Henry leans on the fence with a grace that doesn’t quite match his carefully tousled hair or the smudge of dust on one cheek. His gaze is fixed on the horses, a kind of reverence in his expression. He’s known horses all his life—ridden, groomed, trained. But he’s never seen anything like this. These horses—especially the young ones—interact with Alex as if he’s one of them. Not just familiar, but kin. And Henry knows, because he’s watched from the narrow tower window in the early hours, that when this same man is a dragon, scales and wings and flame, the horses still run to him.
That says something. Something big. Something that makes Henry’s chest ache in a way he doesn’t yet understand. Henry thinks it might possibly mean that all the thoughts he has about this dragon being different than what he’s heard dragons are might be true.
Alex walks over to join Henry at the fence, brushing stray hay from his trousers, Cal trailing behind like a shadow. The horse nudges Alex’s shoulder impatiently, clearly expecting something—an introduction to the prince. A proper one.
Alex can’t help but huff a small laugh. Cal’s been asking about the prince for days now, ever since overhearing the older horses and Alex talk about the royal guest in the princess tower. He’s been very interested. Alex slides sideways with a practiced ease that comes from being around Cal most of the young horse’s life, and gives him space to move forward. The horse wastes no time, stepping up to the prince with all the confidence of a creature who knows he is beloved.
Henry blinks, showing his surprise, as the horse nudges his chest with warm breath and curious eyes. Tentatively, he raises his hand, fingers brushing over the horse’s nose. Cal leans into the touch, and Henry, as if guided by instinct, strokes along his face, up between the eyes, all the way to the soft tufts behind his ears.
Alex watches, amused, but something flickers behind his grin. He doesn’t need Cal to say a word. The horse is smitten. And, by the look of it, so is the prince. “If ya keep that up,” Alex drawls, arms crossed where he leans over the fence rail, “you’re gonna become his favorite.”
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