Abraxis moves to the balcony, his voice carrying across the hall. “It’s time for the flight of the unmated females. Single males, please head to the greenhouse to watch their flight.”
Klauth walks over to me and offers his arm with paternal grace. “I’ll escort you so your birth father can receive you in the field.”
I smile up at him and sigh, feeling the weight of ceremony and expectation settling on my shoulders like a mantle. “Feel better? I know it was a tough decision.” I give his arm a squeeze as we make our way toward the tower, our footsteps echoing in the marble corridors.
“Yes, because you will use all that we have and will teach you to rule the continent fairly. No, because my son took the worst traits of both species and is too dangerous to give power to.” He shrugs, the gesture carrying decades of hard decisions.
“You and Mom can always try again?” I arch a brow at him, enjoying his startled expression.
“There’s that. We want to wait until all the children have left the nest before the next round of hatchlings.” He says with a smile that speaks of future possibilities.
“So I have a question.” We stop at the base of the tower, letting other females go ahead of me. Their nervous chatter echoes down the stone stairwell.
“Ask away. If I have the answer, I’ll tell you.” He holds my hand gently, his palm warm and reassuring.
“The non-dragons in the nest. How long will they live?” I search his eyes, watching them shift briefly to his dragon’s crimson-flecked amber gaze.
“They will live as long as your mother does. Their lifespans are tied to hers because of the scale.” He tilts his head, studying me with paternal concern. “Why do you ask, little one?”
“Being my mother’s daughter and a strong dragoness, I am bound to have more than one mate.” He nods along with my reasoning. “So if I gift them my scale and it lives, they will live as long as I do. That’s a comfort. Does it work the same with your scale? Is my life tied to yours?” I look down at his scale beneath my skin, feeling its warmth.
“No, it doesn’t. Only a female’s scale will extend a male’s life.” He laughs softly. “So if a male dragon took, say, a gargoyle as a mate, she would live only as long as her species does.”
I nod, filing away this crucial information, then look toward the stairs as the last female disappears up them. “Thank you for everything, Dad.” I kiss Klauth’s cheek, tasting the salt of nervous sweat on his skin, then head up the spiral staircase.
The stone steps are worn smooth by centuries of ceremonial use, and my footsteps echo in the narrow tower. When I reach the top, Samarais there, talking the females through what the symbolism means. When she leaps, I stay back and watch her technique. She gives me a nod of encouragement, and I run.
When I reach the edge, I jump, keeping my wings tucked in tight, gaining speed as I plummet toward the ground. The wind screams past my ears, and my heart pounds with exhilaration and terror. At the last possible moment, I shift, and my dragoness explodes into existence. We pull up inches above the treetops, my wing membranes straining against the sudden change in momentum.
I roar several times; the sound echoes across the landscape like thunder. Then, I let loose with my acid breath and ignite it in a blazing hot green flame. Like my mother, I have more than one breath weapon. The trees below sizzle and smoke where the acid touches them.
I circle the field once more and land silently despite my massive size, spreading my wings wide and roaring once more. The sound shakes the earth beneath my feet, and I can feel the vibration traveling through the ground. My birth father walks out to receive me, and I shift back to my human form.
“I think you scared the shit out of all the other females,” he chuckles, taking my hand in his as we walk toward the hall. His palm is warm and steady, grounding me after the intensity of the flight.
I reach up and adjust my diadem, feeling its weight settle more comfortably. “Good.”
“I noticed you scent-marked Corvis pretty heavily, as well as Hemlocke.” Dad arches a brow at me, his tone carefully neutral.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know they’re my mates. Leander, Titan, and Hemlocke didn’t know I understand equine until tonight.” I tilt my head, studying my father’s suddenly sheepish expression.
“Dumbasses, all of them.” He tilts his head, matching my gesture. “You understand why we hid it, right?” He stops us just outside the doors, his expression serious.
“I do. It’s okay, Dad. I’m not mad. But you need to understand I am going to mess with them.” I kiss my father’s cheek, tasting the familiar scent of home and safety, then hold on to his arm.
He knocks three times, and the doors open to reveal the glittering hall beyond. We are announced with formal pomp, our names echoing through the space.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” he says with paternal pride. That battle-hardened mask slips over his face as we walk down the aisle, transforming him from loving father to the great wyrm who terrorizes a continent.
Chapter 20
Raven
The musicthat’s playing has a beautiful melody and a steady rhythm that’s easy to fall into step with. The notes drift through the air like silk, weaving between conversations and the soft rustle of expensive fabric. The grand hall is lined with elegantly draped tables where males sit with their parents, their faces illuminated by the warm glow of hundreds of crystal chandeliers.
Dad hands me the leather pouch containing the bloodline scroll from both the Temple of Bahamut and the Temple of Tiamat. The parchment crinkles softly as I adjust it in my hands. My bloodline is double certified—a rarity that carries weight in these political waters.
I walk counter-clockwise around the room, looking at the males and then the displayed bloodlines. The scent of nervous excitement and expensive cologne fills the air, mixing with the aroma of fresh roses and candle wax. Every male offers me his best smile, and some are even bold enough to offer me a rose. Their stems are warm from their hands, carrying traces of their individual scents. I accept the gifts with a nod and a smile, then move on, my wings rustling softly with each step.
