preserves our bloodlines.”
“It seems like it would dilute it, if you ask me.”
“Our magic overrides your genetics. Each dragon child born to a human and a dragon couple is entirely a dragon. The choice was a matter of survival for our race. Our population had dwindled. We could no longer safely mate with other dragons without risking inbreeding.”
“But now you can? She’s not your sister or cousin or anything, is she?”
“All I know is that her parents were both dragons and she couldn’t be more perfect if she tried. We believe the only reason the Council had to isolate us for centuries was to facilitate our strongest members breeding with humans when the humans came to release us. We’re hoping to convince them to let the next generation choose for themselves. Rowan is far stronger than any of the rest of the Court, and pure-blooded. If a dragon like her can be born without the sanction of the Council, then we don’t need their laws.”
“Alright, alright,” Trevor said, pausing beside him, wide-eyed with surprise.
Rafe realized he’d gradually begun speaking more vehemently and took a deep breath to calm down. “But none of that matters more to me than her forgiveness. I won’t ask you to help me, but…”
“It’s alright man,” Trevor said, giving Rafe’s should a comforting squeeze. “I have no idea if my opinion matters, but I’ll try.”
“We’re getting close now, I can sense her.”
“So can I,” Trevor said. “It’s like an itch. Thoughts of her keep appearing in my head with insane clarity.”
“How—?” Rafe began, when it dawned on him the thing he should have realized days ago. He grabbed Trevor by the arm and spun him around. Rafe blinked when Trevor’s headlamp blinded him for a second, reached up and ripped the offending object from the man’s head. “Did she mark you?”
“What? No! I—At least I don’t think so. I’d remember that, wouldn’t I? All I remember is…” Trevor paused, his voice growing faint, “All I remember is her last kiss before I fell asleep. It seemed so sweet.” He rubbed a thumb idly behind one ear, his eyes unfocused and sentimental.
Rafe grabbed the headlamp from the floor and clutched Trevor by the neck, aiming the light at the spot he’d just rubbed. There, on the pale skin just beneath Trevor’s hairline was the tiny shape of a red dragon. It wasn’t a medallion like the others typically were, but a simple red squiggle that matched the dragon from Rowan’s necklace—the necklace that Rafe had left resting reverently atop the neatly folded pile of Rowan’s things in his bedroom, in the hopes of her return.
“Sweet Mother, she’s already done it. She marked you.” His voice cracked on the word “marked” and he struggled a moment to tamp down the rising emotions. Too many questions came to mind. Why would she mark him and not take him with her? Was it confirmation that she no longer loved Rafe like he feared? He wouldn’t blame her for that. And of course, would she accept him once he found her?
“Hey, man. We’ll figure this out once we find her, alright?” Trevor reached a hand out, clasping Rafe by the back of the neck and squeezing gently.
“If she doesn’t love me, I’ll relinquish you to her and go my own way.”
“Well, if she’s as generous as she seemed when I met her, I have a feeling she’s got love to go around.”
“You don’t understand, I betrayed her. She said she loved me, but I lied to her.”
“You told me when we were flying that she didn’t even know what she was when you met her. That’s got to be a hard situation to deal with for anyone. So she ran. Every now and then I just leave when I need to clear my head. But the last thing I heard her say was that she was going home. And I admit, I wanted to follow her right away, but something told me she needed her space for a little while. I decided I’d give it to her, then I’d go find her. Somehow I’d find her. Now we’ve
“It seems like it would dilute it, if you ask me.”
“Our magic overrides your genetics. Each dragon child born to a human and a dragon couple is entirely a dragon. The choice was a matter of survival for our race. Our population had dwindled. We could no longer safely mate with other dragons without risking inbreeding.”
“But now you can? She’s not your sister or cousin or anything, is she?”
“All I know is that her parents were both dragons and she couldn’t be more perfect if she tried. We believe the only reason the Council had to isolate us for centuries was to facilitate our strongest members breeding with humans when the humans came to release us. We’re hoping to convince them to let the next generation choose for themselves. Rowan is far stronger than any of the rest of the Court, and pure-blooded. If a dragon like her can be born without the sanction of the Council, then we don’t need their laws.”
“Alright, alright,” Trevor said, pausing beside him, wide-eyed with surprise.
Rafe realized he’d gradually begun speaking more vehemently and took a deep breath to calm down. “But none of that matters more to me than her forgiveness. I won’t ask you to help me, but…”
“It’s alright man,” Trevor said, giving Rafe’s should a comforting squeeze. “I have no idea if my opinion matters, but I’ll try.”
“We’re getting close now, I can sense her.”
“So can I,” Trevor said. “It’s like an itch. Thoughts of her keep appearing in my head with insane clarity.”
“How—?” Rafe began, when it dawned on him the thing he should have realized days ago. He grabbed Trevor by the arm and spun him around. Rafe blinked when Trevor’s headlamp blinded him for a second, reached up and ripped the offending object from the man’s head. “Did she mark you?”
“What? No! I—At least I don’t think so. I’d remember that, wouldn’t I? All I remember is…” Trevor paused, his voice growing faint, “All I remember is her last kiss before I fell asleep. It seemed so sweet.” He rubbed a thumb idly behind one ear, his eyes unfocused and sentimental.
Rafe grabbed the headlamp from the floor and clutched Trevor by the neck, aiming the light at the spot he’d just rubbed. There, on the pale skin just beneath Trevor’s hairline was the tiny shape of a red dragon. It wasn’t a medallion like the others typically were, but a simple red squiggle that matched the dragon from Rowan’s necklace—the necklace that Rafe had left resting reverently atop the neatly folded pile of Rowan’s things in his bedroom, in the hopes of her return.
“Sweet Mother, she’s already done it. She marked you.” His voice cracked on the word “marked” and he struggled a moment to tamp down the rising emotions. Too many questions came to mind. Why would she mark him and not take him with her? Was it confirmation that she no longer loved Rafe like he feared? He wouldn’t blame her for that. And of course, would she accept him once he found her?
“Hey, man. We’ll figure this out once we find her, alright?” Trevor reached a hand out, clasping Rafe by the back of the neck and squeezing gently.
“If she doesn’t love me, I’ll relinquish you to her and go my own way.”
“Well, if she’s as generous as she seemed when I met her, I have a feeling she’s got love to go around.”
“You don’t understand, I betrayed her. She said she loved me, but I lied to her.”
“You told me when we were flying that she didn’t even know what she was when you met her. That’s got to be a hard situation to deal with for anyone. So she ran. Every now and then I just leave when I need to clear my head. But the last thing I heard her say was that she was going home. And I admit, I wanted to follow her right away, but something told me she needed her space for a little while. I decided I’d give it to her, then I’d go find her. Somehow I’d find her. Now we’ve
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