Page 6
He was wandering down the path toward the barn when he heard the whomp of big wings and he looked up to see a huge dragon coming in to land in the clearing between the barn and the pasture.
He would know those colors and scale patterns anywhere. He loved to watch Brayden fly. Unlike Sloan, Brayden’s brother, who was all deep crimsons and blues of the sea so far out that you could no longer see land and emerald green, Brayden was a mix of copper, silvery blue, and verdigris. He looked like a statue that had come to life.
Harden wondered why Brayden was coming to see him on his birthday.
He waited at the path, leaning against the fence post. He was dressed for the weather — leather pants and a tucked-in tunic with his favorite knitted sweater on that he could take off when the sun warmed everything.
He got to glimpse Brayden in his all together, and he had to admit that Brayden was fine, bigger and broader than he was, muscled in all the right places, with hair that shone like the sunset.
The thoughts that lit in him were embarrassing, and a little insane, but lovely to remember in the night.
When Brayden shifted, he dressed quickly from a bundle he held, then carried a basket with him to meet Harden in the open space before the barn.
“Harden. Hey. How’s it going? I probably should have warned you I was coming, but I have to patrol, so I just stopped by.” Brayden sounded a bit breathless.
“Of course.” Harden hadn’t noticed anything odd. All the animals seemed fine too. “Is Tyr all right? Sloan?”
Brayden was wearing clothes from one of the outer worlds that he looked amazing in with blue leggings that hugged his thighs, and a shirt with a rainbow and a triangle on it.
“They’re fine. I just wanted to bring you a couple of things and ask a favor.” His cheeks actually went a little pink and he smiled, a tiny smile. It looked very tentative.
“It it’s in my power to grant, I will.”
“Riley tells me you have a new winged horse baby, and I was wondering if I could see her at some point. It doesn’t have to be today if she’s too young for me to go in, or if her mother’s going to be too protective, but I think that would be amazing to see.”
Harden blinked. Word traveled fast. It always had, though, in this area of the clutch. “I have not yet checked on her today, but let me see how her mother is feeling before you come into the barn. If I think she’s ready, I’ll call for you.”
“That sounds perfect.” Brayden held the basket to his chest like he was hugging it.
“Are you well?” They slowly made their way to the barn. “Are you warm enough?” Perhaps. Brayden was chilly.
“What? No. I’m just very excited to meet your newest arrival. Is it true that she has wings?”
He nodded. “She’s beautiful, and she’s special. Her dam did very well.”
Harden opened the doors to the huge barn, laughing at the bobbing heads of the larparcas, all of whom were looking for him, eager for some treats.
“You’ve all been fed!”
“I’ve met many of those creatures, and they’re always hungry!” Brayden chuckled. “Looks like you have quite a few.
He beamed. “They do very well here. They are thriving.”
“And they’re not hurting the ecosystem or anything? I know everybody worried about that, about introducing human world animals here.”
“They have very little trace of their existence. Their feet are very kind to the soil, and they don’t eat all the way down on the grasses. Some of the woolly creatures do. They are also very good protectors of the other herds.” Harden turned, holding up a hand so it landed against Brayden’s chest, which was unexpected but incredibly pleasant. “Stay here a moment and I will check in with mama and baby.”
Brayden stayed stock still for him, which was rather amazing.
“Of course.”
He headed toward the rear of the barn, going to see Mahla and her foal.
“Bright morning, sweet mother, I came to see you and your little one.”
He was surprised to see her push her head over her stall wall and bob at him gently, the feathers in her mane fluttering. She nickered, welcoming him, and he came closer.
“Hello, you seem like you’re feeling better already.”
