Forty-Two
The stenchof humans was particularly vile. Acrid. Smoke, sweat, and iron.
The village to the north of Elowen’s old home had outgrown their walls, and they had begun to encroach on the mountain.
Midas stalked through the cover of fog, wings pressed tight against his sides as his talons carved deep grooves into the soft, wet dirt. He kept low, his golden eyes glinting under the moonlight as he prowled at the edge of the forest. The wind was favorable tonight, blowing more fog across him to obscure his frame.
He comes to watch them every night, to ensure they did not get too close to his cave, his nest, hisfamily.
He exhaled thick smoke through his nostrils, the embers of his breath scattering through the dense fog. The sound of his heart was steady, until there was a small rustle behind him. Too heavy for an animal, too quick for a human.
His head snapped around, his pupils narrowing into slits. He breathed in deep the air around him, and the smell finally reached him.
Familiar. Warm.Infuriating.
A snarl ripped from his throat, and two small shapes froze in the tree line. Barely shadows against the woods, but Midas could see the scales glinting faintly under the moonlight, just enough to betray them through the fog.
He lunged. Both boys yelped and tried to run, but Midas was faster. His talons caged their bodies to the ground, careful not to harm, but harsh enough that they could not twist free. Their frightened little sounds pierced something deep in him, but the fury burning in his chest drowned it out.
He didn’t roar at them—heerupted. The ancient language of the dragons resonated through his throat from deep in his chest.
What are you doing here?he demanded. His voice was thunder, echoing through the trees and scaring away the birds.You followed me? Here? To this cursed place?
Neither boy answered. Instead, they trembled, but Midas did not notice.
Do you have any idea what the humans would do if they saw you? Have you already forgotten what they did to us the last time they found us together?His growl shook the earth beneath them again.And what of your mother, hm? You would leave her alone in such a delicate state?
No answers came from the boys, only terrified whimpers. Midas could not hear them over his own rage. He let them free, only to take their tails between his teeth, lifting them from the ground and carrying them toward themountain. The boys cried out, their voices sharp with fear as their father carried them like prey.
Elowen was waiting when he landed at the mouth of their cave, relief flooding her features to see her children again. They likely snuck away and worried her sick.
“Midas?” she breathed, rushing toward the three of them.
Midas dropped the boys onto the cave floor, with enough force that they stumbled. They scrambled away immediately, hiding behind their mother’s legs. Their little chests heaved, and their eyes were wide with terror, barely peeking out from under her skirt.
A piece of fabric was no shield though, and Midas continued his barrage of rage on the boys, screaming at them in a language Elowen could not understand or replicate with her human throat.
His voice boomed through the cave walls, making the stones quake.I told you never to leave the ridge without me! How dare you disobey me!
Elowen squatted to wrap her arms around her boys, pulling them tight against her. “Midas, stop.”
Midas lifted his head and sent a growl in her direction, a warning, before turning his attention back to his children.You endangered your mother. You endangered all of us! What do you have to say for yourselves?
“Midas, they are children,” Elowen snapped, her own voice suddenly sharp enough to slice through his rage. “They are yourchildren. Look at them!”
He does look, for a moment, at his sons. At the small, trembling bodies pressed against their human mother’s legs. At the tears brimming in their bright golden eyes. Theyhad shifted back into their human forms, and looked up at their father with…fear.
They wereafraidof him.
Midas exhaled, smoke dissipating into the air. His claws dug into the stone under him. His wings, still tense with anger, slowly lowered until they drooped heavily with shame.
Elowen, still shielding the boys with her body, lowered her voice. “You’re scaring them,” she said softly, her tone gentle but firm. “They don’t understand why you’re shouting. Right now, they only see their father acting with fire and fury. They are small, Midas.”
Midas turned his head away, for he could not meet her eyes any longer. His chest felt tight, as if his ribs were the only thing keeping the guilt from gnawing straight through his hide.
I was only trying to keep them safe,he said, but he knew Elowen could not understand the language of the dragons. When he opened his eyes, he looked to Kalen and Auric, hoping they heard him.
They were still staring, eyes still wide with fear.
