Page 29 of The Monster at the End of This Molt

"Except Robin," Weld amended.

I grinned at him over my shoulder before hopping to the ground. I patted Kermit's side and gave him another treat. "He was such a good boy."

I didn't know what happened next. One moment, I was standing on the ground, and then, I was in the air, being hoisted onto the back of a black dragon with no harness.

"Galen, put me down!"

"No! You were gone for weeks! You promised!"

"I said I would be gone for at least a week, maybe more."

"And?" They kept rising in the sky at a steep angle. It was hard to catch my breath.

"It turned into more."

"Hmph." Galen may have been the oldest of my friends, but they still acted like a child when their feelings were hurt.

"I met no other dragons," I said. "That means you're still my favorite."

"Hmph," they said again. "I suppose that's acceptable."

They circled the fortress before swinging back toward the stable. The yard stood empty now. We landed further east, behind the building. The nearby cabin hadn't been here when I left. "We thought you would want to be close to your family, but not too close."

"This is for me, for us?" I stared in awe, not even batting an eye as a shadow passed over us. With a large downburst from his wings, Kermit landed to our left.

Galen nudged the dragonet with their snout and breathed smoke over him. Kermit purred and brushed up against Galen's neck like a cat.

"He is very sweet. I don't know why Mac thinks he's a problem."

Weld slid to the ground, coughing. "Nice to see you, too, smoke bag."

Galen shrank beneath me. I slid off his rapidly receding back until I landed on my ass.

"Smoke bag?" They laughed and patted Weld on the back so hard he almost fell on his face. "I like it. I have missed your caustic humor, my friend."

Weld blinked. "Friend?"

Galen nodded. "Yes! Anyone with a dragon bond is a friend of mine."

I jogged over to my mate, and together, we followed Galen onto the east-facing porch and inside the three-room cabin. While it was like Weld's cabin at The Meadows, the bedroom window faced south for the most sunlight.

"What do you think?" Axel asked from behind us. "I can break down this wall and add a hallway to the kids' rooms when you're ready."

"Whoa. Who said we're having kids?" Weld asked.

"Finally, someone with sense," Galen said. "Our little village is crowded enough."

I sensed Weld was serious, thanks to our bond. We hadn't talked about kids, but I'd assumed …

"We have a lot to talk about," I said. "Give us a few days to settle before we knock down any walls."

Weld shoved his way past Axel, presumably to begin unpacking. I tried to send him reassurance through our bond, but I felt like I was hitting a wall instead of getting through to him.

"Sorry." Axel sighed and tucked a stray golden strand behind his pointed ear. "I shouldn't have pushed."

"It's fine," I lied. "We're both tired from the trip, is all."

Magic tingled along my skin. I grabbed Axel's arm and pulled him out onto the porch with me.

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