in the skies!”
Tauran grinned, full of pride, as he looked at her. “Yeah, he has a few tricks.” Cautiously, he placed his right foot on Ibi-shao’s bent leg, reaching for a handhold to pull himself up when a grip on his free hand held him back. He looked down.
“Hold on,” Kalai said, and his expression was serious, his tone sober.
Tauran stepped back onto the grass and faced him.
“If you don’t come back—”
“I’ll come back,” Tauran said. He cupped Kalai’s face, but Kalai gently nudged his hands away and held Tauran’s shoulders instead.
“You need to listen to me,” Kalai said firmly.
Tauran took a breath. “I’m listening.”
“If you’re not back in six days, I’m going after you.”
“Kalai—”
“I said listen!”
Tauran slammed his jaw shut.
“I’m coming after you, and I swear if you’ve gotten yourself thrown in jail or k—” He stopped himself, anxiety shining in his eyes when he turned his face away. “I will come over there and drag you out of jail and I will kick your ass.”
A sudden wave of guilt made Tauran’s shoulders sag. Kalai so rarely swore, and it sounded so strange and foreign coming from him that Tauran was lost for words. For four years, he’d been alone, with no one around to care about whether he was warm and fed, whether he’d gotten too drunk or slept outside in the rain. He could do whatever he wanted because no one would care. But now he had someone who cared. Kalai cared. Gently, he cupped Kalai’s face again, and this time, Kalai didn’t push his hands away. “I’m not throwing myself recklessly into this,” he said softly. “I will stay safe, and I will return to you. I swear. On Leyra’s life.”
Kalai swallowed hard. Finally, the anxious, hard look in his eyes softened, and he leaned into Tauran’s touch, letting him stroke his fingers through his soft, dark hair. “I believe you.”
“Thank you.” Tauran leaned in and pressed his lips to the corner of Kalai’s in a chaste kiss. He made to pull back, but Kalai’s hand at the back of his neck kept him close and Kalai kissed him again, harder and deeper. Tauran leaned into it eagerly, letting it fuel him for the coming flight. “Here.” He reached into his pocket and drew out his watch, depositing it in Kalai’s hands. “I will see you soon,” he said, when he finally pulled away. “I love you.”
Kalai held the watch to his chest and shook his head. “Don’t tell me now. Tell me when you return.”
Tauran smiled and stepped onto Ibi-shao’s leg once more, not letting himself draw out the moment in case he wouldn’t have the strength to go.
Tauran found his spot in the dip between Ibi-shao’s neck and shoulders. She turned her head and watched him with the same curiosity Leyra had. She shifted her wings and sniffed his leg, but didn’t growl.
Tauran looked past Kalai to where Catria sat on Sorcha’s back. She’d kept quiet, but now she watched him expectantly. “You lead the way,” Tauran called to her. “If we’re lucky, this big girl is just waiting for an excuse to follow.”
Catria waved in understanding. With an invisible cue from her, Sorcha raced ahead and took flight like a dancer, her fawn scales shining silver in the moonlight.
Tauran looked at Kalai once more, drinking in the sight of him as if he could stock up on it enough to last him until his return. “Hold Leyra.”
Kalai nodded.
Ibi-shao watched Sorcha with interest, turning her head to look from her to Leyra still eating.
“It’s okay, girl,” Tauran said, stroking the rough scales of her neck. “Kalai will watch over your baby.”
At a cue from Catria, Sorcha called out, steering east toward Valreus. For a moment, Tauran thought Ibi-shao wasn’t going to follow. Then, she spread her giant wings with a sound like thunder and rolled into motion. Tauran gasped and gripped her scales tight. She was so large that he couldn’t straddle her comfortably, legs half-bent under him. It would be an unpleasant ride.
The sheer power behind her leap into the air nearly made Tauran slide right off her scales, and he tightened his grip, head bent and eyes screwed shut. When he opened them again, they were in the air, caught up to Sorcha with only a few strong beats of her wings. Tauran looked over his shoulder. Already, Kalai, Leyra and Arrow looked so small they would fit in his hand.
* * *
Kalai was good at being alone. He thrived in solitude.