Page 53 of Dragon Fire

“Don’t thank me yet,”the dragon lord chuckled, relaxing back into the water.“Swimming lessons are hard work, even for our young. We will put you through your paces and see how you do.”

The older dragon seemed to doze off after that, and Xanderanth tiptoed away, loath to disturb the leader of all the sea dragons in the area. Leo followed suit, walking back to the main fire pit because Lizbet was sitting there, drinking a mug of tea.

He was drawn to her in a way he hadn’t ever experienced. If she was near, he wanted to be with her. It was that simple. And that alarming. Leo knew his heart was in grave danger from the fey beauty, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from wanting to be near her. To just look at her. To talk with her. To bask in her gentle presence.

“I think Sir Xanderanth will be a better swimmer than you realize,” Lizbet said as she offered Leo a fresh mug of tea. He took it and sat down on the log beside her, facing the rebuilt flames of the small cook fire.

“You heard all that?” he asked to make conversation. She nodded.

“I’ve known a few young sea dragons who were learning the ways of their water world over the years, including Shara. They are born on land, though I know not where. When they are little, their parents protect them and teach them swimming once they are big enough, but they have to come ashore to rest often, and many times, they come here, to this cove. Which is why I come here a lot, to see them and speak with them, if they will allow it.”

“You have many friends among them?” Leo asked, intrigued.

“Some.” Lizbet shrugged. “Shara is my best friend, really. She and I go way back, and we have earned each other’s trust over the years.”

“Xander’s my best friend, though it was fast for us. He spoke the words of claim, and then, the bond formed between us and…it was like…” He searched for words to explain the sensational feeling, but couldn’t describe it adequately. “It was like nothing I can explain in words. We were just instantly bonded. One, yet separate. He knew me to my soul, and I got a glimpse into something ancient and wonderful in his. I can’t imagine my life without him.”

“I feel a little like that about Shara sometimes,” Lizbet admitted. “But of course, it’s different. I’m not a knight, and she’s at sea much of the time. But we talk every day, even when we are apart. We’re more like sisters, I’d have to say. Sisters who are also best friends, no matter that she has wings and scales and I do not.”

“I have a lot of siblings,” Leo said, contemplating her words. “And yeah, Xander feels a lot like one of my brothers, but there’s something more too. Something even deeper than the family bond. We are partners. And I know we will face whatever comes to us in this world together. That’s something you can’t say about just anyone. Even a sibling.”

Lizbet leaned over and kissed his cheek, surprising him.

“What was that for?” he asked, wishing he’d known she was going to kiss him so he could have enjoyed it more.

“It’s because you love him so completely. Because you’re willing to give of yourself to him and expect nothing in return but his company. You’re a noble being, Sir Leonhardt.”

Were her eyes sparkling with tears? Was she nearly crying? Over him?

Leo couldn’t help himself. He moved closer, putting one arm around her shoulders. He didn’t care who might be looking. Lizbet was feeling deep emotions, and the least he could do was offer comfort. She’d been through a lot over the past few days. Perhaps she just needed a shoulder to cry on. His sisters were like that sometimes, and Leo had learned how to be there for them when they needed him.

“Hush now, Lizzie,” he crooned as she buried her face in his neck. Sure enough, she was crying. Just like his little sisters. “It’ll be all right.”

Of course, she was nothing like his sisters in any other way. For one thing, she was fey. For another, Leo was highly attracted to her. Holding Lizbet was not at all like holding his snotty little sisters when they cried.

“I’m sorry,” Lizbet said, sniffling as she tried to move away. Leo held her gently, letting her go only so far, so he could look into her watery eyes.

“Don’t be. You’ve been through a lot these past few days. We all have. It’s only natural that your emotions are running high.” He leaned in and kissed her softly, meaning it to be a quick peck, but it turned into something a little less tame.

Still, they were on the beach in full view of everyone, in the middle of the day. Leo had at least enough presence of mind to pull back before he ravished her right there under the sun in front of everyone.

Hrardorr was gladdened by how well the sea dragon training had gone that afternoon. He’d spent a lot of his time underwater, where he was able to “see” what was happening, and he was impressed by the way the sea dragons picked up new skills. They were fast studies, which would make this exercise work much better than he’d originally thought.

They could also teach him a thing or two about swimming, he realized. They were much more agile than he was, and Hrardorr intended to work on his skills now that he’d discovered what a dragon could truly do underwater.

The flying part of the program he’d have to leave up to young Xanderanth. Sea dragons could fly, but they didn’t do much of it. Low-altitude hops around the island and the occasional leap from the surface of the water was about all they admitted to doing. That would have to change. Hrardorr thought it a crime that they didn’t utilize all of their native abilities. Dragons who didn’t do much flying was anathema to him, though he tried not to let it show.

They were making an effort, and he was glad of that. The gryphons, too, would help with the flying part of the planned training. Gryphons had been flying organized patrols around Gryphon Isle for centuries. They would be teaching the sea dragons some of the skills the gryphons had perfected, using Xanderanth’s guidance on any adaptations needed for scaled wings rather than feathered ones.

All in all, Hrardorr was well pleased with the results of the first day’s work. He returned to the keep satisfied with the progress they had made. The sea dragons were already beginning to patrol the waters in a more organized fashion, and they would be learning more about patrolling patterns on the morrow from the gryphons.

He tried not to be concerned that young Xanderanth decided to stay down on the beach with the injured female sea dragon for another night. It was true that she needed protection while she was injured, and it was probably a nice gesture on his part to want to keep her company, but Hrardorr couldn’t help but notice the attraction between them—and between their two-legged counterparts.

Lizbet and Leo showed every sign of being smitten with each other that Shara and Xander did. It was kind of poetic, but definitely different from what land dragons had long-ago accepted as the norm.

Hrardorr wondered how it would all work out as he took a place before the grand fireplace in the great hall. The fey servants had left a bushel of sweet melons for him to snack on, as well as a bucket of clear, fresh water. They were good to him, and he did his best to show his appreciation.

It wasn’t quite as comfortable as his sandy wallow in the Lair, but it was definitely a snug place to sleep, warmed by the fire on one side, a soft rug beneath him, and snacks within easy reach. He dozed off, content.

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