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“He is?” I jumped to my feet and my head whipped all around, desperately trying to find him while my heart slammed against my chest in anticipation.
A gentle hand on my arm brought my search to a stop. “I’m sorry, Baby, you can’t see him. Only I have the power tosoul walkbetween the plane of the living and the ascended. You will only be able to see me.”
Disappointment crashed into me, but I nodded. “I understand.”
“But he is here, though.” She grinned as the hope returned to my eyes. “Standing next to you.” Her gaze went to a spot to my right, and my heart jumped to my throat.
Swallowing, I faced the spot she had shown me. “Dad?” My voice was barely audible, anxiety and uncertainty clinging to my throat. “Are you there?”
His answer was most unexpected. A gentle breeze swept through me, warm and… emotional? I didn’t know how to describe the feeling, it was too brief to define, but I felt it as strongly and as real as anything I had ever felt in my life.
“He’s hugging you,” Mom added, her eyes shimmering with tears once more.
Like an idiot, I wrapped my arms around the air where he would be, wanting to hug him too, only to see my mom cringe.
“He already let go.”
“Oh.”
Laughter burst from us, and an air of amusement reached me, somehow letting me know Dad was laughing too.
“Really, dude?! You haven’t seen me in years and a two second hug is all I get?” I joked, wiping the couple of tears that escaped me—whether from crying or laughing I had no idea.
The warm and comforting breeze returned to me, more powerful, and I hugged the air again, imagining him there. Several seconds passed before it disappeared this time, and I lowered my arms as it did, stepping back with a sense of contentment I didn’t think I’d ever feel again. I could feel him close, and that was all I needed.
“Your father wants to thank you for defending his honor.” Mom rolled her eyes, and I couldn’t help but do it too, even though a full grin captured my lips.
Dad was the goofiest person ever, and I could just imagine him saying that over-dramatically.
“But he also urges you to understand why Evie, Willow, and the others feel the way they do about him. He says you need to make things right with them because they are your family now, and you need each other now more than ever.”
“I know, Dad. I will. I feel terrible about our argument, but it also hurt me to see them treat your memory like that.”
“We know, Son.” Grabbing my hand, Mom guided me to the beach log again and we sat on it. “Khayden also says to focus on looking for the accord Evie’s parents made us sign. That will explain everything to them and reveal the truth. Your father’s name will be restored after that.”
“I will.”
“He says you need to hone your skills with the Dragons more. You have been paying too much attention to warrior training. Your true place is in the sky, with the Sky Legion.” She sighed. “And that his journal has everything he learned about them. He hopes that will help you. To continue reading and double—no—triple your training with Tharion and the others. Also, he wants to know how many rides you have so far.”
“Um, well. I have Tharion, Venom, Vyper, and Draco—I assume… So four, I guess?”
“That won’t do. He says you are going to need many more to defeat Raithian.”
“Okay,” I whispered, trying to think of what else I could do to get more Dragons. “I guess I could scout for them. And I can also go visit the ones in the honeycombs who are not bonded.”
“Yes, you must. You need—will you wait a moment?!” she suddenly squealed at the space next to her, eyes wide. “Let me at least finish what I’m saying before you throw something else at me. You’ve given me five things to say in the last two seconds, Khayden! Yes, I know this is serious. I-Yes, I know that too. Of course I know he needs help to make this happen, but you are going to overwhelm him—” She stopped talking, clearly exasperated, and glared at me. “Did I say I was at peace here with your father? Because I obviously misspoke.”
Laughter escaped me again, and a ray of joy coursed through me. I missed this. All of this. Their arguments, their playfulness. Their love for each other. Just having them near me again as a family.
“Sky Gods, give me patience for this stubborn man.” Her lips twitched the next moment, and she tilted her cheek in the air as though he was kissing it. “Yes, I forgive you. Now, will you let me speak?” Giving me a dubious glance as though she didn’t believe his promise to behave for a second, she sighed. “He says you need to hone your abilities so that—”
Her head whipped around, eyes throwing daggers at him, and I tried my best not to laugh.
“I will ask him that too, now let me finish!” Glancing at me again, she shook her head knowingly. “You need to hone your abilities so that they will follow your commands. You were born of Dragon blood, Son. You are as much a part of them as you are a part of us.”
Her hands held mine tightly, both love and urgency filling her gaze.
“You are the last Prince of Caelisium, Braxton, and the true heir to the Dragon Throne.”
