Page 87 of Dragon Keeper

“Papa! Can Stella come visit? She’s my best friend.”

Stella added a little screech.

“If Stella’s alpha father and omega parent say yes, then of course they may come, daughter.”

Stella looked up at her father, her eyes huge, and Abe nodded.

“Absolutely, we like to visit. Brandon and I love to learn about people. We love to visit new places.”

“Yay!” Fredda ran to Stella and hugged her. The two were just bouncing around and laughing, singing, “Best friends! Best friends! Best friends!”

Mari watched them with a fond expression on his lips, and then those lips tightened, and his eyes got hard. “I could have lost her.”

“I would not let that happen. Neither would Tor.” Tyr blew out a breath, the scent of burnt honey strong now, almost charred.

“That’s enough, Tyr,” Tor said.And that’s enough. Sloan, it’s time for you to come in and quit being out there pouting.

I’m not pouting.

You’re pouting. Get your ass in here.

Tyr stared at his twin.Tor!

He’s pouting. We have things to talk about. He can get over his mad later.Tor held his gaze.Besides, you’ve spent an enormous amount of energy today. You need to protect it with everything you have for that baby’s sake, and your mate is the one to help you with that.

Sloan came in, face calm, even though his eyes were blazing a little bit. “You’re absolutely right, Tor. Thank you, brother, for looking out for Tyr.”

“I love him; he’s my family.”

Mari nodded to all of them. “Yes, and you are all my family. However, I believe that keeping any targets as far separate as we can is the wisest course of action for us. You have one up the mountain, and we’ll go into the sea.”

“And Stella can visit?” Fredda added.

Mari nodded to his daughter. “Yes, Stella can visit. Your uncles can visit. But I would like to spend the summer at the ocean.”

“What’s an ocean?” Stella whispered.

“You remember the book that we read about the big boats? All the vast water that has fish in it the size of entire houses. Bigger? That’s an ocean.”

Fredda grinned. “Yes, whale dragons! So pretty and smart. They are the helpers in the ocean.”

Stella’s eyes were absolutely huge, and Tyr bent to try to eat again, the fork seeming to be so heavy, as if it were made of lead.

“Mate, are you well?”

He blinked up, exhaustion flooding him. “Just so very tired, love.”

“Let’s get you to bed. You can eat in there. We’ll call a meeting. Mari, will you stay long enough for Tyr and Tor to rest and for us to meet with the elders?”

Mari looked torn, but then he finally nodded after Aleana stomped on his foot. “I will. But we will leave before we sleep.”

“Fair enough. I’ll be right back.” Sloan lifted Tyr right up to carry him to the bedroom as if he weighed nothing. He tried to protest, but he was so sleepy, and his head felt odd and empty.

“You really don’t need to carry me, love.” He clung to Sloan’s neck though because he wanted Sloan to hold him and make everything well.

“I actually do. Riley is bringing your food. I want you to sit and eat while I stay with you, and then I want you to sleep, okay?”

Tyr yawned. “I’m just not used to using my magic that way. I tend to use it for the bees.” And his bees had been so good to him, supporting him, making sure that he had all the energy he needed to use. He hoped he hadn’t hurt them, drawing on them the way he had.