Eno was only a few steps behind him along with a few other hunters from the village. The hunters shouted, their steps faltering, but Eno and Caelan continued, taking up defensive positions on either side of Drayce.
The remaining mandrills screamed and escaped into the trees, the darkness swallowing them up in a heartbeat. Within a few seconds, not even their angry cries could be heard.
When they were safe, Caelan’s sword disappeared and he turned to stare up at Drayce. “I take it this was a ‘toaster’ situation.”
Drayce lifted his left arm, allowing Caelan to clearly see the dozen kids he was protecting with his body. He lowered his head on his long neck, tilting it to the side so he could gaze at them like they were his ducklings. To his utter relief, he was greeted with smiles and looks of wonder.
Caelan barked out a rough laugh. “Good job, babe. Good job.”
With a roll of his shoulders, Drayce shifted into his human form, which seemed to scare the adults on the field more than his dragon form. The kids raced over to him, grabbing on his arms and tugging on him, while shouting things he couldn’t understand. He looked helplessly at Caelan.
His lover shook his head and chuckled. “It sounds like they are saying ‘again.’ I think they want you to change back into your dragon.”
“Oh!” Drayce replied, taking in all the happy faces. Sure, the field was largely torched and blackened, not to mention the still-smoldering bodies of the dead mandrills, but none of that mattered. They’d faced certain death and come out the other side safe and sound. And even better, they were protected by a dragon.
Lifting his eyes to Caelan, he winced as he asked, “Do you mind?”
Caelan leaned over the smaller of the children to press the sweetest kiss to his lips. “Go for it. You might want to keep the fire wings tucked away. I’ll explain to the rest of the village that you’re a good dragon.”
Drayce snorted. “Thanks. I’d rather not be served up for dinner tonight.”
While Caelan walked over to the group of hunters, explaining in New Rosanthe that he was a good dragon and was not to be killed, Drayce peeled himself away from the kids. He held up his hands, urging them to stay back. When he got the space he needed, he shifted into his dragon form, but without the wings.
He released a happy sigh as he stretched out on the ground, his long body running the entire length of the field. The kids approached slowly, but it took only a minute before two dozen hands were patting him or pulling themselves up onto his large body. Yeah, he was a giant jungle gym, but that was okay. He’d never thought there would be a day when he could be completely himself around humans and they would accept him.
The adults were keeping their distance, but at least weapons weren’t being actively pointed at him. While Caelan talked to them, Eno walked over, a crooked grin on his face. He stared into one of Drayce’s eyes for a moment and gently patted his nose a couple of times. “Proud of you, Drayce. You did good.”
A rumbling huff escaped Drayce, wringing out a chorus of giggles from the kids climbing on him.
Yeah. He’d done good.
The world was a mess and teetering on the edge of complete destruction, but this time, he was sure he did the right thing.
If he was lucky, he’d get one more shot at a good deed, and it would keep Caelan alive.
TWELVE
Caelan Talos
Caelan felt a little guilty slipping out of the hut he was sharing with Drayce. Eno and Rayne were right next door, assuming Eno managed to drag Rayne out of the hospital long enough to get some sleep. From what Caelan could tell, the village was relatively healthy, but everyone was stopping by to see Rayne—not only to be healed but to simply be blessed by him. It didn’t matter how many times any of them said he wasn’t a god, no one was listening.
And Rayne refused to turn anyone away.
Drayce had passed out the second he’d reached their hut after dinner. Apparently, spending the day playing with every child in the village was exhausting. Rayne might be the favorite of the adults, but the children of Hidden Falls now looked at Drayce as their personal savior and pet.
Caelan hated to admit it, but it was nice not being the center of attention for once. No one knew who he was. No one was desperate to get a piece of him or to curry his favor. He was just the traveling companion of a dragon and a god. How could he possibly compare?
Darkness fell heavily over the village. Only torches flickered and danced in the wind along the edge of the village. The evening guard watched the perimeter, protecting against any animals that would sneak inside.