Page 59 of Outcast

Prince Rhys set a hand on his shoulder. “We all know the dragon is harder for you than the wolf, don’t get in too much of a rush. It’ll come.”

“Riddick versus Fox!” Jolie called out.

All eyes turned towards us.

“When did you get here?” Deryn asked and walked over, dropped to his knees, and kissed her on the cheek.

“Ember and I got here just a minute ago. We had to get hot chocolate to keep us warm,” she answered.

Deryn scooped her up out of the chair, sat down in it, and set her on his lap. “I’ll keep you warm.”

She giggled and I smiled at the adorable display of affection between the couple. I hoped I could find a mate who would love me so obviously even after decades.

“Did you sleep well?” Caleb asked and sat in the chair beside me.

I nodded. “Yes, very well. How about you?”

He yawned and leaned his head back, closing his eyes. “Great until I wasrudelyawakened.”

“Why am I fighting him?” Riddick asked Jolie and pointed at Prince Foxfire, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet, punching the air like a boxer.

“I want to see if your elven abilities have improved,” she said and took a sip of her drink.

Riddick flinched. “Um, about that…”

“Let’s go!” Prince Foxfire shouted joyfully and swung his fist at Riddick.

All of them moved so quickly, how did they keep from getting hit when the other moved so fast?

Prince Foxfire quickly defeated Riddick, who groaned as he lay on the ground on his stomach. “You got worse,” Prince Foxfire accused as he helped Riddick stand. “What happened?”

“I think he got his confidence shaken by getting beaten up by the dragon gang,” Caleb said without opening his eyes.

Riddick growled, but didn’t deny it.

“How many were there?” Prince Deryn asked, stood, and set Jolie back in her chair with a kiss to the top of her head.

“Four,” Riddick admitted while looking at the ground, where he kicked his toe against the grass.

“Well, we just happen to have four of us here,” Prince Foxfire said with a wide smile.

Riddick’s head snapped up. “I can’t even defeat one of you, obviously four of you will kick my ass.”

“Don’t worry,” Jolie whispered as she leaned over closer to me, “they won’t hurt him.”

“Well, maybe a little,” Caleb said and chuckled softly, opening his eyes.

“What happened with Winnie and Natalia?” I asked.

Caleb turned to me with a frown. “Papa Dan took them to the den last night. He said they immediately made friends with some of the children and the ones who work with the animals.”

“Oh,” I said and looked down at my hands. I had wanted to say goodbye to them before they left, but hadn’t thought they would take them last night.

“I can take you to visit them sometime,” Caleb offered.

“Really?” I asked and raised my head to look at him.

He nodded. “I just have to get approval from Papa Dan, but I don’t think that’ll be an issue. Do you, Mom?”

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