to answer him honestly, on whether it would be a betrayal to the Snow Tree tribe to reveal their location. Not that she even knew the exact location of their village—all she had were general directions and a description of the area she was looking for.
But her hesitation was brief. Yes, Arysteon was a dragon, a potentially dangerous creature, but he’d not once endangered Leyloni and Serek. She didn’t believe he would be a threat to the Snow Trees, either.
“There is another tribe that my people trade with—” Her throat constricted around the words, and her mouth fell into a deep frown. “A tribe that my people used to trade with that resides far to the northeast, across the Endless Forest. Somewhere near the sandy shores. Because of past trading, they share some blood ties with my tribe. They would welcome us, and we would be safe there.”
She looked down at the baby in her lap and handed him another slice of fruit. “Serek would have been sent there, traded for another male, when he reached maturity.”
Arysteon lowered his head to rest his chin on the floor. His scaled brow ridges were low over his eyes, which appeared suddenly troubled. “I do not understand. Your people would trade your clanmates? Send them away?”
Leyloni turned her face back toward Arysteon. “It is vital to every tribe to make sure our bloodlines remain clean. Children are rare, male children even more so. Serek was the first male born to our tribe since I was very young.”
“How old are you?” he asked, tilting his head to the side. “It is not easy for me to determine with humans.”
“I have seen twenty summers.”
Arysteon’s nostrils flared with a heavy exhalation. “So young.”
Leyloni cocked her head and arched a brow. “I am a woman.”
His eyes roved over her slowly, again flaring with that heat. “Indeed you are, Leyloni.”
Warmth flooded her anew, and she hid her face by tipping it down to look at Serek. She felt Arysteon’s gaze lingering on her—she felt the desire in it.
I did not imagine it…
But she still couldn’t understand. Why would a dragon look at her—at any human—with such longing?
He is lonely, just as I am. It is nothing more than…a longing for companionship.
Leyloni tucked her unruly curls behind her ear before reaching for the waterskin and helping Serek take a drink. He placed his small, pudgy hands atop hers, squeezing her fingers, as his dark eyes—so innocent, so trusting—met her gaze. Her heart clenched.
Serek had been immensely important to the Moss tribe from the moment of his birth, but Leyloni was astonished at how quickly this little one was coming to mean so much to her.
A thoughtful hum rumbled from Arysteon’s chest. “My people had suffered a similar problem as yours, though it was reversed. No females were birthed in my clan during my time with them. That was problematic as our males came of age, for they were without dragonesses to court and mate. Several of them left in search of mates over our long years of travel.”
Leyloni peeked at Arysteon from the corner of her eye. “Did you?”
“No. I remained with the clan until the end. When my sire passed, it was my duty to lead them. I refused to abandon my kin. I vowed to lead them to a haven. But by the time I finally discovered this place, I was alone.” There was a sorrowful note in the dragon’s voice that granted his words power.
Leyloni felt it deep in her heart. She frowned and smoothed her palm over the top of Serek’s head. He picked up another slice of sunfruit and gnawed at the rind until he found the soft meat, oblivious to the solemnity of Leyloni and Arysteon’s conversation.
The sounds of the fire and the rain took prominence as Leyloni and Serek ate. She felt the pressure of her own sadness threatening to crash down upon her, but she held it at bay. She needed to remain strong.
Arysteon shifted just a little closer, his scales rasping softly over the floor. “It is a very long way to the sea, and it is dangerous for you and hatchling to make that journey alone. You may stay here, with me. I will protect you both. There is nothing in this part of the forest that can stand against me.”
Leyloni could hear the longing in his tone, the sincerity of his offer, and it struck her down to her very soul. The word yes was on the tip