“There are several new species joining the academy this year,” I mention offhandedly, my voice casual despite the significance of the information.
“Yeah?” Connor asks as he tilts his head like his father does, the gesture so reminiscent of Callan it makes my heart squeeze withaffection. His eyes shift to that of his gryphon’s as he looks at me, the change from human blue to predatory gold as unsettling as it is beautiful.
“Well, there’s a flock of hippogriffs that have petitioned to come to the academy. There’s a large herd of black unicorns that also are joining the ranks. And two packs of blink hounds are also joining.” Thauglor lists off the three major additions to the campus, his voice carrying the satisfaction of someone who has helped orchestrate positive change.
“Sounds like things are about to get interesting.” I look at Corvis and motion with my head for him to follow me, the gesture subtle but unmistakable. “If you’ll excuse us.” I turn and start walking toward the gardens, my footsteps echoing off the stone pathway, and listen for Corvis to follow. I hear him catch up, his longer strides easily matching my pace. I turn toward the rose garden, the air growing sweeter with each step as we approach the blooming flowers.
“You wanted to see me?” he asks as he falls in step beside me, his voice carefully neutral despite the tension I can sense radiating from his body.
“I know you’re aware of what I am able to do.” I pause and look at him, letting my eyes shift to that of my dragon’s, the change in perception making the world sharper, more vivid, as I study his reaction with predatory intensity.
“I am.” He nods slowly and lightly bows his head out of respect, the gesture carrying genuine reverence rather than mere politeness.
“Raven will have five mates total.” I raise my hand as a low rumble escapes his lips, the sound vibrating through the air like distant thunder. “Be happy she’s not like me—I have eight.” I remind him that he could be sharing with seven other males, my voice carrying gentle amusement at his possessive reaction.
“Have you seen them? Do you know who they are?” His dragon rises to the surface, and his silver eyes watch me closely, the intensity of his gaze almost palpable in its focus.
“I have, and they are good males. Perfect for the nest you two will dig for her.” I point halfway up the mountain and to the right of where my nest is, visualizing the perfect spot with its natural defenses and stunning views. A laugh escapes my lips, bright with anticipation and maternal planning. “Well, I’ll start the nest for you two. My breath weapon is the most destructive when it comes to stone. And well, fighting in flight.” Lightning dances over my fingertips as I look back at him, tiny arcs of electricity that smell of ozone and power.
“Can you tell me if they are dragons?” he asks, and I understand why, seeing how even though Abraxis was my first mate, he was demoted to third place by Thauglor and Klauth, hierarchy determined by strength and age rather than order of arrival.
“You are the only drake in the nest for now. Keep in mind, mates happen for a reason. Sometimes it’s balance, and sometimes it’s defense or offense. Everyone has a place in a nest.” I rest a hand on his shoulder and give it a squeeze, feeling the tension in his muscles beneath my palm.
“You are so at peace with all of this. How?” he asks, and I start laughing, the sound echoing off the garden walls like silver bells in the mountain air.
“Being able to do what I can has its perks.” My smile turns feral, predatory in a way that makes most people step back instinctively. “I can simply eliminate the threat before it becomes one. That, and I haven’t taught everyone all of my tricks. Some of the shadowblade secrets will die with me.” I pat him on his shoulder and turn to walk away deeper into the gardens, leaving him to process the implications of my words. He needs to stew on the knowledge that I could have killed him at any point in his life, and we wouldn’t be where we are today.
I foresee him being a good man and a good mate, his future stretching out before my enhanced sight like a tapestry woven with love and devotion. The other four males are also very good for my Raven—one reminds me of my Ziggy, a ball of light and love and endless energy that will keep her laughing even in dark times. The other is like a cross between Balor and Leander, devoted and tender but capable of turning deadly without batting an eye when those he loves are threatened. The last one took me by surprise and is the most dangerous out of all of them. All five males will destroy the world if it means keeping Raven safe, their protective instincts as fierce as any dragon’s.
Little do they know, sweet little Raven has her daddy’s temper and her mother’s training, a combination more dangerous than they can possibly imagine. They called me the ultimate weapon, but my little Raven is honed sharper than me, and she’s not afraid to melt the continent if she has to. The thought fills me with both pride and a bone-deep satisfaction that my daughter will never be anyone’s victim.
Chapter 2
Raven
Welcome to Dragonis...
We fly in a tight formation following Lily to the academy grounds, the mountain air crisp against my scales and filled with the scent of pine and distant snow. The wind beneath my wings carries the promise of freedom and terror in equal measure. Orpheus decides to hitch a ride with me while Belle is with Allister and Azalea is with Lily, his small form warm and reassuring between my shoulder blades. “Are you nervous?” Orpheus asks as he preens my scales with gentle precision that sends tiny shivers of comfort through my massive frame.
I rumble softly to him thatI’m fine, the sound vibrating through my chest like distant thunder. We both know I’m not fine—it’s our first time out of the nest, away from the safety we’ve known all of our lives. The familiar stone walls and protective presence of our family feel impossibly far away already.
“I’ll be honest, I’m a little on edge being sent to the lower dorms with the twins,” Orpheus admits, his voice tight with anxiety that mirrors my own.
I nod my head slightly, the movement sending ripples through the air currents around us. The thought never crossed my mind—three out of the seven of us will be in a different building altogether, separated by more than just distance. Lily roars, the sound echoing off the mountain peaks like a battle cry, and banks before starting a slow circle toward what looks like a landing field.
I can see my father standing on the edge with daddy Balor waiting for us to arrive, their familiar forms like anchors in a sea of strangers. Where are our other fathers? I scan the area, watching for them with the keen eyes of a predator assessing potential threats. Callan is with Leander, talking off to the side, their body language relaxed but alert. Abraxis is close to Mom as she waves at us, her hand cutting through the air in a gesture that makes my heart squeeze with homesickness. Vaughn is handing out envelopes at a long table, the papers rustling in the mountain breeze. Klauth is talking to what looks like a small bunch of elders off to the side, his posture commanding respect even from a distance.
Once Lily clears the field, Thorne goes in next and takes her time flexing her frill, the membrane catching the sunlight like stained glass. She looks like a carbon copy of Mom except for a few minor details—the angle of her horns, the pattern of scales along her neck. Allister goes next and makes a big show of his landing, his wings spread wide in a display that screams royal privilege. I rumble to Orpheus,There goes the royal ass. The vibration of my amusement travels through my scales to where he sits.
He laughs, the sound bright against the mountain air. “I agree—someone needs to knock him down a peg,” Orpheus says, and I’m not sure how serious he is, but the edge in his voice suggests he’s more than a little tired of our brother’s arrogance.
Dad flares his wings, and I know it’s my turn to land. The idea of shifting back in front of people outside of our nest makes my stomach clench with anxiety, scales along my sides rippling with nervous energy. Female black dragons rarely have wings in their human form,and I know I’ll draw stares and whispers the moment I shift. “I’ll be with you, Raven, don’t worry. No one is going to mess with you. Besides, look to the right.”
I look right and there’s Corvis and the other instructors from Shadowcarve, their familiar forms like bastions of safety in this sea of strangers. Knowing he and his friends are here, I can relax a little, my scales settling back into their natural pattern. He’s been training with us for as long as I can remember, his presence as familiar as family. He’s practically family, really. Though something about the way he looks at me sometimes makes my stomach flutter in ways, I don’t quite understand.
Without further hesitation, I land softly in the field, my talons touching earth without making a single sound—a skill Mom drilled into all of us until it became second nature. I remain standing, keeping my brother out of reach of everyone gathered below, protective instincts flaring even though I know he’s safe. Dad steps forward and gives the signal it’s safe, so I lay down, feeling the cool grass beneath my warm scales.
I hesitate for a moment before shifting back to my human form, feeling my bones compress and reshape, scales receding to reveal human skin. The transformation leaves me momentarily vulnerable, and before anyone can say two words to me, I rush into my father’s open arms. We wrap each other up in our wings, his massive black membranes creating a cocoon of safety that smells like home—leather and warmth and the faint scent of his cologne.
