Page 78 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“I can walk!”
“Can you?” he challenged. He knew better. Knew how tired andlonely and scared this dragon was.
Sinder swore. And went limp. And whispered, “I promise,Mikoto. It’s a good story.”
“I believe you.” He wryly asked, “Is that because you are adragon?”
“That reminds me!” Sinder’s eyes glinted, and he slyly urged,“Touch my nose.”
THIRTY
The First Rule of Dragons
Kyrie had been looking forward to the trip to the lake,but not quite like this.
He was used to sharing. His home. His room. His mother. Hisfather. But when he’d spoken with Sinder about this trek and its purpose—riteof passage stuff—he’d sort of thought it would be less crowded.
Yet as he followed Ginkgo, who braced a crate on oneshoulder, Kyrie couldn’t honestly imagine asking anyone to leave.
Timur, who had taken charge.
Ginkgo, who was taking orders.
Mikoto, who was finally taking notice of the way the wind dancedfor him. In Kyrie’s opinion, it was sort of like the way Fend made all sorts oflittle bids for Timur’s attention. Such a friendly wind, but more focused thanthe ones Kyrie usually met in passing.
He’d never seen a windstaybefore.
Kyrie was a part of this party, too. Kyrie, who had beentaken along, even though the day would be less about the dragon half of hisheritage and more about helping Sinder recover.
Making four. At least, four in speaking form. Kyrie cuddledNoble under his chin, since minding the puppy was his current contribution,freeing Mikoto’s hands. The headman had a backpack and two big duffles, theirstraps crisscrossing his broad chest.
Four.
Kyrie knew as many stories of dragons as Mother could find,and in every story, fours were important. Did Sinder need things in fours? Washe more at ease now that he’d asked Mikoto along? Kyrie would need to watch forother examples.
Could numbers be inherent? Surely, they were only tradition.Kyrie didn’t think he had an instinctual need for fours. Except … he’d beenraised by four parents. With enough siblings to make a dragon lord proud. Wassome part of Kyrie more at ease because he longed for a harem?
Maybe he should ask Lapis the next time he visited. Or maybeSinder would know.
“Hey, little bro.” Ginkgo was looking back, his free handextended.
Quickening his pace, Kyrie laced his fingers with hisbrother’s.
“Something on your mind?”
Kyrie sifted through the many ideas niggling at him andselected something safe. “Can crossers tend?”
“Not sure. Never really tried. Not on purpose, anyhow.”
His brother’s face had gone suspiciously pink. Kyriepressed, “Accidentally?”
“Me and Kel, I guess. We got a little tangled up once. Hisbrothers kept a closer eye on us after that.” Ginkgo admitted, “I was probablyhis first taste. Though the Elderboughs decided it didn’t count.”
“Because crossers do not count?”
“Nah. They counted me as a packmate, so I mattered as muchas anyone. But we were too young to be messing around with stuff we didn’tunderstand. Kind of like underage drinking.”
“You did not try again?”
