AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When the woman finally reached them, she held out some tins to Bronx. “My boys forgot their lunches. Brooklyn said you’re visiting the school, so could you give it to them? I’d do it myself, but I have that human event to cater, and I never have enough hands.”
Before she could ask, Bronx gestured toward Percy. “This is Percy. And, Percy, this is my sister-in-law, Letitia. And of course I’ll take their lunches. For all we know, Jayden could launch some mission to sneak away to go home and get his.”
Letitia nodded at Percy and then sighed at Bronx. “Don’t remind me. That boy is going to be the death of me.” She looked back at Percy, both her smile and her eyes warm. “Thank you for helping Joey. He’s my newest nephew, and I can’t imagine not having him around.”
Percy shifted her feet. “Sure.”
The dragonwoman studied her a beat before saying, “Well, once I’m done with this event, maybe you could come over, and I’ll make your favorite meal. Especially if you’re having to eat what this pair make, as more often than not, it’s a little burnt, unless it’s a baked good. Violet has a knack with desserts, to the point I keep asking her to help me bake for events.”
Before she could stop herself, Percy blurted, “Violet is a good cook, full stop.”
Letitia blinked. “Oh?” She smiled, glanced at Violet, and said, “Sorry, Vi. I didn’t know you’d been practicing.”
Violet shrugged. “It’s mostly easy stuff, and it’s nothing like yours, Auntie Letitia. Percy just hasn’t had a lot of choices when it comes to food. Oh, and if you know of any good dinners without potatoes, then send the recipes to me. Please?”
Percy’s cheeks burned at Violet’s words about lack of choices. She wondered how much or how little the people of Stonefire knew about her.
Bronx jumped in. “We need to keep going. I’ll give the boys their lunches, Letitia. And we’ll see about the dinner.”
Once Letitia made her goodbyes, smiling yet again at Percy, they walked out of the crowded center of the clan and toward a larger building in the distance. Children’s voices drifted from the area.
Needing a distraction from wondering what everyone thought of her here, she asked, “Is that the school?”
Bronx answered, “Yes. All the students go there, from the youngest to those who’re eighteen. Although given all of the mates and the children born over the last several years, I’ve started to wonder if we’ll need to build an addition soon to accommodate them all.”
Violet nodded. “There have been a lot, haven’t there? But I think welcoming and having more humans live here is a big part of it. Maybe at some point, humans and dragons could interact freely without all the restrictions and rules and the like. That would be even better for the clan. Don’t you think so, Dad?”
Bronx nodded. “Probably. But today’s not a history lesson, Vi. And as soon as we get to the school, go visit your teachers and don’t get distracted.”
Violet sighed. “I know, I know.” She turned toward Percy. “And don’t worry, Percy. All the teachers are brilliant, even grumpy Mr. MacLeod. If you have questions, just ask them. Or the children. No matter what you were told growing up, they don’t care if your mother was human. You’re a dragon-shifter and nothing else.”
The certainty in Violet’s words made her throat tighten. Everyone kept saying that, although she still thought it too good to be true.
Thankfully, they’d reached the gate of the school, so she didn’t have to think of a reply. The dragonman who’d been playing games when she’d first woken up days ago, Tristan, walked up to them. He grunted. “Good. You’re here. The students are already out back, in the smaller practice area. This way.”
Violet waved goodbye and headed inside the building, leaving Percy alone with Bronx and Tristan.
Neither male crowded her or walked too close. She did slowly gravitate toward Bronx’s side, though, craving the familiar over the unknown. “Why do they practice outside?”
Tristan answered, “Because young dragons are unpredictable. And if they accidentally shift into their full dragon form instead of just a talon or two, they could do serious damage to the classroom and maybe even structural damage to the building.”
She glanced at Bronx and bit her lip. He smiled at her in encouragement, and she found the courage to ask Tristan another question. “You can change just a part of you?”
Tristan nodded. “Yes. It’s easier to start with only a small section. The exercise gives the children a chance to work with their dragon, not allow them to take over, and it teaches patience, which is essential for a dragon-shifter. After all, you might not always agree with what your inner beast says. However, you can’t ignore them or walk away. You’re with them for life, and you have to make it work.”
“But what if it doesn’t?”
Tristan’s brows came together. “It’s rare, but if it happens, then it usually doesn’t end well.” He looked at Percy a beat, his pupils flashing, before adding, “If you lose complete control of your inner dragon, we call it ‘going rogue.’ And without the human half to help restrain some of their animalistic urges to fuck, fight, and eat, things can go south quickly.”
Bronx said, “But that can usually be avoided if a student starts slow, building up to a full shift. By the time they can change into their dragon form, the pair has become a sort of team and has learned to share control.”
The kids were closer now. Before Percy could change her mind, she blurted, “What happens if my dragon turns rogue?”
Tristan glanced at Bronx, who nodded, before the dragonman answered, “If that happens, the DDA will hunt you down. They’ll try to capture you alive, but if it’s impossible and you’re a major threat, they’ll shoot to kill.”
Bronx said softly, “Which is why we’re moving slowly with you, Percy. But you must absolutely tell us if your dragon starts talking to you. She might be unpredictable and may require some creative thinking or problem-solving to keep her in line.”
“And if that doesn’t work?”
