“Not by much,” I argued. “Only six years. When I’m an adult, it won’t make a difference.”
“He doesn’t know you.”
“When I go to this concert, he will.”
I didn’t care if it sounded naive. It was how I really felt.
“Is he even an omega?” Cobalt asked.
“He says he is,” I retorted.
“It could be a lie.”
“Even if it’s a lie, it doesn’t matter. A couple doesn’t need to be an alpha and an omega.”
Cobalt was quiet for a while, staring at me with those blank, deep-sea creature eyes. The longer he stayed silent, the angrier I got. I was pissed—but more than that, I was scared. Scared of Cobalt shooting me down, refusing my request.
“You shouldn’t leave the island,” Cobalt warned. “Wait until you’re older and stronger.”
I shook my head vehemently. “I have to. For TalonStorm. For Aquila.”
“If Aquila truly is your fated mate, he will wait for you.”
That was such an annoying argument. It pissed me off.
“I’m sick of you controlling everyone, Cobalt,” I snapped. “I don’t care anymore. I’m flying off the island to see TalonStorm, no matter what you say!”
Cobalt’s face was a brick wall.
And then, he said the thing I dreaded the most.
“Viol didn’t care, either. He left the island around your age. And look what happened to him. Itchangedhim.”
I couldn’t argue with that. My rage deflated.
“I know,” I mumbled.
Viol’s incident was the reason us younger dragons couldn’t leave the island. It wasn’t fair.
“I know you’re just trying to protect us,” I said, looking up at my big brother. “But I want thissobadly, Cobalt. Please try to understand me. I know I’m young, and you probably think this is a phase, but it’s not.” I clenched my heart. “Aquila and TalonStorm mean everything to me.”
After a moment, Cobalt sighed and rolled up his sleeve. For a second, I thought he was gearing up to hit me for my insolence. Instead, he held his forearm in front of my face.
“If you are truly this dedicated,” Cobalt said, “then show me with your fangs.”
I gasped. I almost asked Cobalt if he was serious, but that was a stupid question. Cobalt was always serious.
I stared at his arm, ready for me.
I closed my eyes.
For Aquila.
The shift came to me like a shooting arrow, true and committed. It concentrated in my mouth so that the only part of me that shifted was my teeth. They elongated and sharpened into two rows of dragon fangs.
Fuelled by my obsession with Aquila, I sank my fangs into Cobalt’s forearm.
He didn’t even flinch. He stood as steady as a rock as blood ran down his skin. I didn’t move, waiting for him to give me some kind of signal. My heart raced as I met his stoic gaze.
