Theo woke with the wooden dragon tucked beneath his chin.
Dean discovered this when he pushed open the connecting door shortly after seven and found his son sitting in the middle of the bed, hair flattened on one side and sleep still heavy around his eyes, carefully inspecting the carved wings as though the toy might have changed overnight.
The black dragon had apparently survived the night without incident.
More importantly, so had Theo.
"Good morning."
Theo looked up, golden eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Morning."
Dean crossed the room and sat on the edge of the mattress.
The dragon immediately disappeared into Theo's arms.
Dean glanced at it.
"You know that belongs to Draxil."
Theo tightened his hold.
"It likes me."
"It is made of wood."
Theo considered that irrelevant.
Dean smiled and brushed the child's hair back from his forehead.
"We'll ask Amelie whether you can keep it."
