Page 75 of Dragon Keeper

Riley wandered in then, yawning. “Are we having midnight pancakes? Whoa, is that a bat bird?”

“She’s an orblok, Riley. This is Rinda.”

Riley bowed. “Welcome, Rinda.”

Pleased, Tyr patted Riley on the arm.

“What are midnight pancakes?” Tor asked.

“I’ll make them.” Sloan rose to kiss his cheek, then began assembling the makings of the yummy fried bread cakes.

“What is this?”

“Just come and sit.” They were good, wasn’t that enough?

Tor came to sit next to him. “I’m just curious, brother,” he said softly.

“I know. But sometimes it’s better to experience it than it is to ask so much.”

“It’s my job,” Tor argued, and Tyr snorted.

“Right now, just be my brother. For a minute. Please.”

“Very well.” Tor reached out, and Tyr took his hand. There was a flash of golden light, their joined hands at the epicenter, and Sloan dropped a stirring spoon with a clang.

“What the hell was that?”

Tor’s heart opened to his, and he could see so much—horror, pain, fear of being rejected here—and Tyr answered with his absolute certainty that his twin belonged, that this would always be a welcoming space. Whatever had happened in the city, Tor would tell or not, but Tyr would be his twin’s sanctuary.

“Dammit, Tyr!”

He opened his mouth to answer Sloan when the crash and bang of teeny tiny feet came barreling through the house.

“Do it again? Please?” Fredda’s eyes were lit up, pure magic pouring from her. “I heard you making magics. I can do it too.”

Tor nodded. “I know.”

And that was it. That was why Tor was here.

Tyr’d seen it in a rush, in that moment when they were connected again. Tor wasn’t coming to take Fredda, though. He was coming to protect her.

Tor met his eyes, so serious, so quiet. “I see you understand.”

Tyr nodded. “I do. I understand. You have a place here.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Sloan muttered. “But I have the feeling things are going to get a little hairy here.”

Aleana came in, stared at them both, fury pouring off her. “I don’t know what you two were plotting and planning, but you’re not going to do it with my child.”

Tor shook his head. “I’m here to protect her. I’m not going to hurt her.”

“You are not going to hurt me. You’re my ewyrml.” Fredda didn’t seem as if there was a bit of doubt in her entire little body.

“She is going to learn magic, you know, whether you want her to or not.”

Aleana glared at Tor. “I’m not sending her to that city!”

“No. No, I think that would be a very bad idea.”