88- Our energy

It was clear now that the shape had flapping wings.

‘Not exactly.’ I was getting nervous now. Not just because I hadn’t seen a dragon in person before, but because said dragon was going to read my mate’s mind and determine his fate.

“A really big bird,” Milan said slowly, as the shadow drew closer. “With a… is that a tail?!” I cleared my throat. ‘It's not exactly a bird.’

I could feel as Milan lowered his chin to look down at me, before raising it again. “Well, then what…” He trailed off.

The shadow turned to the side and rolled, giving us the perfect view of the unmistakable silhouette of a dragon.

“That’s… is that a…” Milan stammered

‘Yep That’s a dragon.’

My mate gasped quietly as the dragon righted itself, flapped its wings a couple of times, and curved gently the other way, soaring closer and closer, growing larger as it did.

“How big exactly…”

‘I don't know,’ I confessed. ‘I've never seen one. Carrick said they’re huge.’

“You've never seen one?!” Milan demanded.

‘Well, there are only two.’

“In the Alpha Parliament?”

‘No, two in the world. Total. So, this is as incredible for me as it is for you. Although I've always known about their existence.’

“Why are the only two?” Milan asked.

The majestic creature leisurely dipped closer to the water, practically skimming over it.

‘That's a long story. We're responsible for hunting them to near extinction. I’m afraid.

Shifters, I mean.’

“Why?” Milan asked in surprise.

‘Dragons… well, I should probably hit you with all of it. Dragons are psychic.’

“Psychic,” he said flatly.

‘Yeah, that's why the last two work with the Alpha Parliament. Basically… this one is going to read your mind to see whether or not you'll betray us. And if the answer is no, I'll be permitted to turn you into a shifter.’

“And if I am considered a threat?” His heart was pounding again, but I knew it wasn’t from exertion.

‘Our minds will be erased. Which is why,’ I continued, ‘Shifters hunted them. That and they're kind of obvious. They say we were afraid we'd be discovered more easily by humans if there were dragons flying about so… Rather like your shop, I suppose. By the time we realized we were making a mistake hunting them, it was too late.’

“That’s a shame,” he said softly. “Can’t they just make more dragons? Like turning them or having babies?”

I shook my head. ‘One is a male omega, the other is a female beta.’

“So? They can both get pregnant then.”

‘Not from each other. Omega’s cannot impregnate anyone,’ I reminded him. ‘Nor can female betas.’

“And only alphas can turn someone,” he said. “Are we sure the baby wouldn’t be a dragon if they get pregnant?”

I nodded. ‘A child is whatever the sire is. By turning you, I’m your sire and you’ll be a cat. When we have a child, we’ll always have cats, because you’ll be carrying them, but I’ll still be the sire.’

Milan shifted his weight. “Is that,” he said slowly, “How you ended up in a wolf family? I know you said your mother was a wolf and your father a cat, but there wasn’t a 50/50 chance you’d be either, then? That would make your father your sire, and every child they had would be cats?”

‘Exactly.’

The dragon drew closer and the light glinted off the massive purple scales. I knew who the dragon was now, not that it helped, I still had never met her. Worse, she wasn’t the dragon who met with Rion and Carrick. My ears drooped. I had been hoping to deal with Chandler, both of my cousin’s were surprised by how easy-going he was. Just my luck to end up with a different dragon. I hoped she wouldn’t be more difficult.

‘Elara,’ I said. “What?”

‘The dragon. Her name is Elara.’

“How can you tell?”

‘Her scales look purple. My cousins said the dragon they met was red.’

Elara circled lower and lower, growing larger with every second. Milan turned, shielding his face as a storm of stinging sand whipped up from her landing. Even though his jacket and my fur protected me, I was touched to see he was making sure to block me as well.

And then, all was still. Milan just stood, gaping.

‘Go on,’ I encouraged. ‘She probably won’t shift back.’

Milan made his way across the snow and sand to the dragon. She was breathtaking, huge, incredible.‘Good evening,’ said a feminine voice in my head. Milan jumped slightly and I knew she was talking to him too. ‘I am Elara, and I represent the Alpha Parliament.;

“It's nice to meet you,” Milan said. I felt him take a nervous swallow.

I slid out of his jacket and dropped down on the snow and sand. It was more packed down here and I landed neatly on top, and shook himself off, before nodding in greeting.

‘It's an honor to finally meet you. I’m Eron.’

Elara laughed. ‘And you are the third Silvanus this year, yes? My, your clan is dropping like flies.’ She snorted and I was sure tendrils of smoke come out of her nostrils. ‘And this is Milan?’

‘Yes.’

Milan nodded.

‘Very well.’

Milan stiffened as Elara’s neck extended in his direction. I felt my hair stand up on end. I knew she wouldn’t attack him or anything, and yet I hated feeling to helpless to defend my mate. Elara stopped with her head just inches from his face. She sniffed, the curled her neck back away from him, and turned to me.

‘Have you explained our laws to him?’ ‘Yes.’

Elara nodded in satisfaction and turned to my mate. ‘Do you agree to be changed?’

Milan cleared his throat. “Y-yes, I do.” ‘And you swear you will uphold our laws?’ “Yes, I swear.”

‘Very well. Congratulations.’ She dipped her massive head down to me. ‘You have my permission, Eron. This is your only turn,’ she warned.

‘I understand.’

Elara nodded, then sniffed at me. I felt my fur flatten from the warm, almost hot wind. Her head twisted and she blinked eyes the looked bigger than me. ‘You are not alone.’

There was no specific way to tell if someone was broadcasting or speaking privately, but I knew her words were directed just to me. ‘No. Not anymore.’

She snorted, sending up another wisp of smoke. ‘No, young cousin. You have never been alone.’

With that, she settled back on her haunches, as if she were ready to take flight.

“Would you like some coffee or anything before you leave?” Milan asked, as I processed the exchange he didn’t even know had happened.

‘I appreciate your offer,’ she said. ‘But this was a simple flight for me, and it's nice to get out and stretch my wings.’

She flapped and I turned away, bracing myself against the wind and sand. I cracked my eyes open and turned back just enough to watch as she lifted straight off the ground, the force of her wing beats erased the strange, massive footprints she left behind the snow,

With just a couple of beats, she propelled herself out over the water.