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It was one of the great pleasures of his new life, something he could never have imagined living back in the human realm. They’d all learned to fly but only under the cover of darkness and using every bit of magic they had to cloak themselves so no one would see.

Now he could fly openly, and he had a reason to do it almost every day even with the younger dragons taking over some of their duties. He wheeled, taking in the market place and making sure everything looked good there before he soared back toward Harden’s and his farm.

There were flowers everywhere, and the trees were full, and it was simply a gorgeous day.

Harden was very busy processing the wool from their little sheep. He didn’t make yarn, of course, but he did make sure that the product that he presented for trade was clean and bundled, ready to be carded and spun.

Brayden thought Harden quite enjoyed it, especially in this heat, because playing in the water was cooler.

They were going to be heading to meet Harden’s parents in only a few days. He had to admit he was a bit nervous. They would be taking the bocapol and the cart because there was a very good chance that they would be driving at least a few of the large animals with them instead of flying.

That meant everyone in the village was delivering things to trade. Harden had to remember who gave what and what they needed. Everyone in the village seemed very excited.

Brayden had been helping with that and he had to admit that having Samuel come down to learn the ways of the bwostfal every week for a couple of days was helping greatly. It didn’t hurt that Harden seemed to be over the worst of the sickness that came with his pregnancy. Brayden hadn’t been able to stand to see him feel so rotten.

Goddess knew, he understood now why Sloane always said he would have taken it from Tyr if he could.

He would take any amount of pain and suffering to keep Harden happy. Good thing he didn’t have to do that really.

Harden, though he presented a grumpy face to the world, was basically an even-keeled sweetheart.

Right now, though, his mate was half naked, soaking, working hard to hang big masses of wool in multiple different colors out to dry in the sun so they could be bundled. It was tough physical work, and while Harden insisted he was fine, Brayden was glad to be able to come and be an extra pair of hands.

When he landed, though, he discovered that not only was Samuel there, but Sebby was there as well, the young man all grins.

Well, look who’s here.

I know! It’s good to see him. I don’t think he’s going to go back. He decided to come home for the summer. Samuel says he’s very happy.

That’s wonderful for him, as long as he’s happy and that’s what he wants. He is kind of a homebody. His big ambition is to form his own household, much like the clutch up on the mountain.

Brayden shifted before striding over to greet Samuel and take this black-slapping hug from Sebastian. “Sebby. Great to see you. How’re you doing?”

“So good!” Sebby was solid, a little white-headed young man, all smiles. “I’m so glad to be home! It’s awful there, so loud, so busy. Man, I’m glad I went, I learned things, but I also learned that I want to come home and be here and raise bwostfal.”

Harden’s smile shone with approval.

“How’s Arielle?”

“Good, fierce, busy, making a name for herself on campus. Everybody loves her. All of the teachers think that she’s amazing. I told Papa it’s time for Uncle Brand and Devon to go and see her. Uncle Tyson is amazing, but the longer that things stay weird, the worse it’ll be, and she needs to remember that everything isn’t so...” Sebby held his hands open. “Everything doesn’t have to be about fighting for your place. One day she’s going to eat somebody.”

Harden began to laugh, almost tipping over with the weight of the wet wool, and Seb grabbed it, steadying his mate.

“Sebby is going to stay here at your house while you’re gone, and that way he can be here if anything happens with the animals, and there’ll be someone here all the time. I’ll fly down daily to bother him and spend time with him.” It was obvious that Samuel adored his son and had missed him desperately.

“That sounds like a plan, man.” Brayden clapped Samuel on the back. “It really eases my mind to know you guys are going to be here watching after the bwostfal for us.”

“I’m excited.” Sebby bounced on his toes. “Dad says you guys want to try to crossbreed a little.”

Harden bobbed his head. “Yes, the goats and the dafydd. I’m curious to know what happens. They may not even want to mate.”

Sebby tilted his head, obviously thinking. “There are some animals, much like the goats, that have multiple horns and a ton of wool, and they do breed with the dafydd in the north, where it is much colder. They’re bigger, the offspring, and they have coarser wool.”

“But do they give milk?” That was really what Cade and Poe were interested in.

“I don’t know, but I do know that it’s not outside the realm of possibility, so let’s try it.” Sebby’s eyes glinted with interest, and the air got a bit icy. “What do you think? Do you think that you want a eweewe as the mother or a nanny goat?”

Harden answered immediately. “I don’t want to risk one of your females, and they’re of a size. One is not bigger than the other, so there shouldn’t be any harm done.”