Page 71 of The Sun God's Prize
You’re here.She sounds delighted.It’s finally time.
I’m about to ask her for what, when the egg rocks.
Someone gasps from behind me, and only then do I realize Sheelan followed.Of course, she did, but I’m lost in the moment, in the presence of the egg and who lies inside it, so lost that I’ve forgotten I’m not alone.
You’re never alone,Flame, she says as the egg cracks, a single, perfect line down the center.Don’t you remember?
I’m weeping when the two halves of the shell part and fall away.The glow continues, but she’s the one who’s glowing, not the shell that surrounded her, and for a moment she’s a gorgeous hatchling, an exact replica in miniature of her mother, wings wrapped around her, eyes blinking open, as amber as mine.Remalla, she says.This won’t do at all, will it?
And then she just… shifts.Stands up on two legs, pale skin flawless, hair hanging to her feet, curling and as shining as her egg, though her eyes are still those of a dragon, slits narrow and black.But even they round out, soften, and instead of a newborn dragon child, I stare in shock at a tall, graceful and stunningly beautiful woman standing amid the two halves of broken shell.
Except, she’s not a woman.Not even close.
She stretches, arms out and up over her head, turning on the ball of her foot, yawning widely before she lowers them again and laughs.Then claps both hands over her mouth, eyes huge, beaming a smile when she settles her hands to her chest.
“That felt nice,” she says in the exact voice I just heard in my head, only out loud now, clear and lovely.“Flame,” she says then.“Remi?”She tilts her head, cascade of golden curls tumbling when she does.“Remi,” she nods, then holds her hands out to me.“Aurous.”
It was never the dragon I was meant to come here for.It was this shining light.
“Holy fuck.”I mean, what else is there to say?
***
Chapter Thirty-Four
Her glow begins to fade, though it seems to be purposeful, by choice.She approaches me while I can’t seem to move, frozen in place, still gaping at her, flinching when her fingertips rise and brush my cheek.
As the kinspark links us together.Sizzles through me, crashing into Sheelan, who sways beside me—
—leaps to Atlas, to Zenthris, where they lie together, holding one another, so close I can touch them if I just reach out, but it’s circling back, too late—
—and slams into me again.
I rock in place, her fingers still on my face.
“Don’t be afraid,” Aurous says, concern creasing her flawless skin.
I clear my throat, nod, though it’s not fear I’m feeling.It’s been a very long time since anything or anyone took my breath away in awe and wonder, and I’m in no rush to shake it free.Or the tie of the kinspark that has brought her into our little circle.
“You’re amazing,” I say.It’s a silly thing, really, but she lights up again, her smile wide and delighted and she hugs me as she laughs.
Her laugh seizes me in a hold as warm and inviting as her arms.That means resistance will be impossible, even without the kinspark.When I embrace her in return, I inhale the scent of her, part soft kitten, part fresh spring morning, all hope in a single breath.
“You found me,” she whispers in my ear, and I know I’m not the only one who hears her, Sheelan, of course, but our kinsparks, too.They’re here with us as surely as if they stood beside me, experiencing this with me.“You’re the amazing one, Remi.”
I’m trembling and I can’t stop, still fighting for words, horribly sad when she releases me, not wanting to let her go.She leans away, arms twined around my neck, her bright, gold eyes at level with mine, naked body warm, almost hot where her skin touches mine.There are fine scales beneath her skin that fade as I watch, but she has no pores, no wrinkles, perfection, like a gold statue come to life.I can’t stop shivering, and when she frowns, I’m worried I made it happen.
“This still won’t do,” she says, looking down, biting her lower lip for a moment.When she raises her face again, her skin softens, the flawlessness retreating, a more natural texture taking its place.The scales are gone completely now, and while it’s still certain she’s not human or drakonkin, looking at her no longer overwhelms me.
“Aurous,” I manage her name.
She kisses my cheek, letting me go, her hand falling to mine, squeezing my fingers while she turns to Sheelan.I’m acutely aware when the (dragon?Woman?What do I call her now?) reaches out to her, too, free hand cupping her cheek.
“Kinspark,” Aurous says.“We’re almost whole already, and we’ve barely begun.”She turns her head and smiles at me again, that glow of her skin almost gone, just enough to see by.She’s far from ordinary now, but she’s as close to human in appearance as she’s going to get, if a perfected version of one.Her long, rippling waves toss back over her shoulder, exposing her nakedness that she doesn’t seem aware of at all.“You truly are a marvel, Flame.”Her thumb traces over the back of my hand before she sighs and looks down at herself, then up at us again.“I need something to wear, I think.”
I can feel the distant touch of our loves fading, but they are with us still, just released from whatever drew us together in spirit at the moment of Aurous’s birth.
“How do you know that?”Sheelan’s question is halting, and she stops abruptly after blurting it out.
