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The mismatched colors were odd but lovely, as were my new gleaming, fingernail-sized scales that were somehow softer than my other skin. I wasn’t a bit ashamed to show my new differences off either—for the first time in a long time I felt beautiful inside and out. I didn’t care that I didn’t look like everyone else—conformity is overrated, at least according to Megan. I was something completely different and I loved it.
“You’re gorgeous, Katydid,” Avery said frankly. “A real knock-out.”
“Thank you, Avery.” I smiled and blushed, loving the fact that I could push my hair out of my face and see everyone at the table clearly now.
“I just don’t understand how it happened, though.” Emma sounded bewildered. “I mean, how do you go from human, to Nocturne, to Drake just like that?” She snapped her fingers to illustrate.
“It’s because Kaitlyn was never really fully human to begin with,” Megan explained, much to my surprise.
“I wasn’t?” I asked—this was news to me.
“Huh-uh.” She shook her head. “Avery and I did some digging in the Spell Library and found some records about humans who have turned into Others. I mean, other than Made Nocturnes, which any human can be made into with enough bites from a Vampire.”
“I suppose the Vampire in question must find a human worth biting so many times,” Griffin murmured, smiling at her.
“Not now.” Megan blushed and slapped him playfully on the arm. “Anyway, humans who can be changed are called Mutatios. But they’re really rare. You have to have the Semina Magnitudine—the Seeds of Greatness—inside you to begin with or it can never happen.”
“And then the seeds have to be activated,” Avery went on, picking up where Megan had left off. “Usually by some traumatic event in your life.” He looked at me. “In your case, the fire that took your parents.”
“But then why didn’t she turn into a Drake right away?” Emma asked. “Why did she have to become a Made Nocturne first?”
“I don’t believe Kaitlyn could have become a Drake without being a Nocturne first,” Megan said thoughtfully. “She needed that period of time where she was living exclusively off a Drake’s blood to help complete her transformation from human to Nocturne to Drake. It was the only way her body could make such a drastic change.”
“That’s also why you couldn’t heal her scars—even with your Blood Magic,” Avery pointed out to Megan. “Because they were marks of transition—they weren’t meant to be healed, they were meant to be changed.”
“Your theory would certainly explain why my Drake was so instantly attracted to Kaitlyn,” Ari said thoughtfully. He had been sitting quietly beside me, holding my hand as I talked to my Coven-mates. “He sensed these ‘seeds of greatness’ in you.” He smiled at me. “Of course, he couldn’t put that into words. And all I knew was that there was something special about you, L’lorna—though I couldn’t put my finger on it. But you stole my heart completely and never gave it back.”
“Ari…” I blushed and smiled at him, squeezing his hand under the table.
“So are you going to go back and be the Queen of the Drakes?” Emma asked curiously.
I shook my head.
“Not right away. Ari’s father is still ruling. He just had to crush a coup attempt so it’s not a good time for him to hand the throne over.”
“Not that I want it, yet,” Ari said, shrugging. “I am quite happy and content to spend a few more years here at Nocturne Academy. Besides, I have to look after my cousin and my little sister, Jalli.”
As if mentioning her had called her to us, Jalli herself appeared carrying a tray and right behind her was Saint, making certain she didn’t trip or fall. Jalli still had her odd, hopping way of walking so the contents of her tray were in constant jeopardy, but it wouldn’t be a problem much longer…
The morning after the Battle of the Feasting Hall, as it was being called, Ari’s father had called both me and Saint before him in the Audience Chamber.
“You have both had a hand in saving the Sky Lands from a base usurper,” he said, formally nodding to Saint and me as he stood on the golden dais. “Santiago, you brought my brother and his Drakes to save us from Sanchez and the traitorous Chamberlains who followed him in his treachery. And you, Kaitlyn,” he said, looking at me, “Persevered the lives of my lovely queen and of my most beloved daughter, Jalissa.”
Saint and I both bowed and I had thought the ceremony of thanks was over. But the Alpha Drake had surprised me by speaking again.
“It is my wish to grant you both a boon,” he said to us. “You may have anything you ask as long as it is within my power to grant it. Now, name your desire. Kaitlyn, you may speak first.”
