We grow. We evolve.
Parents play a vital role in this from a young age, and I wonder who my daughter will be in the future.
Because I know who I am.
I am my mother’s son.
Mother’s translucent form suddenly shone directly in front of me, innocent and kind in appearance, her stature just as short as she always had been, thin and pale, with silver eyes looking serenely at the dragons.
And the beastsscreamed.
The King of Dragons bellowed so loudly my eardrums nearly burst—a dragon’s shout was nothing to sniff at—as he stumbled backward four giant steps while his henchman, quite literally, ducked behind his own king, using him as a shield.
King Elon jolted in place from the ruckus, his reptilian eyes enormous on my mother’s shining form, bouncing in shock between her and the powerful dragons’ terrified reactions. The gorgon king blinked slowly in stunned silence, taking in the entire scene, his mind obviously whirling with the information.
Then he turned in my direction, hissing softly, “A littleheads up that you had a wraith at your disposal would have been nice to know…years ago.”
I pinched my lips together to keep from laughing, fairly comforted that he knew exactly what she was. At least he wouldn’t rush away crying.
“My apologies.”
The King of Gorgons flat-outhissedat me in annoyance before clearing the furious expression from his face. He dipped his head forward, making his long braids sway before him and stating respectfully, “Isabella, it’s lovely to see you again.”
“Oh, do be quiet, King Elon. You didn’t like me when I was alive, and you certainly don’t like me now.” She grunted and crossed her skinny arms, keeping her calm regard on the dragons. “Also, I prefer the term Fae blessed. It’s much prettier thanwraith.”
I peered over her head and winked at the lethal expression the dragon king was throwing in my direction. “While I prefer the more primal version:Fae killer.” An individual of this realm was only blessed by a Fae to return in this form when another Fae needed to permanently be eliminated. Of course, it was dangerous to make one since the wraith could turn on its maker—but sometimes that Fae didn’t fucking care, their need too great. “It has a certain ring to it that makes me smile.”
King Ula’s solid golden eyes boiled with his ire. “So this is how it’s going to be.”
“I suppose, for now, it is.” I rocked back on my heels and grinned like the winner I was. “But please remember, I did try to be cordial. You were the one who demanded too much.”
His lips peeled back from his teeth in an ugly sneer. “Tell me, King Traevon. Do you know how to kill a wraith?”
Mother had explained it to me plainly. “I do.”
“Then all I must do is killyou. The one person she’s linked with to keep her tied to this life, her own blood.” The King of Dragons chuckled softly, a prominent menace slinking inside the cave. “And I know it’s you, not Princess Trixie. Only the person they’re linked to is capable of calling them. You revealed too much.”
“That was no mistake.” My fangs flashed. “You and I? We are of a like caliber.”
My mother began walking forward, causing the two dragons to turn their attention directly to her. As they began stepping back, the dragon king’s henchman still being sheltered by his king, my mother strode closer. Until she backed them against the wall, her tiny form standing before the two smashed together, and Mother whispered, “I am always with him.” The wraith smiled, her teeth turning into black, sharp daggers inside her mouth, giving her a distinct deathly look. “Hear that. Know that. If you come for him, I will be waiting for you.”
As her form started to turn as dark and ominous as her fatal smile, blipping in and out of existence so quickly it turned my stomach, Mother chomped her pointy teeth at them, each dragon flinching where they’d frozen in place. “All it takes is one little nibble, and, truthfully, gentlemen, I am rather famished.”
King Elon’s chest lowered as he breathed a quiet breath, the gorgon king watching with rapt attention; the snake appeared quite smitten with the scene.
While I cracked my neck in the silence and asked evenly, “Are you prepared to give me that boon now, King Ula?”
The King of Dragons flashed his violent gaze in my direction before quickly looking back to the wraith an inch away from him. “Fuck you, fire-bringer. I’m beginning to understand King Elon’s distaste of you.”
I snorted softly. “Is that a yes?”
“…yes, asshole.”
Intelligence of a father:
Mothers are territorial, protective creatures.
My soul mate is one.
