Page 16
Most of the other times it had been hands and mouths.
But Brayden felt different even than that.
Brayden felt important.
He would have to step carefully — he did not know the mating rituals in Brayden’s home world, and he was not sure if Brayden was interested in mating.
Perhaps Brayden was a confirmed bachelor.
Perhaps he should speak to Cade or Tyr about mating in the human world. Surely they had experience with dragons from there, so they could help.
But not now. He did not wish for Brayden to wake with him not there. He wanted to provide sustenance for his— no the— alpha.
He loved caring for bwostfal, for his friends, for others. He might not be cheerful, but he was a good dragon, a nurturing one, or so he thought.
Maybe not as much as Tyr…
He strode into the market after he landed, his basket in hand. He hummed as he shopped for pastry, picking the prettiest and most tasty.
“Bright blessings, Harden. You are here early.” A bight green-haired dragon with gold eyes waved at him from a stall with jewels and crystals. They were lovely, holding many souls in their one body. And they always had something shiny.
“Alani! Bright blessings. How does your day go?” He found the pastries he needed, along with a block of cazik to make his drinks, then wandered to Alani’s stall.
“Well. It is early yet, but I have an order for a Seer from the sea, who will be here by midday.”
“Good. Good. What can I have for a birthday for a fire dragon?”
“I have just the thing.” Alani produced a chain with tiny red stones strung on it, the crystal at the end like fire trapped in glass. “It is from the fire islands. I got it for a song because the trader said it had flaws, but I don’t see them.”
“Perfect.” He found a hank of spun wool to trade for her jewels, and then he stopped for a pottery ewer of cazik as well. That way he would not have to shave the brick this morning. Add to that some berries and a bit of sugar and he was ready to fly home.
When he arrived, he found three of his sheep at the window of the house, staring inside. They were bleating, and someone inside was bellowing a song he did not understand. The voice was much like Cade’s, but not quite as deep.
Cade could not sing either.
“Bright morning! I come bearing food and drink.” He found he couldn’t hide his smile.
Brayden jumped, his singing ending on something of a squeal. Which made him laugh out loud.
“I was serenading your sheep. They were singing along.”
“I saw. And heard.” He set his baskets on the table. “Were you looking for cazik? I bought some fresh.”
“I was also looking for you, Brayden told him. “But I thought you might be out with your ysidri.”
“I flew to the village. They have pastries and fruit, and I saw this.” Before he lost his nerve, he held out the necklace of beads, and the fire seemed to blaze inside. “It reminded me of you.”
Brayden blinked, lips parting in shock, then the expression melted into a smile for him. “For me?”
“Yes.” Who else would they be for? He hadn’t offered them to anyone else.
“You spoil me.”
He blinked. Was that bad? Was this not how wooing worked?
He would ask Tyr. Tyr would know.
“If you do not like it—”
