Song of Blood and Reign

Chapter 27

Roshan immediately went for Lyv, moving Jai out of the way to get to her and barely giving the rider on his back time to jump off. Bright gray eyes met hers just before her dragon buried his head into her stomach, pushing her forward so she was practically laying on him and making the blankets drop to the deck around her feet. She couldn't help but laugh as she kissed him on the brow between his eyes, being careful of the spikes.

"Hello, my beautiful dragon," Lyv whispered to him, rubbing her hand along his jaw that had him humming again. "I know. I've missed you, too. How have you been?"

An answering whimper.

"I know. I'm here now, though. I'm not liking how you've seemed to grow, though. Can't you be a little baby again who just hatched?"

Roshan wiggled happily, letting out another hum.

A frustrated scream had both Lyv and Roshan looking just past where Jai was. Her dragon wasn't the only one who was willing to push everyone out of the way.

"Get out of my way or I'll have Erly roast you all and eat you for dinner!" Thia yelled, pushing through those who watched and looking deadly in her riding leather. "I have my best friend to get to now."

But when the half-sorceress finally laid eyes on Lyv, who Roshan was still keeping to himself, she burst into tears as she rushed forward. She couldn't help but laugh as Thia wrapped her in a hug and all but lifted her feet off the ship's deck, but held her just as tight.

"I've missed you so much," Thia sobbed when she finally let her breathe. "Gods above, you have no idea. But you...what happened to you and everything you've gone through these last months..."

Lyv reached up, wiping away Thia's tears. "I've missed you, too. Are you all right?"

"Am I all right? Why are you asking me that? You were the one who...who..."

Lyv hugged Thia once more...before looking behind her to see another come to a stop behind her.

Gideon couldn't stop staring at her, his blue eyes wide and blond hair disheveled. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard and his hands shook before he closed them into fists. He didn't move any closer, though, almost like he was afraid that if he did, she would disappear.

But Lyv couldn't take it any longer, not when it had been so long since she was with her friend for so long, her oath-sworn warrior, her brother.

Her legs shook as she started forward, but it was Jai and Thia that held her steady. And right when she was close enough to Gideon, she could see his eyes were already glistening with tears. Something she'd never seen before in the years she had known him.

"Hi, Gideon," Lyv smiled, though her lips trembled.

Gideon took a deep breath...and then rushed forward to grab her up in his arms. His tears were finally falling when he did and he pressed his face into her neck, breathing her in and holding her tight.

"Are you all right?" she asked him. "Because you're scaring me. I've never seen you cry before."

"Well, I've never had a female scare me so much, especially when I'm the one who's supposed to be protecting her," he mumbled. He leaned back, taking her face in his hands to stare at her. "And why are you asking if I'm all right? You know you've asked us all that when we're not the ones who should be answering."

"Because it seems like all of you need someone to be strong for you right now."

"Yeah, but not you. You're..."