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“Harden!” Harden’s mother opened her arms as Brayden helped Harden down from the wagon. “Here you are. Thank goodness we were beginning to get worried.”

“I would have called to you and told you we were going to be a little bit late, but I was asleep,” Harden murmured. “My mate has been very kind today. I have been extremely tired and not much help.”

Harden’s father turned to stare at Brayden. “You are my son’s mate.”

“Yes, sir, I am. I’m sorry I got him here so late.”

“You arrived. That is the important part. Come in. There is stew and bread and cold milk.” Harden’s mother beamed at him. “I’m Alina. This is my mate, Arten.”

“Bright blessings,” Brayden told them, knowing that was a common greeting. “Thank you for allowing me to come meet you.”

“Of course. Of course. You’re family now. Come in.” Alina beamed at him, then hugged him tight. “You are well come in our home.”

He stepped inside, the smell of warm stew and yeasty bread filling his nose and lungs. Brayden immediately clocked Harden, who was sitting at a communal seating area, smiling.

His stomach snarled. He’d never smelled any food quite so perfect.

Ever.

Harden chuckled. “My mother is a wonderful cook.”

“I mean, wow. It smells amazing.”

“Let me feed you. Then you can go enjoy the bathing pools and relax.”

Harden moaned. “I can’t wait.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely.” Bathing pools and the most glorious stew he could imagine. Damn. He could really get behind that. And Harden could float, which would really ease any soreness his mate had.

He was going to have to talk to Sloan and figure out how his brother managed to make a pool at their house.

He knew that there had been lots of changes made to the old little beehive house that had been there for so long. Surely that was something that could happen at their house, too.

He just had to figure out what to do and how to do it. Luckily, he had a big brother who could explain both of those things in detail for a very long time.

All Brayden had to do was ask.

He sat next to his mate. The chair was big and comfy. This house was built for people who had lived together and been dragons together for a long time because everything was just a little bit oversized.

He liked the idea, especially since soon there would be babies.

With babies came all sorts of wonderful, amazing problems.

For instance, he worried constantly about the hearth. It was so close to the floor, with very little room to separate it from the living area, because Harden liked to sit there in the winters and whittle, make chains out of wood.

And if their baby was a fire dragon as he was, it would be no problem. But maybe he was going to be a windrider. So was that dangerous? He just didn’t know.

And he was worried.

Harden touched his hand. Be at ease, love. It’s been a long day, but we’re here and welcome.

I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be thinking too hard. That’s what happens to my brain when I’m tired. I run logistics over and over and over again.

Harden’s mom gave a soft trill of a laugh. “I can see your mate is meant for being a guardian, isn’t he? Come and have some stew and bread. That and a little of the honey mead you brought us will make things much, much better.”

“There is a gracious plenty from the village to trade. They were excited that I was making this trip.” Harden laughed softly and shook his head. “But that will be business for tomorrow.”

“As we said tonight you will eat, and you will go to the bathing pools.” Harden’s dad poured mead, but Harden took milk.