
“I always behave,” the next one strides in and stows a long knife into a sheathe at his waist. He’s shorter than Faraday, his hair a deep brown, and the scales at his neck a pale blue. His shirt is long sleeved, and he wears leather pants that have a number of blades tucked here and there.
“Fyan, the youngest,” Vander says.
“The best, he means.” He sits across from me and leans back in his chair, his curious gaze on me.
“I’m Rivon.” The final brother strides in, his dark brown skin accented by the orange scales at his throat. “The reasonable one among us.”
He’s the only one who smiles, his eyes warming right along with the rest of his handsome face.
Fyan whistles. “Gods, how long has it been since you’ve seen that?” He elbows Faraday.
“He’s usually grumpy,” Faraday tells me conspiratorially. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s ornery and mean. Never tells a joke. Definitely never laughs at one.”
“I’m not grumpy.” Rivon settles beside Faraday, all three of them across the table from me. Vander sits at the head with me to his right. Does this mean Vander is the eldest?
“You’re all dragons?” I ask, noting the scales. I don’t see wings on any of them, but I know they must have them just like Vander. Where do they go? Do they tuck in? Or do they disappear like the dragon form? I have a lot to learn about the DragonKin.
“Yes,” Rivon answers. “You haven’t told her anything?” His tone is slightly chiding as he speaks to Vander.
“Her recovery was far more important than whatever inconsequential details I might tell her about any of you. It could wait.”
“Inconsequential?Me? You must be joking.” Faraday puts a hand to his silver chest. “Was he always this sassy?” he asks Fyan in a matter-of-fact tone. “I feel like there’s no way he’s always been this sassy. I would’ve noticed, right?”
“Yes. I mean, he did go through that taciturn phase what, like two or three centuries ago? Remember when that eclipse happened and the banshees went on the march? It was right around then. But, yeah, other than that, always sassy.”
Lenka backs into the dining room from the kitchen, a wide platter in her arms. “Well, look who it is.” She smiles and hurries over to me, placing the platter in the center of the table. “So glad to see you down here with the boys.” She gives me a side hug, her warmth buffeting my cheek, then she looks around thetable and her tone turns stern. “Glad to see you all on your best behavior for our guest. No fisticuffs at dinner. No hijinks. None of that.” Then she gives me another warm smile. “I’ll bring your vegetables.”
Faraday and Fyan exchange a look, and Fyan fakes a gagging motion.
“What?” It takes more courage than it should, but I ask Fyan directly. “Why did you do that?”
He shrugs. “I already won the bet about you eating?—”
Faraday grumbles under his breath.
Fyan ignores him, continuing, “But I’m still surprised mortals voluntarily eat grass and dirt.”
