“We don’t know. King Helmut told me he was already showing some signs. So we don’t have a lot of time.”
I nodded.
“I’m sorry, Bear. I should’ve trained you.”
“We can’t fix the past. Unless there is a dragon that can jump back in time.”
Dad chuckled tiredly and groaned. “Don’t make me laugh, please.”
“Sorry, why don’t they heal you.”
“Not everyone has the luxury to get healed by others.”
“You are my father! You kept me alive until now.” I wanted to cuss, instead I pulled my hands through my hair as I leaned on his bed, close to him.
“It’s not what I mean.” He smiled and took a piece of my hair that fell from my ponytail and placed it behind my ear. “They can only heal humans.”
My gaze flickered to his, and tears pooled in his eyes. What was he saying? He wasn’t human.
“I showed you the last time how real our world was and I almost scared you to death with my other form.”
“You’re a beasty?”
His lips curved. “Dragon. I’m a Copper-horn. I had a bond with your grandfather, Louie. He was my Dragonian. I was there when your father was born and was part of his life until we parted. I knew him and loved him as much as I loved you.”
“Is my grandfather still alive?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I didn’t give him my essence.”
“Why not?” I whispered with knitted eyebrows.
“He wasn’t like your dad. He treated me like I was his property and not as an alliance. Your dad changed that with a war.”
“A war?” My eyes grew.
“Your dad was the greatest king that ever ruled Paegeia, Bear. I’m sorry that you won’t meet them. They were a power couple. Ruled with the soul, heart, and mind. You can’t get a better monarchy than that.”
Warmth spread through my core. I wished I knew them. How would it have been if they had raised me? I pushed the what if to the back of my mind? “So, I didn’t process your dragon form?”
He shook his head.
“Dad, I was ten. What were you thinking?”
He laughed again, clutching his ribs.
“Sorry.”
“I’m grateful for laughter and the pain. It means that I’m still alive.”
“Wait, if you were my grandfather’s dragon and my dad was like 250 years old when he had me. How old are you?”
“Four hundred and fifty years, give or take.”
“Fox was older, and he looked half your age.”
Dad chuckled. “I haven’t morphed in a long time, and if we don’t morph, we age. I know it’s a crappy one. The dragons like Fox and them, they don’t care if humans see them or not. If a human sees them, they make sure it’s the last thing they saw.”
I got his meaning. They killed them.
