Now, he laughs, his eyes lighting up. “I appreciate your reasoning, but no. Most dragon shifters may have wings and the ability to fly, but only air dragons can master the energy in the sky. Just as only a fire dragon can breathe fire and a water dragon can control liquid.”
I tip my head, curious. “You said, ‘mostdragon shifters.’ Surely, all dragon shifters have wings?”
A shadow passes across his expression. “Not necessarily.”
Before I can respond, he gives me a gentle smile. “You ask a lot of questions.”
“I need to learn about my world.”
He arches an eyebrow at me “Yourworld?”
I flush. “The world around me.”
“Hmm.”
I roll my eyes at him. “No, I’m not going to turn into a raging megalomaniac, trying to take over the world.”
Ryuji’s tone is far sterner than I was expecting. “Your own father seems to believe otherwise.”
I take a breath. And then two more. “My father may create the very thing he fears.”
Ryuji folds his hands in his lap. We’ve sat like this for long enough that my legs are going numb, but he doesn’t seem even slightly uncomfortable.
“That is the nature of fear,” he says. “It can be self-fulfilling.”
I can only nod, the tension returning to my voice. “Then I have no hope. Only revenge.”
Ryuji suddenly looks baffled and bemused, an expression he doesn’t seem to try to hide as he shakes his head at me. “A dark creature who speaks of hope. I never thought I would behold such a thing.”
With that, he rises to his feet. The moment I try to follow, my numb legs get the better of me. I’d rather stay put than wobble in front of him, so I remain where I am.
Somehow, he doesn’t loom over me. His presence now is as peaceful as the ocean air gently cooling my frayed emotions.
I wonder if this is the true power of an air dragon, to slip between breaths as easily as a breeze and create a sense of safety. Safety that could be false or true.
“We will leave now,” he says. “Miku will return tomorrow. I will visit from time to time and we will have tea, Veda Nostra, Daughter of Assholes. We can talk more then.”
So it’s to be a daily guard and random check-ins from the boss himself.
It’s to be expected. I’m more surprised by the fact that he isn’t leaving a guard with us at all times.
“I look forward to your visits.” I finally rise to my feet, managing to ease upward without embarrassing myself.
Strife also rises from his haunches, having remained resolutely quiet the whole time, just as I asked. The back of my hand nudges his head, brushing behind his ear, a gesture of gratitude.
Ryuji gives me a shallow bow and then crosses to the door, calling to his dragons. Miku follows close on his heels and within moments, they’re airborne.
The entire horde of dragons takes off into the air in a rush of wind and wings, disappearing across the bright sky.
I stand in the shadow of the porch, considering what Ryuji said about the nature of fear while my family gathers around me.
“Fuck,” Lucian whispers. “That is not how I thought that fight would go.”
Anarchy gives him a sultry smile. “With Darkness, anything is possible.”
The keeper’s attention is on me, his dragon eyes dark and full of shadows. “What now, my Veda?”
My mind is churning. There are so many things I want.
