Page 29 of Storm In The Sky

“That’s only fair, since he broke mine,” Tyne spat out before turning and leaving.

Keylon was startled when Winter dropped into the empty seat on his other side. He tensed, expecting him to want to talk, but when he turned, Winter just smiled at him and started eating.

Keylon was confused. What was happening this morning? Why was everyone being so weird?

“You should eat,” Winter said gently.

Keylon looked down at his bowl. Heshouldeat. He was surprised to see that Winter had been watching him enough to know what he ate for breakfast. He was also touched. It meant Winter had been paying attention to him.

The two of them were silent as they started eating their breakfast, but Keylon’s mind was going a mile a minute. He wasn’t sure what Winter was doing, but he wasn’t pushing, which was what Keylon needed. No matter how much he wanted to be with Winter, he needed time to convince himself and his heart they were safe with him. He wouldn’t break Keylon’s heart again.

That was what Winter was trying to say, right? He was showing Keylon that he wanted to take care of him and that he would do so even if they weren’t together. It wasn’t something Keylon would have expected of him before, so maybe there was some truth to what Winter had told him in his office.

Maybe Winter really didn’t want Samuel. Maybe he did want Keylon.

There was a chance Keylon’s heart wouldn’t be broken again, after all. He’d told Tyne to give Meyer a chance, but he hadn’t been giving Winter one. It was time to stop hiding in fear and believe he still had a chance at happiness and love.

* * * *

Keylon was still sitting next to Winter, which felt like a small victory. Normally, Keylon would have left the room as soon as he saw Winter. He wouldn’t have allowed Winter to bring him food or to sit next to him as they ate.

They were both silent, which wasn’t what Winter had in mind, but it was better than nothing. It was definitely better than Keylon running away, so Winter decided to take it as a win. Samuel had suggested he and Keylon talk, but Winter needed to take things slowly so he wouldn’t spook Keylon.

He couldn’t blame Keylon for wanting to protect himself. He’d gone through a roller coaster of emotions lately, and most of it had been because of Winter. The situation was easier for Winter, and he couldn’t fully understand what Keylon was going through or how to fix things.

But he was willing to try.

He glanced sideways, curious to see what Keylon was doing. He’d picked up his book and was stuffing Greek yogurt into his mouth as he read. Winter wasn’t a reader, so he didn’t really care what Keylon was reading, but he thought it might be a nice start to a conversation.

“So, what are you reading?” he asked.

Keylon blinked up at him. “What?”

“Your book. What is it?”

Keylon’s eyebrows rose on his forehead. “You’re interested in what I’m reading?”

“Yeah. Shouldn’t I be? I can go back to keeping my mouth shut if it makes you more comfortable.” Winter didn’t want to do that,but he wasn’t lying. He wanted Keylon to be comfortable, and if that meant staying silent right now, he’d do it.

Keylon stared at him for a moment. Winter fully expected him to say that yes, he should stay quiet, or maybe for Keylon to leave, but instead, he stuffed his napkin into his book and closed it before setting it on the table.

“It’s a bunch of essays on protective spells.”

“Is that your specialty?” Winter had spent enough time with mages that he knew a lot of things about them, probably more than the other dragons here. They couldn’t remember anything and had been isolated in the human world, but he hadn’t.

Keylon gave him a pleased smile. “It is. I shouldn’t be surprised that you know specialties, especially since you’ve been living with Samuel’s clan for decades. Does he have one?”

“He’s been working a lot of things, but I don’t think he has any specific inclination at the moment.”

Keylon nodded. “It can take a long time to find your specialty, and Samuel’s young. I’m sure he’ll find his place.”

Winter was curious and wanted to ask about the other mages, but another part of him wanted to focus on Keylon. He was finally talking to him. It felt like a step forward, and Winter had to be careful not to take two steps back now.

“I know that mages have specialties because they’re more magically inclined to some kinds of spells rather than others, but how did you end up with protective spells?” he asked.

Keylon’s eyes lit up as he started talking. He didn’t hesitate like he would’ve as recently as yesterday.

Something had shifted between them, and while Winter wasn’t sure what that something was, he was happy. He’d never seen Keylon so animated. Even when he was with his friends, Keylon always appeared a bit subdued, maybe because of the situation they were in. Right now, though, he was focused onmagic and explaining things to Winter. It was as if a weight had lifted off his shoulders.

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