“I’m Allister, Klauth’s son,” my other brother announces with that haughty tone that makes me cringe.
Solaris just shakes his head with disapproval. “A tone like that will end ye up dead, soft one. Ally or not, I’ll gut ye on the spot if needed.”
He looks back at Orpheus, who’s trying desperately not to laugh at Allister’s shocked expression.
“Pleasure’s mine. Raven carried you everywhere for two years,” Orpheus says with genuine warmth. “It’s nice to meet the man inside the egg.” His smile is sincere. “This is my mate, Eila.” He bends and kisses her temple tenderly.
“She’s a fine female,” Solaris observes with approval. I motion to Lily and Thorne to complete the introductions.
“Lily has Icarus’s egg in the carrier, and that’s Thorne. She was in the same clutch as Orpheus, Alistair, and me. Lily is our older sister by a year.” I loop my arm through Solaris’s once introductions are done and start walking across campus toward Shadowcarve on the far side.
I hold my head high as we cross the campus, my face settling into an emotionless mask I’ve perfected over years of practice. My wings are held high and slightly open behind me as we move—a display of power and confidence.
“The students give ye a wide berth, my love,” Solaris observes, pulling me out of my inner thoughts.
“Yeah, between who my parents are, being heir apparent, and the fact they’ve seen my dragoness in a rage...” I let that hang there. It’s enough of an explanation—no one wants to risk becoming a target.
After about ten minutes of walking, we arrive at Shadowcarve’s imposing walls. Corvus comes immediately to meet us, handing me my twin short swords with familiar efficiency.
“You have two choices this morning,” he says, and there’s that dangerous glint in his silver eyes. “Sparring in weapons class or the gauntlet. You’re scheduled to do both today.” He lowers his voice. “Your dad is in a foul mood and is taking the class to school.”
I slip my swords into their sheaths on my back, and Corvus moves to buckle them into place with practiced movements. He shows Solaris how the complex buckle system works, and I smile at how easily Corvus is helping him blend in.
“I’ll go help Dad calm down,” I say, kissing both of my drakes before practically skipping to the weapons circle. I arrive justin time to see Dad send Abraxis flying out of the ring with a powerful strike.
“Next!” Dad roars, and I smile, letting my dragoness rise closer to the surface.
Reaching over my shoulders, I draw both blades with smooth precision. The familiar weight settles in my hands like coming home. I clack my jaws at my father in challenge and flare my wings wide in the ancient gesture.
He flares his wings in return and clacks his jaw back at me—acceptance.
“That’s an ancient challenge. How does my mate know that?” I hear Solaris ask from the sidelines, his voice carrying surprise and interest.
Corvus explains our training from the time we could stand and hold a sword, his voice proud.
Dad doesn’t give me a second to think before he charges—one sword high, the other low, coming at me with the speed and precision of a Great Wyrm. I parry the strikes and send a wing spike at his thigh in counterattack. His wing comes down, deflecting the blow.
Clash, clash, wing. We strike and block, going blow for blow for over ten minutes. The familiar rhythm of combat settles my nerves, and I’m having the time of my life sparring with my dad like we used to when I was young.
“Raven, stop toying with your father and end it,” Klauth’s voice booms across the courtyard.
I move faster than Dad expects, catching him off balance with a feint he falls for. I take him to the ground hard, both swordspiercing through his leathers and pinning his arms out to the sides. My talons are positioned inches from his throat with a snarl.
My vision suddenly swims sickeningly. Dad’s face flickers between father and target, and instinct screams at me to finish the kill. I launch myself backward using my wings, putting distance between us immediately.
“Get him up...” I cover my face with trembling hands and close my eyes, trying to breathe through the sudden rage flooding my system.
“What’s wrong, my love?” Solaris is there instantly, kneeling in front of me and pulling me against his solid warmth.
“Her dragoness sometimes forgets who’s family and starts making people look like targets,” I hear Corvus explain quietly. “It’s worse when she’s stressed or the bond is incomplete.”
“She’s young, and we’re half-bonded,” Solaris says, his voice soothing as he pulls me onto his lap. “When the bond is fully in place, my drake should steady her dragoness.” He presses my face to his throat and just holds me tight, his heartbeat steady against my ear.
“Are you okay, sir?” I hear Corvus ask with concern.
“Yeah, is Raven okay?” Thauglor asks, and I feel guilt crash over me. How can he be asking about me when I almost killed him?
“Physically, aye. She’s upset that she almost killed ye,” Solaris says, pressing me harder against his chest protectively.
