“I’d expect this healing from Balor, not Raven. Basilisks regenerate bone and tissue faster than any other living species.” The doctor’s tone carries surprise mixed with something else—suspicion, maybe. I furrow my brow and look at a very pale Mina and a concerned-looking Thauglor.
I walk over to Thauglor when he moves away from Klauth and arch a brow at him, keeping my voice low. “My gut is telling me something is happening that not everyone knows about.”
“Have Corvis fill you and Keir in.” He shuts his mouth promptly after that, his jaw tight with tension.
I return to the table with more questions than answers, my mind racing through possibilities. No matter what is going on in the background—whatever secret they’re keeping—I will learn whatever the doctors and Mina will teach me to take care of my mate.
Because she’s mine to protect, and I won’t fail her.
What feels like forever later,we’re finally done treating Raven’s wing. My shoulders ache from standing so long, and the smell of antiseptic clings to my clothes. Corvis scoops her up with Thauglor’s help, cradling her against his chest like she’s made of glass. Then I hear Abraxis; his voice is quieter than I’ve ever heard it. “Was it like that with me?” He looks from Klauth to Mina, then back over to the table, staring at it like he’s seeing it for the first time.
“Worse. You had a terrible prognosis.” Klauth says as he pulls Mina to him before leading her out of the room. The weight in his voice tells me just how close Abraxis came to never flying again.
“I didn’t know.” Abraxis says as he slowly turns his gaze to me, and for once there’s no arrogance in his expression—just raw vulnerability.
“Maybe try to be less of a dick to your loved ones. Especially Raven, especially now.” I snort smoke in his direction—a thin plume that tastes like ash in my mouth—before turning to leave. What’s the rest of this school year going to look like for Raven? I know she can still attend most of her classes, but it’s the Shadowcarve ones that worry me. The ones that require shifting, flying, combat.
I wander into our apartment and find Thauglor on the couch with his head in his hands. His wings are drooped so low the tips drag on thefloor, and I can feel the anguish radiating off of him like heat from a fire. The air feels heavy with his despair.
Before I get the chance to say anything, Mina drags Keir and Corvis out of Raven’s room, her expression intense. “We need to talk.” The way she says it makes Thauglor’s head snap up. I watch Thauglor lock the apartment door—the deadbolt clicking with finality—and motion to the back of the living space, away from Raven’s room.
“We need to talk to you about the clutch Raven was born in.” Thauglor says and looks at Mina, his sapphire eyes serious.
“Something unexpected happened when I laid the clutch she was born in. Thorne is a blend of all three fathers.” Mina inhales deeply, her chest rising and falling, and looks at Thauglor.
“Until the gathering, we thought she was the only one. Apparently, Raven is also a chimera, like Thorne is.” Thauglor says and looks at Corvis, waiting for confirmation.
“I witnessed Raven in shifted form use the basilisk gift of stone gaze. As far as we know, she can’t do it in her human form.” Corvis says, and Keir stares at me, then looks at Corvis, his storm-gray eyes wide.
“That explains how she’s healing so fast.” Keir says, his voice full of wonder and something like awe.
“Yeah, the question is what else can she do? Can Thorne heal like she does? Will she give birth to other chimeras like her when she has her first clutch?” Mina says, and my breath catches in my lungs. The implications hit me like a physical blow. I glance over at the cursed egg in the carrier sitting on the couch, and suddenly everything feels more complicated.
“Two dragons, a black unicorn, and a blink hound.” I say, then look at Mina, watching her process what that genetic combination might create.
Her mouth works several times before she just nods. “Add to that her unique bloodline—black, red, green, iron, and titanium dragons plus basilisk.” The way Mina says it makes Thauglor pause. He does a slow horror movie turn to look at the door to his daughter’s room, and I can see the fear mixing with pride on his face.
“She could potentially be the strongest dragoness in existence.” He says, then looks at Corvis with an intensity that makes the air feel charged.
“We know she’s immune to acid.” Corvis says, glancing between her parents.
“Being able to use stone gaze means she’s immune to that too.” I add in my mind racing through the possibilities.
“Fire can’t hurt her.” Keir says and shrugs like this is common knowledge.
“What do you mean fire can’t hurt her?” I turn to face Keir fully, my unicorn suddenly very interested.
“She was cooking one night, and the pan set on fire. She shifted her hand and used her talons to grab the meat out of the pan. No screaming, no burns I could see.” Keir admits, describing watching Raven touch fire and emerge unscathed.
“I don’t know what’s more concerning—that you were able to watch her for this long and not be seen, or the fact she pulled her dinner out of literal fire.” I sit back on the arm of the chair, watching Raven’s parents parse the information they’ve been given. Their expressions shift between shock, concern, and calculation. Keir shrugs his shoulders as he looks between Corvis and me.
We watch her parents leave; the door closing softly behind them, and we look at each other. The silence stretches for a moment. There are three of us now, so sleeping arrangements need to be adjusted. “Callan gave us a date night planner to use as our nest grows.” I mention as Ireach behind the couch to pull it out—a leather-bound book smells like new paper. “If everyone can agree, we can cycle our turns based on order of bonding. Well, including impending bonding.” Keir nods, and we look to Corvis.
“That sounds fair. So, like a one, two, three count, then repeat?” Corvis arches a brow after he says it, his silver eyes moving between us.
“I think that works. I mean until Raven claims another mate and the last one hatches.” Shrugging my shoulders, I look at Keir, watching for his reaction.
“How many mates will she have?” He looks between Corvis and me, his expression curious rather than jealous.
