Page 37 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
“The border can be dangerous, son.”
His expression fell. “I never get to see anything you do or even leave the fortress.”
Often, Aidan’s duties were inappropriate for his son to observe. He didn’t want Orion to witness the extent of danger they faced or the war preparations they made in the faint hope they could survive a large-scale war. There was so much he andBailey tried to shield from their child whenever possible. The longer he could remain innocent, the better.
But then he remembered something else. Zoran was patrolling the border section where the refugees would cross, and it was his first full day performing the duty since returning home yesterday. Aidan had hoped to wait a while longer, having not told his son about his uncle’s return yet, but perhaps it was best to get the reunion over with sooner rather than later. They would have extra guards in place for the short journey, making it safer than usual.
“Very well,” he said, taking his son’s hand. “I will allow you to come this one time, but you better be on your best behavior and listen to me.”
Orion straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. “You won’t regret it, milord.”
Aidan laughed. His offspring knew how to behave when it got him what he wanted.
***
He carried his son as they flew in a large formation to the border. Before leaving, they’d let Bailey’s brother, Paul, know to expect the refugees to arrive within the next hour or two. If not for the humans’ slow methods of travel, it would have been faster, but dragons couldn’t transport them and their belongings by air, and they didn’t have motorized vehicles.
Aidan caught sight of the group crossing the bridge over Interstate 35, following along Highway 9. Dozens of people, along with horses, cows, and wagons, were among the convoy.Orion buzzed with excitement in Aidan’s arms, staring at the procession.
“Wow, how far did they travel?” his son asked.
Since Orion had bonded with his beast, Aidan could communicate telepathically with him while in dragon form.Somewhere between eighty to ninety miles. With their method of travel and the dangers involved, it likely took over a week to reach us.
The animals and bad roads would have slowed them down, as well as limited travel hours as they avoided the Kandoran patrols. It was a miracle they managed to make it here without incident.
“That’s not as far as Mommy and I had to go from the coalition territory.”
No,Aidan agreed.But you had cars that could move faster, fewer people, and no cattle to transport.
“We did have Rayna’s horse,” Orion argued.
He began his descent so he could land on the highway.Onyx rode in a trailer.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.”
As they neared the traveling group, a red dragon flying above the humans came to land on the road ahead of the convoy. He gazed up at Aidan and his son as they descended, docked tail swishing.
“Is that Uncle Zoran?” Orion asked excitedly.
Yes. He arrived yesterday, and I assumed you would like to see him.
His son lifted his face to look at him with a wide grin. “You’re the best, Apa.”
If he weren’t careful, Aidan would give the boy anything he wanted to see that expression on his face more often. He doubted he’d have even considered letting Zoran return if not for Orion’s near-constant pleading. Who knew having a child could reduce a grown male to mush in their little hands?
As they landed, his brother had already begun the transition process with flames covering him. Aidan set his son down and started shifting as well. Orion waited impatiently. He hopped up and down, cast a curious glance at the human refugees, and leaped forward the moment Zoran emerged in his human form.
“Uncle!” he screamed happily and ran into his waiting arms.
Aidan’s brother smiled broadly and lifted the boy high before snuggling him close. “I missed you, little hatchling.”
“Are you okay?” Orion asked, hugging him close. “No bad dragons hurt you, did they?”
“You know they could not hope to defeat me.”
Aidan watched in amazement at how his oldest brother behaved with his son. In all his life, he’d never seen him kind or happy—at least, not that he could remember. Yet here he was, smiling and behaving normally without a hint of anger issues. Part of him envied the fact that the two had formed a bond first, but he also understood it couldn’t have been helped. Much of life had not been fair to any of them.
Zoran set the boy down. “You’ve grown since I saw you last.”
