“Your breed is also a bit of a wild card. There’s no predicting when it will manifest in a bloodline or what triggers it. Had we gone off genetics, you would have been aglücklich, a luck—or wish—dragon like your mother. That was the most likely scenario.”
A large part of the reason our parents wanted Rían and me to end up together was so he could protect me, but it had me curious if there was more to it. “Do you think the wish had anything to do with what I became?”
Had a slip of the tongue or an awkward turn of phrase twisted my fate even further?
“The wish his mother and yours spent on you was a hope that, as mates, you would fall in love and bind their families even tighter. There’s always a possibility their interference altered more than your futures, but it’s just as likely fate pushed back.” Her gaze drifted to me. “According to Roe Seon, a renowned dragon scholar, you’re afeuervogel, which translates to firebird. It’s the dragon equivalent of a phoenix.”
“I’m abird?”
“Nowadays they do claim dinosaurs had feathers.” She clasped a hand over the foot nearest her. “You are not abird, Ana. You’re a dragon.Feuervogelare compared to phoenixesbecause their powers share, I suppose you could say, a similar origin. Both stem from elemental magic. That’s why control has been a struggle for you. Part of it is the result of your fledgling status, of course, but summoning your flame also roused your dragon.”
“So, when I struggled to douse the fire, I was really attempting to rein in my dragon?”
“That appears to be the case, yes. The push-pull of energies must have been confusing for her. Likely she couldn’t determine whether you were calling her out or not, given how quickly you shoved her down as soon as she began rising.” Her low chuckle drew my attention to her. “That you succeeded on even one occasion is miraculous for someone new to their powers.”
“I get how that could make learning to control my fire difficult, but what was different today?”
“Aside from your mate’s life being in danger?” She hummed low in her throat. “Your practice must have loosened the seal, prying its edges more with each session until it allowed her to break through sooner than expected.”
As hard as I was fighting to retain this torrent of new information, I had one big question left.
“Does this mean I don’t have an actual dragon form?” I bit my bottom lip. “Will I be able to fly?”
“Your form, from what I understand, will evolve over time. You’ll likely wear your dragon’s essence like a cloak but retain your human shape until your bond matures. Roe believes, in time, with practice, that you will dissolve into the element during your shifts. You’ll become a creature of pure fire.” She gripped my ankle in a reassuring hold. “As to the rest, I see no reason why you won’t be able to fly.” She shrugged. “Phoenixes do, and their feathers are no more substantial than your wings.”
“I’m not sure why that’s important to me when flying makes me reach for the Dramamine every time.”
“I wouldn’t let the motion sickness get you down. You know how some people only get carsick when someone else drives? You might be the same way with flying. You won’t know until you try.”
“None of this sounds too horrible.” I flicked a glance at the door. “Why keep it from Rían?”
“Consider it a formality.” She placed her hands on her thighs. “These types of conversations are usually held between a parent or guardian and a child. Confirmation of the child’s breed, and all it entails, is kept a secret until the child’s coming out party. That’s when the big announcement is made.” She stared into her lap. “You’ve lost out on experiencing so much. I didn’t want to cost you this too.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t feel like you have to humor me, but I would be honored to throw your party. You won’t hurt my feelings if you decline. This is something you should do, or not, for yourself.”
“I can tell Rían?”
“You can tell anyone you want or no one at all. Party or no party, it’s your choice.”
The softness in her voice and features confirmed how much this meant to her, and it was within my power to let her have this moment.
“I never had a surprise party as a kid, but they always looked like a good time. This is even better, because I’m not in danger of wetting my pants if someone jumps out and screamssurprisein my face.” The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. “Let’s do it.”
“This will be so much fun.” She jumped to her feet, ready to take on the world, or at least caterers. “I’ll start planning today, and we’ll block out some potential dates that work for you to run past the others.”
Seeing her like this, I got a glimpse into Rían’s childhood, into the love and care put into raising him.
How had the meager scraps of affection I was fed as a kid ever sustained me?
“That sounds great. Thank you. I mean it.”
“We’re family.” She flicked away my thanks with a flip of her hand. “This is what family does.”
Not all familywas the first thought to pop into my head, but I was done dredging up comparisons. I had to let go of the past and move on. I couldn’t allow it to chain me down, to hold me back, and resolving the situation with Carmichael would go a long way toward helping me achieve that personal goal.
Oh no.
