Page 62 of Lahaina Noon

She yanked one of her friend’s blonde curls. “Hey,” she said with mock furiousness, “Quit ogling my mate. Besides, they can probably hear you.”

Jorrie looked at Bridget wide-eyed. Liam’s sultry laugh echoed over the water, proving her right.

Jack leaned forward and said in a voice he must have known would be heard, “I do not have a problem with what I’m seeing either.” He locked eyes with Davis, who was grinning from ear to ear.

Bridget decided he probably meant to be heard. She wasn’t going there.

Jorrie leaned in and whispered again, “When we get to the hotel, you and I are so going to talk.”

Jack pointed at himself and nodded, indicating he, too, wanted in on the girl talk.

Bridget shook her head, laughing as Gabe covered his ears and hummed to himself.

“Gross,” he mumbled.

She heard murmurs of awe as wings began to pop and flare out first. It was like a rainbow of fluttering scales, first the red of Ivan, followed by Liam’s green, and then the twins’ bright royal blue. Davis was a slightly lighter shade than his brother, which was good as it would make them easier to tell apart.

Vaughn simply stood there, his wings still tucked behind him. In the dark, the black scales blended into the night. Only the twinkle of the gold claws sticking over his shoulder gave away their presence. He was going to change last for some reason he hadn’t shared with them yet. They’d agreed to change one at a time so as not to overwhelm the humans.

Davis went first, steam billowing from his nostrils, and he shook his wings. The tell-tale shimmer made the night seem brighter despite there only being a sliver of moon. Soon, he was replaced by a brilliant blue dragon. His neck was longer and skinnier than Vaughn’s, his tail like a serpent. He was much slimmer, which Vaughn had said made him a better swimmer in addition to his affiliation with water. Not to be outdone, Shepard went next, appearing a similar size and shape to Davis. Their wings swirled with the colors of the ocean. Their musclesrippling under the scales, they exuded strength and power. Their talons winked in the streetlights, beautiful and deadly.

They were so gorgeous the assembled crew drew in their collective breaths and released them with sharp gusts. Murmurs of amazement came from everyone. Jack and Bridget slipped their hands into each other’s and shivered in the warm air. The feelings coursing through their bodies were indescribable and overwhelming.

“Fuck!” she heard Gabriel whisper. It was such a sight to behold. She didn’t even chastise him for the language.

Jorrie, who had been flirting with Shepard a bit, put her arms around Gabe’s shoulders. “You said it, kid.” She was trembling slightly, overwhelmed at the sight in front of her, knowing there were still three more dragons to see.

Jack was silent, captivated by the beasts rising above him. Like the others, he knew how incredibly fortunate they were to witness this mesmerizing moment. His face held a look of awe and reverence.

Siobhan was studying the twins as well, she’d seen dragons before, but apparently not blue ones. A soft smile was on her lips, appreciating the beauty in front of her.

Now it was Liam’s turn, he winked, and shimmered into a large green beast. Taller and broader than the twins, he was quite intense looking. He was thicker and had more spikes on his back and tail. His scales were a rich emerald color, and his talons were darker, almost forest green. His wings reminded Bridget of a field of clover as they waved in the wind. He made a rumbling sound similar to Vaughn’s, which Bridget knew was a happy noise. He was ecstatic about the opportunity to show his full form and stretch his wings.

He pranced a little on his paws, put his head down, tail up, wiggling his behind like a cat about to pounce. He bounded over and puffed some smoke rings around Jorrie, making her look like she was surrounded by wispy grey hula hoops. Jorrie and the others started laughing at the silly display. Liam’s antics certainly lightened the mood.

Siobhan, however, was not impressed. “Show off!”

He turned and bared his fangs, spitting a small flame towards her, which she quickly blocked with a shield spell.

“Still can’t get me asshole,” she taunted, flipping him the bird.

Liam growled at her, and it looked like a bigger flame was coming when a louder growl froze him in his tracks. If a dragon could look sheepish, Liam managed it as he swung his head towards Vaughn.

“Siblings,”Vaughn sighed.

Bridget heard Davis and Shepard making a strange gurgling sound, which she realized was their way of laughing. Soon, everyone was trying to stifle their laughter.

Even Liam and Siobhan were amused. They stuck their tongues out at each other, which was such a sight in dragon form that they all burst into laughter again. After everyone finally quieted down, it was Ivan’s turn.

He flapped his wings once, and the shimmer took on an orange color. Soon, there was a huge red dragon standing where he had been. Ivan was much larger than the others and covered in deadly-looking spikes. He was definitely a warrior dragon. His wings whirled with reddish-orange, which shimmered and swirled like a lava flow. His fangs protruded farther from his mouth, and his razor-sharp talons, curved like scythes, scratched the cobblestone underneath them. Thesound was eerie and terrifying. The humans covered their ears and shivered.

Vaughn approached his father and stood looking at him for a long time.

Bridget noticed his shoulders were shaking and she realized he was crying. She started to go to him, but Jorrie held her back, shaking her head. Bridget knew she was right. This moment was between Vaughn and his father.

Soon, she heard his voice as it carried on the wind. “Father, it’s been so long since I laid eyes on this form. Never did I think to see it again.”

Ivan leaned down and bumped his large nose on Vaughn’s shoulder. Vaughn wiped his face and took a pose of deference.

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