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She’d eaten well this morning, but she hadn’t come out for him, so he’d thought maybe she was still in a space to defend her foal.

This time, though, the foal was on her feet nursing, and Mahla was obviously ready to get out and go out in the sunshine for a little while.

“Excellent. Come out to the pasture, but stay under the trees.” He went to her, stroking her long nose, sharing his breath with her. “We don’t need to be drawing any attention any more than we already have. I brought a friend. I quite like him. I hope that you’ll let me let him look at the baby. No touching, just see her beauty.”

No dragon would touch Mahla’s little one before he did. And he would only touch with permission. So he opened the stall to let her out, and sure enough, the wee one stumbled along after Mahla, wings spread to help with balance.

“Oh, she’s lovely.” Brayden wisely backed out of the barn, leaving plenty of room for mother and foal to range outside.

He released three of the larparcas as well, because they would protect the baby well.

“She is rather stunning, isn’t she?”

“She is. I’m amazed.” Brayden bowed when Mahla snorted at him. “You did well, lady ysidri.”

Mahla tossed her head, four of her feet stamping as if to agree.

“She’s absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait until she tells me her name.”

Brayden blinked at him. “They tell you their name?”

“They do.” He nodded, smiling. “They come with their names written in the stars, and they whisper them to me.”

“So sort of like dragon babies tell their omega parent their name.”

“Exactly.” He beamed. “She will imprint on me when she’s ready, and then I will know.”

“That’s amazing.” Brayden stared at the mare and foal with a soft, happy gaze. “Thank you for sharing her with me today.”

“Yes, happy birthday.”

“Oh.” Brayden wrinkled his nose. “Thanks.”

“Is it not your birthday? I thought it was.” Of course he would make an error for something like this, but he did know that this was when Cadrys had asked him to come for the party.

“It is. And thank you. I just know they mean to give me a party tonight, and I asked them not to. It feels odd to celebrate another year. Does that sound petty?” Brayden looked down at the basket, his eyes widening. “Oh, and I brought you this.” Brayden thrust the basket at him.

“You brought me a present? But it’s your birthday.” Was it different where Brayden was from. “I—thank you. Can I look?”

“Of course. It’s just a thank you for letting me see her.” Brayden jerked his chin at the foal. “And for letting me interrupt your morning.”

“Thank you.” He took the basket and peered under the towel covering it. There were glass bottles with printing on them, and a big glass jar full of some kind of circular yellow rings.

“Oh, a treat. We should share this together. I have—” Not pastries, those were for the party. “—bread and meat, some fruit. We could break our fast.”

“I would love that.” Braydon looked more like himself suddenly, his shoulders straight, a pleased smile lighting up his face.

Harden wondered at it. Did he make Brayden nervous? Or was he just very sad about his birthday? Cade felt that way some years…

“Would you like to come to the cabin? We can sit on the upper balcony and watch the herds.” His house was clean like his stables.

“Thanks. I would like that.” Brayden followed him in, and… And did Brayden sniff him? His hair?

He shivered at the thought.

“Please come inside and find yourself well-come.” He opened the big doors, showing off his large, simple home. His sleeping and bathing quarters were upstairs and the living quarters down.

“This looks very comfortable.” Brayden wandered in, smiling as he looked around. It seemed odd that Brayden had never been inside his house before, but he knew it was true. He’d either seen him at the tavern or at Tyr and Sloan’s home. Perhaps at Cade and Poe’s when they hosted one of the big solstice parties.