The surrounding landscape changed, and the dirt became gravel underneath our feet. The mountains loomed overhead, monstrous and tall. Snow capped their tops, while cedars and other trees grew in spurts around small areas of land. I felt the air grow thinner, and was glad I’d brought my inhaler just in case.
Ethan rounded a large mountain, and I gasped. In the middle of the mountain range was a small village. The houses themselves were built into the side of the mountains, carved out within the rock. The other remaining buildings in the center of the clearing were made of stone. Huge cauldrons bubbled with thick magma— the source of a dragon’s inner fire. Shifters occasionally stopped by to drink magma from the cauldrons before spreading their leathery wings and taking off into the sky.
“Do dragons have to drink magma to sustain their breath?” I asked as we passed the largest cauldron, which was more or less a fountain gushing lava in the center of the square.
“No, but it makes their breath stronger,” Ethan said. “The dragon sorceresses created a sort of funnel that reaches down to the mantle of the earth, so it’ll bubble up into the cauldrons for the dragons to drink from. A dragon that drinks from the mantle can hold their fire breath for minutes instead of seconds. There’s a rumor some dragons can even sustain a flame for hours, but I don’t believe that. Dragons like to brag, you know.”
Dragons perched everywhere, on mountaintops and in large trees. Sorceresses stood in the center of town, creating illusions from the smoke that their dragons blew. I watched as smoke dragons flew, dancing with women made of cinders amongst the clouds. Blacksmiths worked in forges along the gravel road— dragons were particularly skilled in making weaponry. One dragon heated his forge with his fire breath before he changed back into a man and began tempering a sword.
The temperature was hot here from all the surrounding dragons breathing fire. I slipped off my coat and placed it over Ethan’s back as my head swiveled this way to that.
“Welcome to the dragon village,” Ethan said.
People glanced at us, and a few bowed as we walked by in respect to Ethan, but mostly we went ignored. We passed a fighting ring. Dragons wrestled with each other in their shifter forms, making granite shake down from the mountains above.
“There are a lot of jewelry stores here,” I said. “And banks.” There seemed to be one on every corner.
“Well, the rumors are true. Dragons love hoarding gems and gold. It’s not unusual for a dragon Arcanea— or, as they call themselves, drakens— to become a jeweler, banker, or accountant. The dragon Faction maintains our treasury here in Malovia.Most business is done here, in the dragon village.”
“It’s beautiful.” There were carved stone statues of dragon heroes all throughout the village, decorated with gemstones and adorned with wildflowers. The dragons took great pride in how their village looked.
“It’s all right, for a dragon.” Ethan gave a careless shrug. He didn’t seem very impressed. By the glint in his eye, I could tell he was thinking of his own village.
“Will you take me to the wolven village?” I asked. I wanted to see where I’d come from.
“Sometime,” Ethan said. “Though not now. The pack is very distrusting of outsiders. You are one of us, Emma, but since you have been shunned, you have yet to prove yourself to the pack. They will not welcome you currently. Or I, as your mate.”
I frowned. “Will I ever be accepted by my own people?”
“Yes. I will fight for it,” Ethan said. “Once it is safe, I will take you there and show you the pack’s wonders.”
If I ever was welcomed by the Arcanea again. Being shunned really fucking sucked.
We wound up the road to the highest part of the mountain range. My mouth dropped open when I looked skyward. A huge stone mansion had been carved out of the side of the biggest mountain. Marble columns stood in front of a great golden gate that had two large statues of dragons protecting the outside. Servants opened the gate for us. My neck craned upward as I observed the dragon statues, which had to be at least a hundred feet tall.
Down the road was what looked like some sort of factory. Servants ran around it, carrying large wooden crates that they stacked onto the backs of dragons.
“The Slasky family owns one of the most popular alehouses in the world. Their award-winning ale is sold in nearly every country,” Ethan explained as we approached the mansion. “Stefan’s family is certainly not hurting for money.”
No, they were not. As we came to the front door of the mansion, I dismounted and Ethan changed back into a man. The doors opened, seemingly of their own accord. I stepped inside. The opening room of the mansion was lit by a skylight, cut into the mountain’s rock. The floor underneath us was marble, a depiction of a map of Malovia etched into the stone. A crystal chandelier hung above us, and two grand staircases wrapped around in a circle to the second floor above. Flaming torches lined with gold burned on the walls. Sculptures and gems were displayed in glass cases every few feet. Elaborate paintings draped the walls, above velvet benches. It was like walking into a beautiful museum instead of a house.
Two people were waiting for us in the middle of the room. They both had black hair and dark eyes. The man was tall and tan, with a broad nose and a clean ruby suit. He looked a lot like Stefan. The woman beside him had her hair curled in a fashionable way, with pointy heels and a sleek pencil skirt with a matching blazer. They gave kind smiles, though I felt intimidated.
“Ethan, it’s wonderful to see you,” the woman said. She reached out and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which he returned. “We haven’t seen you in ages.”
“I’ve been busy, Mom,” Ethan said, and I felt a spurt of surprise. I was so glad that Ethan knew these people— well enough to consider them parents. I knew he and Stefan grew up together, but I was surprised they were this warm with each other.
The man gave a hearty laugh. “Busy with your new mate, I see,” he said as he took Ethan into a manly embrace, clapping him on the back. “We all know boys get distracted when they bond.”
Ethan slightly blushed, and the woman slapped her husband on the shoulder. “Be polite, Jonathan. We have a guest.”
Ethan grinned broadly. “Emma, I’d like to introduce you to Jonathan and Miroslava Slasky, two of the best Arcanea I know.”
“Welcome to our home,” Miroslava said kindly, and she took my hands in hers. “As Ethan’s mate, you have a place of honor here. We are glad to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” I responded in relief. I appreciated they didn’t bring up my shunning. It felt good to be treated normal around here, for once. I’d half been expecting a lecture when I arrived about what had happened in the Contest.
“Stefan and Irena are already in the dining room. Come.” Miroslava led the way down the long hall. As we proceeded into the depths of the mountain, it got dark, lit only by the sconces lining the walls. The mansion was perfectly homey for a dragon who wanted to curl up inside their lair, but as a wolven, I would’ve preferred more windows for moonlight to slip through. This place was just too dark.
