“No, not a brother. I thought you saw me as a sister, if I’m being honest.” I close my eyes, savoring the warmth of his hand against my cheek and breathing in his familiar scent of baked bread and ancient stone. “It wasn’t until you did this that I realized I wasn’t sister-zoned.” I place my free hand over his, feeling the strength in his fingers.
When I open my eyes, he’s closing the distance between us. His lips touch mine, and I think my heart might explode from the intensity of sensation. The kiss is gentle but electric, sending sparks racing along my nerves.
I close us within my wings, creating an intimate cocoon of black membrane that blocks out the watching crowd. I drive my hands up into his hair—soft as silk and smelling faintly of baked bread—and kiss him back with growing passion. There’s a flicker of something, an extra warmth blooming in my chest. A pull to be close to him that feels deeper than mere attraction.
He breaks the kiss, sipping gently from my bottom lip, and I open my wings when he pulls back. The cool air rushes back in, bringing with it the sounds of the hall and the reality of our audience.
“Two more weeks until your birthday,” he says with a smile that makes my knees weak.
I laugh, the sound bubbling up from deep in my chest. “No, in two weeks is Lily’s birthday. Five days until my birthday. My clutch was born the week before Lily’s, a year later.”
Corvis double-blinks, his face going through a series of expressions as he processes this information. He nods, walking me back over to his father’s table, his hand tightening its grip on mine like he’s afraid I might disappear. He looks at my dad with something approaching panic. “Five days until Raven’s birthday?”
He asks as if I hadn’t just told him the answer. Thauglor’s eyes go comically wide as he looks from Corvis to me, then back to Corvis, and nods slowly.
“Did you confuse mine and Lily’s birthdays again, Dad?” I smirk, knowing full well the dads screw this up every year without fail.
“Yes?” He looks sheepish, then turns to my mom, who just shakes her head at him with fond exasperation.
I roll my eyes at both of them. “Males, I swear.” I look over at Corvis’s father, who’s still staring at my bloodline scroll like it might bite him. “Accept it or not.”
I look back at Corvis, letting my eyes roam over his body with obvious appreciation—the broad shoulders, the way his formal attire fits his frame, the strength evident in his stance. Then I look back at my mom and make a decision.
She comes running over with quick, light steps and jumps into my arms without hesitation. I spread my wings wide and fly us out through the open skylight above the hall, the cool night air rushing past our faces as we ascend.
The minute we clear the building, I let go of Mom, and she falls gracefully before shifting into her dragon form. Within seconds, I shift as well, my massive black form exploding into existence. We fly out over the ocean along the coast, following the familiar route we take when we don’t want to be tracked.
The salt air fills my nostrils, and the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs below provides a soothing rhythm. Mom knows I need to get my head straight after what just happened. We rumble back and forth in our dragon voices, and I fill her in on everything I’ve figured out. She explains the history from her perspective, and the secrecy finally makes sense. If anyone had known Corvis was my mate, they would have used him against my parents.
We land at the site that was once Klauth’s castle, shifting back to human form on the windswept plateau. I walk to the cliff’s edge and look down into the water as it crashes against the rock face with thunderous force. The spray creates a fine mist that tastes of salt and freedom.
“Did you always know I would ascend and not Allister?” I turn and look over my shoulder at Mom, whose golden eyes reflect the starlight.
Mina steps close and snuggles against my side. I wrap my wing over her shoulder, noting how much I’ve grown—she’s only five foot six, making me almost three inches taller. “When he was starting fightsand talking down to everyone from a young age, I knew he had taken after the worst traits of both species.”
“And then there’s me.” I smile and look out over the water, watching the moonlight dance on the waves.
“You are probably the most even-tempered of my children. I think it’s because you spent most of your time with the adults. You took on responsibilities far younger than the others.” I feel Mom sigh, her breath warm against my side.
“That’s hysterical—the black dragon with the iron dragon scales is the most even-tempered one.” I smile and kiss Mom’s temple, tasting the salt spray on her skin.
“You took after the diplomatic side of the iron dragons. For whatever reason, all the children always listened to you.” Her voice carries the weight of memories, warm with maternal pride.
“Diplomatic side of the irons, the temperament of a black, and the cunning of a green.” A laugh escapes my lips. “My poor mates are in trouble.”
“All five of them are, that’s for sure,” Mom says, and I pull away sharply.
“Five?” I hold up five fingers and stare at her, my heart skipping a beat.
“Yes, you’ve met three of them. You’ve identified two of them, and the fourth isn’t on the continent at the moment. The last one, I can’t get a fix on yet.” She gets that wicked gleam in her golden eyes, and I shake my head in disbelief.
“I think I’ve developed my wyrm gift already.” I look toward the rising moon, watching the stars stretch out over the mountains to the west beyond the temple and campus grounds.
“What makes you say that?” She tilts her head, studying me with maternal curiosity.
“I can understand other species’ languages.” I flex my wings, feeling the evening breeze ruffle through the membranes. Being a monarch, it would help me immensely to understand everyone I need to speak to.
“Oh shit, so you understood Leander’s and Titan’s conversation.” I simply nod when she says it. “Then Leander’s and Hemlocke’s conversation too.” I nod again, and she whistles low. “The world is in deep shit.”
