15
Lorenzo
The trip took about a week of casual flying. We made multiple stops along the way for eating, sleeping and physical intimacy - but we weren’t in any rush. Raja enjoyed the uplifting sense of freedom and experiencing all that the outside world had to offer.
When we neared Cinderhollow, the familiar glint of the barrier welcomed me. It was a massive translucent layer that shone like a soap bubble in the sunlight.
“What isthat?” Raja asked
“That’s the barrier. Remember how I explained clear magic to you earlier? That’s what it’s made of.”
Raja’s eyes were wide in awe. Still in my dragon form, I flew closer to the barrier and touched it with my claw. The magic pulsed through my body and transferred to Raja, allowing us inside. Once we passed it, he peered over my shoulder to look at it again.
I uttered the usual incantation that allowed an outside to cross inside. “Raja Kesuma, you will now be known as Raja Kesuma of Drakinus.”
“Whoa… What does that do?” he asked.
“I gave you the blessing of my last name, which allows you safe passage through the barrier. But the barrier itself keeps intruders out and keeps those inside of Cinderhollow safe,” I explained.
Raja snorted. “You’re a bunch of dragons who live far up in the mountains. I wouldn’t exactly picture this place as unsafe.”
I chuckled. “You’re not wrong about that. It’s just an extra step of precaution, I suppose.”
The wind beneath my wings felt familiar and warm. As much as I enjoyed spending time in Raja’s village and in the rainforest, I’d missed my home as well. I hoped he liked it here as much as I did.
“There’s so many shifters flying around!” Raja exclaimed. “And you said not all of them are dragons, right?”
“That’s right. It’s a very diverse tribe,” I explained, then pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Especially now that we have a black panther among us.”
Raja mumbled and playfully batted me away in a cat-like manner.
Finally, my home stood in sight. Like my brother and many other dragons’ homes, it was a tall tower with a sturdy landing strip near the top with easy access to the master bedroom. I landed and allowed Raja to disembark before shifting to human form and gesturing for him to come inside. His eyes flitted in every direction in awe, curiously taking in his surroundings.
“Wow… This isnothinglike my place back home,” he said. “It’s about a million times bigger.”
I smiled, embarrassed by his compliment. “Do you like it?”
“Of course I do! I’d be crazynotto like it!” he exclaimed before throwing himself onto my bed. “Oh, it’s so soft…”
I chuckled and sat on the bed next to him. “If you’re tired, take a nap. I want you to be rested up before you meet my family tonight.”
Raja perked up. “No, I’m not that tired. How could I be when there’s so much to see here? And I want to meet your family! You said you had a brother, right?”
“Yes, Dante,” I said. “His mate, Gabriel, is from outside the tribe also. They have a child together, Noah, and another one on the way - just like you.”
Raja smiled softly and ran his hand over his belly, which was still the regular size. He wouldn’t show for a while.
“My father will likely want to meet you as well,” I mused.
If Raja was in his panther form, the fur on his chest would have fluffed up as he exclaimed, “Well, what are you waiting for? Call them now!”
* * *
Plans were madefor an evening dinner at my home. Everyone was excited to meet Raja, and he felt the same way - except now he was pacing anxiously around the kitchen.
“Do you think they’re gonna like me?” Raja asked as he absentmindedly stirred the wooden spoon in the tomato soup.
“Of course,” I said. I gently brushed him aside and added some more salt to the pot. “Actually, when Dante introduced Gabriel to us, he was just as nervous as you were.”
