Page 34 of Dragon Keeper
Brayden just shrugged, appearing philosophical. “He took a different path. Sometimes that happens.”
“What about you?” Mari asked, changing the subject. “Brayden, do you expect to stay in the village?”
“Oh, I like it, for sure, but we’ll see if I get wandery. Riley has itchier feet than I do, but one never knows.”
Things settled in then a little bit, everyone chatting, with Riley and Brayden seeming to get past a little bit of their nerves. Tyr’s sister was an interesting mix of formal and warm and motherly. Sloan understood that she was probably withholding just a little bit because she didn’t know them.
This seaside village was even smaller than Tyr’s, and he imagined it was fairly insular, but she was gracious and kind, and by the end, she was laughing just as hard as anyone else really and seeming to enjoy their company.
Tyr finally rose, clearing his throat and bowing a little to his sister and her mate. “We should probably get going before it gets too dark. I want to make sure that my bees have everythingthey need for the night. Even with tragae watching them, I don’t imagine they’re happy with me being gone all day.”
Aleana just snorted and shook her head. “Bees existed for millennia before you came along, Tyr, and they will exist that long after you’re gone.”
Tyr simply smiled, an expression that Sloan had already come to know was Tyr’s “humoring the lunatic” look. “Of course, sister, but these are my bees, and I made a promise to them that I would take care of them.”
“Do you guys mind if I fly back up later?” Riley asked. “I think I can find the way pretty easily, and I’d really like to explore the ocean.”
“I don’t mind if no one else does,” Tyr said.
“Why don’t I stay with you?” Brayden asked.
Riley rolled his eyes. “Fine. I know it’s just because you think I’m gonna get into trouble, but whatever.”
Tyr’s sister laughed. “I will make sure that the people of the village and such know you’re not strangers. That you are friends.”
“We appreciate that. We don’t want to cause anybody any stress.” Brayden winked at her. “We’re just so curious. Everything is so new.”
“Would you like to stay and explore?” Tyr asked him. “If you would, I can head home alone.”
“No. I want to go with you.” He still had plenty to explore right in his own house. And he wanted to be with Tyr. Being too far apart from him made Sloan ache right now.
“Oh, new mating…” Mari chuckled, the sound reminding Sloan of bubbles. “I remember that fondly.”
“Mmm.” Aleana chuckled. “I do too. Now, you all go on and have your fun.”
He grinned at Tyr. He had a feeling those two were going to remember mating very soon.
Tyr winked at him. “Let’s go home. The bees are waiting.”
He thought that maybe the bees would have to wait, just a bit, so they could remember the mating as well…
Chapter
Eleven
By the time the hottest part of the summer was upon them, Tyr was running on fumes.
He had been buzzing like a worker bee himself. He had pruned and watered and cleaned. He had jarred and processed and delivered. He had waxed and stored and had done all of the things that he needed to do to maintain the health and happiness of the hives and the village.
Riley was staying in the ocean with one of Mari’s friends, fascinated by the culture and the homes there. Brayden flitted back and forth from building to building, from home to home, just learning everything he could.
Sloan was working for the most part with Cade, he thought.
They had seen precious little of one another. They shared the morning meal. Sometimes they shared an evening meal. Sometimes, though, Tyr just came in and bathed and went to bed.
Being a dragon beekeeper meant working from sunup to sundown, and summers made for very long working days.
Today, he was sticky and stinky and hot and tired, and he wanted to bathe in cool water where no one knew where he was.
