Chapter 18 #2
The woods fascinated him because they were familiar and yet different.
The birds were different, the trees, the flowers unfamiliar, but they were birds and trees and flowers, and little creatures scurried up along the ground, gathering up nuts and seeds and packing them away.
It felt very normal, even if there were birds that only had a single eye in the middle of their forehead.
Also, there were large, smoke-gray birds that had tiny, bright yellow birds that seemed to live in between their wings, following them everywhere that they went.
They rounded a bend, heading toward the river so they could follow it into the hives. A man stood in the way, wearing all black. Still and quiet, he stared down into the river.
Sloan frowned deeply because he didn’t know this dragon, and he didn’t like that he didn’t know the man. There was something itchy about the way the man stood. “Can I help you? Are you lost?” Sloan asked.
“Would that I were.” A low chuckle seemed to bubble out of the hood of the cloak. “I am the sad bearer of bad omens.”
“Well then we don’t want any,” Brayden said. “No bad omens today.”
Sloan stepped closer. “What business do you have here in town?”
“My business isn’t here. My business is higher up the mountain, and also…” The cloak’s hood tilted, and the dragon breathed in deeply, as if he was scenting them. “Ah, honey and salt water. You’re the one with the pregnant mate.”
“I am.” Sloan bristled, rage building up in his chest.
“No need to incinerate me, my friend.” The cloak slid back enough for him to see a pair of ebony eyes. “I mean your mate no harm, but beware. Someone might mean his sister’s child just that. She’s a bright one with a touch of the fey in her, just like the little copper coin up the mountain.”
“You leave those kids alone.” Brayden stepped up, looming, and the man laughed softly.
“I would never hurt them. I just bring the warning. Not all is as it seems in this land. Please. Keep them safe, your loved ones.”
“Tell me what the threat is, then,” Sloan growled it out.
“It’s not that simple.”
“God! I am so sick of riddles and shit. It was always this way hunting vamps in the human world. Some asshole was always throwing prophecies but not actually giving us any goddamn information!” Brayden just blew up, waving his hands in the guy’s face.
“I understand your frustration.” Those eyes looked like a cloudless night in the depths of the cloak.
“And I wish I could tell you more. But watch over the little ones with that spark.” The cloak seemed to disappear as a black dragon unfurled from it, making Brayden and Sloan both stagger backward.
Thank the goddess they were not the ones with their backs to the river.
They watched him fly up the mountain, and he sent a message to Cade on the mental band he was learning to use with better accuracy all the time. Black dragon on the way up the mountain. He was spouting mumbo jumbo about someone trying to hurt the kids.
I will see if I can intercept. We had an incident not too long ago.
Well, Tyr’s sister is bringing our niece up soon, and I want her safe.
Of course you do, my friend. And I want mine safe as well. We were told something was coming.
That’s what this guy said.
I will have a care.
Call if you need me.
But now, he really just wanted to make sure Tyr was all right.
“Go. I’ll take the wagon,” Brayden said. “Make sure he and the bees are okay.”
“Thank you, brother.” He sprang into the air, the short flight to the house he shared with Tyr seeming to take forever. If the black dragon hadn’t made a crack about honey, he wouldn’t be so scared but—
He landed, calling out for his mate. Tyr! Tyr, are you well? He shifted as he ran to the house, his feet pounding on the cold earth.
Tyr met him at the entry door. “What is it, mate?”
“There was a dragon at the river. He was spouting some nonsense about danger to the children, but he knew you were the beekeeper and that you were pregnant.” Sloan took Tyr in his arms, holding him tight.
Tyr stroked his back. “That sounds ominous.”
“It felt that way too.” Sloan took Tyr inside, herding him a little. “I told Cade.”
“Then all will be well. With you and him on guard, I know no one will hurt the children of the clutch.”
“You think so?” He wanted to believe that, but he felt as though he had no idea what to do. How to help. He was just going through the motions of what he would have done in the human realm.
“I do. I have faith in you, mate.” Tyr led him to the nest of blankets and pillows, tugging him down to wrap around him. “I am glad you’re home.”
“Brayden is coming with the wagon with all the trade goods I got. Including your pickles.”
“Ah, thank you, love. My fruit pickles?”
“Yes. I got extra jars.”
“You are a wonder.” Tyr kissed his neck. “I think we need to pass this on to the elders as well.”
“I’ll do it when Brayden gets here. I don’t want to leave you alone.”
Tyr laughed. “You don’t have to go anywhere. I can call to them and they can hear what you tell me.”
“Oh.” Right. They could do that. “Thank you, love. I forget things.”
“You will learn it all in time. But you are amazing. You know that, right?”
Sloan wasn’t a hundred percent sure he did know that. “If you say so, my love.” He hugged Tyr tight. “Let’s tell the elders. And your sister. He mentioned our niece too.”
Tyr’s face took on a fierce cast. “We will protect her. And the others as well. We must.”
“My thoughts exactly, Tyr. My thoughts exactly.”
Tyr sighed and snuggled in. “It will be good to have Brayden home.”
“Mmm. And we’re having a few people over for supper. I think I am going to make a roast.”
“Oh? I like a roast. That’s better than nibbles.’”
“There’s bread and fancy butter, and I will roast some veg, and we’ll have a decadent dessert.” He grinned, because he knew quite a few folks with sweet tooths. Sweet teeth?
“What should I do?”
“You can lounge around and keep me company. Maybe chop some veggies.”
“Any time, love.” Tyr kissed his cheek. “Anytime at all.”