the gray exterior light vanished, making the fire seem brighter in comparison. Something heavy scraped across the floor near the cavern’s entrance, and there was a rustling sound like leaves shaking.
Leyloni tensed and reached for her knife again—only to curse when she realized she still hadn’t put on her belt.
I really am a terrible huntress.
She swung her gaze around to see the dragon entering the cavern, his form dark and imposing until he neared the fire and his shimmering scales were hit by the warm firelight. Her body eased at the sight of his now familiar shape and color.
The dragon’s mouth was clamped around a bundle of long branches, most of which still bore their leaves—and dozens of big, orange sunfruits. Arysteon stopped several paces away from Leyloni and dropped the branches onto the floor. Water streamed off his scales and pooled beneath him.
Arysteon fixed his glowing eyes upon her. “It is yet early, Leyloni. You may sleep longer, should you wish to.”
“Serek is awake, and I am well rested…thanks to you, Arysteon.” She caught the inside of her bottom lip with her teeth and ran her eyes over him. “I…hope we did not disturb your slumber.”
He released a soft grunt and lowered his head so it was closer to her eye level. “You did not. I can endure a great while without sleep.” Shifting one of his clawed hands forward, he pushed the branches a little closer to her. “Eat if you are hungry. I saw you pick these to share with Serek yesterday and was unsure of what else you may safely consume.”
Leyloni’s brows creased. He’d seen her pick the sunfruit? That meant he’d already spotted her before the treestalker’s attack, but how long before? She had thought it had been Serek’s cries during her panicked flight from the monster that had drawn Arysteon to her, but now she recalled the sounds she’d heard by the stream, the feeling she’d had of being watched…
“Were you following us?” she asked.
Arysteon backed away slightly before lying on the floor, keeping his gaze on her throughout. “I was. An unfamiliar scent had caught my attention, and I tracked it through the woods. It was yours.”
“Mine?”
The dragon’s forked tongue slipped out, lapped at the air, and retreated. “Indeed. It is rather…unique. I cannot say I have smelled or tasted anything so pleasant.”
Warmth flooded her cheeks, and she did not understand why. Arysteon was a dragon, and yet her body reacted to his compliment with the same pleasure it would have were he a man.
Leyloni adjusted her hold on Serek. The baby lifted a hand, curled it into a fist, and stuck it into his mouth, his wide eyes not once leaving Arysteon.
“That was you at the stream,” Leyloni said.
Arysteon snorted. “Yes, and I nearly gave myself away. It is not easy for a full-grown dragon to remain hidden, even in a forest this thick.”
He’d stalked them through the woods, but rather than attack Leyloni and Serek, he’d saved them. Then he’d led them here, to his lair, so they could take shelter from the storm. Leyloni had slept more deeply last night than ever before. And she’d been entirely vulnerable. Instead of taking advantage of her vulnerability, Arysteon had kept her fire burning and foraged fresh food for them. If his actions did not deserve her trust, what did?
“Why did you not show yourself sooner?” she asked.
He ducked his head, averting his gaze. “As foolish as it may seem, I did not know how to approach you. I have not spoken to anyone, neither dragon nor human, in decades. I feared I would only frighten you.”
The corner of her mouth quirked up. “You did frighten me. As I said, I did not think dragons were real, and, well, you do look very…fierce.”
“And you feared I would eat your hatchling?” he asked with a low, warm chuckle.
“I fear there is little in this forest that would not at least try to.” Leyloni’s smile faded, and she took a small step closer to Arysteon. “Thank you for being there, for protecting us. For providing us shelter, warmth, and food.”
Arysteon closed his eyes and dipped his horned head in acknowledgement. When he opened those eyes again, they were as intense as ever—but they were gentler than such inhuman eyes had any right to be. “I am sorry for what you have had to endure. I will do whatever I can to ease your suffering, Leyloni. As different as we are… I understand the path you