Page 5 of Kindred Sky

“I have several questions,” Winter said as he put his phone away. “Why were you with Matthias?”

Samuel shrugged. “Why not? We went flying together, and he seemed to enjoy it.”

“Yes, I saw that. In fact, everyone saw it. I had people coming to me and asking me if there was something between the two of you.”

“There’s not.” Although it wouldn’t be a bad thing if there was. Matthias was nice, and he was hot. There hadn’t been any hope of that in Samuel’s mind when he’d asked Matthias if he wanted to go flying with him, though. He’d just been trying to do a nice thing, and he’d succeeded, at least until Thorne had stuck his nose into it.

“Yes, but—”

“Maybe. I don’t know, and right now, I don’t care.”

“Because you’re pissed with Thorne.”

Samuel sat up. “He yelled at me like I was a child, Winter. You know I hate when people are condescending.”

“Was he condescending, or was he right?”

Samuel was hurt, even though he knew Winter wasn’t wrong. “Why are you siding with him?”

“I’m not siding with anyone. I’m asking what’s going on. I haven’t lived here long, not as long as the other dragons, but Thorne has never yelled at me or anyone else for no reason. In fact, I don’t think he’s ever yelled at anyone but you.”

“So of course, it’s my fault.”

“I didn’t say that. Why did he yell at you, though?”

Samuel sighed. “Because I left a few things around, and he wasn’t happy about having to pick them up. He didn’t have to pick them up. He could have left them where he’d found them.” Except the library book. If it had rained, it would’ve been ruined, and that would’ve been a mess. The cup and the gear would have been fine even in the rain, though. “He’s just a controlling ass,” Samuel added, glad to have gotten all of that off his chest.

He expected Winter to agree, but instead, he was frowning. Samuel didn’t like that. He could feel it in his bones. This wasn’t going to be good for him, and he didn’t want to fight with his best friend.

“What?” he asked, more harshly than he meant to.

“Well, where did you leave that stuff?”

“Outside, so it’s not like my training gear was offending anyone with its smell.”

“You do know that Thorne’s job is to keep the castle neat and clean, right? I mean, he’s in charge of overseeing the people who clean and everything like that, but he never hesitates to help. He’s having to run after you like you’re a child. Even Jason doesn’t leave his stuff out as much as you do.”

“Are you on his side or mine?”

Winter raised both hands. “I’m on no one’s side, but you’re my best friend, and I know you. I know you’re messy.”

“But I’m not dirty.”

“No one said anything about you being dirty. But considering that Thorne’s job is literally to keep everything neat, you’re making his life harder. And you’re unapologetic about it, too. I know he’s talked to you several times.”

“It’s not like I do it on purpose.”

“Well, I never said that, but you have to admit it’s annoying.”

Winter might have a point, but Samuel could only stare at him. He’d expected support from his best friend, not this. It felt like Winter was on Thorne’s side, which never would have happened before they moved into the castle.

Winter had changed. Maybe part of it was that he’d found people he’d known before losing his memories, or maybe it was that he’d found his mage, something he’d always wanted. That was one thing they differed over. Samuel didn’t want to protect anyone, not as a shield, anyway. He didn’t want a mage, but Winter always had, even though he’d never been vocal about it.

And now, he had one, and it was clear which side he was on.

Samuel couldn’t even blame him. No matter what happened in the future, this was Winter’s home forever, at least until he and Keylon decided they wanted to leave, and Samuel didn’t think that would happen anytime soon. Keylon had lived here for decades as he searched for Winter. The mages had become family, just like Winter had become Samuel’s family.

But now, Winter had a new family. He had his mage.