"Can we eat now?" Dylon asked. "I'm proud of Kailin, but I'm also hungry, and I'm sure Alar and Commander Ravel are eager to dig in as well."
"Of course," my father said. "But first, let's offer thanks to Elu for this food and for bringing my children safely home."
After we said a quick prayer of thanks, Gran served Ravel a generous portion of goat. "So, Commander, what brings you to our humble town besides escorting my grandchildren home?"
I was wondering the same thing.
Ravel shifted in his chair. "I have some personal matters to attend to, and I can use a few days off. Podana took a lot out of me."
"I bet," my father said. "Everyone who took part in that battle deserves time off to rest and recuperate."
"More potato casserole, Alar?" My mother offered.
"Thank you, Mrs. Strom." He took the platter from her. "Everything is delicious."
"Please, call me Milly. You're practically family now."
Alar cast her a charming smile. "Thank you, Milly."
I nearly choked on my water. Mom was moving faster than I was comfortable with. Then it suddenly occurred to me that no one had asked why Alar had accompanied Dylon and me or where he was staying tonight.
Had Dylon told them about us becoming a couple?
It was possible. Then again, they'd met Alar before the pilgrimage, and the sparks between us had been pretty obvious, so maybe they'd deduced that things had progressed since then.
Still, I needed to make an official announcement if I planned on Alar sharing my bed instead of sleeping on a cot in Dylon's room.
"Tell us about the academy, Kailin," my mother said. "The only news we got about you came from Dylon, and since he was discouraged from visiting you, he only heard things about you from Jagura."
I latched onto the safer topic gratefully. "It's exhausting. We're up before dawn every day for physical training. Then classes all morning—tactics, dragon physiology and anatomy, history, navigation. Afternoons are flight training and weapons practice."
"Flight training," Dad repeated. "Do you enjoy it?"
That was his circumvent way of asking how I was managing my phobia without revealing my secret to Alar and Ravel.
"It's exhilarating, and not as scary as I expected it to be. Onyx helps."
"Onyx?" Mom asked.
"Commander Ravel's dragon," Dylon supplied. "He's been helping train Kailin."
I shot my brother a warning look, but the damage had been done.
Mom's matchmaking instincts flared to life, and she shifted her gaze to a new target that appealed to her much more than my Elurian boyfriend. Even Alar's princely status couldn't compete with the allure of a dashing squadron commander.
"That's wonderful!" She beamed at him. "Are you planning to draft Kailin into your squadron?"
"That's one option," Ravel said noncommittally and continued eating.
Alar took my hand under the table again, squeezing it gently, less in support and more in possessiveness. I squeezed back, trying to convey that he had nothing to worry about.
"How long is your leave?" Dad asked.
"Three days," I said. "Alar and I have to get back before sunset on the third day."
"Both of you?" Gran's sharp eyes moved between Alar and me.
"I was granted the same leave," Alar confirmed. "Given recent events, our commanders didn't want Kailin to travel alone."
