Page 68 of Dragon Keeper
Brayden murmured, his voice soft as anything against Sloan’s brain.This guy’s Tyr’s brother. Are you sure? This guy is intense. Tyr is whatever the polar opposite of intense might be. Nonsense? Untense? Free from tense?
Just because they’re twins doesn’t mean that they’re the same person, right? Brothers are different. And he’s been away a long time.
Don’t worry, Guardian.Tor chuckled, that odd sensation at the base of his brain getting stronger.My twin and I have things to discuss. And then once I get what I want, I’ll be off, don’t worry.
I’m not worried. Sloan let his own dragon nature come to the fore, his scales glowing with it, he was sure.But keep in mind, I will not allow my mate, my child, or my family to be harmed in any way.
Noted.
Wait, what happened? Sloan, take your brother to the hives and introduce him ‘round. I’m sure they will be excited to see him. I’ll continue our patrol.Cade sounded unsure. Still.
I’ll come with you, brother,Riley said.I am starving. And I’ve been dreaming about Tyr’s honey cakes. For weeks.
Sloan had to say Riley seemed excited to be home. And more grown up and solid than he’d ever seen him so… that was good.
Tyr’s nervousness was bleeding through their bond. Along with something that was very akin to rage from Aleana.
He would call to her, but he wasn’t quite sure that it wouldn’t bleed out to the others. Sloan still wasn’t very confident in hisability to speak to Tyr unless he was in close quarters. He was still learning.
Sloan led Riley and Tor back to the hive, landing in the yard and shifting to his human form. He wanted to look at Tor and see what his human form appeared to be, because he wanted to see if it gave him the same weird feeling that the dragon form had.
Riley set down near him and came to give him a giant hug. They pounded on each other’s backs, laughing.
Tyr walked out to meet them, handing them both a robe to wear, and Sloan was shocked to see that Riley filled it out now, even though it was his. He’d always been far bigger than his little brother.
Brayden touched down along with Tor, everyone’s quick shifting making the air around them pop with little sparkles.
“Brother!” Tor opened his arms, and Tyr hesitated a moment before walking over to him and receiving a bone-crunching hug.
“It is good to see you home, brother,” Tyr said, and Sloan could feel his tension.
“It is good to be home.” Tor said it quietly, and he sounded sincere. In his human form, he had bright eyes the color of the first grass in spring, and his braids were a mixture of black and green. A scattering of those crazy green scales ran down each cheek from his temple, but there was gold mixed in there too, a shine to his skin that told Sloan this was not someone who could ever pass in the human world. Not ever.
And Tor had something in common with Cullen’s mate Orion, the unicorn.
There was a sheen of some kind of energy to him, something that said he was really not of this world, even though he looked like a dragon. Sloan wondered if this was actually Tyr’s brother or if this was some sort of doppelganger or djinn.
Fredda came running out, her little feet pounding on the dirt. “Uncle Tyr! Is this my Uncle Tor? Is this your twin?”
“He is.” Tyr smiled down at her, his hand on her head. “Tor, this is Aleana’s daughter, Fredda.”
Tor bent over, his hands on his knees so his face was closer to the level of Fredda’s. “Hello, my sweet little girl. I’m very happy to finally meet you.”
“Are you really, brother?” Aleana stepped out of the house, hands on her hips, glaring at all four of them. She was clearly not in a mood to make nice.
Tor straightened up, his smile only slightly strained, but at least that told Sloan he wasn’t immune to the tension that was surrounding them. “I am. It is good to see you, sister.”
“You’ll have to pardon me if I don’t believe you. What is it you want?”
Riley was glancing back and forth between Tyr and Aleana and Tor, his expression a little stricken. Then he looked at Sloan.Did I make a mistake bringing him here?Riley asked, and the voice was clear and perfect in his head, but Sloan could tell that no one else had understood. That was quite an advancement for Riley as well.
I don’t know. I hope not. It’s the feast time, after all, and we’re celebrating family. I just know that there is some history with these siblings that maybe we don’t know the whole story of yet.
Riley made a face.I’m sorry. I thought I was doing a good thing.
Sloan clapped his brother on the back.You are doing a good thing. You’re home, and I’m so happy to see you. Brayden and I missed you, and there are so many things we need to tell you.
Riley jerked his chin in response.I’m here for it. I’m ready. I just needed to go out and see what there was to see of this world before I decided what I was going to do.
