Page 46 of Accounting for Drakes

“Hmm. Who were my parents?”

“We found an egg. We don’t know who your parents are.”

She nodded. “Tell me where I was found.”

Her mother’s expression darkened. “No. You have no right to make these demands of us.”

Nanitha stretched and put on two whipping tails and four wings. She spoke softly and ended on a roar. “I have every right!”

Her father stopped weeping, went inside, and got a display unit. “Here. We got you here. We sold your shell to get us this far.”

“So, I hatched out as a teen.”

“Correct. We thought you were an adult.”

“Right. So, you sold a hatchling. That makes it so much worse. Well, Arken and Zenim are no longer the lords of this world. Be nice to the one who comes behind because he might not be so pleasant to those who sell their hatchlings.” She grimaced. “The next guardian here might even be me. Take that under advisement.”

She rose up on her wings and went to the hillside behind their house and exhaled, melting a wave of stone that cascaded down to butt up against the rear of the temple. The entire hillside was now made of precious metals with occasional studs of precious gems.

She landed next to Orwon. “There. You have all the precious metals you could ever want and all the gems just waiting for you to free them, and I would do it before other pirates come to claim them.”

Her parents stared at each other, and horror dawned.

“You sold me, and I have gifted you with enough wealth for several lifetimes... if you can claim it. Enjoy. I will be notifying treasure hunters in two days.”

Orwon looked at her and inclined his head. He said, “Shall we go?”

“Yes, please. Your place?”

“Excellent. Please make yourself comfortable.” He shifted and opened his mouth. She stepped inside and settled again, looking at the display she had taken from her father. So, she came from that small world that had fresh water and not a lot else.

She felt the portal, felt space on all sides, and the undulation of his body caused her to nod off.

She woke up in a comfortable bed with a dark arm wrapped around her waist. “Hello, Orwon.”

He kissed her shoulder. “You were firmly asleep, and I had to roll you across the ground to get you off my tongue. It made quite the first impression. You sleep soundly.”

She grinned. “I know. I just used to sleep while floating in space and woke up with grapples in my scales.”

He rolled her to her back and stared at her. “You sleep out there?”

“Absolutely. I sleep when I am tired.”

He smiled. “Do you want the ceremony?”

“I want a public pledge, but it doesn’t have to be fancy. I don’t need an empire full of flowers.”

Orwon moved over her and kissed her. “What if I want a star system full of flowers?”

“You have to arrange them. I am no good with floral arrangements.” She stroked the markings on his neck and shoulders.

“I am very good at arrangements. What is your normal focus?”

She grinned. “Raising children.”

He nuzzled at her neck and licked softly. “That sounds like fun.”

“I have only dealt with them from two years onward. I don’t have any experience with smaller ones.”

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