He wasn’t a growler as a rule. Even when he had something to growl about.
“Some assholes at my old keep. My friend, my best friend Kami… He gave me his own heartstone. It almost killed him.”
“Wow.” That was hard to think of someone caring enough about someone else that they could just give their stone away.
“He’s a stone singer now. He can find stones for dragons. I bet he can find you a new one.”
Was that even a thing?
He wasn’t sure they could replace stones.
He’d been told it was eternal, the bond between dragon and stone. Once the dragon was gone, the stone lost its power. And if the stone was destroyed, the dragon eventually died.
He watched Talon, loving the way the big dragon munched his food. He was quite beautiful in his own way, with fascinating lines on his face, his scales iridescent, lovely.
If he had to slide somewhere, he was glad it was here. This was a good place, and it was Talon’s place.
A tall dragon came up, a curious look on his face. Talon nodded to him as if he knew him. “Cain.”
“Talon.” Cain smiled over. “I just came to welcome you. This all happened much faster than I had anticipated.”
“Me too. I never expected this.” Talon grinned over. “He just popped me over here like it was nothing. Boom. Here I was.”
“Oh? You’re a sekiine?”
His eyes went wide. He’d never actually heard that word out loud. He absolutely didn’t know what to do or say.
“Man, Cain. Leave my hailee alone. He’s very tired. He hasn’t eaten anything in who knew how long. We’ll come up and talk, but we need a couple of days.”
Cain nodded, offering him a gentle smile. “Of course, of course, and if you need anything?—”
“Thank you. I just can’t—” He didn’t feel very much like seeing people.
This was the biggest crowd he’d been in in his entire life.
“Just breathe, huh? And have some food.” Talon put a warm hand on his shoulder, and he immediately settled some, his breath coming easier. “I’ve got this, and so do you. We’re gonna figure this out.”
The other man faded away, and suddenly it was as if he could relax again. He nodded at Talon, “Thank you. Yes, I can do that. I can eat.”
“This is a lot. I think you’re doing great.”
He blushed and grinned at Talon. “You’re a very smooth talker,” he said.
“Me?” Talon blinked. I’ve never had anyone say that to me ever.” In fact, most people said he communicated in grunts and clicks.
“Well, I find you very comforting. Very. This is very scary. You’re the only thing,” he whispered, “that’s not scary in the whole world right now.”
Talon had taken off the magic inhibitor.
Talon had brought him here.
Talon had come for him in the first place. It was terribly scary and wonderful and utterly foreign.
“Okay.” Talon gave him a smile that crinkled up the lines around his eyes and made his scars bunch on one side. But it was so beautiful, and it made Mercury gasp. “We can work with that, hailee. Now eat up, and then I’ll take you home. To my lodgings, I mean.”
Oh dear, he didn’t know if that was what he wanted, though, so he was going to go wherever Talon asked. “Is there room for me there? I don’t take up much space. I don’t need much—a blanket on the floor.”
Talon glared at him. “You will not be sleeping in a blanket on the floor. You can share my bed if you wish, and if you do not wish, then you can have my bed, and I will sleep on the couch. Or we can sleep on the couch together and watch television.”
