Page 36 of Dragon Keeper
“I did. It’s cooler down here for the summer, no?” Sloan looked so pleased.
“It is.” In fact, he was feeling better every moment. “I love it.”
“Okay, so come see what else. There’s places for our hoards, and for Riley and Brayden if they need them. But there’s two things I think you’ll love even more than this.”
Intrigued, Tyr followed Sloan out of the glorious colorful room with all its pillows and daybeds and tables, heading down a slight incline. The air began to get more humid at the bottom, the natural cave waters asserting themselves.
“Here. This is for you.” Sloan tugged Tyr into a small natural rock cavern where a walkable ledge surrounded a pool just big enough for a dragon. Full of cool water. “It’s a rain runoff, I think. Not a thermal pool.”
His mouth popped open on a gasp. “Sloan! Cwys! This is?—”
Tyr ran to his lover and tackled Sloan, heedless of the snacks and tea, to embrace him.
“Oof. You’re always so hot and tired. I wanted a place for you to relax.” Sloan kissed the corner of his mouth. “You’re my mate.”
“Your cwys. I am. This is the most amazing gift. My own pool! My own place to breathe!” He started stripping down, not even thinking about it.
He wanted in the water. He wanted to swim.
Sloan stepped back to watch him, and he slid in, the initial chill taking his breath. Then he moaned, because it felt so good, so perfect.
He didn’t shift, and he stretched out on the water and floated, humming deep in his chest. “It’s perfect. Oh, it’s so good.”
The cold water poured over him, sliding through his scales and making them tinkle and clink.
There was a soft chuckle, and he glanced up. “What’s funny?”
“Happy. I’m so happy. I love seeing you so relaxed and easy in your skin.” Sloan settled at the edge of the pool and dangled his feet. “You’ve seemed so exhausted.”
“Summers are all about hard work.” And he knew it. He understood it, on a bone-deep level, but sometimes, it made him so very tired.
“Yeah. Summers were the easier time for us. Longer days, shorter nights. Vamps tend to hibernate a little.” Sloan rolled his shoulders, sliding his feet through the water.
“Yes. I have the winters off. There is sleeping and reading and baking and more sleeping.” He floated over to Sloan and ran his fingers up his lover’s legs. “This is an amazing pool. Would you like to come in too? Is there more to see?”
“There’s another pool.” Sloan’s grin went a little evil. “But it’s hot. So is your sand pit.”
“Ooh…” He held up his arms and let Sloan lift him from the water, the motion effortless, so strong, and just right. “Let’s go. Please.”
He wanted to see everything. Literally everything that Sloan had imagined.
“You’ll love it.” There were a few more rooms full of colored jewels, one with other things stored in airtight containers, and then another long corridor carved into the rock that led down. The farther they progressed into it, the warmer it got. The more humid.
“Oh, this is going to be heavenly in the winter, won’t it?” It was nice now, on his cooled skin and scales, and he was feeling loose-limbed and happy, pushing against Sloan and nuzzling every few steps.
“Mmm.” Sloan chuckled. “I can’t wait for you to see. This is going to be so wonderful for us.” The corridor opened into a huge cavern so suddenly that he staggered, his eyes going wide.
“Whoa.”
That cave was vast, with a huge pool and an equally large sand pit, both steaming with gentle wafts. The walls glowed softly, and everywhere he looked he saw the sparkle of crystals.
The magic just flowed right through the cavern, the feel of it like a warm hug.
“Oh. Sloan. I— I love it.”
Sloan beamed at him. “I’m so glad. I created them for us. I wanted a place that we could while away the winter together, or relax in the summertime, sometimes it would be nice, maybe?”
He nodded. “Especially after being in the cold water, that would be perfect. It’s private and a good space. A healthy space.”
