She tensed when she got close, her eyes turning intense. She must’ve caught Nyfain’s scent.
“Are you a dragon, Finley?” she finished with a tight jaw.
“Yes…we think. My true mate is a dragon, but I haven’t shifted yet—it’s a long story. Micah is supposed to help me, but he’s been delayed.”
“Micah is very powerful. Nearly as powerful as that scent you wear. But you do not need a powerful teacher—you just need one with experience. Claudile and I have plenty.” Her clear blue eyes flicked to Hannon. “And you, Hannon? Have you shifted?”
“No. I tried but couldn’t.”
“And you think you are a dragon as well?”
He shrugged. “We don’t know what I am. Our parents were both wolves, but…Wyvern has fallen on desperate times, and there is an element of surprise in people’s animals of late.”
“Myths becoming reality.” Ami smoothed her apron. “Well then. Since you are delayed, and are exceptional with everlass, maybe you’ll tell me this long story as we work the plants, hmm? We can always use an extra pair of hands. After that, we’ll see about shifting. I’m sure you’re eager to learn the color of your scales.”
Tell that story fast, my dragon thought. I want to finally be set free. I’m sick of being at the mercy of your invisible friends and dumb decisions. It’s time for this bad bitch to fly.
I didn’t tell the story fast, but the words flowed out of me. Our family’s trials. My background with the everlass. How I’d met Nyfain and discovered he was my true mate. They’d heard about the dungeon, so they didn’t ask me to recount much of that except for a few questions about how we’d escaped. They both smiled when I told them about killing the officers with the crowded everlass, but otherwise they just let my words tumble out freely as they tended to the garden and the steaming elixirs. I worked with them, pruning.
When I’d finished, silence stretched for a long moment, the soft breeze drying my tears and my heart still aching for what I feared I was losing. For this delay that was keeping me from my love and my family.
“It sounds like you’ve had a hard life,” Ami finally said as she glided over to collect the herbs I was cutting.
“I’m still alive. It’s worth the struggle to save those I love.”
“And what of this true mate you speak of?” Claudile asked. “He is sacrificing for you, it sounds like. He wants you to leave and not return. To save yourself and be happy. Would you not consider it?”
Anger poured into me. I gave her a direct stare as power rose in and around me. “Men often think they know what’s best for women, when in reality they rarely even know what’s best for themselves. No, I will not consider it. Not for a moment. I didn’t do all of this to save myself. I did it to help my family, my mate, and my kingdom. I will see this job through if it kills me.”
“I will not let it kill you,” Hannon said softly, seated in the corner of the yard, out of the way.
“Well then.” Ami deposited the tray she’d taken from me to the side and started untying her apron. “Since you have battle in your future, we’d best make sure you have the most efficient way to fight. Take off the decorative sword. That won’t help you now. It’s time to meet your dragon.”
My stomach rolled and filled with butterflies, and my dragon’s anticipation and excitement rose as the women led me past the everlass field and into the trees. Hannon followed us but kept back, letting me have this moment.
Take it easy on the first flight, okay? I thought as we found a clearing and stopped to step out of our clothes.
Sure, sure. And if not, at least you have your invisible people to keep you company.
“Damn it. Why did I get stuck with such an asshole animal?” I muttered as I walked behind them into the clearing.
“The most powerful dragons tend to be quite temperamental in their youth,” Ami said. “Possessive, dominant, fearless.”
“Foolish,” Claudile murmured, and I had a feeling she’d be right about my dragon.
I’d heard an alpha needed to help with the first shift. Micah had been pretty adamant that I should shift with him first, and the other Wyverners hadn’t argued with him. I worried these women wouldn’t be enough. That my dragon would get confused, I’d try to help, and we’d get stuck mid-shift and die.
We wouldn’t be the first to go that way.
“Calm yourself, little dragon,” Ami said in a low tone, clearly reading my body language. Power infused her words, but they didn’t come through as a command. Instead, they wove through me like a gentle breeze caressing my face, completely in harmony with our surroundings. Her will, like mine, carried magic.