Page 74 of Dragon Keeper

“Someone’s hungry for sure,” he said, right before the baby squealed and dove into the bowl of milk face-first, slurping hysterically.

It was at once adorable and a little desperate, which was sad.

“Okay, I think I need to get another bowl of milk.”

“You need to sit and feed your baby. I’ll get the milk. Figures my brother would get an orblok for his guardian. Anorblok.”

Tyr heard Sloan, thundering on the stairs and then reaching him with a screech. “What on earth is that?”

“An orblok. Remember, we met them coming from the harvest festival.”

“The bat-owl thing…”

The orblok shot Sloan a look.

“Orblok, Sloan.”

“Right. Okay. Sure. What is it doing here?”

“Well, I think it was hungry, but I also think that she’s here for the baby.”

Smoke blew out of Sloan’s nostrils, and he stepped forward with a growl. “For the baby?”

“What? No, no no! To help. Like as a guardian. They’re very beneficial. They don’t eat bees.”

Sloan stumbled back and sat on the long, low divan, dropping his forehead in his hand. “Did you just say they don’t eat bees?”

He nodded. “I just said they don’t eat bees.”

“What does it eat?”

“She. Nuts. Seeds, fruit, milk. She even brought her baby. Isn’t that sweet? I think her name is Rinda.”

“Rinda?”

He nodded. “And the baby is called Fauv.”

“And you know this.”

“I do, and this is why I know this is the baby’s guardian. Exciting, no?”

“Sure. Maybe a little surprising, too.” Sloan was watching the orblok like it might just bite him. “She’s small compared to the ones we saw in the fields, huh?”

Tor chuckled. “Don’t insult her, Sloan.”

“I’m not trying to. Honestly, though, Cade got a cat. Hell, Zeke got a bear.”

“And Cullen and them got weasels and magpies.” That was Brayden, coming to look at the baby orblok. “It could be way worse. This is cool, man.”

“She’s amazing and fierce. She’ll defend our little girl until the end of time.”

Sloan nodded, studying the orblok. “I believe you. I apologize for disparaging you, lady.”

She tilted her head, then she bowed, deep and low, making a clicking, clacking sound.

Tyr beamed, because that was a lovely thing, to see his mate and their babe’s animal companion make peace.

Tor poured more milk for the baby bird, who drank frantically and then fell asleep with his face in the bowl. Tor gently moved him out of danger, and Rinda moved to tuck him into a corner of the room to allow him to sleep.