His brow quirked in surprise at her swift reply, a grin as wide open and warm as his own crossing her lips. His own expression widened in response. Joy was often infectious, and Şahin took great pleasure in spreading it. It wasn’t often that he met someone else whose smile came more easily to them than breathing, or a horse who drew energy from their own happiness and that of others.

Şahin liked Ava already.

“Hmm. The Harbor, you say?” The stallion frowned thoughtfully after exchanging breaths with her. His stint in Paradise was really the first time Şahin had ever settled at a territory. He and Kuş had explored, yes, journeying across Luthien and pausing briefly in the Hills of Salem when she discovered family there, but until his return to the Islands with Yusuf the Nez Perce had never seriously considered owning his own territory here. Paradise had been a lucky coincidence. “I’m afraid I don’t know. There were more than two territories on Salem, last time I was over there, but that was years and years ago. My land borders only the Ridge.”

But Xina had come from the Shore, right around the time Şahin had settled in Paradise —alone, with Yusuf gone missing. “One of the mares I live with once called the Shore home. She’s been more constant on Atlantis than I have, I believe. Would you like me to call Xina? She could probably answer whatever questions you have about the territories here.”