“But, but—” I struggled to find a reason that made sense. “She’s not warm like Ember.”
Tandor thought about this. “That doesn’t mean there’s a problem, little witch. She’s just different.”
I finally stopped chasing the dragon, letting the blanket drop to the floor at my feet. My arms refilled with blood in sweet relief—I’d held them out for way too long. “Wait. She?” I asked.
Tandor shrugged. “You said it first, I just went along with it.”
I considered this. I hadn’t said it on purpose, it had just come out of my mouth. I intrinsically knew.
My stomach fluttered with glee. It was my turn to be chosen by the fates. They wantedmeto know.
Tandor smiled, making the same realization. “What’s her name, then?” He was perched on a stool, grinding up a few stones with a mortar and pestle to help me restock my supplies. He was much better at it than I was, his muscles making the process much faster.
He was perfectly at ease, for some reason. The panic that followed the hatching of Ember was absent, now that Raine had hatched.
I gasped, slapping a hand over my mouth.
“What is it, little witch? I can tell by your face that it just came to you.”
“Raine,” I said, awe coloring my voice. “Her name is Raine.”
“Raine,” Tandor repeated. “A beautiful name for a beautiful dragon. I like it.”
“It’s perfect,” I whispered.
A feeling, deep and overwhelming bloomed in my chest, tightening my veins and warping my thoughts. It was love, I realized. Love—all encompassing, but different from the love I felt for Tandor. Or even Fiella. This was something new entirely.
I knew that I had to keep her. That I had to protect her, no matter what it cost me. That I would do anything for the little blue dragon.
Tandor watched my face, settling the mortar and pestle down and rising to his feet. “We’re keeping her, aren’t we?”
Silently, I nodded. My eyes pricked, threatening tears. Tandor tugged me into a warm hug, squishing my face into his chest.
I could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke. “I feel it too, Kiz. I feel it too. She’s meant to be here with us.”
I nodded again, my cheek rubbing against the smooth fabric of his tunic. I allowed him to hold me for long moments, until Raine made a small sound in the corner.
She had hopped into the broken cauldron and was nudging the green egg curiously with her nose. She let out a small whine.
My heart cracked.
“It’ll hatch soon, honey,” I reassured. “It’s okay.”
The dragon nudged the egg again, this time scooting it over a few inches.
I drifted to the cauldron, leaning over to stroke my fingers down the dragon’s cool, scaled back. “Don’t worry, Raine. Just give it some time.”
The dragon tensed for a moment, but then she relaxed, leaning into my hand for more pets.
I melted.
“Tandor!” I whispered. “Check this out!”
“I see it,” he whispered back. “Look at you go!”
Rain tilted her head, allowing me to scratch her on her hard, scaled chin. “I think she likes me.”
“Of course she does. She would be a fool not to.”
