Can't Get Enough (Dragon Kin) - G.A. Aiken Page 0,36

between envy and annoyance.

Yet Shalin still hadn’t realized what had become so clear to Ailean. She fit into his life, among his kin, perfectly.

She was the one he’d been waiting for all this time and neither of them had known it.

Ailean stroked her hair and smiled when she growled softly in her sleep.

“Who knew?” he asked the puppy staring at him from the end of the bed, the giant bone Shalin had given him slobbered over but uneaten and resting by his tiny paws. “Who knew I’d fall in love with Shalin the Innocent?”

11

“How long are you going to pretend we don’t already know?” Kyna demanded, dropping into a chair next to him.

Ailean didn’t bother looking up from the hot porridge and bread he shoveled into his mouth. Shalin had already gone out to the stables and he wanted to meet her out there before he got in some training later that day.

“Already know what?”

“About you and Shalin. We guessed it before, but the party last night only confirmed it.”

“It’s no one’s business until we decide it is. Stay out of it.” He reached for another loaf of warm bread, tore it in half and gave a piece to each sister. Kennis thanked him with a grunt as she dived into her own porridge, but Kyna wasn’t so easily distracted.

“Come, Ailean. Really. Do you think it’s fair to toy with her?”

“I’m not toying with her.”

Kyna snorted. “Then what are you doing? Planning to have hatchlings with her?”

Ailean finished his porridge, grabbed another loaf of bread, and stood. He smiled down at his cousin. “That’s exactly what I’m planning.”

Enjoying the way the twins froze in shock, Ailean went out to the stables.

Shalin ran the brush through Nightmare’s mane again and stepped back. “How about some braids today?”

“Because you’re a big mare of a stallion, aren’t you?”

Glaring at Ailean over the stall door, she corrected, “Warrior braids.”

“For him? He’s never been in battle.”

“How do you know? You only found him a few months ago.” She stalked up to Ailean and shook the brush at him. “And if I want to give my horse warrior braids, I’ll damn well do it. Understand?”

Turning away from him before she got an answer—because she knew she wouldn’t get an answer she’d like—she still heard the sudden grunt of pain and spun back around.

Ailean rubbed his head—and the lovely hoof print in the middle of it—and glared daggers at Nightmare.

“Oh, Ailean.” But even as she went to him to comfort him, she still couldn’t stop the laughter. “Are you all right?”

“As if you care.”

“I care.” She placed her feet on the slats of the gate and stood until they were eye to eye. She kissed his forehead and did her best not to laugh in his face. “I’m sorry. He’s very sensitive.”

“He’s mad, Shalin.”

“He’s mine,” she reminded him. “You promised him to me, did you not?”

“Yes. But I might be willing to temporarily change my rule on eating horse in Kerezik.”

Nightmare moved forward but Shalin held up her hand. She knew she was the only thing standing between these two beasts getting into an ugly fight.

“Stop it. Both of you. Honestly, it’s like dealing with two young ones.”

“He started it.”

Disagreeing, Nightmare slammed his front hoof down.

“I said stop this.” She motioned to the partially eaten loaf of bread in Ailean’s hand. “Give me some of that, would you? I’m taking Nightmare for a ride.”

“Alone?”

“Yes. Alone.”

“I’ll go—”

“You said you have training and I’m only going to the lake. Besides, Nightmare will take care of me.”

“That does not bring me ease.”

“Bread,” she ordered, holding out her hand. He tore what remained in half and gave it to her. “Thank you.” Shalin kissed him, her tongue slipping between his lips to tangle with his own. They both groaned and Shalin realized she’d have to pull away or Ailean would take her right here in the stables. Not that she would have minded, but still—it seemed a tad inappropriate.

“We won’t be long.”

“Meet me in your library later.”

Shalin blinked. Her library? “Yes. All…all right,” she stammered, stepping down from the gate and unlocking it. She walked out and Nightmare followed.

“Be careful, Shalin.”

“I will.” She smiled before she took Nightmare out the less used exit at the back of the stables. She took him that way since he had a tendency to bite and kick anyone he passed.

“You like that horse better than me, don’t you?” Ailean called after her.

“Sometimes…yes!” she replied and got a little nuzzle for her trouble. “And take care