He swept a half-serious frown over those he could see, but all eyes were on the baby. Small claws and talons caught in the velvet of his breeches, but he whisked away the damage with a thought. The rest of his family clambered over his gleaming black boots to settle in and around his lap. Those perched on his arms and shoulders shifted to keep their balance. Tiny hands emerged from the cocoon of blankets, equally tiny fingers curling and uncurling into weak, waving fists.Īeris cradled the new baby against his chest and seated himself cross-legged to give the watchers on the floor a better view. I hear you, sweetling, Aeris whispered, soft and smooth, as the baby’s mouth screwed into a puckered frown. The infant's cheeks, already rosy, turned tomato-red. Those who couldn't fly or climb tugged at the sweeping hem of Aeris's night-black cloak and begged to see.Īt the rising noise, the baby's face crumpled, and Aeris could hear, just at the edge of sound, the high, high whine that proceeded a proper howl. The bets flew fast, then-a gathering susurration of excitement over their newest sibling. Horns, hissed another, and Big, big scales, came from a third. What will he look like? one of the other children asked.

Uiet now, his earlier wailing no more than an echo, the infant cradled in Aeris’s arms gazed up, unblinking, at the myriad of faces peering down at him. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in book reviews or articles. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, actual events, or actual locales is entirely coincidental.Ĭover design and illustration by Hannah CulbertĪll rights reserved. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Of the Wild by Elizabeth Wambheim