Page 17

Story: Cosmo

“A new dragon is here. They’re worried, and I’m—” Fascinated. “—intrigued.”

“I see. Well, good luck, my friend.”

Cosmo chuckled. “Thank you. I hope not to need it.”

“I understand completely. I’m going to get Ri home. Are you well? Everything is well in the house?”

“Well…”

Ty stopped to stare at him. “What is it?”

“Myk’s house. Did it have a tower room?”

“What? No. It started as a log home in the 50s, and then they added the fancy A-frame.”

“So nothing remotely Victorian or neoclassical?”

“No.”

“Then it is his house.”

Tyson shook his head. “There’s no tower room out here, Cosmo.”

“There is outthere, Tyson.”

Ty stared at him. “No shit?”

“None detected.”

“And who does it belong to supposedly?”

“An older alpha dragon named Hawk.” That he was drawn to. That he wanted to touch. That he wanted to be touched by.

“Hmm.” Tyson stroked his chin. Or rather, his beard. “Keep us informed.”

“I will.” As lore keepers if nothing else, they needed to ensure that this world kept decent records. It was important to all of them.

“Good night, Cosmo,” Arielle said. “Come on, Uncle Ty. Cookies await.”

“Good night, sweetheart. Stay safe. I’ll come see you in a couple of days.”

“Okay!” She dragged Ty out into the snow, and he waited for them to be well on their way before he banked the fire, putting it out as much as he needed to so he didn’t have to worry about it burning down the casita.

Then he headed back to the house, ready to take on his brothers about where Hawk was going to sleep.

Chapter

Five

Obviously, the triplets didn’t expect to have company.

Hawk stretched, trying to work out the crick in his neck from sleeping on the sofa. Admittedly, it was a nice long 1950s-style couch, but he was a large fellow, and his feet and head had hung at strange angles…

Cosmo had been sad that he wasn’t allowed to go sleep in Cosmo’s part of the house, he thought, but that was all right. That time would come soon enough, Hawk thought.

He rose early, as was his wont, and he wandered to the kitchen to investigate the food situation. There were some more modern foods he knew how to make. Bacon and biscuits. Flapjacks.

He found Cosmo leaning over the kitchen table, coffee mug in hand, pink hair all a mess. For a second, he couldn’t breathe.