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Violet stopped in place, and Percy had to do the same. “My birthday is in a few months, and I can’t wait to finally get my tattoo. It’s sort of the line between childhood and adulthood for a dragon-shifter.”
Since it hadn’t been in her books, she asked, “Have you picked yours out?”
“No, my dad did, soon after I was born.” She paused and added, “A little later than most babies, but he was still grieving my mum at the time.”
Percy’s gaze moved from the window to Violet’s face. At the sadness there, she nearly hugged the girl.
Nearly.
Violet continued, “But later, my dad told me how my mother mostly designed it. That’s another reason I can’t wait. Then I’ll always have a little piece of my mum with me, always.”
For some reason, at the wistfulness in Violet’s voice, tears prickled Percy’s eyes. After clearing her throat, she replied, “I’d like to see yours later, if you’ll show me.”
Violet smiled again. “Of course I will! Maybe it’ll give you ideas about your own someday.”
She was about to say that she’d probably never have one, even if she could get her dragon to come out, but Nikki emerged from the shop with a tall dark-haired human male at her side.
For a beat, Nikki blinked but then blurted, “I’m so sorry about last time, Percy. I didn’t even think. I promise I wasn’t trying to be mean or cruel to you.”
The true regret in Nikki’s voice—or, at least, that was what Percy suspected it was—made her uncomfortable.
As the dragonwoman’s gaze grew more frantic and worried, Percy said, “It’s okay.”
“Really?”
Not trusting her voice, she grunted.
Nikki made as if to touch her but then stopped herself. And for some reason, Percy wished people would stop doing that around her.
The purple light in her head grew brighter and brighter for five seconds before returning to normal.
Nikki spoke again. “Oh, and this sexy male is my mate, Rafe. He’s human, if you couldn’t tell.”
The human sighed. “I’m sure she can, Nikki. Dragon-shifters love to say how we smell ‘really human’ to tease us.”
She grinned at her mate. “Well, itisa distinctive scent.” She leaned in and took a deep inhalation. “But I’m partial to yours.”
Rafe laughed, and Percy couldn’t drag her gaze away from the pair. Here were yet more people comfortable with each other, teasing each other, and all without guarded looks, or barriers, or hesitation.
For a brief second, she wondered what that would feel like.
A dragon roared in the distance, and Violet tugged at Percy’s arm, snapping her back to reality. “That’s my dad, signaling he’s ready for us. We need to go. Bye, you two!”
They murmured goodbyes, and Violet half-dragged Percy down the footpath.
Soon, the raised rock walls of the landing area came into view—they’d been pointed out to her during her walk to the school before—and she forgot all about the couples she’d seen.
Her heart raced the closer she drew to the landing area. Percy was about to see her first dragon up close. She was both nervous and excited but knew that she needed to take this step. Even if it wasn’t easy, she’d do anything that might bring her closer to her dragon. And seeing another one might finally help bring her beast out.
ChapterTwenty-One
Bronx stood naked in the middle of the landing area, balancing on a cane he’d kept here. He had to stow his prosthetic while shifting to avoid damaging it.
He took a few deep breaths. He’d practiced changing forms more in recent months, before Percy’s arrival, but he hadn’t yet worked up the courage to show his dragon to anyone except his daughter, the designers of his fake dragon leg, and the Stonefire doctors.
His dragon spoke up.But it’s just Percy. You want her to see us this way.
No,youwant her to.
