Page 266 of Gift from the Source
Fifty-four years later
“Come on, little man, you can do it. Come meet your favorite dragon. You got it.”
“You don’t know he’s a boy. Also, why do you get to be the favorite dragon? It may like Tanith or Willow better.”
I scoff at my dad and the ridiculousness that just came out of his mouth.
I’m going to be the favorite.
I rescued him.
Well, I mean…it was a joint effort. But I’m the funniest one.
Definitely.
“I do know he’s a boy. A strong, healthy boy at that. Ignorant flight has no idea what they’re going to miss out on. He’s going to be brilliant.”
“I don’t doubt that, son, but…do you think we should head back to the Keep? According to Tanith, he’s ten days past—”
Myeyes shift and I growl. “We are not taking him back to the Keep, nor will I hear another word about how he’s past his hatching cycle. His heart is strong, and he will do it.”
My chest rises and falls fast as my dragon pushes to the surface. He’s so protective over the little egg and I am as well. Add us together and it doesn’t take much to set us off when it comes to our little hatchling.
I shake my head out as I reassure my beast we’re not taking him back.
“I’m sorry. Let’s just…we’re not bringing that up again.”
“I’m sorry, Draken, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just worried, but I don’t sense things as you do, so if this is what’s best for him, then okay.”
He holds my gaze with his hand on my shoulder and the confidence he has in me simmers me down even more.
That look is so much better than the one he arrived here with a month ago. The fear that colored his whole face as he busted through the south wing screaming our names was a look I’ll never forget.
Willow, my brothers, and I jumped off the couch in her foyer, ready for war, faster than he could blink.
He was out of breath and my little wanderer had to fill his lungs with air just so he could explain what was going on.
Tanith and him had been going for a flight when they ran across a flight of dragons preparing to perform what they call a Hatchling Stoning.
It’s a very heartbreaking process.
Sadly, the parents of the egg can tell if there’s something wrong with the little dragon or if for whatever reason, the little one didn’t make it.
The flight will breathe their fire around the egg until it’s as hard as stone. It’s their version of our remembrance ceremonies and it’s incredibly powerful and emotional.
Well, Keeper and Tanith stopped their flight to pay their respects.
Tanith, though, sensed that there was something different about the little dragon inside. She attempted to stop the flight and somewhat understandably, they didn’t take it well.
She tried to reason with them and get them to sense that the difference didn’t mean something was wrong. It just simply meant different.
The flight didn’t want to hear it, nor did they want different.
Before they could breathe their first breath of flames…
Well, Tanith stole the egg and flew off.
The flight took chase.
