Page 18 of Kindred Sky

“Everyone offered to help, but I told them I had everything under control,” Thorne said. He looked around. “Maybe that was an overstatement.”

“You don’t look like you have everything under control,” Samuel agreed.

Thorne glared again. “I do. I just didn’t expect Penley and the others to want such a big celebration. I should have, though. Of course they want to celebrate, and it’s not just Penley’s birthday.”

It clearly wasn’t. Even after getting all of their dragons back, they’d had to deal with Carlyle. Matthias had watched all of that happen from a distance since he was human and he’d been asked to stay at the castle so he would be safe and Parker wouldn’t have to worry about him, but he’d seen what they had all gone through. It made sense that they wanted to celebrate, and to do so in a big way.

He was also sure that Thorne could handle all of this on his own, but being able to do so didn’t mean he should have to. “Samuel and I can help you,” he offered.

“We can?” Samuel asked, sounding appalled.

Matthias narrowed his eyes at him. “Of course we can. Don’t you want Parker and the others to be able to celebrate?”

“Of course I do, but this feels like a lot.”

“That’s because it is a lot, but you heard Thorne. They wanted to celebrate. They have every right to after everything they’ve gone through.”

“I didn’t say they didn’t have the right to celebrate, but maybe they could hire an event organizer or something.”

“That’s where I come in,” Thorne said. “I have the everyday routine of the castle down. I volunteered to do this, and I’m glad I did. I’ve seen everything the mages have gone through over the years. It’s time to have something like this, and this party will be the best party this castle has ever seen.”

“And Samuel and I will help you make sure of that.”

“Samuel doesn’t sound like he wants to do it,” Thorne pointed out. “And I won’t force anyone to do anything, of course.”

Matthias had to bite his lower lip so he wouldn’t smile at Samuel’s instant reaction. Thorne had just said that Samuel didn’t look like he wanted to be involved, and to Samuel, that was a challenge.

Samuel squared his shoulders and straightened his back, looking right at Thorne. “You said you have boxes outside?”

Thorne arched a brow. “I also said you didn’t have to help.”

“I want to. Stay here; I’ll be right back.”

Samuel left the room, and for a second, Thorne and Matthias were quiet. When Matthias turned toward Thorne, it was to see him smiling slightly at the door.

“You did that on purpose,” he said.

Thorne grinned at him. “Did I?”

“You knew he was going to take that as a challenge and that he would rise to it because he’s never met a challenge he doesn’t want to deal with.”

“I knew no such thing. I even told him he didn’t have to help if he didn’t want to.”

“Of course you act like you have no idea what I’m talking about. It was kind of funny, though. How many boxes do you have out there?”

“Way too many for him to carry at one time.”

“Do you think that’s going to stop him from trying?”

“Probably not.”

Matthias had one last question. “What happens if he drops some of those boxes?”

Thorne’s eyes widened. “I better go help him.”

Matthias laughed as he watched Thorne hurry away. He had no idea what was going to happen, but it was nice to see that Thorne and Samuel could be in the same room without snapping at each other. He’d seen that when they were talking in the library, but it was clear that things between them had softened, and he hoped it would continue that way. Maybe over time, the two of them could even become friends.

Matthias wasn’t going to hold his breath over that happening, but it was a thought that kept him smiling until the two of them returned.