ã€ŠWhere Dragons Rule: Dissent (old version)ã€‹


 Chapter 1: The Waiting Game

    Chapter 1: The Waiting Game

    <hr>

    Aeris sat quietly in her room, staring longingly at the sky through her window as the clouds skated past across the deep blue canvas. A cool breeze flew through the open window, carrying with it a slight yet pleasant scent of grass. She shifted in her seat, her tail swinging back and forth in agitation. She had never felt so restless in her life. She stood up and stretched, bending almost into a capital L-shape, sliding her forelimbs along the dirt floor and pointing her flank high into the air. She held that position as she stretched her wings and flapped them slowly and gently to avoid creating a large gust and blowing dirt everywhere. When she finished, she dropped her rump to the floor.

    Stretching like that only loosened her up and made the need to go outside all the more unbearable. She let out a heavy sigh, coughing slightly from the miniature dirt cloud caused by her breath. It wasn¡¯t fair. It was a beautiful day outside and she had to spend it indoors to ¡°stay out of trouble.¡± She wanted so badly to feel the breeze on her scales and to bask in the warm glow of the sun. But she was told to stay inside, so inside she had to stay.

    The dragon lifted her head to better look around her room, hoping to find something to alleviate her boredom. The ¡°room¡± was nothing more than an old shed that had been expanded and turned into her living space. The shed had been refitted for her the moment she hatched, but it wasn¡¯t until she became too big to move about the main house that she moved into it. Granted, she could still fit inside the main house, but her tail had a mind of its own, and things tended to break whenever she walked past. The original shed contained no windows and the door was only large enough for humans to use. Now two windows adorned the walls and the door had been changed to a much wider, two-level door. The racks for tools now held her bags and harnesses, most of which she had never even used. The bookshelf was another new addition, but it was covered in miscellaneous items and old pictures. Only the top shelf contained the books Maggie read to her regularly.

    Aeris approached the bookshelf and read the spines of the near two dozen paperbacks lining the top shelf. She could read, but she had read all of these books so many times, she could almost recite them by heart. She could ¡°borrow¡± a book from her master¡¯s library, but that would require going outside.

    Turning away from the bookshelf, she took a few gulps of water from the trough. Looking at the rippling clear water made her want to swim in the lake a half-mile from the estate grounds. Today was a great day to splash around in the cool water.

    Aeris grumbled under her breath and turned away from the trough, splashing the water with her tail. Her eyes settled on the old mattress on the far side of the room. Years of her claws and scales left it a gouged shadow of its former self, but it was still comfortable to sleep on. She could take a quick nap, although napping on the grass under the shade of a tree would be far more preferable.

    Huffing loudly and forcing the thoughts of lazing about under the afternoon sun out of her mind, she craned her neck to look at the old chest in the opposite corner. Perhaps there was something inside she could play with. But it would be better if she could take it outside rather than stay in this stuffy¡ª

    A low, terse growl left her throat. Why did everything she thought of have to remind her how badly she wanted to go outside?

    Her stomach growled, making her anger vanish. She had no idea what time it was, but if her stomach was growling it meant that she had missed lunch. If she had known she was going to be stuck inside, she would¡¯ve saved some of her breakfast for later. She made a mental note to ask Maggie for something to eat once she saw her again.

    The squeaking hinges of the door alerted her to someone entering the room. Aeris quickly climbed to her feet and bounded over to the door. Even without looking at the door, she knew who it was. It was her savior. She couldn¡¯t even begin to explain how relieved she was to see the red-haired woman enter. Hidden behind the flaming red locks were a pair of deep-set green eyes that looked very pleased to see Aeris. Her face held very few wrinkles, but a few streaks of grey along her temple betrayed the truth behind her youthful appearance.

    ¡°Hello, Maggie,¡± Aeris said, smiling sweetly as the red-haired woman entered the room, her tail thrashing against the floor.

    ¡°Oh, there you are, Aeris. I¡¯ve been looking all over for you,¡± Maggie replied, ¡°Have you been in here this whole time?¡±

    Aeris tilted her head, her tail becoming still behind her. ¡°You told me to stay put, remember?¡±

    Maggie slapped herself on the forehead. ¡°Oh my goodness, I forgot. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± She gently steered Aeris outside. ¡°You mean to tell me you¡¯ve been sitting in here this whole time?¡±

    ¡°You said you were coming right back.¡±

    Maggie chuckled. ¡°Which I said over two hours ago. I¡¯m sorry, Aeris. I had some other things to take care of, and I guess I lost track of time. Well, come on. Let¡¯s not waste any more of it.¡±

    Aeris almost rushed outside in her excitement, nearly bowling over Maggie in the process. She didn¡¯t mean to, but it felt as if it had been so long since she set foot outside. The weather was just as beautiful as she had imagined it: the warm glow of the afternoon sun, the gentle caress of the wind across her scales, the earthy scent of nature.

    Her mind was overflowing with thoughts of how she could spend the rest of her afternoon when she was steered across the yard to a pair of large basins filled with steaming water. As she drew closer, she noticed one of the basins was filled with soapy water.

    ¡°Ugh. I don¡¯t want another bath,¡± Aeris whined. ¡°I just had one yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Lord Strauss¡¯ orders,¡± Margret admonished, grabbing the sponge within the soapy water. ¡°This is happening, one way or another, so you might as well make peace with it.¡±

    Aeris grumbled under her breath. Aaron Strauss was Aeris¡¯ legal owner and Margret¡¯s boss. While Maggie made most of the decisions, her master¡¯s orders were absolute. If he said she was getting a bath, then arguing was pointless. Aeris tried to remain as still as possible while Margret scrubbed her neck and chest. It wasn¡¯t that she hated baths¡ªit was that she usually couldn¡¯t do much afterward without getting scolded for getting dirty again. On top of that, Maggie always used scented soaps that made her nose itch and smelled awful.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t that long ago I had a bath. Do I really need another one?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°Yes, you do. Leg.¡± Margret patted Aeris¡¯ right foreleg which she quickly lifted. The woman began scrubbing the extended limb, taking extra time to carefully clean each claw. ¡°Now I¡¯m pretty sure this gathering is very important, so he needs you to be clean and not smelling like¡­well, dragon. Other one.¡±

    ¡°But I am a dragon, Maggie,¡± Aeris explained, lowering her right foreleg and lifting her left. ¡°And what¡¯s wrong with smelling like a dragon? I like my scent. Actually, I think all of those perfumes you make me wear stink.¡±

    ¡°Aeris, I told you, humans and dragons have a very different sense of what a pleasant smell is. Your nose is far more sensitive to these things, so I understand why it would bother you,¡± Margret said calmly. She rinsed the sponge in the soapy basin before walking around to Aeris¡¯ side and began scrubbing the dragon¡¯s back. ¡°Spread your wings for me. Now I know you don¡¯t like it, but Lord Strauss needs you to make a good impression. Unfortunately, that means putting up with a bad smell for a few hours. You can do that, can¡¯t you?¡±

    Aeris said nothing in response. Of course she wanted to make her master happy. She would do anything Master Aaron asked of her. It was just the perfumes made her scales itch, and the smell made her want to sneeze. And as much she loved gatherings, the idea of going to one left a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach.

    Maggie sighed. ¡°Okay, I can tell something¡¯s bothering you. What is it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to the party,¡± Aeris mumbled. ¡°I love going, but sometimes I feel like a prop. I¡¯m always the only dragon there. And I don¡¯t like having the humans stare at me all night. At first, it feels nice, but after a while, it feels¡­creepy. Then everyone¡¯s always telling me how beautiful I am.¡± She dropped her gaze and she spoke quickly upon realizing how ungrateful she sounded. ¡°Not that I mind¡ªI really enjoy the compliments. It¡¯s just...some of the other things they say¡­They think I can¡¯t hear them, but I always hear them,¡± she added under her breath.

    Dragons were not exotic creatures. According to Master Aaron, one couldn¡¯t walk more than a few feet without seeing one and a great number of people had dragons as pets. But Aeris wasn¡¯t like other dragons. Most dragons were usually one of a variety of colors: red, blue, black, green, or silver. Aeris on the other hand had sky-blue scales, something no other dragon possessed not even the cross-breeds.

    She was told the color was called celeste, and for years she had listened to random strangers praising her for her unique appearance. Her master often called her his ¡°little celestial.¡± Many claimed she looked like an ice sculpture, while others said her scales shimmered when the light struck it at just the right angle, giving her a luminescent appearance. While Aeris enjoyed the praise, there was always something in their eyes she didn¡¯t like. The way they discussed her appearance made her uneasy. They looked at her as if she had something they wanted, and she had no idea what that something was.

    ¡°Oh, Aeris. I had no idea you felt that way,¡± Maggie said, her face and her tone sincere. ¡°But I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t decide if you get to go to these parties or not. I¡¯m afraid that decision is up to Lord Strauss.¡±

    ¡°Can you ask him for me?¡± Aeris said, hopeful. ¡°Please? I don¡¯t want to wear perfume and I don¡¯t like being stared at.¡±

    ¡°Aeris, if you feel that way, why don¡¯t you say anything to Lord Strauss?¡±

    Aeris dropped her head. Master Aaron was always nice to her, but she never felt comfortable asking him for anything. Whenever she did, she always felt awful as if she had done something wrong. Of course, Master Aaron was always fair to her; he gave her anything she asked for, within reason.

    ¡°Tell you what, I¡¯ll talk to Lord Strauss for you. And if he says no, then after the party, I¡¯ll give you another bath and wash the perfume off, okay?¡±

    Aeris grumbled under her breath. Two baths in one day hardly sounded like a reward.

    Margret dropped to her knees and began scrubbing Aeris¡¯ underbelly. The young dragoness couldn¡¯t help but giggle as the woman scrubbed her belly scales.

    ¡°Aeris, can you keep still? I¡¯m worried you¡¯re going to fall on me and you know my old bones can¡¯t handle your weight.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sorry, Maggie. But it tickles when you do that,¡± Aeris said, looking between her legs at the red-haired woman. To her, Maggie could easily pass for a woman ten years younger, even with the gray in her temples. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re not that old. And you really don¡¯t look it.¡±

    ¡°Well, thank you for saying that.¡± Margret stood up and walked back to the basins. She dropped the sponge in the soapy basin and picked up the jug on the ground. She dipped the jug in the other basin and began pouring the water on Aeris to rinse away the suds. ¡°But I still have no intention of being flattened. Imagine what my headstone would say: ¡®Here lies Margret Hayes. Killed giving a dragon a bath.¡¯ People would be laughing at my funeral,¡± she said with a slight smile.

    Aeris glanced at her own body. According to Master Aaron, she was roughly the size of a miniature pony. Although she had never seen a pony to know exactly how she compared in size, she did know she was barely large enough for a grown human to ride her. And while she had almost no experience with other dragons, the few she had seen were larger and wider than her. But not once had anyone, not even Master Aaron, ever complained about her weight.

    ¡°You¡¯re thicker than I am,¡± she mumbled. Although Maggie was a little¡­ plump, Aeris had more than enough experience with humans to know Margret was a good weight for her size. But there was still a very good chance Aeris weighed more than she did.

    ¡°I heard that,¡± Maggie said.

    ¡°You called me fat.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say you were fat. I implied that you were heavy.¡± Margret went and refilled the jug again. ¡°Most dragons are naturally heavier than people. I didn¡¯t mean it as an insult. I think you¡¯re very petite.¡±

    ¡°So now I¡¯m too small?¡± Aeris asked in mock annoyance.

    Maggie sat the jug on the grass and placed her hands on her hips, an exasperated huff escaping her lips.¡°Oh for the love of¡ªwhat will it take to satisfy you?¡±

    ¡°You know dragons are very vain creatures,¡± said a voice behind Aeris and Maggie, ¡°They are very easily insulted.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Aeris quickly turned to the voice. She cried out happily to the tall thin man standing before her. His youth was apparent in his face and demeanor despite years of etiquette training. Her master smiled, the look in his brown eyes filling her with warmth, ¡°Master Aaron! What are you doing here?¡±

    Aaron looked around wearing a look of confusion, ¡°You mean I don¡¯t live here? I didn¡¯t know that.¡±

    Aeris chuckled softly, ¡°I meant that you¡¯re home early.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Yes, I finished things a little earlier than usual, so I figured I would come home and make sure everything was okay here.¡±

    ¡°Everything is perfectly fine, Lord Strauss,¡± Maggie replied, picking up the jug and dumping the last of the water on Aeris. ¡°There you go, all clean. Wait, don¡¯t¡ª!"

    Aeris shook her body sending water flying in all directions. She turned and looked at Maggie who was now covered in water. Master Aaron peeked from behind Maggie having used her as a shield and chuckled at the now wet maid.

    Aeris hid behind her wing, stifling a laugh. ¡°Oops.¡±

    ¡°You did that on purpose,¡± Maggie said, wiping water from her face.

    ¡°You called me fat, remember?¡± Aeris knew it was petty, but while she loved Margret, she had to do something after being called fat.

    Master Aaron laughed as he stepped between the two females. ¡°Okay, Aeris, that wasn¡¯t nice. You should apologize to Margret. After all, she is doing this as a favor to me, if you¡¯re going to be cross with anyone, it should be me.¡±

    Aeris dropped her head in shame. Although his playful tone suggested he wasn¡¯t angry, Aeris couldn¡¯t help but feel she had done something wrong and offended her master. ¡°Sorry, Maggie.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only water, Aeris, it¡¯ll dry,¡± Maggie replied. ¡°Besides, I can¡¯t waste any time scolding you when I should be getting you ready for tonight. Speaking of which, Lord Strauss, Aeris wanted to know if she truly had to attend tonight¡¯s gathering.¡±

    Aeris cringed. She had done nothing wrong. She knew this, yet she hoped Maggie would¡¯ve been more subtle.

    Master Aaron¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aeris, but tonight is very important and it¡¯s vital that you attend; I need you if I¡¯m ever going to close this deal.¡±

    Aeris nodded solemnly, knowing the conversation was over. But she wasn¡¯t going to let it get to her. Master Aaron was counting on her.

    ¡°Now I have a few more things I need to work on before tonight, so, Margret, I trust you to handle things here,¡± Master Aaron said. As he headed back toward the estate, he called over his shoulder, ¡°And, Aeris, I plan to leave the moment I get back. Make sure you are ready to go by then.¡±

    Maggie turned to Aeris, her expression apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aeris. It was worth a shot. Now come. I will get you inside, polish your scales, pick you out a lovely outfit, and spray on a little perfume¡ªI said a little perfume,¡± Margret said emphatically, noticing the look of disgust on Aeris¡¯ face. ¡°I know not to put too much because I know how much it bothers you; don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°And afterward, we can get something to eat, right?¡± Aeris asked, hopeful. She had missed lunch because she spent so much time waiting for Maggie to come back. Even now she felt like she was starving.

    Maggie looked sympathetically at the young dragon. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Aeris, we may not have time, and even then, if you spill anything on you we¡¯re going to have to start over. Then we¡¯ll be late, and Master Aaron will be very cross with me.¡±

    Aeris dropped her head but said nothing. No lunch and she was going to spend the afternoon reeking of perfume.

    This was going to be a fun party.

    ****

    Aeris looked around at all the people attending the garden party, her chest swelling with excitement. Her stomach wouldn¡¯t stop growling and the smell of her perfume made her nose itch, but there was still nowhere else she would rather be. She loved everything about social gatherings. The sight of all the people and the way they dressed fascinated her; there were so many different colors and styles. She looked down at the white vest she wore. Of all the fabrics she had tried, velvet was her favorite. The way it felt against her scales was heavenly. The vest she wore now was beautiful. It was ivory like her belly scales and lined along the edges with small gemstones so it glittered with the rest of her scales. She was grateful to Master Aaron for buying it for her.

    But she was jealous of the human noblewomen who wore beautiful dresses and colorful headpieces. A dragon could never wear those things. For one, Aeris was told dragons didn¡¯t make a habit of wearing clothes. Second, there were no designers who made clothing for dragons. Even the vest Aeris wore was meant for humans and Master Aaron had to hire a professional tailor to modify it to fit her body.

    When she wasn¡¯t staring at the humans in their outfits, she was checking out the d¨¦cor. The only time she was allowed off the estate grounds was when Master Aaron took her to gatherings such as these, but they always visited such beautiful places. It was like walking into a massive painting. The polished floors and lush carpets. The beautifully carved statues standing watch over the guests fascinated her. She longed to learn what theses statues signified. She pretended they were monuments to great heroes or ancestors. But she dared not express her fascination out loud and risk embarrassing her master. The humans often got nervous around a curious dragon. But it was okay she didn¡¯t know. There were so many other things to focus on.

    Such as music. Aeris envied humans¡¯ ability to play instruments. Sometimes she would just stand close to the band and listen to them play. The heavenly tones would transport her to faraway places that only a book could lead her. The piano was her favorite. Its slow somber tones could switch into jubilant notes with the flick of the fingers.

    When she wasn¡¯t listening to music, she was listening to the other guests. Often these gatherings felt like a living breathing thing, pulsing with heat and anticipation. The air tingled with tension and gossip. Here everyone shared secrets, scandals, fears, and promises. As a dragon, she was never privy to these talks, but she didn¡¯t need to be. With her hearing, she overheard much, and over the years, she learned to read the lips of the nobles when they whispered and their body language when they were silent. Since no one paid much attention to a noble¡¯s pet dragon, very little escaped her notice.

    Finally were the smells. The various perfumes and colognes humans wore were nauseating (it took everything Aeris had to hide her disgust whenever someone walked by), but the intoxicating scent of the various foods more than made up for it. The various combinations of herbs and spices in every dish made her mouth water. She could take a deep breath and feel full and satisfied, but what she really wanted was the desserts.

    She was told all dragons have a strong infatuation with sweets, and Aeris was no exception. If she could do nothing else but stare at the creamy colorful icing blanketing the fluffy cakes and pastries sitting on the far table, the night was worth it. But it would be better if she could taste even one. She sighed heavily. What she wouldn¡¯t give for a cupcake right now.

    ¡°Enjoying yourself, my lady?¡±

    Aeris nearly jumped out of her vest. ¡°M-Master Aaron!¡± she quickly took a deep bow. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice you.¡±

    Aaron chuckled softly, ¡°It would kind of defeat the purpose of sneaking up on you if you did. You seem very distracted today, Aeris. Is everything all right?¡±

    Aeris shook her head. She wanted to say something about how hungry she was, but she didn¡¯t want Master Aaron feeling sorry for her. She would just have to bear it. He needed her to make a good impression on the other human nobles. It was why he brought her after all. She could always ask Maggie to sneak her something from the kitchen when they returned home. Just before she could say everything was fine, her stomach began growling. Aeris dropped her head in embarrassment. Luckily, dragons couldn¡¯t blush, or else her entire face would be red.

    Master Aaron began laughing, making her tuck her head even further. ¡°Aw, Aeris, you weren¡¯t going to tell me you were hungry were you?¡±

    Aeris stared at the floor. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to look Master Aaron in the eye. It was clear now what her silence had gotten her. What if he had brought someone with him and they heard her stomach growl like that? They would think he starved her and develop a negative opinion of him.

    Aeris felt a hand gently rubbing the top of her head, snapping her out of her thoughts. ¡°Aeris, you don¡¯t have to hide these things. You are very important to me.¡±

    Aeris opened her mouth to explain, but Aaron quickly cut her off, ¡°Now I understand you don¡¯t want to feel like a burden, and you feel the need to hide things from me to show your independence. But trust me, I will never see you as a burden. Ever. Now since Margret was kind enough to inform me that you haven¡¯t had your lunch today and for sitting here so patiently, I brought you a little snack.¡± He brought his hand from behind his back, revealing a large cupcake topped with pink icing sitting on a plate.

    She squealed with delight and nearly swallowed the cupcake whole but quickly corrected herself; she didn¡¯t want to appear too eager and embarrass her master. ¡°Thank you, Master. That was very kind of you.¡± She slowly scooped the cupcake into her mouth, doing her best to hide her pleasure as the flavors of the pastry danced on her palette. She chewed as slowly as possible to enjoy every piece of the baked pastry and every dollop of its sweet icing.

    Aaron laughed again and patted Aeris on the head. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I¡¯ll try to bring you something else a little later, and there¡¯ll be more waiting for you at home so please try to be patient.¡±

    ¡°Ah, Lord Strauss, there you are.¡±

    Aeris and Aaron turned to see a large woman, accompanied by an equally large man, approaching them. Aeris was fascinated by the beautiful green dress and matching feathered hat that the woman wore. As the pair drew closer, the dragon noticed the woman wore far too much makeup. The man, on the other hand, had most of his face buried under well-groomed facial hair. The man¡¯s suit, which seemed to fit him quite snugly, was the same dark shade of green as the woman¡¯s dress.

    ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Everfield,¡± Aaron said politely as he held out his hand to Mr. Everfield. Aeris bowed deeply when they approached. ¡°How are you?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re just fine, Lord Strauss,¡± answered Mr. Everfield in a gruff voice.

    ¡°Oh, this must be the dragon I heard so much about. It is just gorgeous.¡± Mrs. Everfield exclaimed as she grabbed Aeris¡¯ face and roughly turned her head back and forth to admire her scales. Aeris dug her claws into the floor, creating a light scraping noise, which thankfully was drowned out by the music. ¡°These scales are magnificent. It reminds me of an ice sculpture. She is simply beautiful. I¡¯ve never seen a dragon like this before. I would love to have one.¡±

    ¡°Thank you Mrs. Everfield, that is very kind of you,¡± Aaron replied, gently taking the woman¡¯s hands (much to Aeris¡¯ relief).

    ¡°Which reminds me, Lord Strauss, I would like to talk to you about that proposition we discussed yesterday,¡± Mr. Everfield said.

    Aaron quickly waved away the request. ¡°No, no. Forgive me, but I didn¡¯t come here to talk business. Why don¡¯t you come by my office tomorrow and we can discuss the deal then?¡±

    ¡°Come now, dear, we should be enjoying ourselves. You spend far too much time doing business,¡± said Mrs. Everfield.

    Mr. Everfield smiled at his wife, making Aeris grimace slightly. When he smiled, the man¡¯s face reminded her of a clay mask.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, dear. It won¡¯t happen again. But, Lord Strauss, I know we can¡¯t discuss business, but I must know: what species is this dragon?¡±

    ¡°Well I¡¯m not really sure wh¡ª¡° Aeris began.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I was talking to you, dragon,¡± Mr. Everfield said snidely.

    ¡°It¡¯s in their nature to be rude, dear,¡± Mrs. Strauss said. ¡°You can¡¯t expect too much from them.¡± She leaned in close to Aaron and said: ¡°Even the most well-trained dragon slips up from time to time. I guess there¡¯s no fighting their savage natures.¡±

    Aeris lowered her head. Master Aaron often spoke of wanting to do business with the Everfields and how much it would help his business. And she was making things difficult.

    Master Aaron quickly responded: ¡°Well, my parents rescued Aeris as an egg from some dragon poachers trying to sell her. I¡¯m afraid I have been unsuccessful in discovering her origins, and her unique coloration makes things somewhat difficult.¡±

    Aeris turned to her master. That wasn¡¯t the story she heard. Master Aaron always told her she was found abandoned on the street. He informed her it was common for dragons to abandon eggs they didn¡¯t want.

    ¡°Well, I guess that explains it then,¡± Mr. Everfield said. Turning to his wife, he added: ¡°I told you, my dear, she looks like a half-breed.¡±

    Aeris frowned at the couple. She may not know much about her origins, but that was no reason to insult her, or at least not do it in front of her.

    ¡°Mr. Everfield,¡± Aaron said, gently nudging Aeris in the side. She quickly changed her expression. ¡°I can assure you, Aeris is a full-blooded¡ª¡°

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Lord Strauss, but if you don¡¯t have any papers proving her lineage, then all I have is your word,¡± Mr. Everfield interrupted in a haughty tone. ¡°I do not think you would purposely lie to me, but what you believe and what is can often be two different things. How do you know Aero isn¡¯t some half-bred southern Highwind?¡±

    ¡°Um, Mr. Everfield, my name is Aeris,¡± she said politely.

    Mr. Everfield rounded on Aeris so quickly, she nearly cried out in surprise. His bared teeth were visible beneath his beard and his face was a deep shade of purple. ¡°The day I¡¯m corrected by a dragon¡ª¡°

    ¡°Mrs. Everfield, that is a lovely purse you have,¡± Master Aaron interjected.

    ¡°Why thank you,¡± Mrs. Everfield replied, proudly holding up the green handbag. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe how hard it was to find. I¡¯m told it¡¯s made of the finest dragon scales.¡±

    Before Aeris could stop herself, she snorted in disgust. She noticed everyone looking at her, their eyes wide in shock. She tucked her head and quickly began coughing to cover up her outburst. ¡°E-Excuse me. I-I think I need a drink of water.¡± Aeris began to turn away from the humans, hoping to get as far away as possible.

    ¡°No, no. Don¡¯t go anywhere,¡± Mr. Everfield said sternly, making Aeris stop in her tracks. ¡°It¡¯s obvious there is something on your mind, so please, share it.¡±

    ¡°Dear, she¡¯s a dragon,¡± chimed in Mrs. Everfield, ¡°They don¡¯t have much of a mind to begin with.¡± She chuckled at her little joke.

    Aeris couldn¡¯t explain it, but Mrs. Everfield¡¯s words triggered something deep within her. She had enough of their insults. She tried to be nice and bite her tongue, but her emotions had suddenly risen within her like a pot about to boil over. Her nose itched from Mrs. Everfield¡¯s perfume. The cupcake, tasty as it was, did nothing to satisfy her hunger. And now she had to put up with this.

    ¡°Aeris, maybe you should¡ª¡± Master Aaron began.

    It felt as if someone had seized control of her brain and forced the words out of her mouth. She stood to her full height but still needing to stretch a bit to look Mr. Everfield in the eye as her words echoed throughout the hall, ¡°Actually I do have something I wish to say: You are the most obnoxious, inconsiderate, disgusting excuse of a human I ever met. I can¡¯t decide which is more deplorable¡ªyour total disregard for manners, that tacky suit, or your lack of proper hygiene. Why don¡¯t you do everyone here a favor and go back to stuffing your abnormally fat face? At least then we¡¯ll all be spared the irritating drivel that pours forth from your gaping maw as we¡¯re all forced to put up with your pungent odor!¡±

    Mr. Everfield¡¯s face turned a deep shade of purple. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

    Master Aaron gently pushed Aeris away from the couple. Aeris shook off her master and turned on Mrs. Everfield.

    ¡°And your wife has the audacity to waltz through the streets, swinging that unseemly handbag, bragging about how dragons were sacrificed to create that hideous object. Quite frankly it¡¯s shocking no one has decided to use her to make something to parade around in and show her how it feels.¡±

    It felt like she was out of her own body and watching some other dragon that looked and sounded exactly like her yell at a pair of humans. No matter how much she willed herself to stop, the words continued to fly out of her, and she continued to use that vengeful glare. Part of her was horrified, but part of her was also proud. She stood there, staring defiantly at the Everfields. It felt good. Putting those people in their place filled her with pride. It was if a weight had been taken off of her and she felt lighter than air.

    The Everfields stood there; mouths wide open, wearing horrified expressions. It was then Aeris realized the entire room had gotten quiet; even the band had stopped playing. Everyone within sight was staring in her direction. Even Master Aaron stared at her as if she were something he had never seen before.

    The feelings of joy and accomplishment dissipated quickly. Her ears flattened against her head and her tail curled defensively around her legs as she looked around at the stupefied crowd. Instead of feeling weightless, the air felt thick and heavy as if a heavy blanket had fallen over the room. She felt the need to hide in the deepest, darkest hole she could find and never come out again.

    Master Aaron was the first to speak, his sudden voice caused several people to jump in surprise, ¡°Please excuse my dragon, Mr. and Mrs. Everfield, she has had a very trying day, and she is very tired. Excuse us.¡± He gripped the back of Aeris¡¯ neck and steered her towards the exit. Everyone parted as they moved through the crowd as though they were contaminated with an infectious disease.

    People whispered amongst themselves and their surprised expressions changed to anger or disappointment. Aeris cast her gaze to the floor, opting to stare at her shameful reflection in its polished surface. She didn¡¯t look up again until they were outside and away from any watchful eyes.

    As soon as they were outside, Aaron immediately turned on her, his face red with fury. ¡°What in name of all things divine was that, Aeris? What has gotten into you¡ªyou have never acted that way before. Are you trying to embarrass me? Do you want to ruin my business?¡±

    She dropped her head and didn¡¯t respond; she knew he wasn¡¯t expecting an answer. He told her he needed her and instead she possibly ruined any hope Master Aaron had of closing a very important business deal. ¡°M-Master, I¡­I¡¯m so¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it! Right now, the only thing I want you to do is stay here and think about what you¡¯ve done until I come for you. I¡¯m going back inside and see if I can at least try to repair some of the damage.¡±

    He turned and stormed back inside, leaving Aeris standing outside alone.

 Chapter 2: Curiosity

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 2: Curiosity</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris lay quietly on her mattress staring at the book lying in front of her. She had been staring at the same page for what felt like hours, and she still could not even begin to explain the page¡¯s contents. No matter how hard she tried to focus on the pages in front of her, her mind kept drifting back to that night, the night when she lost all self-control and confronted the Everfields.

    After the outburst at the garden party a few days ago, Master Aaron hadn¡¯t spoken on whether or not he had managed to repair the damage, but he hadn¡¯t been in a good mood since. Aeris tried asking Maggie how things were going, but the response was always ¡°Not now, Aeris. Lord Strauss just needs time to cool down.¡±

    He had her confined to her room for the last few days and forbade anyone from letting her out except to go to relieve herself. Even then, she was only let out at certain times. When she was fed, she received meat scraps and bread instead of her favorite meals. Being cooped up in her room, she felt as if she were losing her mind, but she knew better than to complain.

    She couldn¡¯t understand it. Everything was going so well. Why did she lash out like that? She felt so proud of how she reacted. How could she feel so proud knowing that she had done something so selfish and horrible? Was it because they insulted her? But she had been insulted before. She had even been called worse things than ¡°half-breed¡±. Even some of the staff at the estate gave her dark looks and talked about her when she wasn¡¯t in the room. Once a drunken noble referred to her as ¡°a flying gecko that talked back.¡± Everyone in the room heard him and laughed, and it hurt her feelings greatly. Worse still, Master Aaron couldn¡¯t do anything about it because of how well-connected the man was, so she spent the rest of that night in the corner hiding her face behind her wing. Another time a noblewoman yelled at Master Aaron because he brought his ¡°stinking, filthy beast¡± into her home, and Aeris was forced to spend the rest of the evening outside.

    But then what was it that pushed her over the edge? Even thinking about it now, a low growl escaped her.

    I would do it again. Someone needed to tell those pompous bastards off.

    Aeris shook her head and blinked, surprised at her behavior. She stuck her nose back in her book. Another thing that bothered her was what the Everfields said about her being a half-breed.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time someone questioned her origins. It happened quite a lot. Just about everyone Master Aaron introduced her to wanted to know where she came from. Every time, she had to put up with the disappointment in their faces when her master said he didn¡¯t know.

    Well, she was going to know. The next time someone dared to call her a halfbreed, she would have a response for them. She had spent the last few days reading all the books on dragons she could find in her master¡¯s study. There was a surprisingly large amount of books. Unfortunately, none of the books she read had any reliable information.

    The soft creaking of the door snapped Aeris out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Maggie entering the room. ¡°Hello, Maggie,¡± she said, smiling cheerfully. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Maggie straightened her clothes although they were already neat. ¡°I just wanted to see if you wanted to talk.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head. ¡°Talk about what?¡±

    ¡°You know, anything that may or may not be bothering you,¡± Maggie replied, nonchalantly. She walked over to the shelf and picked things up and put them down immediately as if it were an exercise. Eventually, she just threw hands in the air and said, ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t do this. I noticed you¡¯ve been quiet ever since you came back from that party. I heard about what happened.¡± Aeris opened her mouth to protest, but Maggie waggled a finger at her. ¡°And don¡¯t you dare say nothing is wrong. You and Lord Strauss have been in a foul mood ever since you came back.¡±

    Aeris hung her head in shame. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened. I just couldn¡¯t take it anymore. The words starting pouring out of me, and I couldn¡¯t stop. And she was carrying a purse made of dragon scales! Who does that?¡±

    ¡°I think I know what happened. You were already in a foul mood from being cooped up in your room all day, forced to take two baths so close together, and you missed a meal. For a human that¡¯s enough to make them more than a little irritable. And I doubt a dragon would feel any better,¡± Maggie sat on the mattress next to her, ¡°But Aeris, you don¡¯t need to keep all of your feelings bottled up like that. If you need to talk, don¡¯t be afraid to say so.¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t want Master Aaron worrying ¡ª¡±

    ¡°That is no excuse to shut yourself off from everyone else. I know you want to try and make things easier for Master Aaron, but hiding things from him is only going to make things worse later on. Now if you¡¯re set on keeping things quiet, you can always tell me, okay?¡±

    Aeris smiled and nodded. Maggie always knew the right things to say to cheer her up. It was nice to know there was someone to confide in. She turned back to her book, confident she could focus on its contents.

    ¡°Aeris?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Maggie?¡±

    ¡°Where did you get that book?¡±

    Aeris stiffened. ¡°Oh, you mean this book? I¡­took it from Master Aaron¡¯s study.¡±

    Although she was forbidden to leave her room, the door wasn¡¯t locked because she knew better than to go outside when she was told not to. Over the years, she learned that the only thing she really had to worry about was getting caught.

    Maggie stood up staring at Aeris in shock. ¡°How did you even get inside the house without anyone noticing you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± Aeris said proudly. ¡°There¡¯s a secret passage in the side of the house. I just sneak in through there.¡±

    Maggie sighed heavily. ¡°You silly dragon, Linda has been driving us all crazy claiming there¡¯s a rat living in the walls. We¡¯ve been setting traps for months and wondering why we haven¡¯t caught anything.¡± Aeris began laughing but quickly stopped when she saw the serious look on Maggie¡¯s face. ¡°Now what¡¯s this about a secret passage? How did you even find it? And why is this the first time I¡¯m hearing of it?¡±

    Aeris curled into a ball, her pride slowly leaving her. ¡°I just happened to find it, playing in the garden one day. I didn¡¯t say anything because I knew you would get mad, and I worried you would tell Master Aaron.¡±

    Maggie rubbed her temple. ¡°Aeris, I would not tell on you. But you can¡¯t go sneaking around like that. Lord Strauss would be furious if he found out. Promise me the next time you need a book, you¡¯ll ask me to get it for you.¡±

    ¡°But how can I tell you which book to get if I¡¯ve never read it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But you can¡¯t go breaking into the house like that, you have no idea how much trouble you¡¯ll be in if someone catches you. Lord Strauss is unhappy enough with you as it is. What if he came in and saw you with that?¡±

    Aeris dropped her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maggie. I just wanted something to do, I didn¡¯t mean for anyone to get in trouble.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine but from now on, no more sneaking into the study. Now if anyone asks, tell them I gave you the book. We weren¡¯t told not to bring you things to do, so it should be fine. What are you reading anyway?¡±

    Aeris moved a claw over the book. She looked everywhere except Maggie¡¯s eyes. ¡°N-Nothing interesting. Just a story about dragons.¡±

    The look Maggie¡¯s face showed she wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°Aeris, you hate stories about dragons. You don¡¯t like how the dragons are always stealing things and killing people.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not fair!¡± Aeris whined. ¡°They always make dragons sound like monsters and everyone cheers when someone kills them and¡ª¡± she snapped her muzzle shut realizing she was proving Maggie¡¯s point.

    The woman chuckled. ¡°Aeris, you are a terrible liar.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ mouth dropped open in mock outrage. ¡°I certainly am not!¡±

    ¡°Aeris, you really shouldn¡¯t take advice on lying from the stories you read. They want you to know the character is lying.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Right.¡± Her stomach tightened as Maggie looked at the small pile of books on the table. Aeris couldn¡¯t believe she had forgotten them. What if Master Aaron had come in and seen them?

    Maggie snatched the book on top of the pile and read the cover aloud, ¡°Calculus: Early Transcendentals? Aeris, how did¡­where did¡­you mean, understand this?¡±

    Aeris sank into the mattress. ¡°At first I didn¡¯t get much of it, but it mentioned this thing called al?gee-bra, so I read a book about that. Afterward, the book made a lot more sense.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Margret stared at the dragon wide-eyed. ¡°You mean algebra? Aeris, how long have you been reading these types of books?¡±

    Aeris found herself unable to look Maggie in the eye. ¡°I don¡¯t really know¡ª¡±

    ¡°How long!?¡±

    ¡°A-A few months,¡± Aeris said, quickly, shrinking further into a corner of the mattress. She had no idea what she had done to upset Maggie this badly. It was just a book. And Maggie was the one who taught her to read. Maggie¡¯s face was turning pink with worry. First Master Aaron, now Maggie. Why was she upsetting everyone lately?

    ¡°A few months¡ªoh, heavens.¡± Maggie began pacing around the room. She kept mumbling things under her breath. Aeris couldn¡¯t make out what she was saying and was too frightened to ask. Maggie finally turned to face the dragon. ¡°Aeris, how many of these books have you read?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I never counted them. I think that is the last one.¡±

    Maggie didn¡¯t look pleased with the news. ¡°Nothing to do about that I suppose.¡± Maggie quickly scooped up the books into her arms, snatched up the one Aeris was reading and rushed towards the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to put these away. You stay here and don¡¯t talk to anyone.¡±

    Aeris stared at the door, unmoving. She was too scared to even breathe. Her mind swam with theories about why Maggie would be so upset about her reading.

    The books were different than what she was used to reading. Most of the books she had read contained stories full of drama, suspense, and intrigue, but these books contained no stories at all. There were no characters, no plot, no beginning, and no end, yet Aeris was fascinated by the complicated explanations and various diagrams. On more than one occasion she attempted to replicate what she saw in the books, but she had no idea how to write and the scratches she made in the dirt floor resembled just that, scratches. She looked down at her latest attempt to draw something the book described as a square. The books described the shape as having sides of equal size, but the lines she drew were uneven and crooked. Aeris used her tail to brush away her drawings. Maggie was already upset, no point in making it worse.

    Eventually, Maggie returned, looking once over her shoulder before closing the door. She began straightening her clothes which were already neat and fixing her red hair which didn¡¯t require straightening. Aeris sat up straight, waiting for Maggie to notice her. The fact that Maggie remained silent for long was worrying. It usually meant she was trying to calm herself down enough to speak without yelling.

    Finally, Aeris decided she couldn¡¯t take the silence any longer. ¡°Maggie?¡±

    ¡°Aeris, I¡¯m sorry I yelled at you. I didn¡¯t mean to scare you,¡± Margret said, her calmness reflected in her voice and posture. ¡°But we discussed this before: some people would be very upset to see a dragon reading. They would be even more upset to see a dragon learning things such as physics or calculus. People aren¡¯t used to seeing that kind of thing. It¡¯s not really considered normal for a dragon to want to learn about those things.¡±

    ¡°But what¡¯s wrong with learning those things?¡± Aeris asked cautiously.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with it,¡± Maggie replied in the same calm tone, ¡°It¡¯s just that kind of knowledge is considered a very powerful thing, and dragons are already powerful enough.¡±

    ¡°So everyone¡¯s happy as long as dragons remain dumb beasts?¡± Aeris asked, feeling her anger rise as the conversation with the Everfields entered her mind.

    Maggie walked over to the mattress and sat down next to Aeris. ¡°No, no. I¡¯m not saying that. I¡¯m saying with that kind of knowledge, you can do very dangerous things.¡±

    Aeris slowly nodded. It sort of made sense. Dragons were already capable of terrible things, and those books allowed them to do even more. But humans were also capable of terrible things; she knew that much from the history books and stories she read. Why were humans allowed to further their knowledge but not dragons? She decided to keep her questions to herself. Maggie already seemed uncomfortable with the situation.

    The two sat in silence for several minutes. Aeris stared at the window while Maggie adjusted her blouse again. The longer Aeris sat there, the more she thought about what Maggie said. Dragons didn¡¯t read; it was considered normal. Normal. The very word seemed to irritate her. There was nothing normal about her, yet she was supposed to act the way everyone expected her to. Mrs. Everfield¡¯s words echoed in her mind: ¡°It¡¯s in their nature to be rude, dear. You can¡¯t expect too much from them.¡± The mixed feeling of anger and regret she felt that night began to resurface.

    Maggie broke the silence and Aeris¡¯ concentration. ¡°Aeris, I noticed you took another book called The History of Dragons. May I ask why?¡±

    Aeris ducked her head under her wing to hide her sudden embarrassment. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I am,¡± she mumbled.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I am,¡± Aeris repeated louder.

    ¡°Aeris, honey, you¡¯re a dragon what else could you be?¡± Maggie responded, chuckling.

    That did it. The feelings Aeris was trying to force down shot through her defenses. She couldn¡¯t help it when Maggie talked about something that mattered to her as if it weren¡¯t a big deal. She felt the same way she did back at the party: As if someone had taken over her body and all she could do was watch as they manipulated her as they saw fit.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Aeris said, angrily jumping to her feet. ¡°I know I¡¯m a dragon, but that¡¯s all. I don¡¯t know where I came from or what species I am or what happened to my parents. I don¡¯t know anything about myself. Why am I so different? Why am I a different color than other dragons? Why can¡¯t I breathe fire?¡± Aeris began pacing around the room. She couldn¡¯t stop talking. It was as if she was an open window and nothing could close it. She felt consumed by her anger and confusion. Worse still, she didn¡¯t care who heard her or what they thought of it; she was going to get this off her mind and dammit they were going to listen. ¡°I¡¯m sick of it! I¡¯m sick of not having an answer when asked ¡®what are you?¡¯ and I¡¯m sick of people looking at me strangely or calling me a half-breed because I don¡¯t know where I came from! Even Master Aaron has been lying to me! Why doesn¡¯t anyone want me to know what I am?¡± Aeris stood in the middle of her room breathing heavily.

    Maggie sat there staring as if she had just seen Aeris for the first time. She silently adjusted her clothes and stood up, not once taking her eyes off the dragon.

    Aeris felt the emotion slowly drain from her body and replaced with fear. What was Maggie going to do to her? Was she going to yell at her? Was she going to strike her?

    Maggie slowly crossed the room to where Aeris stood. Without warning, she fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around Aeris¡¯ neck, embracing Aeris so tightly she found it difficult to breathe.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Aeris,¡± Maggie said, her voice muffled from being buried in Aeris¡¯ scales. Even though her voice was muffled, Aeris could tell she was crying. ¡°I don¡¯t have any answers for you. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so different and I can¡¯t tell you where you came from because I honestly don¡¯t know. But you know what¡±¡ªshe broke away to look Aeris in the eye. Aeris saw Maggie¡¯s brown eyes had become bloodshot from crying¡ª¡°I can¡¯t answer your questions but I¡¯m can help you find them. Wait right here. I¡¯m going to get some more books from the study and see if we can¡¯t figure this out.¡±

    ¡°But what if someone sees you?¡±

    ¡°You let me worry about that,¡± Maggie replied.

    Aeris slowly stood and followed. She wasn¡¯t supposed to leave her room, but she felt almost compelled to follow Maggie. This was her chance to find the answers she had been looking for.

    Other than her bi-monthly break-ins, Aeris hardly ever set foot inside, even as a dragonling. She was still allowed inside, but only supervised and with Master Aaron¡¯s permission. Master Aaron always told her it was because human homes weren¡¯t designed with dragons in mind, and she might break something. Of course, this didn¡¯t stop Master Aaron from sneaking Aeris into his bedroom at night when they were younger. Once, her curiosity got the better of her and she decided to explore the hallway. She was so fascinated by the various pictures along the walls she walked into an end table, knocking a very expensive vase on the floor, shattering it. Master Aaron¡¯s parents scolded them something fierce for the incident and Aeris¡¯ tours were brought to an end.

    Aeris quickly went around the estate, making sure to hug the wall to keep anyone from seeing her through the windows. She peeked through the window to the study and saw it empty. Rather than wait for Maggie to arrive, Aeris decided to let herself in.

    The entrance to the secret passage was always difficult to find. Hidden behind a rose bush on the estate¡¯s west side close to Master Aaron¡¯s study, it was near impossible to see even knowing where it was. After finding the secret door, she had to push it open from the bottom and squeeze inside.

    The passage had been designed for humans, not dragons. It was only wide enough for a single human to walk without scraping their elbows. It was a bit of a squeeze, but Aeris had gotten used to traversing the narrow passages. The passages hadn¡¯t been maintained in years. The air was always thick with dust and walls lined with cobwebs. The passages led to all the rooms in the mansion, including the attic and bathrooms, and Aeris knew them all. The guests¡¯ quarters where the servants slept also had secret passages with viewports into every room.

    She often explored the passages on the days she was bored which was mostly rainy days. She often used to sneak into the mansion on days when Maggie was sick as Kera, the maid who took over Maggie¡¯s duties when she was sick, only brought Aeris food and refused to interact further. Aeris would sneak into Maggie¡¯s room and lay beside her bed.

    What Aeris hated were the secret windows that allowed her to see inside the rooms. There were paintings on the walls and many of them had mirrors hidden behind them. Aeris could see out, but couldn¡¯t see in. She tried. Being able to spy on others made her uncomfortable as did the idea that whoever built those passages designed them for that very purpose. The mansion had been in Master Aaron¡¯s family for generations, how many of them knew about the secret passages, and how many had actually used them? How many of their guests had their privacies invaded? These questions invaded Aeris¡¯s mind every time she entered the passages.

    Each door was opened by use of a switch which was usually located near the door. It didn¡¯t take long before she found the switch controlling the door to Master Aaron¡¯s study. She checked the window, a painting of a sea she could see through, before pulling the switch and entering the study.

    No matter how many times Aeris entered her master¡¯s study, she felt as if she were entering for the first time. The study was one of the few rooms she was never allowed to enter. Master Aaron said Aeris could break something being inside, but the study was more than spacious enough for her to move about unhindered as long as she kept her tail under control.

    So Aeris had always been extremely cautious during her visits, keeping her wings snapped close to her body, and her tail tucked underneath her even though it was uncomfortable.

    A large desk took up most of the space in the study. The books in the room sat on the bookshelf which covered an entire wall. The rest of the room was occupied by a smaller table and a few chairs. It was always a bit messy inside, books and papers scattered all over the desk and table. Aeris tried reading them once, but they were long detailed descriptions of dragon birth rates that didn¡¯t hold her attention.

    She wished had read them when she had the chance.

    Maggie entered the room and carefully closed the door. She spun around and yelped at the sight of Aeris. She quickly recovered, clutching at her chest and breathing heavily. ¡°My goodness, Aeris, how did you get in here?¡±

    Before she could respond, the study door opened. The two females watched as Charles entered the study. Charles was an old man who had served as the Strauss¡¯s family butler for the last two generations. The man was sort of hunched over making him appear smaller than he was. His skin was stretched over sharp cheekbones and a strong jaw, giving a face a pointy appearance under the right light, and his eyes still carried a strong will to live despite his slow movements.

    He straightened when he noticed the Aeris and Maggie. The old man looked back and forth at them with piercing green eyes. Aeris fought the urge to hide. She was always afraid of them even during her early years. The man¡¯s ability to move quickly when he wanted to and enter and leave a room without making a sound was uncanny.

    Maggie didn¡¯t seem nearly as bothered by Charles¡¯ appearance. ¡°Is there something I can help you with?¡±

    ¡°Margret, what is she doing in here?¡± Charles asked, pointing at Aeris. His voice was strong and deep, opposing the frail old man it belonged to.

    ¡°I invited her in to keep me company,¡± Margret said, casually as she placed books on the floor next to the dragon.

    Charles casually and slowly scratched at his chin never taking his eyes off Aeris. She stared back, transfixed. It was if he could see right through her, his gaze saying, ¡°I know why you¡¯re here.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s funny, I don¡¯t remember seeing her when I saw you in the hall,¡± Charles said.

    ¡°Perhaps you weren¡¯t paying attention,¡± Margret stated, simply, ¡°Or your sight is finally starting to fail.¡±

    ¡°You know Lord Strauss won¡¯t be happy to learn she is out of her room and was in his study of all places.¡±

    ¡°And how will he find out? Are you going to tell him?¡±

    Charles''s eyes narrowed. ¡°Careful, Margret. Lord Strauss isn¡¯t going to put up with your defiance forever. There is only so much you can hope to get away with.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, Charles. Now if you¡¯ll excuse us¡­¡±

    Charles released Aeris from his piercing gaze, saying nothing as he slowly backed out of the room. For a moment, Aeris could have sworn she saw pity in his eyes.

    Aeris turned to Maggie when she left the room. ¡°What did he mean by that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not important, Aeris. We only a few hours before Lord Strauss gets home; we need to go through as many of these books as possible.¡±

    Aeris nodded in agreement. She was grateful to Maggie for wanting to go through all this trouble for her, though she didn¡¯t have the heart to tell Maggie that she had already read through the books. Perhaps Maggie would see something she didn¡¯t.

    They poured through the various tomes for hours until Master Aaron came home.

    But not a single book held the answers Aeris was looking for.

 Chapter 3: Answers

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 3: Answers</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris flew happily through the skies. Her grounding was finally over and she was free to roam the estate grounds however she pleased.

    Out of all the things she enjoyed, flying was definitely her favorite. The air blowing over her scales, the fantastic views from above, and the unrestricted speed all left an indescribable feeling of pleasure.

    She beat her wings, soaring higher and higher into the air. Just as she reached the clouds, she folded her wings, enjoying the brief weightlessness she felt just before plummeting towards the ground. The dragon twisted and turned in the air, all the while never taking her eyes off the ground rushing to meet her. She opened her wings at the last moment, relishing in the feel of the grass brushing against her claws as she pulled out of her steep dive mere inches above the ground. The dragon beat her wings gaining altitude once more, flying one final lap around the estate before gently landing in the yard.

    Aeris looked up at the sky, breathing heavily, the adrenaline still pumping through her veins. Flying was truly the best way to relieve stress and forget her troubles. It had been a few weeks since her outburst with Maggie. Ever since then, Maggie had kept true to her promise to help Aeris find some answers about her origins. At least once a week she brought in books from the library in the city and the two spent all day reading through them for information about dragons.

    The books contained surprisingly little about dragons. According to Maggie, all the books were based on theories or biased assumptions. It would seem that dragons didn¡¯t like sharing their histories with humans or humans were too afraid of dragons to ask. Maggie said it was a little bit of both.

    The search wasn¡¯t a complete loss, however. Aeris learned a great deal about how many different dragon species existed as well as some of their physical characteristics. Sadly, none of the species she read about matched her description.

    Aeris was not like other dragons. For one, no other dragon possessed her unique celeste-colored scales, and then there was the fact she couldn¡¯t breathe fire like other dragons.

    It came as quite a shock when it was first discovered. Aeris had just entered her adolescence, the stage when a dragon¡¯s wings began to strengthen and their ability to breathe fire developed. Master Aaron bragged constantly about how cool it would be when the two were flying through the air shooting fireballs into the clouds. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t expel any flames.

    One day, Aeris noticed Master Aaron being attacked by a group of boys. Enraged, she opened her mouth and fired two large chunks of ice at the group, knocking the boys unconscious. Unfortunately, she later learned the boys were simply playing a game, and her master was never in any real danger. Thankfully, Master Aaron¡¯s parents were too surprised by Aeris¡¯ ice breath to scold her properly for the incident, and the boys she knocked out had no memory of what happened.

    While she enjoyed that uniqueness, it could also be depressing at times. She was sworn to secrecy regarding her ice abilities, and she had to put up with strange stares and whispers when asked about her origins. All she knew was what Master Aaron had told her. His parents found her as an egg on the streets or rescued her when she was still an egg from dragon hunters, she didn¡¯t know anymore. All she knew was there was no way of tracking her parents, and none of her other traits were shared by another dragon.

    Despite their lack of success, Maggie refused to give up. Every day she reminded Aeris why it was necessary to never lose hope, but the dragon noticed it seemed Maggie was trying more to convince herself.

    With the adrenaline wearing off, Aeris began to feel a wave of melancholy wash over her. She silently scolded herself for ruining the end of such a great flying session with her depressing thoughts. She bent her legs and spread her wings, ready to take off into the skies again.

    A voice suddenly called out to her, ¡°Aeris, wait.¡± Aeris looked back, seeing Maggie running towards her. The dragon sighed when she saw the book in the woman¡¯s arms. She loved Maggie for wanting to help her, but failing day after day was starting to get to her.

    ¡°I think I found something that could help us.¡± Maggie opened the book and began rapidly flipping through its pages. ¡°Do you remember when we looked at the yellowtails, the Relgen short-snouts, and silver horntails?¡±

    Aeris nodded slowly. Those were the dragon species with which she shared a few characteristics, but not enough to say she was one of them.

    Maggie stopped flipping through the pages and held the book up to Aeris. She looked at the pages confused. She only saw the species Maggie was just talking about. ¡°What am I looking at?¡±

    ¡°All of these dragons share certain features and they all have one thing in common: they all can be found in the North,¡± said Maggie happily. When Aeris didn¡¯t respond, she continued, ¡°You see, Aeris? If you share these features with them, then you must be from the North as well. I know it isn¡¯t what you wanted, but we have an idea of where to look. Now we can just focus on species that originated in the northern regions. We could possibly be one step closer to finding out who you really are. Isn¡¯t that great?¡±

    ¡°It is good news, but Maggie wouldn¡¯t it be easier to simply ask a dragon?¡±

    ¡°Aeris, that¡¯s not a good idea,¡± Maggie said, frowning.

    ¡°Well, why not? The dragons have to know something. I¡¯m sure there are some in the city who can¡ª¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not!¡±

    Aeris flinched at Maggie¡¯s sudden outburst. It wasn¡¯t like Maggie to suddenly raise her voice like that. After all, Maggie was the one who was always pushing her to keep searching for her origins. Why wouldn¡¯t Maggie want her to use a potential source?

    ¡°Uh-oh, this seems like a tense situation. What¡¯s going on here?¡± The two turned and saw Master Aaron approaching them. ¡°Are you two all right?¡±

    The two females stood in place for several minutes saying nothing. Aeris wasn¡¯t sure what to say; she hadn¡¯t told Master Aaron about the search. Maggie warned her he wouldn¡¯t like it if he found out although she refused to say why. Though Aeris agreed to keep it a secret, she didn¡¯t like lying to her master; it always made her feel dirty.

    ¡°I was just reading Aeris a story, sir,¡± Maggie said, a large smile across her face. She quickly closed the book and hid it behind her back. ¡°We were arguing because Aeris thought it would be fun to try flying blindfolded like they do in the story.¡±

    Aaron laughed while patting the top of Aeris¡¯ head. ¡°You know I would pay to see that. It sounds like a neat trick.¡±

    ¡°Lord Strauss, please do not give her ideas,¡± Maggie pleaded. ¡°I just convinced her it would be a bad idea.¡±

    Aeris was too surprised by how natural Maggie sounded lying to comment.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry I won¡¯t. Aeris, I¡¯m going into the city to pick up a few things, would you like to join me?¡±

    Aeris could barely contain her excitement. ¡°I would love to.¡±

    Except for the few events Master Aaron attended, Aeris was rarely ever allowed to go beyond the estate grounds. Whenever they attended an event in the city, Aeris never got an opportunity to take in her surroundings; they always went straight to their destination then straight home. She always wanted to go to the city and meet other dragons. Now not only was she going, but she may also be able to ask some of the dragons there about some of the northern dragon clans.

    ¡°Lord Strauss, me and Aeris are still in the middle of¡ª¡±

    ¡°The story isn¡¯t going anywhere, Margret. You can finish reading it when she returns. In the meantime, could you go to the kitchens and help Olivia prepare dinner? Aeris, I would like you to come with me please.¡±

    Aeris followed closely behind Master Aaron as he walked towards her room.

    Once inside, Aeris bounded over to the dresser against the wall. Her mind was flooding with ideas of all the things she could wear. ¡°Master, what should I wear? I¡¯m thinking maybe the vest you bought for me last year. I haven¡¯t had many chances to wear it.¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯ll look beautiful no matter what you¡¯re wearing,¡± Aaron replied, gently placing a hand on Aeris¡¯ back.

    ¡°Thank you, Master. That¡¯s very ni¡ª¡± Aeris froze mid-sentence as Aaron began sliding his hand down her back, pausing at the base of her tail. Her heartbeat began to increase. ¡°Master Aaron?¡±

    ¡°You know, I missed you today,¡± said Aaron sweetly as he stroked her tail, ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about you.¡±

    Aeris slowly pulled away from him, ¡°I¡¯m flattered you were thinking of me, but I need your help picking out something to wear,¡± she said nervously. Her heart began beating faster as she realized the real reason for bringing her here¡ªalone.

    Aaron followed her, calmly stroking the side of her neck. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll get Margret to pick something out for you.¡± He knelt and began caressing Aeris¡¯s face with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt with the other.

    Aeris swallowed thickly. Her tail instinctively flattened against her rear. ¡°M-Master, we¡¯re going to be late. We should b-be going soon.¡±

    ¡°Aeris, we have plenty of time,¡± Aaron replied coolly, eyeing Aeris¡¯ body hungrily. ¡°Besides if we can¡¯t go today there is always tomorrow.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t want to go tomorrow, she wanted to leave today, preferably right now. But what would Master Aaron think if she said those things?

    Master Aaron stopped, the hunger in his eyes replaced with worry. ¡°Aeris, what¡¯s wrong? Is everything okay?¡±

    Aeris couldn¡¯t say it. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to say how she felt; how she didn¡¯t like Master Aaron touching her that way, how she wished there was another way for the two to show their love for another. But he was her master. He never forced her to do anything she didn¡¯t want to do, but he took care of her, fed her, and gave her a place to sleep. Surely she was required to do something to show her appreciation.

    Aeris took several deep breaths, but her heart showed no signs of slowing down. If she did say no, would he be angry with her? What if he left her behind because of it? This could be the only opportunity she had to talk with another dragon and learn more about herself; she couldn¡¯t let it slip by. The only time she saw other dragons was in passing on her way to a human gathering. Even at the parties she attended she was always the only dragon there.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Aeris slowly approached her master. She closed her eyes tightly and turned around lifting her tail into the air, bracing herself for what was to come. ¡°No, Master. Everything is fine.¡±

    Aeris dug her claws into the dirt floor, trying desperately to ignore the sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach and the pain flaring in her groin every time his hips joined with hers. She tried unsuccessfully to ignore the disgusting sounds echoing throughout the room. She buried her face in the dirt, hoping to clog her nostrils and keep from smelling her master¡¯s nauseating musk. Aaron leaned over her telling her how much he could feel her love for him. Aeris didn¡¯t respond; she was mentally counting the seconds, waiting for it all to be over.

    She silently cursed herself. Every time he ran his hands over her body, her scales crawled. Her master was telling her how much he loved her and enjoyed expressing it, but all she wanted to do think about how much of a relief it would be when he stopped. Finally, Master Aaron began moaning loudly and collapsed on her back, breathing heavily. Despite how large he was, he wasn¡¯t heavy. She did her best to fight the sudden urge to throw her master on the floor.

    ¡°You were amazing,¡± Master Aaron wheezed.

    She was surprised by the low growl she heard in her voice as she replied, ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±

    They lay like that for several minutes. Her master on her back, rubbing her side, and Aeris fighting the urge to vomit.

    Master Aaron stood up and began putting his clothes back on. Without even looking back, he began walking back towards the door. ¡°Okay, Aeris, it looks as if we have plenty of time to go shopping.¡± He looked back, a wide grin on his face. ¡°You¡¯re still coming right?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Master.¡± Aeris craned her neck to lick herself clean. She grimaced at the bitter taste of her master¡¯s fluids. She would have preferred a nice hot scrub, but she doubted Master Aaron would wait for her to get cleaned up.

    This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Regardless of what Maggie said, Aeris was determined not to let it slip by. If Maggie wasn¡¯t going to take a chance on asking another dragon, then she would.

    ****

    Aeris patiently sat outside the shop awaiting her master¡¯s return. Through the large display window, she could easily see him talking to another human. She couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying but judging by the smiles on their faces, it was a pleasant conversation. Her master turned to the window and waved at her; Aeris smiled back, but her smile quickly fell when he looked away.

    She felt dirty. It was as if a bucket of filth had been dumped on her, and she couldn¡¯t get it off. Part of her still regretted not telling him the truth. It hadn¡¯t been the first time her master ¡°showed his appreciation¡± and every time Aeris gave in. Why couldn¡¯t she just come out and say it? Every time he touched her she felt¡­defiled.

    Looking at him through the window, Aeris felt nothing but contempt for him. Part of her wanted to storm into the shop and slap that stupid grin right off his face. The dragon firmly shook her head. What was she thinking secretly hating the man who took care of her? He gave her everything she wanted, sometimes without her asking for it. Surely it was her job to repay the favor. So on days when he would visit her and ask for a distraction from a stressful workday, shouldn¡¯t she oblige?

    Aeris pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind. It was her first trip to the city; she shouldn¡¯t waste it focusing on these things now.

    She was definitely in a part of the city she and never seen before; Master Aaron had explained this was a commercial district where people came to shop. The area was far larger than she expected. There were so many buildings of different sizes, shapes, and colors. And each shop sold something different from the one before it. Although she wasn¡¯t allowed inside, Aeris was still fascinated by the things she could see through the display windows of the various stores surrounding her.

    The smells were something else. The parties she attended were always filled with the sweet scents of the various entrees and desserts as well as the stench of the perfumes and colognes everyone wore. The smell of this place was entirely different. There were so many different smells all mingling together at once; Aeris had a hard time discerning one scent from another.

    Aeris watched as various people walked by, nearly every person that walked by stared at her and the ones who didn¡¯t whisper amongst themselves. She shifted uncomfortably where she stood. She was used to being the center of attention but something about the way some of the people looked at her made her uncomfortable.

    All the time she sat there, she still hadn¡¯t come across any dragons. Maybe they lived in a different part of the city. She began to fear that today was a waste after all.

    Perhaps she could find a way to convince Master Aaron to take her to where the dragons lived without him getting suspicious.

    ¡°Hey be careful with those you damn lizard!¡±

    Aeris looked back across the street and saw a large green dragon standing next to a human. Both of them were arguing in front of a broken crate on the ground. Aeris recognized the species immediately; it was a Green Crested Genial, a dragon named for its friendly disposition.

    Finally another dragon! she thought as she hurried across the street. Her mind was already swimming with questions. As she got closer she could make out more of what the human and dragon were saying to each other.

    ¡°I told you to be careful. Do you have any idea how much this stuff costs?¡±

    ¡°I was careful. You bumped into me.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t bump into you, besides even if I did, look how big you are. There is no way I knocked you off balance.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it. Just go and get something to clean this up. I¡¯m not having the owner dock my pay again because you¡¯re clumsy.¡±

    The human mumbled something under his breath before entering a nearby building.

    Aeris hesitated. Perhaps it was a bad time. The dragon appeared irritated after the conversation with the human. He may not want to be bothered. She looked back across the street. Her master would be back any minute, and there was no way of knowing when she would have another chance to speak to a dragon alone.

    She mustered up her courage and quickly approached the dragon, ¡°Um, excuse me?¡±

    The dragon looked around confused before finally noticing Aeris. She noticed one of the dragon¡¯s horns was broken and he had a deep scar over his left eye. Looking into his yellow eyes, Aeris felt fear. This dragon wasn¡¯t looking at her as if she were a fellow dragon; he glared as if the sight of her disgusted him. The Genial stood up to his full height, easily casting a shadow over the young dragon.

    ¡°What?¡± the dragon spat.

    Aeris did her best to ignore the dragon¡¯s rudeness, ¡°Hello. I¡¯m sorry to bother you. My name is Aeris, and I wanted¡ª¡± She stopped mid-sentence as it occurred to her that she had no idea how to phrase the question nor the best means of approaching the subject. She couldn¡¯t ask outright; it would seem rude or he might think her insane.

    The dragon started sniffing the air, ignoring Aeris completely. Before Aeris could ask what he was doing, the Genial suddenly began sniffing her. She quickly took a step back. ¡°What are you¡ª¡± Her words were cut short when the look on the dragon¡¯s face had changed from annoyance to outright disgust.

    ¡°Go away, pet,¡± the dragon said the final word with so much venom, Aeris flinched.

    ¡°Actually, my name is¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t fuckin¡¯ care,¡± the dragon said. ¡°I don¡¯t like pets. Go back to your human master.¡± The dragon turned went back to the pile of goods on the ground.

    Aeris frowned at the dragon. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my scent? You smell a little like a human yourself.¡±

    The dragon turned around slowly, his voice teeming with rage. ¡°What did you say to me?¡±

    She looked around hoping someone would intervene. A few passersby glanced in their direction but otherwise ignored them. She looked at the people, shocked. Did no one even care? Regardless of how anyone else felt, she needed to calm the dragon down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I offended you,¡± Aeris said quickly, ¡°Should I just wait until your master¡ª¡±

    At soon as she said the word ¡°master¡±, the Genial¡¯s eyes showed a fury Aeris had never seen before. The dragon rushed forward and clamped his jaws around Aeris¡¯ throat. Fear seized her as she felt pain in her neck. What should she do? Was he going to kill her? Should she cry for help? Would calling for help even make a difference?

    Suddenly she felt weightless. The whole world seemed to spin before her, making it impossible to tell which way was up, down, or in-between. She felt a sharp pain on one half of her body, knocking the air out her as the spinning stopped. It was only then Aeris realized she had been thrown into a wall.

    The Green Crested Genial stood over her, his yellow eyes burning with intense hatred, ¡°You dare treat me as if I¡¯m one you?! You pets need to learn your place!¡±

    Aeris lay on the ground, paralyzed with fear, wetness spreading around her hind legs. Her mind raced with ways to get out of the current situation.

    But nothing came to mind. Of all the books she read, not one told her how to deal with an angry dragon. All she could do was cower as the reality of the situation sank in.

    This dragon was going to kill her and there was nothing she could do stop him.

    ¡°I think she gets it,¡± came Master Aaron¡¯s voice from somewhere behind the dragon.

    Aeris would have leaped for joy at the sound of her master¡¯s voice if she weren¡¯t so terrified.

    The Genial standing over her craned his neck to look back at Aaron. ¡°Is this thing yours?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she is. And I would prefer if you didn¡¯t refer to Aeris as a ¡®thing.¡¯ She has a name just like you.¡± Master Aaron looked past the Genial to Aeris who still cowered on the ground. ¡°Aeris, are you all right? He didn¡¯t hurt you did he?¡±

    Aeris opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She couldn¡¯t tell if it was due to her extreme fear or the sharp pain in her neck. All she knew was she never felt so happy to see her master in all her life. Unable to speak, she settled for shaking her head.

    The Genial shot a nasty look back at Aeris before turning on Master Aaron. ¡°So what if I did? Any other time you humans couldn¡¯t care less about us. You only seem to care when one of your precious toys is about to be broken.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not a toy,¡± Master Aaron said, his anger clear in his voice and posture. ¡°I¡¯m sure that whatever she¡¯s done to offend you, she is very sorry and it won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    The Genial snarled at Aaron causing the man to take a step back. Aaron, still keeping a steely gaze on the dragon, reached one hand behind his back. Aeris knew her master carried a pistol with him at all times, but she doubted a small firearm would do much against a dragon that size.

    ¡°No, she¡¯s not sorry,¡± the Genial said. There was a hint of pleasure in his voice that made Aeris¡¯ skin crawl. ¡°Not yet. But she will be.¡±

    ¡°If you lay so much as a single claw on her¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll do what?¡± the Genial snarled, stepping toward Aaron.

    For a brief moment, all of Aeris¡¯s fear vanished and replaced with rage. She was the one the dragon was angry with, she was the one who disobeyed orders; Master Aaron was simply trying to protect her. He was trying to defend her because she messed up. This was the man who raised her, cared for her, and protected her. She would be damned if she was going to stand by and watch as someone tried to harm the man she cared for.

    Before she realized it, Aeris was already climbing to her feet. ¡°I won¡¯t let you hurt my master!¡±

    The Genial turned on her almost immediately. He snarled so ferociously, she fell back on the ground. Her tail wrapped defensively around her body. All the anger and courage she felt before was gone, lost within the fury of the dragon before her. No. It wasn¡¯t a dragon that stood before her, it was a monster.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite enough,¡± said another voice Aeris didn¡¯t recognize.

    Aeris lifted her head in the direction of the voice. It came from another dragon she recognized as a Highwind Ravager; large, dragons known for their red scales and violent tempers. This one had a more feminine voice but still carried a deep growl. She was far larger than Aeris, able to look Master Aaron in the eye and possibly carry a human on her back. Aeris wasn¡¯t sure if it was her elation at being saved, but she felt enthralled by the Ravager¡¯s blood-red scales glittering in the sun.

    The Genial turned to face the interloper, ¡°You takin¡¯ pity on this pet?¡±

    The Ravager¡¯s eyes flashed dangerously, ¡°Are you questioning me?¡±

    The Genial flinched as if she had slapped him. He submissively bowed before the female Ravager. ¡°My apologies. Please excuse me, Matriarch. I wasn¡¯t questioning you, I just¡­it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    ¡°Well then, if you¡¯re done embarrassing your kind, I suggest you go about your business before you do something else stupid, and I have to kill you in front of all these people.¡±

    The Genial flinched at the Ravager¡¯s threat but kept his eyes glued to the ground and said nothing. Finally, he threw one final nasty glare in Aeris¡¯ direction before going inside the nearby store.

    Aeris tilted her head in confusion. She was certain the Genial was ready to kill her, yet he stopped simply because this other dragon appeared. She was certain that nothing could quell the dragon¡¯s rage, but he wouldn¡¯t even so much as raise his voice at the Ravager.

    The Ravager walked over to Aeris. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I think so,¡± Aeris croaked as she struggled to stand. Her throat was sore from the earlier attack.

    Master Aaron rushed to Aeris¡¯s side. ¡°Aeris, what happened? Are you hurt?¡± Aeris flinched when Aaron touched her neck. She looked down at his hand noticed small droplets of blood on his fingers. Aaron clenched his fist.

    ¡°You should really be more careful,¡± the Ravager said. ¡°Most clan-borns don¡¯t even like to look at domesticates let alone talk to one.¡±

    Aeris looked at the dragon confused, ¡°Domesticate? What is that?¡±

    The Ravager frowned at her question. ¡°It¡¯s the name we have for dragons raised by humans. I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t know that.¡±

    ¡°But how do you know I was raised by humans?¡±

    ¡°Well for starters, you smell like one, which is probably what set him off,¡± the Ravager leaned closer and lowered her voice to a whisper, ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be blunt, but if you¡¯re going to have sex with your caretaker, you should at least wash the smell off before going around other dragons. They don¡¯t like you following around a human anyway. You¡¯re more than likely to send them into a rage if the learn you copulate with them.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but thank you,¡± Master Aaron said, rising to his feet and bowed deeply before the Ravager. Aeris sighed, relieved that he was changing the subject.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me,¡± the Ravager said. She seemed to be speaking more to Aeris than Aaron, ¡°I simply don¡¯t like dragons who act like mindless brutes. Domesticate or not, he had no right to react the way he did. It is our duty to teach domesticates the ways of our kind, not tear them open in the streets.¡±

    Aaron frowned at the Ravager. ¡°Wait. Are you saying¡ª¡±

    ¡°Listen, if you ever wish to learn more about your own kind, look up the Patel family and come visit,¡± the Ravager interrupted, ignoring Aaron completely. Without waiting for a response, the Ravager turned and disappeared into the crowd.

    ¡°Well, that was certainly rude,¡± Master Aaron said. He motioned for Aeris to follow him. ¡°Come on Aeris. We need to get that wound looked at. Then I think that¡¯ll be all for today.¡±

    Aeris followed closely behind her master keeping her gaze on the ground. She could feel the eyes of the people they passed staring her. Their whispers of what they had witnessed. Aeris wanted to find the deepest, darkest hole, curl up in it, and never come out again. For the first time in her life, she hated her unique appearance. She wanted to look like any other dragon, so she could disappear into the crowd and be forgotten.

 Chapter 4: The Interloper

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 4: The Interloper</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris paced around the room. She couldn¡¯t help it; if she were going to ask Master Aaron¡¯s permission to visit the dragon that saved her the other day, everything needed to be perfect.

    Aeris wasn¡¯t allowed to leave the estate grounds without Master Aaron present and even then she didn¡¯t get out much. She was always told this was for her protection; there were people and dragons alike that would harm her without reason, and after the encounter with that Green Crested Genial, she believed him.

    Instead of being afraid of her kind, Aeris was more curious than ever. Why did the dragon hate her so much? What was a Matriarch? Why were domesticates hated so much? She tried asking Master Aaron but he simply brushed her questions aside saying she needn¡¯t worry about it. Maggie also wouldn¡¯t answer her questions, claiming she didn¡¯t know the answers. Aeris knew the two of them were hiding something from her and she intended to find out what it was.

    The door to her room opened and Aeris watched excitedly as her master entered.

    ¡°Aeris are you alright? I heard you wanted to see me.¡±

    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine, Master,¡± Aeris said cheerfully, ¡°I just wanted to give you something.¡± Aeris bounded happily over to the old table and gingerly removed the cloth covering it, revealing a slightly lopsided cake sitting underneath. ¡°Ta-da!¡±

    ¡°Aeris¡ª¡±

    ¡°You see I wanted to do something nice for you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aeris¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªso I decided to get you this. It¡¯s your favorite¡­ I think.¡±

    ¡°Aeris, where did you get this cake?¡±

    Aeris¡¯ ears fell. ¡°I¡­ Well you see¡­I¡­¡±

    ¡°Lydia told me about a cake she made this morning that mysteriously disappeared. I¡¯m assuming this would be the missing cake.¡±

    ¡°Master, please don¡¯t be angry,¡± Aeris said hurriedly, ¡°I tried asking her to make one but she wouldn¡¯t do it. I tried to make one myself, but I didn¡¯t know how, and when Lydia caught me in the kitchen, she threw me out. Then I saw this cake sitting on the table and I overheard her saying she didn¡¯t like it and wanted to throw it out, so I figured I could use it and no one would mind.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Aaron walked the table, carefully inspecting the cake. ¡°Did you ask Lydia if you could take the cake?¡±

    Aeris dropped her head. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh. Do you know what flavor it is?¡±

    Aeris dropped her head even further. ¡°No. I tried to figure it out myself, but I don¡¯t know much about cakes. I know it¡¯s very good, though,¡± she added quickly.

    ¡°I see. I guess that would also explain the bite marks on this side.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­I wanted to make sure it tasted good before I gave it to you.¡±

    Aaron nodded, a smile beginning to spread across his face. ¡°And what of the bite marks on the other side?¡±

    ¡°I wanted a second opinion.¡±

    Master Aaron burst into laughter. He gently patted the dragon on the head. ¡°Aeris you make it impossible to get angry with you. Now tell me, why are you giving me a cake? It¡¯s nowhere near my birthday, or any other holiday for that matter.¡±

    ¡°I just wanted to do something nice for you,¡± Aeris said giving Master Aaron the biggest smile she could. ¡°And I wanted to apologize.¡±

    Master Aaron¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Apologize for what?¡±

    Aeris dropped her head. ¡°For disobeying you the other day. If I had stayed put like you said and hadn¡¯t gone to talk to that dragon¡­¡±

    ¡°Aeris, that was not your fault.¡± Master Aaron kneeled and looked her in the eye, ¡°I don¡¯t care what I told you to do, that dragon had no right to attack you. You don¡¯t need to apologize, and you certainly don¡¯t need to bring me gifts. If I¡¯m upset with anyone, it¡¯s that dragon.¡±

    Aeris nodded, her chest tightening. She didn¡¯t deserve to be in the care of such a loving person. When her master was being threatened, she had done nothing. Fear paralyzed her and forced her to watch. Master Aaron didn¡¯t hesitate; he put himself in danger, knowing a single human stood no chance against a grown dragon. His kindness stung worse than any punishment he could¡¯ve given her.

    ¡°Well, Master, I wanted to ask you about that,¡± Aeris said softly, as she stared at her claws, slowly drawing a line in the dirt floor, ¡°Why did that dragon¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aeris, you asked me that question a hundred times, and I told you, you don¡¯t need to worry about it. Trying to figure out why anyone does the things they do will only drive you mad,¡± Master Aaron gently lifted Aeris¡¯ head, forcing her to look him in the eye again, ¡°All you need to know is that sometimes people do nasty things to others. It¡¯s better to simply avoid those kinds of people instead of trying to understand them.¡±

    ¡°But what about the dragon who saved me?¡± Aeris asked, hopeful, ¡°Can I understand her?¡±

    Master Aaron raised a brow. ¡°Aeris, what are you talking about?¡±

    Aeris played with her claws. ¡°The other dragon. She told me to visit the Patel family if I wanted to speak to her, so I was wondering if I could¡ª¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Master Aaron said flatly.

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aeris, while I am grateful to that dragon for interfering, I am also certain she didn¡¯t do it out of the kindness of her heart. She likely wants something from you and now thinks that because she saved you, she can get it,¡± he went back to the door, ¡°I don¡¯t know what that dragon wants, but it can¡¯t be anything good. I don¡¯t want you speaking to her.¡±

    ¡°But, Master¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, Aeris. You are not to see that dragon again, end of discussion.¡± Master Aaron left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

    Aeris slumped to the floor devastated. In all the stories she read it worked. She was so certain if she brought Master Aaron a gift, he would at least talk about letting her see the dragon, and she certainly did not expect that reaction.

    Aeris left her room. She couldn¡¯t accept Master Aaron¡¯s decision; she wanted to know more about dragons, about herself. She wasn¡¯t going to stop when she was so close to finding out more.

    ¡°Lord Strauss seems quite upset doesn¡¯t he?¡±

    Aeris started at the sound of the voice behind her. She turned to see Charles leaning against the wall. Aeris was too stunned to respond. Charles never visited her room and rarely spoke her. And here he was standing a few feet away, talking to her directly.

    Charles slowly approached Aeris, looking down at her from the end of his beak-like nose. ¡°I wanted to check on you. I heard about that incident in the commercial district.¡±

    Aeris swallowed nervously and bowed. ¡°Thank you for your concern. But I¡¯m fine.¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be doing this, you know.¡±

    Aeris raised her head, giving Charles a confused stare. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±

    ¡°All this snooping you¡¯ve been doing. You need to leave it alone. Has it ever occurred to you maybe no one told you the truth of your origins to protect you? And here you are trying to bribe those secrets out of them with cake.¡±

    ¡°Protect me from what?¡±

    Charles stared at her, his eyes once again piercing her very being. She again felt chained to the spot under his watchful eyes. Finally, he spoke again. ¡°Little dragon, are you happy?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Aeris replied without hesitation. ¡°I love Master Aaron, and I love Maggie. They look after me and take care of me.¡±

    Charles nodded. ¡°Then you need to stop prying into things best left buried. Enjoy your happiness. Because as you already learned, it¡¯s a fleeting thing and can be gone at a moment¡¯s notice.¡± He walked past her, back toward the estate.

    Maggie walked past him. The two looked at each other. It seemed to Aeris they shared a moment; a long conversation with one another that only spanned a few heartbeats. Aeris wasn¡¯t sure what just happened, but she chose not to question it.

    ¡°Aeris, I¡¯ve been looking all over for you,¡± Maggie said. She held a long scarf in her hand. ¡°Come. Lord Strauss is looking for you. And he wants you to wear this.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t follow. ¡°Hey, um, Maggie? Do you think I¡¯m a good dragon?¡±

    Maggie crouched down and began tying the scarf around Aeris¡¯ neck, hiding the bandage she wore. ¡°A good dragon? What do you mean by that?¡±

    Aeris focused her gaze on Maggie''s feet. ¡°I¡­I just wonder what Master Aaron thinks of me after what happened. I tried to apologize to him¡ªbut then I mentioned seeing that Ravager again, and I think I upset him. I think he may have thought I was lying just to get something I wanted.¡±

    Maggie gently lifted Aeris¡¯ head. ¡°Aeris, when Master Aaron told me what happened do you know what he said?¡±

    Aeris slowly shook her head.

    ¡°He told me that he was worried sick when he saw you hurt, and he was beyond happy when he learned you were going to be okay. I can assure you, he is not angry with you in the slightest. And just so you know, neither am I.¡±

    ¡°But Charles said¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop,¡± Margret said, firmly gripping Aeris¡¯ face. The once gentle look in her eyes had suddenly turned cold. ¡°Stop. Charles does not know you like I do. And I promise you are not a bad dragon.¡±

    Aeris nodded silently, but she didn¡¯t believe Maggie. She thought so horribly of her master that day in the commercial district. If he had known, would he have still saved her? The real that nagged at her wasn¡¯t if Master Aaron would have saved her, but should he?

    Maggie placed a hand on Aeris¡¯ back and steered her toward the front of the estate. ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself, Aeris. There¡¯s nothing you could¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    Maggie was right¡ªshe knew that, but knowing the situation was her fault to begin with made any words of encouragement hollow. She felt nothing as she crossed the yard. Not the sun beaming on her scales, the wind caressing her face, nor the grass underfoot. Aeris kept her head down, finding Maggie¡¯s lead on pure instinct.

    It wasn¡¯t until she caught Master Aaron¡¯s scent on the wind that she looked up. He stood by the horse-drawn carriage wearing his usual business-vest and slacks.

    A young woman, looking very close to Master Aaron¡¯s age stood next to him. She had all the airs of a noblewoman from her straight-back posture, to the stark confidence in her dark green eyes, to the crisp cleanliness of the casual dress she wore. Only a noble could afford clothes that didn¡¯t look the slightest bit worn-in. Aeris stared at the woman mesmerized. Her glossy pale skin, long dark hair, and strong jaw made her look as if she were carved out of marble. It almost felt like looking at a life-sized doll rather than a human being. The woman had a strong commanding presence Aeris was unaccustomed to seeing in a woman. A breeze blew, and Aeris caught a whiff of the woman¡¯s perfume, making her wrinkle her muzzle. Aeris stopped and stared.

    Realizing the dragon wasn¡¯t moving, Master Aaron jogged over to her. ¡°Ah, Aeris. There you are. Come here. I want to introduce you to someone.¡± He gently pushed Aeris closer to the woman. ¡°Aeris this Lilith Chamron. Lilith, I would like you to meet Aeris.¡±

    The woman Master Aaron introduced smiled warmly and said, ¡°Hello, Aeris. It is a pleasure to meet you. I¡¯ve heard so much about you. I¡¯m glad to see you were not harmed following that tragic incident in the commercial district the other day.¡±

    Aeris was still mesmerized by the woman¡¯s features, but she bowed, her body moving on its own thanks to years of lessons in etiquette. ¡°The pleasure is mine, Lady Chamron, and thank you for your kind words,¡± she said mechanically.

    ¡°Aeris, please, just ¡®Lilith¡¯ is fine. We¡¯ll be spending a great deal of time together after all.¡±

    Aeris snatched her head up and turned to Master Aaron, her heart leaping up into her throat. What did Lilith mean by that? Was Maggie being replaced? Aaron¡¯s expression was neutral, making it impossible to read his thoughts.

    As if sensing Aeris¡¯ unease, Lilith added, ¡°Lord Strauss and I are dating, so I expect I will see you quite often.¡± She smiled at her to further ease the tension.

    Aeris only nodded in return, her tail wrapping around her legs. Something about Lilith¡¯s smile felt¡­wrong. It felt as if the smile was done out of politeness instead of genuine kindness. She had read about characters like this in her books; these characters always had hidden agendas and they were seldom pleasant. She also saw enough fake smiles at the various events she attended. She didn¡¯t dare make her grievances known. Master Aaron would never forgive her should she do something foolish.

    Lilith approached Aeris and patted her head. The woman¡¯s touch was gentle but stiff which only confirmed Aeris¡¯ suspicions. Lilith was patting her head out of politeness. Before Aeris could stop herself, she pulled her head out of Lilith¡¯s reach.

    Aeris was horrified. Her first reaction upon realization of what she had done was turn to Master Aaron. His face was calm, but the disappointment was visible in his eyes as he looked at Aeris. She turned away from her master¡¯s stare. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Maggie quickly appeared by Aeris¡¯ side. ¡°Please forgive her, Lady Lilith. Aeris is normally very polite, but she doesn¡¯t like to be touched by anyone she doesn¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. I shouldn¡¯t have been so forward. I know how proud dragons are; they do not prefer to be petted like some common house cat,¡± she bowed deeply and said. ¡°Please forgive my rudeness, Aeris.¡±

    ¡°N-no, I¡¯m not offended,¡± Aeris said quickly. No human had ever acted that way to her before and it felt strange. She stole another glance at her master. The disappointment was still in his eyes, but now it had moved to the background like the distant rumbling of an approaching storm while the weather was still clear.

    Maggie bowed politely. ¡°Speaking of rudeness. I apologize for the intrusion. My name is Margret Hayes. It is an honor to meet you, Lady¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, no, no. I won¡¯t have any of that ¡®Lady¡¯ business,¡± Lilith said quickly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so formal. I expect we¡¯ll become very close, you and I.¡± Maggie straightened up with a confused expression, Lilith added, ¡°Aaron and I are dating.¡±

    Maggie turned to Master Aaron. ¡°Oh. Forgive me, Lord Strauss, I had no idea.¡±

    Master Aaron chuckled. ¡°That was kind of the point. Lilith likes her privacy. You know what? Lilith and I were just about to eat lunch in the garden. Aeris, you should join us.¡±

    ¡°I think that is a wonderful idea,¡± Lilith said. ¡°It¡¯ll be a great opportunity for the dragon and me to get to know each other.¡±

    Aeris fought the urge to frown at the bitterness in Lilith¡¯s voice when she said ¡°the dragon.¡± She bowed deeply. ¡°I would be honored, master.¡±

    ¡°Why of course. Aeris is the most important being in my life. Margaret, inform Lydia in the kitchens to make something, then get Aeris prepared and bring her to the garden. Nothing too fancy, but at least a light polish.¡±

    ¡°As you wish, Lord Strauss,¡± Maggie replied, bowing. ¡°Aeris, wait for me in your room.¡±

    Aeris nodded and walked back to her room. Normally, she was excited when her master brought guests over. But seeing Lilith, she wanted nothing more than for the woman to leave.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Maggie to return, wearing the dress she usually wore for parties. She polished Aeris¡¯ scales in silence and picked out a nice emerald vest for her to wear.

    They went back out and headed to the gardens. Aeris loved spending her time in the gardens though she was scolded something fierce if she every ruined any of the plants. She enjoyed the way the flowers smelled and the various colors of the different types of flowers fascinated her. On nice days, Maggie would read to her there.

    Lilith was already there, sitting at a large table in the garden¡¯s center with Master Aaron.

    Lilith was the first to notice their approach. ¡°Aeris, Aaron was just telling me about your terrible ordeal in the commercial district the other day,¡± Lilith said. ¡°It must¡¯ve been terrifying. I¡¯m so pleased you¡¯re unharmed.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Aeris said while wishing she could dig a hole in the dirt and stuff her head in it.

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe someone would think to harm Aeris,¡± Master Aaron added. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have a single violent bone in her body. Why she¡¯s never once raised her voice or even tried to bite someone.¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t really know,¡± Aeris lied. She fought to keep her tail from wrapping around her legs. She wished they would change the subject.

    She seemed to get her wish when Maggie and Lydia appeared, carrying trays with food and drink for everyone. Maggie carried a tray of sandwiches, while Lydia¡¯s tray held a tea kettle, an ewer, and two cups. The ewer was for Aeris. Because of her muzzle, she couldn¡¯t drink out of cups as humans could and the ewer made that easier.

    As they passed out the food and drink, Lydia avoided standing too close to Aeris. It was no secret the brown-haired woman was afraid of dragons though Aeris had no idea why. She had been nothing but nice to Lydia from the day they met. But the poor woman started shaking if Aeris so much as looked at her.

    Aeris lapped eagerly at her tea the moment the ewer was placed in front of her. It was rude, but her mouth felt dry. And she wanted an excuse to avoid answering more questions.

    ¡°Lord Strauss, these letters arrived for you,¡± Maggie said, sliding the paper envelopes across the table.

    Master Aaron picked up the papers, a large smile on his face. ¡°It seems Mr. Bachmann has finally decided to reply. I¡¯m so sorry to cut this short, but I have been waiting for this letter for a long time. If you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± He followed Lydia back toward the house.

    ¡°Is everything to your liking, Lady Lilith?¡± Maggie asked.

    Lilith smiled and said, ¡°Everything is excellent. Thank you so much, Margret.¡±

    ¡°Lydia is the one who prepared the food, but I¡¯ll be sure to pass your compliments along.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much.¡±

    Maggie bowed and left the two of them alone. Aeris watched her leave, silently begging the woman to take her along.

    Aeris turned back to Lilith to see the woman staring at her. Aeris did her best to hide how uncomfortable she was.

    Lilith broke the silence first. ¡°I hear you and Aaron are very close. You¡¯ve been with him since he was a child, yes?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°So the two of you are close?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I would say so.¡±

    ¡°And yet you didn¡¯t protect him when his life was in danger.¡±

    Aeris looked away. She knew she should¡¯ve protected her master. She wanted to, but upon seeing the look of unbridled rage on the Genial¡¯s face. The way he snarled at her. She knew death was the only outcome if she tried to face him.

    ¡°I wished I could¡¯ve done more,¡± Aeris whispered. ¡°But I don¡¯t know the first thing about fighting another dragon.¡±

    Lilith took a sip of her tea, the disappointment clear in her eyes. ¡°Well, I suppose next time you¡¯ll think twice before approaching another dragon, won¡¯t you?¡±

    Aeris stared at the ground.

    ¡°It¡¯s rude not to respond when someone speaks to you,¡± Lilith said curtly.

    Aeris quickly nodded.

    ¡°Speak up.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I will,¡± Aeris said, her claws scraping the ground.

    The rest of their lunch was eaten in silence. Aeris avoided meeting Lilith¡¯s eyes though she could feel the woman staring at her, reading her. It was worse than when Charles looked at her. There was nothing but pressure and judgment.

    Aeris had no idea how much time had passed, but she could barely contain her joy when Maggie returned.

    ¡°Lilith, Lord Strauss wishes to see you,¡± Maggie said.

    Lilith nodded and turned to Aeris. ¡°It was nice meeting you, Aeris. We should do this again sometime.¡±

    Aeris smiled and nodded more out of reflex than politeness. She waited until Lilith disappeared from view before saying to Maggie, ¡°I don¡¯t like her.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame. I thought she was quite lovely,¡± Maggie said. ¡°Unfortunately, you¡¯ll have to like her, or at least tolerate her. She¡¯s going to be living with us for quite some time.¡±

    Aeris spun to Maggie. She had to have misheard her. She wished she misheard her. ¡°Did you say living with us?¡±

    Maggie nodded. ¡°She¡¯s moving in today. But don¡¯t you worry about that. Come. Lord Strauss just received an invitation to another party. He asked me to get you ready.¡±

    Aeris groaned. That meant another bath.

    ****

    Aeris sat quietly in the corner of the banquet hall watching everyone dance and interact. She was at another party. She even wore a new vest her master picked out just for her. It was deep blue with a short skirt that made her feel she was wearing a dress. She should be happy. She wanted to be happy. But how could she, knowing what she knew? The different smells made her nauseous, the sounds made her head hurt. Even the banquet hall seemed too bright and hurt her eyes.

    She slowly looked around the room. Everyone seemed so happy talking, mingling. The worst part of it was that she was, once again, the center of attention. Every time she was introduced to someone, she sensed them judging her. Their tones, no matter how gentle, always sounded disappointed or angry, and their friendly smiles resembled disgusted sneers. No one brought up the incident with the Genial, but she felt as if they were judging her nonetheless.

    Master Aaron must have brought her here to cheer her up, but it only made her feel worse.

    ¡°Hey, Aeris. Are you enjoying yourself?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Aaron, I am having a wonderful time,¡± Aeris smiled broadly at Aaron to prove her point. The smile was fake, but she didn¡¯t want him to know that. She also didn¡¯t want Lilith to see how unhappy she was. She felt the woman silently probing her defenses for weaknesses.

    ¡°Aaron, she¡¯s obviously bored here,¡± Lilith said. ¡°She¡¯s the only dragon in the room. Why don¡¯t you have her go out in the garden with the other dragons? Let her mingle with her kind for once.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea,¡± Master Aaron said.

    Aeris¡¯ face fell. ¡°Master, the last time I tried talking to a dragon¡ª¡± She quickly fell silent upon seeing the scolding looking Lilith gave her.

    Master Aaron didn¡¯t notice or he chose to ignore it. ¡°Aeris, these dragons are all domesticates. They won¡¯t think any less of you for being who you are. Besides I would never send you anywhere near them if I thought they might harm you.¡± He sighed and dropped his head. Aeris noticed his eyes were glossy as if he were ready to start crying. ¡°Also I feel partly responsible for what happened. If I had let you be around other dragons from the start, you would have known to be more careful.¡±

    Aeris stared at her master, stunned. She couldn¡¯t believe Master Aaron was blaming himself for the incident. The entire time she thought he was upset with her, and she tried thinking of ways to apologize for being disobedient. But instead, he felt the same way about her.

    Aeris opened her mouth to say something, but Master Aaron gently rubbed her snout, silencing her once again. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this now. Right now, you should go outside and be with your kind for a change.¡±

    Without another word, Aeris quickly headed for the garden. She still felt terrible for the horrible thoughts she had about Master Aaron, but knowing he was going to allow her to be around other dragons made her feel much better.

    The garden was not as large as the banquet hall, but it was just as beautiful. The entire area was covered in green archways and hedges of various shapes and sizes. Some of the hedges even had flowers blooming on them further accenting the design. A large fountain sat in the middle of the gardens. Its center was a creature Aeris had never seen before. The top half of the sculpture resembled a human but the bottom half looked like a fishes fin. She made a mental note to ask Maggie about it when she got back. Surrounding the strange centerpiece were several smaller sculptures resembling different types of fish; each one shot a thin stream of water over the large half-human sculpture in the middle.

    The dragons sat near one of the stone benches by the fountain. Aeris recognized some of their species immediately. One of the dragons was a Silver Horntail, a grey dragon with several thorn-like protrusions on the end of its tail. The two bright green dragons were known as Aquarian Short-Snouts. Just as their name suggested, their snouts were shorter than those of the other dragons. The last dragon was a species Aeris knew all too well; a Green Crested Genial. Thankfully this was smaller than the last one she encountered.

    As Aeris approached the group, one of the dragons, one of the Short-Snouts, took notice of her and signaled the others. ¡°Well, well, well. What have we here?¡± the dragon said in a deep, raspy voice, ¡°You new here?¡±

    Aeris looked around the group in silence. She had no idea what to say, and part of her was terrified of what could happen if she did.

    The other Short-Snout spoke up. ¡°Oy. My brother asked you a question.¡±

    The first Short-Snout stepped between them. ¡°Now, now she¡¯ll answer when she¡¯s ready.¡± The dragon gave Aeris a warm smile. ¡°This is your first banquet I take it?¡±

    ¡°N-No. Actually, I attend banquets all the time,¡± Aeris said quickly. She kept her gaze on the ground, fearing offending one of the other dragons.

    ¡°If you do this sort of thing all the time, how come I don¡¯t recognize you?¡± asked the Horntail.

    Aeris curled her tail around her legs. She didn¡¯t have an answer to the Horntail¡¯s question. While she had attended many banquets over the years, this was the first time she was ever allowed around the other dragons.

    ¡°Leave her alone, Reks,¡± the Genial said angrily, the dragon¡¯s voice suggested it was a female. ¡°Can¡¯t you see she¡¯s nervous?¡± The Genial turned to Aeris her tone much gentler than before. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about him, he¡¯s always like that with newcomers. My name is Glee and this¡ª¡± she hooked the thumbclaw of her wing around the horn of the Horntail, pulling his head down. The Horntail began to protest, but Glee growled at him and he quickly fell silent. ¡°¡ªis Reks. Now those two over there¡ª¡± Glee used her tail to motion to the two Short-Snouts ¡°¡ªis Caleo and his sister, Rowen. Now you, my dear, are¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Aeris,¡± Aeris replied softly.

    Reks snatched his head away from Glee. ¡°Yeah, I kind of figured that. Perfect little Aeris; the humans¡¯ favorite.¡±

    ¡°Shut up Reks,¡± Rowen said frowning.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you come over here and make me?¡±

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d never ask¡­¡± Rowen crouched low to ground ready to pounce at Reks.

    Glee quickly stepped between the two dragons. ¡°Both of you stop it. You¡¯re acting like clan-borns. Now I¡¯m not going to be the one who has to explain to the humans how this place got destroyed. Now unless you want your masters paying for the damage, you¡¯ll sit your asses down and act like you were taught manners.¡± Glee was shorter than both dragons, but they still dropped their heads and did as they were told.

    Caleo appeared by Aeris¡¯ side. ¡°I¡¯m sure you figured it out by now, but our masters talk about you a lot. Reks is a little jealous of you. He¡¯d kill to get the humans to treat him the way they treat you.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Wait. What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°It means the reason we haven¡¯t seen you before is because you¡¯re allowed inside the parties, while the ¡®common¡¯ dragons have to sit out here.¡±

    Aeris looked at the group in shock. All this time, she assumed she was the only dragon that was brought to these things. ¡°You mean, all this time¡­¡±

    ¡°Yep. We get to watch from the sidelines¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªthen hear about how beautiful and magnificent you are all the way the way home,¡± Rowen finished, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, Reks is the only one who¡¯s jealous. Honestly, I find these human gatherings boring, so I don¡¯t really care.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Being out here is so much better,¡± Caleo agreed, rubbing his face against Aeris¡¯ cheek.

    Aeris quickly moved away from the dragon. She knew it was rude, but she didn¡¯t like him touching her. It reminded her of the way Aaron touched her when he wanted to be alone with her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that happened,¡± Aeris said to Reks. The Silvertail huffed and turned away from her. ¡°If I had known there were other dragons at these gatherings¡ª¡±

    ¡°You would¡¯ve done what?¡± Reks snarled. ¡°Save your pity. I know the truth. You were either too fucking stupid to know any better or too full of yourself to believe any other dragon exists.¡±

    ¡°Reks! She is simply trying to apologize, you do not need to speak to her that way,¡± Glee said angrily. ¡°Just ignore him. The rest of us are not angry with you at all.¡±

    When Glee approached, Aeris stepped backward, nearly tripping over herself. The other dragons tilted their heads in confusion.

    ¡°See? I told you. She doesn¡¯t even want you near her,¡± Reks said.

    ¡°No. No! It¡¯s not that,¡± Aeris said quickly, dropping her head in shame. ¡°I met a Green Crested Genial once before and¡­ it didn¡¯t end well.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t end well how?¡± Glee asked.

    Before Aeris could answer, Glee turned back to the banquet hall and grumbled under her breath.

    ¡°Looks we¡¯ll have to continue this another time; my master¡¯s calling me. The rest of you play nice and try to remember that you¡¯re civilized.¡± the Genial quickly walked back to the banquet hall.

    The other dragons swarmed on Aeris the moment Glee was out of view.

    ¡°Come on, come on,¡± said Rowen, bouncing with excitement. ¡°Tell us what happened.¡±

    ¡°Well, two days ago I was in the commercial district¡ª¡± Aeris began.

    ¡°Wait a minute. That was you?¡± Reks asked surprised. A large grin began to spread across the Silvertail¡¯s face.

    Aeris couldn¡¯t explain why, but for some reason Reks¡¯ question and the smile on his face made her stomach drop.

    ¡°My master told me about some stupid domesticate who picked a fight with a clan-born,¡± Reks¡¯ grin widened even further, threatening to split his head in two. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that was you.¡±

    Aeris felt her heart begin to race. Her tail curled defensively around her legs. ¡°T-That¡¯s not how it happened,¡± she squeaked. ¡°I didn¡¯t pick a fight. I just wanted to talk and¡ª¡±

    Reks began laughing so hard, he fell on his side. Aeris quickly fell silent. She glanced over at Rowen and Caleo, hoping they would offer some support.

    To her surprise, they, too, were laughing.

    ¡° ¡®That¡¯s not how it happened¡¯,¡± Rowen said in a high squeaky voice. ¡°Are you really that stupid? As if some clan-born would even look at us.¡±

    Caleo was the first to stop laughing. He threw a nasty look at the others before walking over to Aeris and throwing one of his wings around her.

    ¡°Leave her alone. It¡¯s obvious she¡¯s too na?ve to know any better.¡±

    ¡°Oh shut up,¡± Rowen shot back. ¡°You¡¯re just being nice ¡®cause you think it¡¯ll make ¡®er lift her tail for you.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not gonna put out,¡± Reks chimed in, still wearing his devilish grin. ¡°Even if she does, she doesn¡¯t even act like a real dragon.¡± The Silvertail began slowly circling the two of them. ¡°Trying to talk to a clan-born? Thinking she¡¯s the only dragon humans care about? She¡¯s stupid and pathetic. Honestly, Caleo, you can¡¯t be that desperate.¡±

    ¡°So she¡¯s not gonna give us the full story,¡± Rowen said, joining Reks in his predatory circling. ¡°So tell us, Reks, what did happen?¡±

    Aeris opened her mouth to protest, but Reks immediately cut her off. ¡°My master told me how she screamed and begged for her life. How she needed her master to come to rescue her from her stupidity. He told me she pissed herself out of fear. ¡±

    The other dragons burst into laughter again. Even Caleo found it hard to stand as he screamed in hysterics.

    ¡°I would pay to see that,¡± Rowen said.

    Reks smiled and lowered his body to the ground as he continued to circle Aeris. He looked like a large silver snake slithering around her, waiting for its moment to strike. ¡°I like the sound of that. I bet I could¡­¡±

    Aeris wasn¡¯t listening anymore. The sound of her heart beating furiously pounded in her ears. Her breathing came in short, panicked bursts. Her tail curled so tightly around her, she couldn¡¯t move without tripping over it as flashes of that day began to appear before her eyes. Flashes of people laughing at her as the Genial stood over her, snarling and growling. She could hear them cheering as he threw her into the wall. She frantically scanned the crowd, hoping someone; anyone would stop the dragon from tearing her apart. The Genial opened his mouth revealing several rows of pointed, razor-sharp fangs. Aeris cried out as she felt a familiar pain in her neck when the dragon clamped his jaws around her throat.

    ¡°NO!¡±

    Aeris snapped out of her flashback to notice she was standing in the middle of the garden, her breath coming in short, hard bursts as if she had been running for hours. Reks was laying on the ground beneath her, limp as a doll. Caleo and Rowen were standing several feet away, their eyes wide and filled to the brim with shock and fear. She looked down at the Horntail beneath her and noticed she had a claw pressed against his throat, her muscles tensed and ready to slice his jugular at a moment¡¯s notice. Reks said nothing. He did not attempt to throw Aeris off. He just lay there, eyes closed tight, quivering beneath her like a scared child.

    Little by little, her confidence drained out of her. She didn¡¯t know what happened but she wasn¡¯t going to stand around and wait for their shock to wear off. Without saying another word, Aeris ran back to the banquet hall as fast as her legs could carry her. Aeris racked her mind in a desperate attempt to recall what happened. All she could remember was standing in the garden while Reks, Caleo, and Rowen teased her. She remembered the humiliation, but not what came after. Her memory just jumped to standing in the middle of the garden and holding Reks down. It was like a story containing a missing chapter. She couldn¡¯t recall a single sight, sound, smell, or even feeling of that event.

    She was so distracted, the moment she entered the hall, she nearly ran into her master. ¡°Oof! Hey, I was just about to come to find you. I thought I heard something outside and¡ª¡± Master Aaron said looking down at Aeris smiling. The moment he saw Aeri¡¯s face, his smile dropped. ¡°Is something the matter?¡±

    Aeris cast her gaze to the floor. ¡°No, nothing¡¯s wrong,¡± she said. She wanted to put as much distance between herself and the other dragons as possible. The last thing she wanted was for Master Aaron to make a bigger deal out of things than there already was. ¡°Can we go, please? I-I don¡¯t feel very well.¡±

    ¡°Okay, sure we can leave,¡± Master Aaron said.

    ¡°But Aaron¡ª¡± Lilith began.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t up for debate,¡± Master Aaron said firmly. ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡±

    Lilith pouted, but said nothing and followed him as he guided Aeris through the banquet hall to the outside.

    Aeris kept her head and her eyes down. She wanted to avoid any contact with anyone as if just by looking in her eyes they would know. They would suspect something was wrong and they would ask questions or they would simply know. First, the Everfields, and now this. Aeris was beginning to wonder if something was really wrong with her.

    She needed to talk to that Ravager from before. She needed answers before she did something terrible.

 Chapter 5: Making Connections

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 5: Making Connections</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris stood outside a very large mansion staring with complete awe. So this was where the Patel family lived. It was even bigger than Master Aaron¡¯s estate. How many rooms did it have? How long did it take to build? How long was this house in the family? Did this place have secret passages as well? Her mind swarmed with questions.

    She turned to Maggie who stood with arms folded giving her a very stern look. Aeris opened her mouth to speak, but Maggie quickly walked past her and knocked on the door.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I let you talk me into this,¡± Maggie said. ¡°Lord Strauss would be furious if he found out.¡±

    After the incident at the banquet a few days ago, Aeris felt more out of place than ever. As far as anyone knew, Aeris didn¡¯t feel well that night, and her master took her home early. Neither Master Aaron nor Maggie questioned her further, and Aeris did not attempt to explain.

    Convincing Maggie to help her find the place wasn¡¯t hard. It only took two straight days of pleading when no one was around before the woman finally caved.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maggie. But there was no way I could find this place on my own.¡± Aubrey¡¯s mansion sat in the middle of a massive clearing in the middle of the forest far from anyone. Tracking down the Patels was impossible for Aeris since she never left the estate without Master Aaron by her side.

    ¡°Well, if we get caught, it¡¯s my hide on the line, not yours,¡± Maggie said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If Master Aaron finds out, you can tell him it was my idea.¡±

    ¡°This is your idea, but he would still never believe it.¡±

    ¡°What if we told him I threatened you?¡±

    ¡°You silly dragon. Lord Strauss is never going to believe you threatened me. Besides, even if you did, we both know you would never hurt me.¡±

    It was true she would never hurt Maggie for any reason, but she needed an excuse that would keep the blame away from Maggie. It wasn¡¯t right to let someone else take the blame.

    As if sensing her unease, Maggie stroked the back of Aeris¡¯ neck. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, Aeris. I know this is important to you, so I would never let you take all the blame. I know I complained before, but I would do anything to help.¡±

    The faint clicking sound of locks on the other side of the door ended the conversation. thoughts.

    The doors slowly opened and a blonde woman greeted them. The woman was noticeably younger than Margret, yet her eyes made her appear tired as if she had lived well past her prime. Her pale face was flawless except for a deep scar on her left cheek.

    ¡°Hello,¡± the woman said in a sweet voice, ¡°You must be Aeris. Please come in.¡±

    ¡°Wait a second,¡± Maggie said, eyeing the woman suspiciously, ¡°How do you know Aeris?¡±

    ¡°Lady Aubrey told me about her,¡± the woman answered, her voice still carrying the same sweet tone, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a dragon with those color scales, so I assumed you were the dragon she spoke of.¡±

    The woman beckoned them inside again. ¡°Please follow me. You may wait in the living room while I inform Lady Aubrey of your arrival. She¡¯ll be so happy to know you¡¯re here.¡± The woman smiled again before leading them inside. Aeris noticed the woman walked with a slight limp and her left leg was scarred.

    The living room of the mansion was so large Aeris could fit her entire room inside and still not take up half the space. The room itself was strangely decorated. In the middle of the room sat a large coffee table with a sofa on one side and several large cushions on the other. Everything was also further apart than usual. The walls were covered with shelves containing various decorative items. Maggie asked the woman about the design choices. The woman casually explained it because a lot of dragons visited.

    ¡°The extra space allows them to move about comfortably. It can be difficult for them to sit comfortably in chairs, so the cushions are for them to sit on. And we keep any breakable objects high up on the shelves so none are accidentally knocked down. My family learned a long time ago that a dragon¡¯s tail tends to wander.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know what you mean,¡± Maggie said. ¡°I¡¯ve lived with Aeris since she was a hatchling, and I still need to be wary of her tail at times. You have a very lovely home, Miss¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry. Where are my manners? I¡¯m Helen Patel.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Helen. I¡¯m Margret and this is Aeris, as you already know.¡±

    Helen smiled and bowed again. ¡°Pleased to meet both of you. Please wait here while I go get Aubrey.¡±

    Aeris walked around the room examining everything she saw. She had been inside several mansions over the years attending parties, but she had never seen one tailored to accommodate dragons.

    The grand piano in the corner of the room. She always loved music and was quite jealous of humans since it was impossible for her to play an instrument. She had read about pianos, and sometimes when her master took her to parties, she sat near the piano to listen to the keys. She gingerly reached for the keys using the thumbclaw on her wing, pressing one of the keys. A deep sound resonated throughout the room.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t touch that, it¡¯s very precious to me.¡±

    Aeris jumped at the sound of the voice. The red Highwind Ravager from the other day stood with Helen in the doorway. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Aeris said to the woman, ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve always liked pianos.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite all right,¡± the Ravager replied as she entered the room and sat on one of the cushions, ¡°I understand how one¡¯s curiosity can get the better of them.¡±

    ¡°This is your piano?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°It passed to me after my beloved died.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ face fell. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she said somberly.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± the Ravager responded in an indifferent tone. ¡°Please, sit.¡±

    Aeris sat down on a cushion next to the Ravager. Sitting next to her, Aeris noticed how much taller the Ravager was. It made her feel like a child. Maggie and Helen sat on the sofa.

    ¡°Will your master, Aubrey, be joining us?¡± Aeris asked.

    The Ravager frowned at Aeris. ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    Helen laughed. ¡°Aeris, this is Aubrey.¡±

    Aeris fought the urge to cover her face with her wings. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought that¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s my fault for not introducing myself when we first met,¡± Aubrey interjected, ¡°That was quite rude of me. But, Aeris, I am glad you decided to take me up on my offer. Too many domesticates don¡¯t seem to care about their origins. I will do my best to answer any questions you may have.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ tail wouldn¡¯t stop wagging at the thought she was going to have the answers she sought. She held it stiffly against the floor. ¡°First, I want to thank you for your help before. I have so many questions.¡± ¡°My first question: What is a domesticate, and why are they hated so much?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t she explain it to you?¡± Aubrey asked, throwing an accusatory look at Maggie.

    ¡°We felt that there were certain things Aeris didn¡¯t need to be made aware of for her own protection,¡± Maggie replied, annoyed.

    Aubrey¡¯s eyes narrowed, but she instead turned to Aeris. ¡°As I explained before, domesticates are what we call dragons that were born and raised amongst humans. Domesticates are disliked because they are not true dragons.¡±

    ¡°And what exactly is a ¡®true dragon?¡¯ ¡± Maggie asked, her tone firm.

    Aubrey continued, unperturbed by Maggie¡¯s question. ¡°Domesticates know next to nothing of their culture. Worse still, many of them are far too submissive and eager to please regardless of how they are treated. And they refer to humans as ¡®master,¡¯ ¡± she frowned as she said the word as if left an awful taste in her mouth, ¡°We dragons are not objects to be purchased and sold, nor are we tools meant to serve human whims, yet domesticates find no problems with their way of life.¡±

    The way Aubrey said domesticates were ¡°submissive and eager to please¡± struck a chord with Aeris. Was that how others saw her? Was that how Master Aaron and Maggie saw her? But after all they had done for her, why shouldn¡¯t she want to please them?

    ¡°That¡¯s a pretty grim way of looking at things,¡± said Maggie, ¡°I can assure you not all humans see dragons as objects. I care a great deal for Aeris. She¡¯s like a daughter to me.¡±

    Aeris smiled warmly at Maggie¡¯s words.

    ¡°And yet you allowed her to go out into public without warning her of the danger of speaking to clan-borns,¡± Aubrey responded calmly.

    Hoping to avoid an argument, Aeris quickly spoke up when Maggie frowned at Aubrey. ¡°Um, but you live with humans. Surely you don¡¯t hate your master, or you wouldn¡¯t be here.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°What?¡± Aubrey growled, giving Aeris a nasty look.

    Aeris shrank away, fearing another reaction like when the Genial attacked her.

    ¡°Let me explain,¡± Helen said quickly, ¡°I am not Aubrey¡¯s master, and she has never had one. She has lived with my family for many years but we have never treated nor considered her as a¡­¡± Helen let the rest of her sentence hang in the air, her expression making it clear she worried upsetting Aubrey with term she wanted to use.

    ¡°A pet,¡± Aubrey finished. ¡°I apologize for getting angry with you. I know you didn¡¯t mean to, but clan-borns like myself find having a human master¡­ insulting. And we dragons are very prideful creatures. Most humans know better than to insult a dragon.¡±

    Aeris nodded slowly. She often felt pangs of anger when someone insulted her appearance. It wasn¡¯t until the Everfields those feelings boiled over.

    ¡°But what about the fact you live with humans?¡± Aeris asked cautiously, hoping to avoid another angry reaction, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make you a domesticate?¡±

    Much to Aeris¡¯ surprise, Aubrey laughed at the question, ¡°My dear, I was born and raised within a clan. Regardless of where I live now, they will never consider me a domesticate. Also, I live with humans by choice. I imagine your master wouldn¡¯t like it much if you decided to live on your own.¡±

    ¡°Aeris is free to leave any time she chooses,¡± Maggie said, curtly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she is.¡±

    ¡°Is anyone hungry? I think I¡¯ll make some lunch,¡± Helen said quickly. To Maggie, she asked, ¡°Would mind helping me? I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re the only ones here, and I can¡¯t carry enough food for two dragons and two humans by myself.¡±

    Maggie shot a suspicious glance at Aubrey, but she nodded to Helen and followed the woman out of the room.

    After the two humans left, Aubrey said, ¡°I don¡¯t think your caretaker likes me very much.¡±

    ¡°Caretaker?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s what we choose the human taking care of us instead of ¡®master,¡¯ ¡± Aubrey explained, ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound as demeaning nor suggest dominion over us.¡±

    ¡°Maggie has always been protective of me, but she¡¯s not my master¡ªcaretaker. He actually didn¡¯t want me to come here.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Then you aren¡¯t as much of his puppet as you appear. But if he is your caretaker, then what is that woman to you?¡±

    ¡°Well, Maggie is¡­ she¡¯s¡­I guess she¡¯s more like a mother to me. She¡¯s in charge of feeding me, washing me, preparing me for parties,¡ª¡±

    ¡°Preparing you for parties?¡± Aubrey asked, giving Aeris a confused look. ¡°What could you possibly need to do to prepare?¡±

    Aeris straightened up, her mood brightening. ¡°Well, that¡¯s easy. Maggie washes me up and sprays a little¡±¡ªshe shuddered a little¡ª¡°perfume so the humans will think I smell nice. Sometimes she uses this oil to polish my scales. It doesn¡¯t smell as bad, but it tastes awful. I like that it makes me shine and people tell me how beautiful my scales are. Then she picks out an outfit for me. It¡¯s usually a vest. I don¡¯t mind, but sometimes I wish a dress existed that was made for dragons. I tried wearing one once, but it kept getting caught under my feet. Master Aaron said he would have a tailor come over¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop,¡± Aubrey said, frowning. There was a low growl in her voice. ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough.¡±

    For the next several minutes, she sat in silence while Aubrey mumbled things to herself. Aeris couldn¡¯t hear Aubrey, but she could vaguely make out the words ¡°controlling¡± and ¡°puppet¡±.

    Eventually, Aubrey rose and motioned for Aeris to follow. Aeris quickly stood and followed the Ravager outside. A pleasant breeze greeted them. Aeris looked longingly up at the sky. The weather was perfect for flying.

    But Aubrey didn¡¯t spread her wings and take flight. Instead, she started walking around the side of the house. Aeris stayed close by, silently wondering if she should say something to break the silence. It was clear something she said had upset Aubrey.

    When they reached the backyard, Aubrey spoke again, her voice and posture calmer than before. ¡°I apologize for my reaction, Aeris. It¡¯s just we dragons are not known for our patience, and listening to you brag about being a human plaything is very unsettling. But I will be more patient with you. It¡¯s not your fault you don¡¯t know any better. There is much you don¡¯t know about yourself, and it is up to me to teach you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I came to see you. I wanted to know if you could tell me what kind of dragon I am.¡±

    Aubrey tilted her head. ¡°You don¡¯t know? I find it hard to believe your caretaker would not have proof of your lineage. Humans pride themselves on the so-called purity of their blood. As if being mixed somehow makes something less than what it is,¡± she finished with an angry huff.

    ¡°Well, no. You see, I was rescued from poachers as an egg, so no one knows my parents.¡±

    Aubrey stopped and dug her claws into the dirt. For a moment, Aeris worried Aubrey would get upset. The air around them felt heavier somewhere; Aeris feared being crushed under the pressure. The feeling passed when Aubrey exhaled.

    ¡°Forgive me,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°I know you¡¯re pain all too well. Over the years, I have come across more than my fair share of foolish humans who believe they can sell dragon eggs for profit. They do not fully understand the consequences if word should get back to the clans in the wild. But back to the question you asked me. Sadly, I cannot tell you what species you are. Even I have never seen a dragon with scales such as yours.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Aeris said dejectedly. Even Aubrey didn¡¯t know. It was not what Aeris was expecting.

    Aubrey lifted Aeris¡¯s chin. ¡°Do not despair, young one. For dragons do not care about things such as that. It is the humans who put so much emphasis on blood ties and lineage, searching for justifications to raise themselves to a higher standing than they deserve. Dragons only care about your abilities and your power.¡±

    Aeris nodded, but only to be polite. Aubrey didn¡¯t understand. It wasn¡¯t just to make the humans stop insulting her. She was a rarity even amongst her kind, and she wanted to know why.

    ¡°Fret not, my dear,¡± Aubrey said, ¡°Even if you are a half-bred dragon plucked from the slums, you may still become a powerful matriarch.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head. There was that term again. ¡°That¡­other dragon called you a matriarch. What is that?¡±

    Aubrey slowed a little. ¡°First to answer your question, you¡¯ll need to know a little bit about how our kind lives outside the cities. Dragons live in groups called clans, and clans are run by the females. The female who leads the entire clan is called a matriarch. Now the matriarch is often considered the most powerful dragon in the clan, for she is both feared and respected. No dragon in the clan is allowed to disobey their matriarch even if they do not like her.

    ¡°The title matriarch commands a lot of respect among dragons and humans, but it does not only apply solely to leaders of a clan. In truth, we females can possess an ability known as the ¡®dragon¡¯s call.¡¯ This ability allows us to command other dragons to do our bidding. The title matriarch is given to any female dragon that possesses this ability.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ eyes widened. One of the books she read mentioned something like that, but it was very vague on the subject. ¡°Can you teach me to use the dragon¡¯s call?¡±

    Aubrey smiled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s impossible, my dear. While only females can use the call, it is not something you can simply learn. The ability is yours from birth, but it requires the qualities of a strong leader to draw it out. It is a mark of power and a will to lead. Someone so quick to give up their freedom to please others has no way of it wielding such power. I¡¯m also afraid there is no way of knowing whether you possess the ability until it manifests.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ heart fell. The dragon¡¯s call sounded like a very useful thing to have. It would¡¯ve been very useful to have against that Genial in the commercial district, but what good was it if she couldn¡¯t even find out if she had the ability?

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear, just because you can¡¯t use the call does not make you any less of a dragon,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°I will still teach you how to win at least some respect from your brethren. And even if you possessed the call, you shouldn¡¯t be so quick to rely on it. Using it can quite draining, and some dragons can resist your voice. Also, other matriarchs are immune.¡±

    The two dragons began walking back to the mansion. Maggie and Helen were already out back waiting for them. They had set up a nice lunch for them at one of the three tables on the patio. Aeris¡¯ mouth watered when the breeze carried the scent of meaty sandwiches to her nose.

    ¡°There you two are,¡± Maggie said. ¡°I wondered where you ran off to.¡±

    ¡°For someone who supposedly has freedom, you fret over her whereabouts quite a bit. Are you afraid I was going to run off with her?¡± Aubrey asked, sitting at the table.

    Maggie wrung her hands, the struggle to hold her temper clear in her face. ¡°Aeris is like a daughter to me, Lady Aubrey,¡± Maggie said. ¡°So, yes, I can¡¯t help but worry about her. I know many clan-born dragons do not care for domesticates.¡±

    ¡°I never would have invited her to my home if I despised her,¡± Aubrey said coolly. ¡°Most dragons are far more straightforward with their feelings.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already clear you¡¯re not like most dragons. I just want to be sure Aeris is cared for.¡±

    ¡°You say that, and yet she knows nothing of her kind. I imagined if she were a human child, you would not leave her so ignorant.¡±

    Maggie slammed her hands on the table. Aeris and Helen flinched. Aubrey didn¡¯t so much as blink. ¡°I don¡¯t care if this is your home,¡± Maggie said. ¡°I will not stand here and have you question my feelings for Aeris. I have done more for her than you could possibly know.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. But I do know is that Genial would¡¯ve killed her if I hadn¡¯t intervened. Tell me, are you even aware that she has sex with her caretaker? Or did you purposely let her be around clan-borns knowing she stank of human musk?¡±

    Maggie snapped her mouth shut, her face turning red with anger. Aeris wanted to duck under the table. Her expressing her love to Master Aaron was the last thing she wanted to talk about.

    Helen quickly spoke up. ¡°Lady Aubrey, I thought we agreed not to get so worked up over Aeris¡¯¡­lifestyle. Try as she might, Margret has no real control over Aeris¡¯ life and daily activities.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°It¡¯s just this same human arrogance and selfishness is what caused the Great Rebellion in the first place.¡±

    ¡°The Great Rebellion?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°A terrible war that took place nearly a millennia ago,¡± Aubrey replied with a sad shake of her head. ¡°There was once a time when humans worshipped dragons as gods.¡±

    ¡°Thank goodness those days are over,¡± Maggie mumbled.

    Aubrey tensed but didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Then one day, the humans learned they possessed the means to harm us. To kill us. This started a terrible war in which there were no sides. Just aimless bloodshed in a pitiful grab for power.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ eyes widened. She was fascinated and horrified. ¡°So how did the war end?¡±

    ¡°No one knows,¡± Helen said. ¡°You see a lot of human and dragon culture was destroyed during this time, and obviously no one was keeping records¡ª¡±

    ¡°And the ones who were keeping records clearly only wanted to leave their mark on history,¡± Aubrey added.

    Helen nodded in agreement. ¡°In the end, the fighting stopped. It took centuries, but the humans and dragons all but went their separate ways. There are still many dragon clans out in the wild, and they have an uneasy peace with us.¡±

    ¡°That is something else you must remember,¡± Aubrey said, her voice grave. ¡°No matter what, Aeris, you are never to approach another dragon in the wild. If they learn you¡¯re a domesticate, they¡¯ll kill you. They may ignore you if you¡¯re in the company of a human, but I wouldn¡¯t rely on it.¡±

    That was one lesson Aeris didn¡¯t want to learn again. But as fearful as she felt, she also felt a strange curiosity. Clan dragons sounded so exotic. ¡°Aubrey, can you tell me more about clan dragons?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we have to leave now, Aeris,¡± Maggie said. ¡°Master Aaron will be home soon and he¡¯ll be quite upset if you¡¯re not back.¡± She turned to Aubrey and Helen and bowed. ¡°Thank you so much for your hospitality.¡±

    ¡°Would it really bother him to know she has a mind of her own?¡± Aubrey asked.

    ¡°I really should go,¡± Aeris said. ¡°But thank you for inviting me into your home.¡±

    ¡°It was my pleasure. Aeris, just remember if you ever get tired of the way humans treat you, or if you wish to know more about your kind, my door is always open. I¡¯ll gladly show you how a real dragon lives.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure you will,¡± Maggie replied. ¡°Aeris, let¡¯s go.¡±

    Aubrey only smiled as they turned to leave, the look in her eyes declaring that Aeris would return. As the two left the mansion and began the long walk home, Aeris couldn¡¯t help but smile. She didn¡¯t get the answers about her origins she desired, but she learned so much! There was so much about dragons she didn¡¯t know; things no book had ever explained to her.

    Maggie climbed onto Aeris¡¯ back. It was a little awkward since she was almost too large to ride, but she carefully explained to Aeris they needed to get back as quickly as possible and walking wasn¡¯t an option.

    Aeris ran home all the while her mind racing with thoughts of how what she would learn when she saw Aubrey again. She was so excited, she forgot to slow down when she returned to the estate grounds and allow Maggie to climb off her back. It wasn¡¯t until Aeris heard Maggie cry out that she remembered it would look suspicious that she was streaking across the estate grounds carrying a middle-aged woman on her back.

    Just before walking away, Maggie spun and asked, ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. Did Aubrey know anything about your origins.¡±

    Aeris shook her head. ¡°But she did tell me that dragons don¡¯t care about that sort of thing. So maybe I¡¯ll just accept that I may never know the answer.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? You were so determined to know the truth before. And we¡¯re so close. I¡¯m sure if we researched dragons from the northern regions¡ª¡±

    ¡°But, Maggie, there¡¯s no one else to ask. Even a dragon couldn¡¯t tell me the truth. And Aubrey said a real dragon¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aeris, stop right there,¡± Maggie interjected forcibly. ¡°I don¡¯t care what fantasies she fills your head with, I don¡¯t want to hear you talking that ¡®real dragon¡¯ nonsense again. You are a real dragon, and no one can take that away from you or tell you how to behave.¡±

    Aeris stared at the ground. ¡°But, Maggie¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, ¡®buts¡¯, Aeris. I¡¯m okay with ending the search, but only after we¡¯ve exhausted all the options.¡± She lifted Aeris¡¯s chin forcing her to look up. Maggie¡¯s eyes were full of pity and sadness. It was the same look everyone else was giving her.

    Aeris dug her claws in the dirt fighting the urge to pull away.

    ¡°I know how important this is to you,¡± Maggie said. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to see you give up. Now there¡¯s one last option we haven¡¯t tried yet. But I¡¯m going to need time. Do you think you could wait? Just one last attempt to find your origins then if you truly want to give up, I¡¯ll support it, okay?¡±

    Aeris nodded. Maggie smiled and walked back to the estate. Aeris went to her room, her feelings now a jumbled mess. She flopped onto her back on the mattress and stared at the ceiling. What was she supposed to do? Part of her wanted to know more than anything why she was so different, but Aubrey convinced her to let it go. What point was there in finding her origins if it didn¡¯t change anything?

    Which choice was the right one?

    Aeris rolled over on her side. Maggie wasn¡¯t willing to give up, so neither should she. At least for Maggie¡¯s sake, she would keep going.

 Chapter 6: Growing Rebellion

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 6: Growing Rebellion</h2>

    <hr>

    Things changed after visiting the Patel family. Aeris had become more restless than ever. She found she no longer cared about her origins. As Aubrey said, her past didn¡¯t matter. That thinking got Aeris through the moments when she was questioned about her lineage.

    Maggie hadn¡¯t given up the search. There were no more secret visits to Master Aaron¡¯s study, but she made a point of constantly reminding Aeris she was in contact with someone who could help. Aeris didn¡¯t know who this person was, but she also didn¡¯t want to talk about it too much and risk being overheard.

    It wasn¡¯t the only thing Aeris couldn¡¯t risk being discovered. Lilith was always close by, watching as if hoping to catch her doing something. Nothing Aeris did was ever good enough for Lilith. Never had she encountered such a judgmental human. Everything from her posture to her nervous habits was examined and scrutinized. But Lilith never outright expressed her displeasure. Whenever Aeris did something wrong, she was told with a low sigh and a scolding stare. If the others noticed they didn¡¯t speak on it.

    Remaining sane through the constant silent ridicule was easier said than done especially since Aeris couldn¡¯t rely on her usual stress relievers without risking being caught by Lilith. Aeris had to get Maggie to read to her and practicing any sort of math was out of the question. Even lounging in the sun was met with admonishing looks. Flying was the only time she got any form of reprieve, but she couldn¡¯t stay airborne all day.

    It was worse when Master Aaron was around. Lilith would cling to him and shot Aeris dirty looks when she was near. During those times, Aeris made sure to become scarce. Never had she been so happy to be stuck indoors on rainy days. It wasn¡¯t that she minded the rain, she always got yelled at for getting muddy. Then the water she tracked in her room made the floor muddy and created a bigger mess.

    Fortunately, today was one of those bad-weather days. It had begun raining, meaning Aeris was stuck in her room. It also meant no visits to her room from Lilith who pointed out how she couldn¡¯t stand the rain.

    Aeris closed her book with a small sigh. It was one of her favorite stories about a young farmer who learned he was a prince of a forgotten kingdom. As the prince traveled the land, building an army to take back his kingdom, he was betrayed by his closest friend. Betrayal, drama, adventure, she couldn¡¯t ask for more. She returned the book to the shelf and reached for its sequel when she noticed Master Aaron¡¯s pocket watch on the floor.

    Her tail flattened against her rear as she remembered her Master visiting her earlier that day so they could ¡°spend time together¡±. He must had forgotten the watch in his hurry to get dressed before Lilith came in. Master Aaron ordered her not to tell anyone. Aeris didn¡¯t understand it, but she didn¡¯t want to bring it up anyway.

    Since receiving that letter, Master Aaron had been in a better mood. The watch meant a great deal to him, so he would be very upset to notice he lost it.

    Aeris picked up the pocket watch and placed it on the shelf. But what if Master Aaron returned for it and was so grateful her keeping it safe for him he wanted ¡°reward¡± her? Aeris shuddered and took the watch in her jaws and left the room.

    The rain was coming down harder than she thought, soaking her within seconds. She kept her head tucked under her wing to prevent the watch from getting wet.

    Knowing she wouldn¡¯t be let into the house dripping wet from the rain, she decided to use the secret passages to get to Master Aaron¡¯s bedroom and leave the watch there.

    The rain pounded against the walls, echoing through the dark, narrow passages. It gave Aeris the creeps. The air felt damp and reeked of something that had been left sitting in water.

    Aeris had a hard time searching for Master Aaron¡¯s bedroom. She had little reason to go there, so she didn¡¯t remember the way. The passages also weren¡¯t very straightforward. They twisted and didn¡¯t lead to obvious places, and then it all looked the same, it was hard to get her bearings.

    ¡°Will that be all, Lilith?¡±

    Aeris froze. That was Maggie¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Actually, Margret, I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you,¡± Lilith replied.

    Aeris followed the sound of Lilith¡¯s voice. She didn¡¯t know what was driving her at the moment. Spying on others was wrong. This wasn¡¯t the first time Master Aaron had brought a woman home, but it was the first time one of them moved in.

    This was a rare opportunity. There was something about Lilith. The way she looked at Aeris, the tone of her voice, that was unsettling. The woman was hiding something, and Aeris had to find out what it was.

    It was like something out of one of her stories. The hero on the secret mission trying to learn the antagonist''s plans. She needed to be quiet and careful. There were severe consequences if she was discovered.

    Aeris eventually tracked Lilith to a nearby painting on the wall. Lilith stood in the master bathroom with Maggie. The tub under Aeris¡¯ viewport was filled with steaming water.

    Lilith began to undress. Aeris knew she shouldn¡¯t be looking, but it was hard to turn away. Humans made a point of hiding their bodies behind clothing, and she wanted to know why. They always got upset at the idea of being seen naked and shunned those who flaunted parts of their body. She had to know why. The difference between men and women was known to her, but it didn¡¯t explain the reason for secrecy. She had also never seen a human female naked outside of a few diagrams in the books ¡°borrowed¡± from her master¡¯s study. Once she asked Maggie to undress and the poor woman became horribly flustered. The subject was dropped and never brought up again.

    Lilith¡¯s body was drastically different from Master Aaron¡¯s. Her pale skin was as blemish-free as her face and hands. The woman truly resembled a walking doll. She was far thinner than her clothes suggested, her breasts were much rounder, she had much less body hair, and nothing hung between her legs. It was disappointing. There wasn¡¯t much different from what Aeris had seen before in books, and certainly nothing that warranted feeling ashamed.

    Lilith climbed into the bath, letting out a sigh of contentment as she sank into the water.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be rude, Lilith, but I do have other things to do,¡± Maggie said. ¡°I can come find you once my work is finished if you prefer.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. The reason I wanted to talk now is because there¡¯s no one to overhear us.¡±

    Maggie shifted her weight¡ªsomething she did when uncomfortable, but her face remained neutral. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯re expecting me to reveal Lord Strauss¡¯s secrets¡ª¡±

    ¡°You can stop, Margret. I know you have a unique relationship with Aaron. You often disobey him especially when it comes to that dragon of his. What I don¡¯t understand is why.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡±

    ¡°I know you and Aeris left the estate,¡± Lilith said. A smile appeared when Maggie stiffened. ¡°Aaron doesn¡¯t like Aeris to leave the grounds without him, and you didn¡¯t ask his permission or for him to accompany you. Where did you go?¡±

    ¡°I had to take Aeris to see the doctor. She sees him at least once every few months for a checkup. It was a little premature, but Lord Strauss wanted to make sure her wounds from that incident in the commercial district were healing nicely.¡±

    The doctor had examined Aeris¡¯ neck the day she was attacked. He said the wounds were superficial and looked worse than they were. After a few weeks, there would be no trace as if the whole incident never happened.

    Lilith was silent as she studied Maggie¡¯s face. Eventually, she spoke again. ¡°You are an excellent liar. And you did not take Aeris to the doctor. Aaron told me the doctor makes house calls, so Aeris doesn¡¯t need to leave the estate.¡±

    ¡°Lord Strauss hadn¡¯t ordered it; I wanted to know for myself,¡± Maggie replied coolly. ¡°I¡¯ve known Aeris for many years. She has become like a daughter to me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Aaron told me you don¡¯t have children of your own. You¡¯ve also never been married, correct?¡±

    Aeris glared through the window. There was something Lilith¡¯s voice as if she were taunting Maggie. So what if Maggie didn¡¯t have children? Maggie had her. The woman said because of that, she didn¡¯t need children.

    Maggie remained straight-faced. ¡°That is correct. I was engaged to be married once, but he was killed by a mugger on his way home from work.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to hear that.¡± She didn¡¯t sound sorry at all. ¡°So you decided to use Aeris to fill that hole?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t like Aeris,¡± Maggie stated.

    Lilith turned to Maggie, her back to the mirror. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. And I know Aaron is only using me to disparage the rumors regarding his relationship with his dragon. A young, handsome, successful businessman with very few dates. Always seen doting on his adorable dragon. Did you know we haven¡¯t been intimate yet?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s far more to a relationship than sex,¡± Maggie said. ¡°And I assure you that Lord Strauss does not see Aeris the same way he sees you.¡±

    ¡°True. But I see the way he looks at her. Hear the joy in his voice when he speaks of her. She can give him something I can¡¯t.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head. This was the first she had heard of these rumors. Was she being a burden on her master? But then why did Master Aaron make a point of taking her to parties? And what an odd thing to say. There were plenty of things she couldn¡¯t do. Lilith could do far more for Master Aaron.

    ¡°I assure you, Lilith, Lord Strauss has feelings for you,¡± Maggie said. ¡°He would never use a woman so callously. He is not the type of man to let rumors and hearsay dictate how he lives his life.¡±

    Lilith leaned back in the tub again. ¡°Maybe he should. A little caution wouldn¡¯t kill him, especially with his ¡°prized¡± dragon.¡±

    Silence fell over the room. Aeris wasn¡¯t sure what to make of what the conversation. The air was thick with the tension between the two females.

    A loud thud filled the passage. Aeris jolted, holding back a cry of fear. She looked around, expecting to see someone inside that passage with her. But she was alone. It was then she noticed she had forgotten she was holding the watch and dropped it.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Lilith asked.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± Maggie replied. ¡°Perhaps something outside was knocked down. The wind has been blowing quite hard.¡±

    ¡°I hope so. Lydia told there may be a rat living in the walls. You think that dragon would at least be good for getting rid of a few pests.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Maggie said, her voice strained. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Lord Strauss to hire someone.¡±

    Aeris took it as her cue to leave. She had wasted too much time already. Things would become very complicated if Master Aaron went to her room looking for his watch and didn¡¯t find her there.

    She tracked down Master Aaron¡¯s room. The window was hidden behind a large painting of a landscape just like the others. This one was of a snow-capped mountain range. Aeris stared at the painting for a moment, reveling in the calm it provided her. It struck her as odd given she had never been anywhere near the mountains.

    Eventually, she ceased staring at the painting, found the secret switch which opened the door, and made her way inside. Both Master Aaron¡¯s and Lilith¡¯s scents intermingled in the air. Unlike the study, the bedroom was flawless as if no one spent any time in it. Aeris crept across the floor, her tail and wings held close to her body so as not to accidentally knock anything over. Being in there without permission felt wrong.

    Aeris hadn¡¯t been in her master¡¯s bedroom in years. The last time had been when they first, showed their love to each other, as Master Aaron called it. It was very awkward and painful. Charles saw them sneaking out of the room. After the two talked in private, Aeris was never invited to her master¡¯s room again¡ªnot that she was complaining.

    The bedside table was a good place to leave the pocket watch. Master Aaron would see it quickly and wouldn¡¯t find it odd to see it there. The moment she sat the watch down, she heard footsteps approaching. There wasn¡¯t time to run back to the secret passage, so she ducked into the large wardrobe across from the bed. She backed away as far as she was able, pulling all her limbs close.

    Through the crack in the door, she saw Maggie enter the room. The woman looked around as if she shouldn¡¯t be there. After confirming no one was in the room, Maggie hurried over to the bedside table and began rummaging through its drawers.

    ¡°Looking for something, Margret?¡± Charles asked.

    Aeris inhaled sharply, fearing Maggie was looking for her. Maggie spun around then quickly straightened up and said, ¡°I was just¡±¡ªshe looked around and quickly then snatched the pocket watch off the bedside table¡ª¡°Lord Strauss informed me he was looking for this.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s funny, I just spoke to him and he never mentioned it.¡±

    Aeris risked shifting a little so she could get a better view. Charles stood by the door. A small smirk adorned his face.

    ¡°Perhaps because I already informed him I was going to look for it. No reason in making everyone go searching for the thing.¡±

    Charles chuckled as he stepped into the room. Fear gripped Aeris even though they appeared to have no idea she was there. ¡°You truly do have a silver tongue, don¡¯t you? If you had more status, you would truly be a dangerous person.¡±

    ¡°You can skip the flattery, Charles. I already had to deal with Lilith attempting to pry information from me, and I am not in the mood. What do you want?¡±

    Charles stepped closer. Maggie remained where she was, one of her hands easing into her pocket.

    ¡°You really think he would hide something so important in such an obvious place?¡± Charles said, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°And even if he did, he would never let you take Aeris¡¯ papers. But what could you possibly want with them? She¡¯s already old enough to roam on her own. Taking her papers changes nothing.¡±

    Why does Maggie need my papers? Aeris wondered. Every dragon living in the city needed registration papers mainly to keep track of who owned which dragon and how many were in a city at any given time. Once they were older than 10 years, the dragon no longer required a human caretaker and was free to live on its own. At least that¡¯s what one of the books in Master¡¯ Aaron¡¯s study said. But it didn¡¯t explain why Maggie needed her papers. They clearly didn¡¯t explain where she came from or else Master Aaron would have an answer when he was asked.

    ¡°Your memory must be slipping,¡± Maggie said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you made the leap from a watch to registry papers.¡±

    ¡°You need to stay out of it, Margret. That dragon is the only reason Lord Strauss puts up with you.¡±

    ¡°I need to return this watch. If you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± Maggie stepped around Charles and left the room.

    Charles waited a moment after Maggie left then went to the far side of the room and pulled back a corner of the rug. He moved a loose floorboard and pulled out a metal box.

    The conversation between Maggie and Charles replayed in Aeris¡¯s mind. Is that where my papers are stored?

    After examining the box and testing to confirm it was still locked, Charles returned the box to it¡¯s resting place, replaced the floorboard, and covered it up with the carpet.

    Aeris waited until she could no longer hear Charles¡¯ footsteps before leaving the wardrobe. She had lingered there far too long. Master Aaron could be on his way to her room right now if he hadn¡¯t been there already.

    It occurred to her she had never entered the passages from this side before. She had no idea where the switch was to open the door. There was no time to look for it. The switch could be anywhere in the room, including unintentionally hidden behind the furniture.

    Aeris rushed over to the window. Flying out the window was her best option. The rain had stopped and the sun peeked through the breaking clouds. So long as no one saw her leaving through the window, she could lie and say she wanted to go flying. She managed to unlock the window, but it was far narrower than the one in the study. She couldn¡¯t fit through it.

    This was bad. Master Aaron got angry whenever Aeris entered the estate without permission. And what if someone asked how she got in?

    Aeris crept to the bedroom door peered into the hall. There were no signs of anyone approaching. Sneaking out the backdoor was her last chance. There was a second set of stairs leading downstairs into the kitchens. She had lunch not too long ago, so no one should be down there preparing dinner yet. Just sneak down the hall, creep through the, hopefully, empty kitchen, and she would be in the clear.

    She stayed close to the wall although if someone came into the hall they would see her just as easily. She had never felt this tense in her life. Every step she feared would make noise and give away her position. Every door seemed open just enough for someone to watch her from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to step out and question why she was indoors. She just had to return the stupid watch! It would¡¯ve been better to leave it and go flying until Master Aaron returned to take it.

    The trip down the stairs went smoothly, but Aeris refused to relax until she was back outside. Next was getting to the kitchens. Easier said than done. The floor upstairs had carpet which muffled her footsteps. Downstairs had no such luxury. The back stairwell led to a short hall that led straight to the kitchens. So long as no one came that way, she wouldn¡¯t be spotted.

    She stepped slowly to prevent her claws clicking on the floor. It didn¡¯t completely make her soundless, but it was enough not to draw immediate attention. She stopped for every noise and checked every corner.

    There was no one in the kitchens. Aeris hurried through the backdoor, not caring how much noise she was making.

    She took her time going back to her room. With the rain over, there was no rush. It would¡¯ve been nice to go flying for a bit, but now that the fear of being caught was gone, she couldn¡¯t take her mind off that box and why Maggie was looking for it. Even if it contained her papers, what good were they? If they proved her lineage, why would Master Aaron lie about it? In books, situations like this usually meant a secret was being kept to protect the character. Was that what was happening here? They were protecting her? But what did they need to protect her from? She lived happily with Master Aaron her entire life. From the moment she was hatched, she was registered as a part of the family. Knowing where she came from couldn¡¯t possibly change that.

    Instead of going through the door, Aeris went around the side and peered through the window. If someone was waiting for her inside, she¡¯d rather know beforehand. After confirming the room was indeed empty, she went inside and flopped onto the mattress.

    She lay there, letting her imagination run until she fell asleep.

    ****

    Aeris snapped her eyes open. It was late afternoon, the reddish glow of the setting sun coming through her window. She yawned and stretched, reaching her claws to the ceiling and froze.

    There was another presence in the room; she sensed it. She craned her neck to find Lilith sitting in the far corner of the room. Aeris righted herself on the mattress and spoke in as calm a voice as possible. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Not the most polite question, but she just awoke to being watched in her sleep. The idea of how long Lilith had been sitting there sent a chill through her body.

    ¡°I wanted to see you of course,¡± Lilith replied, chuckling. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I woke you. But you just seemed so peaceful. Did you know you talk in your sleep?¡±

    Aeris¡¯ tail quivered. What kind of things had she been saying in her sleep? ¡°I-I do? I had no idea.¡±

    Lilith crossed the room and examined the harnesses hanging on the wall, wearing a look of displeasure. It was unclear if she didn¡¯t like the idea of them or if there was another reason. The harnesses were more for decoration than actual use. Most of them were old and all of them were faded from the sun shining upon them every day. Even when Master Aaron was small enough, he rarely rode her. No one else was ever allowed to ride her, although they continued buying her new harnesses.

    ¡°Well, you are asleep at the time, so I would be more surprised if you did know,¡± Lilith said. ¡°Now that you¡¯re awake, what do you say to a walk through the garden to stretch your legs?¡± She flashed a friendly smile.

    Aeris slowly nodded. It was clear in Lilith¡¯s smile the invitation was not a suggestion.

    ¡°Excellent! You and I are going to be spending a great deal of time together, so we may as well become friends.¡±

    Something about hearing Lilith say ¡°friend¡± made Aeris uncomfortable. Even before overhearing the conversation with Maggie in the bathroom, it was no secret Lilith didn¡¯t like her. She wanted to believe the offer to become friends was genuine, but there was just something this woman she didn¡¯t like.

    The two left the room and headed for the gardens. Lilith was quiet the entire way. Aeris couldn¡¯t help but imagine it was something like the stories she read. The hero was having what was supposed to be a friendly meeting only to be stabbed in the back at the last minute. She watched the woman¡¯s every movement, waiting for the moment when Lilith would suddenly strike.

    Nothing happened until they reached the gardens. Instead of suddenly lashing out, she spoke: ¡°Aeris, you have known Aaron a long time haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Ever since I was hatched.¡±

    ¡°And you love him?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t I love my master?¡±

    ¡°That is not what I mean,¡± Lilith said. She chuckled humorlessly then looked around, checking for something. ¡°I mean, are the two of you lovers?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Aeris said quickly and more loudly than she intended.

    ¡°It¡¯s perfectly all right, you know. I know some people and dragons find such a thing repulsive, but I¡¯m not like them.¡±

    ¡°I love my master, but we¡¯re not lovers,¡± Aeris repeated. Master Aaron had always been clear about their relationship. He always told her that it was perfectly acceptable to show their feelings toward one another without being a couple.

    Lilith smiled. The first genuine one Aeris had seen on her face. ¡°Thank you so much for being honest with me, Aeris. I¡¯m going, to be honest with you: I don¡¯t like you. And I know you don¡¯t care much for me. But it¡¯s okay because we have something in common. Something the two of us can use to find common ground. Our love for Aaron. I know I would do anything for his happiness. You want him to be happy, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Aeris said.

    ¡°Then you must become more independent. Aaron admitted to me that he worries for you constantly. You¡¯re almost like a child, always needed to be watched over, protected and coddled. Sometimes he can¡¯t sleep, your well-being troubles him so. But if you were stronger, you could look after yourself, and Aaron wouldn¡¯t stress over your well-being.¡±

    ¡°Is he really that worried about me? But Maggie never said¡ª¡±

    ¡°Of course Maggie wouldn¡¯t tell you. She may be your caretaker, but she works for Aaron. If he told her not to tell you, she would have to obey.¡±

    Aeris stared at the grass. Master Aaron didn¡¯t court many women. Everyone knew it. If he did, he certainly didn¡¯t tell anyone. At the parties, many of the other humans often whispered about him and his love-life though they were always vague on the details. It explained why they sometimes sent weird looks her way.

    She wondered why her master was always alone. Was it because of her? Did her master avoid relationships for fear of leaving her alone?

    Lilith stroked the back of Aeris¡¯ head. ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself, Aeris. You didn¡¯t know because they don¡¯t want you to know. They still think you need protecting. But I see you for what you are: a beautiful and unique creature who has spent her life sheltered and alone. It must get lonely here, having no friends. You want friends, don¡¯t you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Aeris said. She immediately regretted her response the moment she said it. ¡°I-I mean, Master Aaron does a wonderful job taking care of me and¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay to want friends, Aeris,¡± Lilith said. ¡°You get to go to a lot of parties, but I¡¯m sure you noticed the people there smiled and gave you sweet compliments, but they had no intention of being your friend.¡±

    It was true. A few humans even said they would never see a dragon as an equal.

    Lilith knelt and took Aeris¡¯s face in her hands. ¡°It¡¯s time to leave the nest, Aeris. Aaron needs to consider his happiness for once. I know you do not consider me a friend, but if Aaron wants you to be happy, then that¡¯s what I want for you as well, and I¡¯ll do anything I can to help you.¡±

    There was something about Lilith¡¯s eyes; they lacked a certain warmth that Maggie¡¯s had or the recognition of Master Aaron¡¯s. It was hard to place, Lilith¡¯s eyes lacked any real emotion as if she were looking at a chair. But Aeris wanted to believe Lilith¡¯s words were genuine. What reason did she have to lie? Aeris felt guilty for her suspicions. If Master Aaron wished it, she could find some way to get along with Lilith.

    Aeris said, ¡°I do wish I could go out more. I met a dragon back in the commercial district. Her name is Aubrey. She promised to show me how a real dragon lives.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯m sure there is much this Aubrey could teach you.¡±

    ¡°But Master Aaron told me I couldn¡¯t see her again.¡± She had already disobeyed him in that regard. The guilt still weighed heavily on her mind and clashed with her excitement and curiosity.

    Lilith stood and wiped her hands on the sides of her dress. ¡°Then perhaps we shouldn¡¯t tell him. He¡¯s only worried about you. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fine if you went to learn from Aubrey.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡± Lilith placed a hand over her snout, silencing her.

    ¡°Aeris, if you truly wish to be independent, then you¡¯re going to have to think for yourself. And I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to prove to Aaron you can take care of yourself. Words aren¡¯t going to sway him at this point. Not after you were attacked.¡±

    Aeris wanted to see Aubrey again. To find out how a dragon truly lived. To explore the world and experience the things she only had the pleasure of reading about. It was clear now Master Aaron would never let her do those things. And if she knew how to better take care of herself, what happened at the commercial district would never happen again.

    But lying to her master like this felt wrong. Sure she already deceived him by going behind his back and seeing Aubrey, but there had to be a better way than lying and sneaking around.

    As if reading her thoughts, Lilith added, ¡°It¡¯s okay to have doubts. But remember, you¡¯re doing this for Aaron. That means your actions won¡¯t be considered selfish. And don¡¯t worry about him finding out. I can keep him distracted, so he¡¯ll never find out the truth. If he does find out, I¡¯ll be sure to smooth things over with him. You go out into the world and become the dragon you want to be. And I promise I¡¯ll be there to help you every step of the way.¡±

    It was a promise Aeris didn¡¯t feel comfortable making. Lilith was little better than a stranger. Could she be trusted?

    For Master Aaron, Aeris would do it. She would trust Lilith and become more independent.

 Chapter 7: Dragonesss Day Out

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 7: Dragoness¡¯s Day Out</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris eased open the door to her room and peered outside. Technically, she didn¡¯t have to be so secretive; she was allowed out of her room and could roam the estate grounds as she pleased. But she didn¡¯t plan on staying around the estate, so it was vital that no one saw her sneak off.

    Master Aaron forbade it and Maggie wasn¡¯t too happy with the idea either, but Aeris had to see Aubrey again. More questions swam in the depths of her mind, ready to break for the surface. No one else would answer them for her and she was tired of not knowing anything about herself.

    The grounds were quiet and empty. It was now or never. Lilith promised to keep Master Aaron busy. The only person to hide from was Maggie. After making sure no one was around to spot her, she crept outside, crouched down, and spread her wings wide, ready to take off.

    ¡°And just where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Maggie asked.

    Aeris¡¯s wings snapped to her sides. She slowly turned her head to see the red-haired woman who cared for her leaning against the wall, tapping her foot on the ground and looking very upset.

    ¡°Hello, Maggie,¡± Aeris said with a sheepish grin. The guilt of having to lie to her was almost unbearable. ¡°I was just going to fly around the estate for a bit if that¡¯s okay.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± Maggie said flatly. ¡°You¡¯re going to see Aubrey again, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Aeris dropped her head, feeling ashamed. Margret laughed and patted the side of Aeris¡¯ neck. ¡°I¡¯m not angry, but please don¡¯t make a habit of lying to me. The world can be very dangerous, and I would like to at least know where you plan on going. What if something had happened to you?¡±

    That thought hadn¡¯t crossed her mind when she had agreed to become more independent. She dropped her head even lower. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maggie. I just¡­I wanted to see Aubrey again, and¡­¡± she couldn¡¯t finish the sentence, so many conflicting emotions were bubbling up within her. She wanted answers, but she also didn¡¯t want to upset anyone. Maggie, Lilith, Charles, not even Master Aaron understood what she was going through. The others cared for her. She didn¡¯t want them to think she was ungrateful. There was so much more she wanted¡ªneeded out of life. Something she couldn¡¯t get here.

    Maggie gently took Aeris¡¯s face in her hands. ¡°Aeris, I want you to be honest, is this that important to you?¡±

    Aeris nodded. Maggie sighed and whispered ¡°Meet around back¡± before going into Aeris¡¯ room.

    Not really understanding the woman¡¯s intentions, she did as she was told. A few moments later Maggie reappeared carrying the black cloak Master Aaron had given Aeris as a birthday present. Like many of the things her master gave her, there had been no reason to wear it became more for decoration than anything. ¡°It won¡¯t make you invisible, but at least you won¡¯t stand out as much,¡± Maggie said. The cloak fit perfectly, covering just enough of Aeris¡¯ body without restricting her movement though her wings were covered so flying was out of the question. But it made little difference. At first glance, no one would even recognize her. It even had a hood to hide her face.

    Aeris was ecstatic. ¡°Thank you so much, Maggie.¡±

    ¡°Yes, well, I don¡¯t like Aubrey, but she knows far more about dragons than I. And more than anything, I want you to be happy. Just remember to be careful. I¡¯ll make sure Lord Strauss doesn¡¯t notice you¡¯re gone. Be sure to return home by dinner, understand?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Maggie. I¡¯ll make sure to back by then.¡±

    ¡°And, Aeris?¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s easier to go unnoticed if you head west before looping around through the trees. You¡¯re less likely to be spotted.¡±

    ****

    Getting to Aubrey¡¯s mansion the second time was much easier than the first. She had only been there once, but she found her way as if it were her home. The closer she got, the more her excitement grew. How did a true dragon live? What was Aubrey going to show her? Aeris¡¯s mind swarmed with questions. And the answers were just moments away.

    Just as she approached the door, it swung open and Aubrey and Helen stepped outside. ¡°Aeris?¡± Aubrey said. ¡°This is unexpected. I see you didn¡¯t bring your caretaker with you. I assume you¡¯re here to learn more about our kind?¡± When Aeris nodded, Aubrey added, ¡°I would love to tell you everything I know about our kind. But I¡¯m afraid we must do this another time. Helen and I were about to go shopping.¡±

    ¡°Can I go?¡± Aeris asked, hopeful. ¡°I¡¯ve never really been shopping except for that one time¡­¡± She stopped talking and shuddered as the image of a vicious wild-born dragon standing over her filled her mind. It still didn¡¯t diminish her curiosity.

    ¡°You are more than welcome to come along,¡± Aubrey replied with a small smile.

    The walk to the commercial district was shorter than Aeris expected. With Helen riding on Aubrey¡¯s back, they were able to move at a much faster pace. Seeing a human riding atop a dragon was new to Aeris. Her master had not ridden her since he was a boy and even then, he used a bridle and saddle to ensure he never fell off and was injured.

    Aubrey didn¡¯t wear either of those things. Helen rode bareback and she remained perfectly balanced. Along the way, Aubrey explained how in the old days, humans used to ride on the backs of dragons. It was once considered a great honor and privilege reserved only for humans who proved themselves. After the Great Rebellion, it was considered demeaning and a sign of submission to carry a human and the humans saw riding a dragon as the ultimate form of dominance.

    ¡°I carry Helen because I believe in the old ways, and Helen is someone I deeply care for,¡± Aubrey explained. ¡°She also doesn¡¯t walk at the same pace as other humans. It would take far too long if she were to walk herself.¡±

    ¡°You know a lot about history,¡± Aeris said. ¡°None of the books ever mentioned that.¡±

    ¡°Humans wouldn¡¯t keep records of the times they actually respected dragon,¡± Aubrey replied stiffly. She relaxed and continued. ¡°All the same, I find history to be a fascinating subject. I study everything I can about it. There¡¯s so much to learn from those who came before. Dragons were once proud beings. We ruled over this world.¡± Her expression turned sour and her voice bitter. ¡°But now we are either content to live as human playthings, or stubbornly close ourselves off from the world pretending the humans can be ignored. So much of our culture was lost during the Great Rebellion and no one¡ªhuman nor dragon, seems to care. Did you know there are ruins not far from the city that has never been explored?¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Aeris asked excitedly. The possibility of an adventure was too good to pass up. ¡°Maybe we could be the first!¡±

    ¡°Perhaps we should. I was going to hire a team to explore for me, but I think whatever secrets that place may hold I would rather see with my own eyes. Now come, we are actually behind schedule and I would like to make up the time.¡± Aubrey began walking at a brisk pace. Aeris was still a little tired from running all the way there, but she managed to keep up.

    The commercial district was just as Aeris remembered it the last time she visited. The overlapping sounds and smells were just as mesmerizing now as they were back then. The streets were more crowded than last time. More dragons roamed the streets this time as well. None of them paid any attention to Aeris, but she still shivered and huddled closer to Aubrey.

    ¡°Calm yourself, my dear,¡± Aubrey said, her tone commanding yet gentle like a parent speaking to a child. ¡°You must never let others see your fear. Our kind has never been one to be beaten into submission. We bow only when we choose to. Besides, as long as you are in my company no dragon will dare harm you, domesticate or not.¡±

    Hearing those words set Aeris¡¯ mind at ease, but she still kept her head down. Even if no one intended to harm her, she couldn¡¯t risk being seen and recognized. Why did she let her curiosity get the better of her? What was going to happen when her master returned her to buy something and a shopkeeper mentioned seeing her?

    Aeris¡¯s fears were forgotten once the shopping went underway. Dragons were allowed in most of the stores they visited. Helen pointed out they never shopped at places that didn¡¯t allow dragons. The places they visited were so different from the places Aeris had been to with Master Aaron. The stores were modeled a lot like Aubrey¡¯s home with the more delicate items placed higher up out of the reach of any wandering tails.

    The shopkeepers were very polite. Aubrey knew many of the shopkeepers, and they even had set aside some of the things she had come to purchase. The cloak worked wonders; for once Aeris wasn¡¯t the center of attention and bombarded with questions about her origins. It felt nice being no one for a day. The longer they walked, the more curious Aeris became. There was so much to learn and see. Turned out there were tons of tools and utensils to make it easier for dragons to use human implements such as windows and doors. Aeris wished she had some of these things for herself, but she also had no coin.

    Aubrey and Helen taught Aeris how to shop. The proper way to haggle without offending, what not to do when browsing, and how to avoid scams and pressured into buying things she didn¡¯t want or need.

    Aeris quickly learned she loved shopping and was very good at it. Her knowledge of math allowed her to plan how much things would likely cost and avoid overspending. It didn¡¯t bother her at all she couldn¡¯t afford anything at the moment. Even knowing she would likely never be able to show off her new skills didn¡¯t dampen her spirits.

    It wasn¡¯t until they were looking for the last item on their list, more thread and needles to repair the cushion as the fabric wasn¡¯t very claw resistant, that Aeris was brought crashing back into reality.

    ¡°Do you have rocks in your ears? I know you understand me, so cut the bullshit!¡±

    ¡°Maybe I would understand you if you spoke plain!¡±

    The voices belonged to a human and dragon arguing at a fruit stand. The dragon was a Ravager like Aubrey, but he was closer to Aeris¡¯ size. His scales were a darker shade of red, bordering on brown.

    The human on the other hand was quite large. His large frame overshadowed the dragon glaring at him and he had the thickest arms Aeris had ever seen.

    Despite the size difference, the Ravager showed no signs of backing down. He slapped his tail against the ground and glared the human. ¡°You told me to come back tomorrow, and now you¡¯re charging me more than what we agreed on,¡± he said. ¡°I only have enough for the old price.¡±

    ¡°Well, the price changed,¡± the human retorted, ¡°So either pay up or fuck off.¡±

    The Ravager stamped and growled, ¡°That¡¯s not what we agreed.¡±

    The human reached under the counter and pulled out a small beat-up sign. Written on the sign were the words ¡°Sold Out¡± in very sloppy handwriting. He slammed it on the counter in front of the dragon and pointed to its weathered surface. ¡°You see this? It says you pay the price for that day. If you want yesterday¡¯s prices, you should¡¯ve gotten here yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Lady Aubrey?¡± Helen asked.

    Aubrey was silent for a moment as she watched the pair argue. She soon replied, ¡°This is a simple business disagreement. It doesn¡¯t require our attention. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°That human is lying,¡± Aeris whispered.

    Aubrey stopped and turned back to her. ¡°What? How do you know?¡±

    ¡°The sign doesn¡¯t say that. It says ¡®Sold Out.¡¯ ¡±

    ¡°You can read human writing? Never mind, follow me, dear.¡±

    Aeris noticed Helen looked very nervous as they approached the pair at the stand. Neither the human nor the dragon arguing noticed them approaching.

    Aubrey loudly cleared her throat slapped her tail on the ground, getting the pair¡¯s attention. ¡°I can understand standing by your business practices, but I never thought outright swindling your customers was a smart business practice.¡±

    The human turned to her with a venomous stare. ¡°And just who the fuck are you? And where do you get off calling me a liar?¡±

    Aubrey straightened up. Her blood-red scales seemed to almost glow as she narrowed her eyes.

    Helen quickly spoke up. ¡°We know you¡¯re lying about that sign. It doesn¡¯t say anything about you setting your own prices.¡±

    The male Ravager turned back to the human. ¡°What?¡±

    The human appeared flustered, but then he reached behind the counter and pulled out a large rifle. ¡°If you think for one second that you and your friend can scare me, you got another thing coming.¡±

    The male Ravager shrank away from the counter, but Aubrey continued to stare the human down. Aeris felt the sudden urge to run away; her muscles even began to tense up in preparation to bolt at any moment. She regretted ever mentioning anything about the human lying. There was no explaining a gunshot injury assuming she survived.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    A gentle touch to the back from Helen chased away the feelings of anxiety and fear. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± she whispered. ¡°Lady Aubrey said she would protect you and no dragon dares go back on their word.¡±

    ¡°I suggest you drop your weapon before I¡¯m forced to do something unpleasant,¡± Aubrey said, a deep growl making her words difficult to understand.

    Now other humans were beginning to stop and stare. Aeris wished they wouldn¡¯t. It reminded her of the time she had been attacked by the Genial and people stared and whispered. No one bothered to help then either. The human holding the rifle began to shake, his resolved wavering. Aeris didn¡¯t envy him one bit. If he killed one dragon the other would surely go after him.

    ¡°Lady Aubrey, perhaps we should go before things get out of hand,¡± Helen whispered.

    Aubrey refused to take her eyes off the man. ¡°And let this human continue to take advantage of his customers? I think not.¡±

    ¡°You dragons are so quick to tear a man¡¯s head off if he threatens your ¡®precious¡¯ honor, yet you don¡¯t hesitate to do the same. If you¡¯re calling me a liar you better have some damn good proof backing it,¡± the human threatened. He was bluffing. Aeris wasn¡¯t sure how she knew. The man¡¯s voice lacked any sort of confidence or conviction. Master Aaron always said in a business deal it was how one used their words that mattered.

    Aeris cleared her throat and stepped forward. She didn¡¯t know what she was doing or why, but she felt the need to do something. She straightened up to her full height but still had to crane her neck a bit to look larger the human in the eye. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but are you sure you want things to end this way? My mas¡ªuh, caretaker always says a business lives or dies by its reputation.¡±

    The human turned his glare to Aeris. A pitiful display of aggression as she could see there was more trepidation than aggression in his eyes. ¡°What do I care if I lose a few customers?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to lose a lot more than a few customers,¡± Aeris said, her confidence growing with every word. Her voice carried authority and it shocked even her. It was if nothing could challenge her. Not even the rifle in the human¡¯s hands scared her anymore. ¡°If word gets around that you lie to your customers, or threaten them when they get upset, how many do you think will come back? Or are you thinking no one will care about a couple of dragons?¡±

    ¡°I would imagine dragons are his biggest customers,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°We can easily eat twice as much as any human, so we must always buy large quantities of food.¡±

    ¡°So even losing just one dragon would be a large blow to your profits. Then once the dragons leave, those who support them are going next. Even those who don¡¯t support dragons will be hesitant to do business with you after so many customers refuse to do business with you. How long before you start cheating humans next?¡±

    The man¡¯s resolve shattered as he lowered his rifle. ¡°L-Look, maybe we can work something out?¡±

    ¡°As if I would stoop so low as to do business with a man who would point a gun at me knowing he lied,¡± Aubrey spat. She turned to the other Ravager. ¡°And what of you? Will you do business with this man?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I will,¡± the Ravager said. ¡°There¡¯s other places where I can buy fruit.¡±

    Aeris cast one last look over at the human before he vanished behind a veil of people. He looked very confused by the recent events. It felt good putting him in his place. Just like with the Everfields, only she liked this outcome. The human was the one receiving the strange looks.

    ¡°That was quite excellent how you handled that,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°I suspect he¡¯ll be much friendlier to any dragons who pass his stall now.¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you so much for your help,¡± the other Ravager said, bowing low to the ground. ¡°I shopped there for almost three years.¡± A terse growl escaped him. ¡°And all that time he was lying to me.¡±

    ¡°Well, thank Aeris,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°She¡¯s the one who pointed out that human was lying. I was going to kill that man for daring to threaten me, but Aeris found a solution that doesn¡¯t make us look like mindless beasts. I will have to remember that. I never imagined I would learn something from you.¡±

    ¡°Oh! Please forgive my rudeness, my matriarch.¡± He bowed again, his snout almost touching the ground. ¡°My name is Windor.¡±

    Aubrey returned the bow although she did not bend as far. ¡°Well met, Windor. My name is Aubrey.¡±

    Aeris bowed as well. ¡°And I am Aeris.¡±

    ¡°My name is Helen. It is a pleasure to meet you, Windor.¡±

    ¡°Thank you again for your help, Aubrey, Helen, and Aeris. There¡¯s this great bakery that serves dragon not far from here,¡± Windor said. ¡°It isn¡¯t much, but I would love to buy you a treat as thanks for helping me.¡±

    As they walked to the bakery, Aeris felt some of her uneasiness return. She hadn¡¯t had may pleasant experiences with dragons besides Aubrey. What if Windor was the same way? Sure he was friendly now, but what if he learned she was a domesticate?

    Helen leaned over to Aeris and whispered, ¡°Everything will be fine. Even if he doesn¡¯t like domesticates, dragons have a strong sense of honor they strictly abide by¡ªespecially clan-borns. You have done him a great service. If nothing else, he must repay that debt.¡±

    Her words helped Aeris calm down a bit, but the fear didn¡¯t leave entirely.

    Upon entering the bakery, a cornucopia of sweet smells filled her nose and her fears were forgotten. Her neck hurt she was moving it so much trying to take in everything, the smells of the various cakes and pastries filling her nose and making her mouth water.

    ¡°Aeris, you¡¯re drooling,¡± Aubrey said.

    Aeris snapped her mouth closed and wiped it with her foreleg. Thankfully they were the only ones in the bakery. Drooling in public was so unseemly. ¡°Sorry,¡± she mumbled. She also noticed Aubrey¡¯s tail twitching in anticipation as she stared hungrily at the sweets.

    Aubrey laughed. ¡°It¡¯s all right, my dear. I take it you¡¯ve never been in a place like this before.¡±

    ¡°Well, no. I¡¯ve had sweets before, but I never been to a place like this. I asked Master Aaron if we visit one, but he said¡ª¡±

    ¡°Well, he¡¯s not here,¡± Aubrey interjected quickly.

    At that moment, a tall, lean human with the thickest head of brown hair Aeris had ever seen, walked into the room. He smiled warmly at his customers as he approached the counter. ¡°Hello there. You are just in time; I have a fresh batch of cakes ready to come out of the oven.¡±

    ¡°Great! I¡¯ll take one for each of my friends,¡± Windor said. Turning to the others, he added, ¡°It¡¯s my treat, so please order whatever you like.¡±

    Aeris squealed with delight. ¡°Really? I can order whatever I want?¡± Happy as she was for the invitation, she also knew not to be greedy. She ordered only a single strawberry shortcake, something she had never tasted before. Aubrey and Helen explained this was more Aeris¡¯ reward and so purchased their treats themselves. They agreed to eat there so they could have a chance to rest their legs. It wasn¡¯t until they sat down that they realized how sore they were from walking most of the day. Aeris tried to take her time eating the cake, but it proved very difficult given how tasty it was. When she got home, she was definitely going to ask Maggie about getting her another one.

    While they ate, they talked. Turned out Windor didn¡¯t have a caretaker in the usual sense. He lived alone in a special section of the city called the dragon¡¯s district where any dragon not under the direct care of a human lived. The district was ¡°managed¡± by a human, but each dragon was in charge of caring for themselves.

    It sounded like a very scary life to Aeris. Sure, there were things about her life she wished were different, but she also didn¡¯t want to know what it would be like to not have her master watching over her.

    ¡°Aeris, perhaps we should visit there next,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°It will be a great way to introduce you to how a dragon should live.¡±

    Aeris nearly choked on a piece of cake. ¡°I-Is that really a good idea? But you said domesticates aren¡¯t liked much, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Indeed, a domesticate wouldn¡¯t be safe going to the dragon¡¯s district alone,¡± Aubrey pointed out. ¡°But you won¡¯t be alone. And as I said before, no dragon will dare try to harm you in my presence.¡±

    What about when I¡¯m not in your presence? Aeris thought. Back at the party, Reks and the other dragons were so quick to turn on her the moment they weren¡¯t being watched.

    As if sensing her thoughts, Windor added, ¡°Aeris, I can promise you that many dragons don¡¯t care that much about domesticates. Yes, seeing one pissing us off, but it¡¯s usually out of sight, out of mind. And if that doesn¡¯t reassure you then once they learn a matriarch vouches for you, they will ignore you.¡±

    Aeris nodded in agreement but still wasn¡¯t convinced.

    ¡°I hope this isn¡¯t rude, Aeris, but would you taking off your hood so I can see your face?¡± Windor asked. ¡°We¡¯ve been talking this entire time and I still have no idea what you look like.¡±

    Before Aeris could object, Aubrey pulled the hood back. Aeris squealed in terror and fought the urge to hide her head under the table. Only her fear of embarrassing Aubrey kept Aeris upright.

    Windor stared, wide-eyed. Aeris looked away and noticed the bakery owner staring at her as well. Their staring left her disheartened. Did any dragon know what she was? ¡°I had no idea you were so beautiful,¡± Windor said. Aeris ducked under the table.

    ¡°Aeris, be proud of yourself,¡± Aubrey said, a hint of annoyance lacing her voice. ¡°Your appearance makes you stand out in ways no other dragon could rival. Do not hide from it.¡±

    Not wanting to upset Aubrey or make Windor regret meeting her, Aeris came out from under the table but kept her head down. ¡°So, could you tell me more about the dragon¡¯s district?¡± she asked, hoping to change the subject.

    ¡°There¡¯s at least one in every large human city,¡± Aubrey explained. ¡°It¡¯s almost a separate city in a way. The dragons there often police themselves and look after one another. Crimes committed there are handled by the dragons and as such, very few humans go there.¡±

    ¡°But because dragon laws are so different from humans, dragon districts are often seen as lawless,¡± Helen added. ¡°For example, only under very specific circumstances is murder considered a crime.¡±

    ¡°And humans are very content to look the other way until another human is killed,¡± Aubrey said with an exasperated huff. ¡°Their definition of murder seems to only apply to them.¡±

    ¡°To get things back on track,¡± Windor said nervously. ¡°Each dragon district is ¡®ruled¡¯ by a matriarch. She keeps the other dragons in line and communicates with the humans on our behalf.¡±

    ¡°And before you ask, Aeris, I am not the matriarch of the dragon district,¡± Aubrey said. Aeris closed her mouth and nodded. ¡°That title belongs to another: a rambunctious short-snout who goes by the name Cutter. I suggest avoiding her if you can. Her temper is legendary.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Windor added, shuddering at an unknown thought. ¡°I hear even humans are afraid of her.¡±

    If this Cutter was anything like the Genial who attacked Aeris in the commercial district, she planned to stay as far away from her as possible. Aubrey began discussing the history of dragon districts and how they came to be, but Aeris wasn¡¯t listening. She was distracted by Windor staring.

    It was strange she didn¡¯t mind it when she caught him looking at her. Whenever the humans stared it made her uncomfortable. It was their eyes. They carried a look that they wanted something from her. Nothing more than an object of their desire. But Windor was different. He looked at her instead of through her.

    The attention almost made her forget the reason for being there in the first place. She liked Windor¡¯s company and wanted to spend more time with him. Not wanting to ruin things, Aeris kept quiet and didn¡¯t ask many questions. Aubrey took charge of the conversation and answered anything Aeris wanted to know. She also steered the conversation toward a different subject whenever Windor asked questions about Aeris¡¯ life.

    Once everyone finished their treats, they left the bakery in high spirits. Aeris wanted to ask so many more questions, but Aubrey said, ¡°In time. There is a lot to tell you and it would not do to overwhelm you all at once.¡±

    ¡°I guess this is where we part ways,¡± Windor said, bowing again. ¡°I will never forget what you did for me. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Actually, Aeris, how about you and Windor meet again?¡± Helen offered. ¡°The two of you have been very quiet, but you seem to enjoy each other¡¯s company.¡±

    Aeris turned to the woman so fast, her neck hurt. ¡°What? I couldn¡¯t do that. My master¡ª¡±

    ¡°Does not get to tell you who can and cannot see,¡± Aubrey growled. ¡°But I also do not agree with this. It¡¯s too soon for her, Helen.¡±

    Helen said, ¡°Lady Aubrey, you said yourself Aeris needs to meet other dragons. How else will she know how a true dragon lives?¡±

    Aubrey thought on her response for a moment. ¡°Very well. But only if Aeris wishes it.¡±

    Aeris wanted to hide under her wing and avoid the subject entirely. Of course, she wanted to see Windor again, but the thought of being alone with him gave her feelings she couldn¡¯t describe. Windor didn¡¯t appear very comfortable with the subject either. ¡°I-I guess that would be fine,¡± she said.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. How about the two of you meet here at the bakery?¡± Helen offered. ¡°You both already know exactly where it is, so it¡¯ll be easy to find.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a great idea,¡± Windor said. ¡°Aeris, is that okay?¡±

    Unable to speak, Aeris settled for nodding. Was this happening right now? It sounded like the human had just arranged a date for her.

    ¡°Excellent. Then the two of you can meet back here tomorrow,¡± Helen said.

    Aeris found her voice. ¡°I have to go to another gathering my master tomorrow. But I can go the day after.¡± Windor and Aubrey cringed at the word master, but neither spoke on it.

    ¡°Then the day after tomorrow it is,¡± Windor said.

    ¡°Very well. Now it is getting late, and we need to be going,¡± Aubrey said, as she steered Aeris down the street, leaving Windor behind.

    No one spoke until Windor was out of sight. Aubrey quickly turned to Helen. ¡°What was that about, Helen?¡±

    Helen quickly bowed. ¡°Forgive me, Lady Aubrey, but I noticed the way they were staring at each other. It¡¯s clear he likes Aeris, and I think she likes him.¡±

    ¡°That is not the point,¡± Aubrey shot back. ¡°Have you forgotten Aeris¡¯ relationship with her caretaker? Regardless of my reservations about the man, we have no right to push Aeris into cheating on him.¡±

    That snapped Aeris out of her stupor. ¡°Aubrey, Master Aaron and I are not a couple.¡±

    Aubrey slowly turned to Aeris. ¡°What?¡±

    Aeris shrank away. Something in Aubrey¡¯s eyes and voice showed she had said the wrong thing.

    ¡°Lady Aubrey, remember Aeris doesn¡¯t know about dragon customs,¡± Helen said quickly. To Aeris, she added, ¡°Dragons take sexual acts very seriously. To them, it¡¯s not something you do with just anyone. As you can guess, they are very proud so of course, they are very selective in their partners.¡±

    ¡°But then why are you pushing me to see Windor?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°We said to see him, not fuck him,¡± Aubrey growled. ¡°Aeris, you do realize that both humans and dragons frown on interspecies relationships. Why would you put yourself through such hardship when you don¡¯t truly want him?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my master.¡±

    The look in Aubrey¡¯s eyes made even Helen step back. Aeris quickly stared at the ground. No one spoke or moved as if the slightest move would set Aubrey off.

    Eventually, Aubrey broke the silence, her voice flat and cold. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    The walk back to Aubrey¡¯s mansion was silent and awkward. Aeris didn¡¯t understand why Aubrey was so upset, and her fear of upsetting the Ravager further kept her from asking. Once, she gathered the courage to ask, but Helen quickly touched her shoulder preventing the conversation.

    Once they reached the mansion, Aubrey turned to Helen and asked, ¡°Could you give us a moment?

    Aeris knew Aubrey was unlikely to harm her, but she still gave a pleading look not to leave them alone. Helen bowed and took her leave without hesitation. To Aeris¡¯ surprise, the proud Ravager kicked timidly at the ground, avoiding her gaze. ¡°This is difficult for me to say. First, I want to apologize for getting upset with you. It seems your ignorance extends to more than your experience with dragons. I truly dislike your relationship with that man. If you want, you could live with me. There is plenty of room here and I promise you will want for nothing.¡±

    That was not at all what Aeris expected. She stared at Aubrey, mouth agape. Until now, she never thought about leaving Master Aaron. Should she leave her master alone? What about Maggie?

    As if sensing her thoughts, Aubrey added, ¡°You do not need to answer now. Think about it. It is not what I wished to discuss with you.¡± She looked away and sighed. It was odd seeing someone so proud and sure of herself behaving this way, but Aeris remained quiet. ¡°I was impressed by your ability to read. Embarrassing as it is to admit, I never considered the usefulness of learning the humans¡¯ written language. I spent 80 years among humans and I never realized my ignorance.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head. Did she hear Aubrey say she had been around humans for 80 years? ¡°Aubrey, how old are you?¡± A rude question and she chided her curiosity for making it.

    ¡°Why I¡¯m 114, Aeris. And that¡¯s considered quite young among dragons.¡±

    ¡°Over a hundred?! How long do we live for?¡±

    ¡°That is a question even we do not know the answer to,¡± Aubrey replied with a solemn shake of her head. ¡°Dragons don¡¯t typically die of old age. Our kind lives to prove our strength over one another, so our life-expectancy is quite short. Though I once met a dragon who claimed to be over 500 years old.

    ¡°But that is a conversation for another time. Back to my original question: Aeris, would you be willing to teach me to read?¡±

    Aeris answered without hesitation. ¡°Of course. I would be honored to.¡±

    Aubrey straightened up, and she was back to the regal, proud dragon Aeris admired. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be ready to begin our lessons whenever you are ready.¡±

    ¡°How about the next time we see each other? There¡¯s still a lot I need to learn about dragons, so I want to come back as soon as I can.¡±

    ¡°Very well. My door is always open to you so return whenever you wish. We¡¯ll begin the lessons the next time we meet. Now you likely already know this, but you should be careful not to let other humans know you can read or that you¡¯re instructing me. Many humans wouldn¡¯t take kindly to it.¡±

    Aeris nodded again. This was a speech she had already heard from Maggie. She bade Aubrey good night and started the walk back home.

    Of all the things that happened today, what was going to happen the day after tomorrow occupied Aeris¡¯s mind. It was too much too soon. She didn¡¯t know the first thing about Windor, but she was supposed to go out with him, alone? And what did it mean? Was it a date? An outing between friends? Did Windor consider her a friend? Did he want to be something more? The questions fought for dominance of her mind making it impossible to think about anything else.

    It wasn¡¯t until she made it back to her room that she calmed down. Aubrey and Helen would never have suggested it if they thought Windor would do anything to harm her. It was just a matter of not doing anything to embarrass herself.

    ¡°You¡¯re certainly in high spirits today,¡± Lilith said.

    Aeris jolted in surprise at her sudden voice. She didn¡¯t even hear the woman come in.

    ¡°I was waiting here patiently for you to return,¡± Lilith explained. She motioned to the cloak Aeris wore. ¡°I take it you had fun today.¡±

    ¡°I had a great deal of fun, and I learned so much! But, Lilith, I have to go out again soon. Would you mind¡ª?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Aeris, I would be honored to cover for you. As I said before, we¡¯re a team, and I want to help you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. And¡­could you¡­teach me about dating?¡± This was her only hope. She wasn¡¯t sure Maggie or Master Aaron would approve, so Lilith was her best bet if she were to make this work. Going into this without any idea what to do would not end well.

    Lilith smiled. ¡°I would love to.¡±

 Chapter 8: The Date

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 8: The Date</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris rolled over on her back and sighed. Her feelings were a jumbled mix of thoughts. Her face hurt from smiling so much, but her tail also wouldn¡¯t stop trembling.

    In just a few hours, she would be alone with Windor. Aubrey and Helen not being there was a little worrying. Was this a date? Did dragons go on dates? What was she supposed to do? How was she supposed to act? None of her books held any answers and there were no books on dragon dating habits in Master Aaron¡¯s study. Lilith provided some advice, but it was more of a crash course. Aeris had no time to practice any of the things they had discussed.

    She rolled over on her side and sighed again loudly. Why did she agree to see him again so soon? Through her window, the night sky was starting to brighten and the stars had faded from view.

    Unable to take it anymore, she stood up and went outside. Perhaps a pre-morning flight would calm her nerves. The sun had not yet crept over the horizon. She wasn¡¯t allowed to fly at night mainly due to it being dark and the increased risk of injury. But she was feeling particularly rebellious today. What Master Aaron didn¡¯t know wouldn¡¯t hurt him.

    She spread her wings and kicked off the ground, taking to the air. It felt so different flying in the early morning. The air felt crisper and colder, and the sky empty and lonely. At this hour, not even the birds were awake.

    The loneliness reminded her just how alone she really was in the world. She knew so few people and even fewer who enjoyed her company. But that was going to change. Until recently, Maggie and Master Aaron were the only people she could call her friends, but now three more had been added to the list¡ªtwo of which were dragons.

    Aeris maintained her altitude and watched the sunrise. It was such a beautiful sight watching the sky turn red and orange then shift into a pale blue. Next, a breeze blew and the first of the birds began to rise from the trees. It was like watching the world wake up.

    With a content sigh, Aeris slowly descended and returned to her room. That flight was just what she needed.

    She waited patiently in her room for Maggie to arrive with breakfast. It was her favorite, steak and eggs. Today was looking up. Usually, she had to eat oatmeal, her favorite meal was reserved for special occasions.

    Aeris wasted no time eating. In minutes, the whole plate had been cleared, and Aeris was licking her chops.

    ¡°You¡¯re certainly hungry today,¡± Maggie said. ¡°Maybe I should ask Lydia to make you larger portions.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s okay,¡± Aeris replied. She ran her tongue along the tray to get the last of the steak¡¯s juices and turned to Maggie. ¡°Would you mind giving me a bath?¡±

    Maggie, reaching for the now empty tray, froze and raised a brow. ¡°Why? You always complain when I bathe you.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. And you promised me a bath yesterday, but you never did.¡±

    Maggie sighed and retrieved the tray. ¡°You¡¯re right. And I¡¯m sorry. Thank you, Aeris for reminding me to keep my word. Wait here while I get the water ready.¡±

    Aeris nodded and watched Maggie leave the room. It wasn¡¯t a lie, but it still felt like one. Maggie didn¡¯t know about Windor. Aeris hadn¡¯t told her about agreeing to teach Aubrey to read either. Keeping secrets from the woman who practically raised her felt wrong, but would Maggie approve if she knew? She had gotten so upset when she heard about Aeris reading.

    Just as she didn¡¯t feel right lying to her master and sneaking out behind his back. It made the young dragon wonder why she couldn¡¯t just get his permission. Surely if she explained the situation, he would be understanding as he always was.

    The thought of telling her master what she had been up to sent a chill through her body, ending any further thoughts on the topic.

    It didn¡¯t take nearly as long as Aeris had feared for Maggie to return with the water for the bath. When they went outside, they found Lilith standing by the water basin. She was dressed very differently than normal. Her clothes looked plain and cheap looking instead of made with expensive fabrics and intricate designs. And her hair was tied sloppily into a bun on her head. She looked so out of place, Aeris almost didn¡¯t recognize her.

    The young woman smiled sweetly at their arrival. ¡°Hello, Margret, going to bathe the dragon I take it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I was,¡± Maggie replied with a short bow. ¡°Was there something you needed?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and no. Why don¡¯t you let me handle Aeris¡¯ bath this time?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no! I could never ask you to do such a thing! Lord Strauss¡ª¡±

    ¡°If Aaron has a problem with me bathing Aeris, tell him it was my idea,¡± Lilith interjected in the same sweet tone. ¡°Which it is. I know such a thing is beneath someone of my stature, but I would like to get to know Aeris more. Please, Margret, don¡¯t make me order you to step aside.¡±

    It was clear there would be no more discussion on the subject. Maggie nodded and stepped aside.

    ¡°Could you give us some privacy, please?¡± Lilith asked.

    Maggie gave Aeris an apologetic look then bowed to Lilith and returned to the house. Aeris swallowed and stepped closer, her mind racing with ideas as to what Lilith could want with her. The woman had been nothing if not polite these last few days, but this situation felt wrong, strange. Maggie was the only one who bathed Aeris even during her younger day.

    Lilith rolled up her sleeves and retrieved the sponge from the water. She then knelt and began to scrub Aeris¡¯s side. ¡°So, today is the big day, correct?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Aeris said. She winced when Lilith scrubbed her scales the wrong way. The young woman also used too much pressure as if trying to scrub the poor dragon¡¯s scales off.

    ¡°Do you know how long you¡¯ll be gone for? Just to make it easier to cover for you.¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t thought about it.¡±

    ¡°Understandable. This is your first date with a dragon after all. You do remember everything I taught you, correct?¡±

    Aeris flinched again when Lilith went against her scales. ¡°Yes. Be polite, make eye contact, agree with his opinions, and laugh at his jokes even if they aren¡¯t funny.¡±

    ¡°Very good. And what else?¡±

    Aeris fidgeted. ¡°It¡¯s okay to flirt, but no lifting my tail.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. You want to stay just outside of his reach without making him believe it¡¯s impossible. If you¡¯re too eager, he¡¯ll just move on to the next conquest. They¡¯ll never admit to it, but they like to work for it. Gives them a sense of accomplishment.¡±

    Aeris nodded though she had no idea what Lilith meant. The rest of the bath was done in silence. It was the most awkward bath Aeris ever had. Lilith was much more thorough and far less gentle than Maggie. There wasn¡¯t a part of the young dragon¡¯s body that hadn¡¯t been scrubbed vigorously twice. Some of the more sensitive areas still burned a little. Hopefully, this bath was a one-time thing.

    After rinsing Aeris¡¯ body, Lilith toweled her off and put her cloak on. ¡°Good, you¡¯re all set. Just remember to have fun, okay?¡±

    Aeris thanked Lilith for her help and ran to the commercial district. It wasn¡¯t until she arrived that the realization sunk in that she was there alone. Tucking her head into her cloak, she kept her gaze focused on the ground. So long as she avoided eye-contact or doing anything to draw attention, everything would be okay.

    Finding the bakery where they were supposed to meet was easy. It surprised her to find Windor already there and waiting. Unlike Aeris, he wore nothing except for a leather pouch tied securely around his neck.

    Even with the cloak on, the Ravager noticed Aeris immediately. ¡°Aeris, I¡¯m so glad you made it.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Windor. I hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long.¡±

    ¡°No, don¡¯t worry about it. After all, we hadn¡¯t agreed on a time to meet, so I figured I¡¯d get here early.¡± He laughed loudly. The sound comforted her. ¡°Looks like you had the same idea. I guess we¡¯re both nervous about this.¡±

    Aeris laughed genuinely at the small joke, and the two dragons began their walk. They wandered the streets for a while, saying nothing. Aeris didn¡¯t care about the silence. Windor¡¯s company was enough. Even though she had explored the commercial district with Aubrey just two days ago, it felt like she was seeing it all again for the first time. It had a different atmosphere this early in the day. Things were less frantic, people seemed calmer, and it was much quieter.

    Something did catch her eye that she hadn¡¯t noticed during her first walk with Aubrey however. ¡°Windor, are there any dragon-owned stores?¡±

    Windor laughed at the suggestion then his smile fell when he noticed Aeris didn¡¯t return the humor. ¡°You¡¯re serious? Aeris, why would a dragon want to own a store?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But hasn¡¯t any dragon ever been curious? Don¡¯t dragons in the wild have stores?¡±

    ¡°Aeris, dragons in the wild take care of their own needs. Besides, running a store means earning coin, and what good is it outside the cities?¡±

    Aeris had no idea what life was like outside the city, but remembering what Lilith said, she nodded in understanding.

    Any further conversation was put on hold when Aeris¡¯ stomach growled. To her surprise, Windor¡¯s growled as if agreeing with her.

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s our cue to get something to eat,¡± Windor said, chuckling.

    ¡°Are we going back to the bakery?¡± Aeris asked, hopeful.

    ¡°No, I have somewhere better in mind.¡±

    The thought of what could be better than soft pastries fresh from the oven made Aeris¡¯s mouth water. She licked her lips making sure not to drool in his presence.

    Windor led her through the commercial district down a side alley she hadn¡¯t seen during her visit with Aubrey. As they walked, the heavenly smell of cooked meat filled Aeris¡¯ nose. Her stomach growled again.

    The alley led to a narrow street that had a much more different feel to it. It felt¡­natural. The buildings were less polished, signs of wear and tear exposed for all the world to see like proud battle scars. The people weren¡¯t as finely dressed, wearing simple fabrics, and their faces unwashed. And there were many more dragons this time, but none of them seemed to be in the company of a human. Even the air was different. The smell of human and dragon mixed creating a unique scent not quite unpleasant. It was a step above those smelly perfumes at least. There was a definite shift in the atmosphere as well. It was if the dragons had taken on the role of the humans. They walked with their heads high and didn¡¯t shy away from the humans they passed on the street, and the humans didn¡¯t look upon the dragons with usual wonder or annoyance she noticed before. It was very different from the world Aeris was used to. She doubted Master Aaron would even want to set foot in an area such as this.

    ¡°We¡¯re very close to the dragon¡¯s district,¡± Windor explained. ¡°There are no dragon-owned shops here, but just about every shop on this street serves dragons. Come on. Where we¡¯re going is this way.¡±

    They eventually came to a wide courtyard filled with tables but only a few chairs. The chairs were unnecessary as most of the beings sitting at them were dragons. The smell of salted meat was much stronger, chasing away Aeris¡¯ fears. Never had she been around this many dragons at once.

    Windor gently nuzzled her, pulling her out of her thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Domesticates are welcome here. No one will bother you.¡±

    They went into the courtyard and sat down at an empty table in the far corner. Just as Windor said, none of the dragons there even glanced in Aeris¡¯ direction unless she walked right past them.

    Aeris was beside herself with excitement as she looked around at the restaurant. She had been to parties before with Master Aaron, but she had never been to a restaurant before. The closest she had ever been was Master Aaron whenever went to have dinner with a client and he sometimes brought her along. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t allow dragons inside the establishment, and she was forced to wait outside and watch everything through the window. Master Aaron did sneak her some of his leftovers. It wasn¡¯t as good as Lydia¡¯s cooking (humans had such strange tastes in food), but Aeris appreciated the gesture.

    A young woman, far younger than Lilith, and wearing an apron approached them. This human had not reached maturity but wasn¡¯t young enough to be called a child. The young woman wore her dark hair tied behind her head, showing off her round, youthful face which had little dots on it. Aeris made a note to research that human feature later. ¡°Hey, there, Windor!¡± the girl said in a proud booming voice that defied her small frame. She turned to Aeris with a friendly smile. ¡°And who might you be, newcomer?¡±

    Aeris fought the urge to shrink away from the girl¡¯s upbeat and extremely confident demeanor. ¡°I-I¡¯m Aeris. How did you know I¡¯m new here?¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s easy. Most of the scales here are regulars, so I know pretty much all of ¡®em by name.¡± the girl slapped her forehead. ¡°Oh! Me and my manners! My name is Janine. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Aeris.¡° She gave a quick curtsey before straightening up and her smile returned. ¡°So I take you¡¯ll be wanting the usual, Windor?¡±

    ¡°As if I would take anything else,¡± Windor replied, hungrily licking his lips. He turned to Aeris. ¡°Since this is your first time here, do you want what I¡¯m having? They serve the best deer meat here.¡±

    ¡°That we do!¡± Janine said proudly. ¡°My pa hunts ¡®em himself. You can¡¯t get fresher than that!¡±

    ¡°That sounds nice,¡± Aeris said meekly. She still hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock of Janine¡¯s arrival. ¡°Um, but I would like to look at the menu if that¡¯s okay.¡±

    Janine¡¯s smile faltered a bit. ¡°Well¡­sure, but how do you plan to read it?¡±

    Aeris stiffened and cursed herself for her blunder. ¡°R-Right. Completely forgot. It¡¯s just my m¡ªcaretaker usually reads to me. I¡¯ll just have whatever Windor¡¯s having and a cup of water.¡±

    Janine snickered into her hand, making Aeris wonder what the girl could be laughing at. As if sensing her confusion, Janine straightened and explained, ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s just we don¡¯t get many domesticates here, and no dragon ever asks for water.¡±

    ¡°They make the best ale here as well,¡± Windor said. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want any?¡±

    Aeris answered as politely as possible, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She never had alcohol before but had read plenty of stories where a character had a little too much to drink and usually things didn¡¯t end well. She preferred not to risk it.

    ¡°Suit yourself. I¡¯ll be right back with your meals.¡± Janine skipped toward the building at the far end of the courtyard, hopping over the various dragon tails in her path.

    ¡°Janine is what the humans call a ¡®free spirit¡¯ ¡± Windor said. He scooted closer to Aeris. ¡°While she¡¯s gone, why don¡¯t you tell me about life as a domesticate.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ tail curled around her body, remembering how easily most dragons were offended by domesticates. ¡°A-Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I hear many stories about domesticate life, but I never heard the story from one who actually lived it. I¡¯m curious.¡±

    So Aeris told Windor about her life. The room she slept in, the parties she attended, how she lived alone on her master¡¯s estate, and how Maggie took care of her. Of course, she left out the more unpleasant bits like the way she was stared at or the constant insults to her pride.

    It didn¡¯t take long before Janine returned with a tray with large plates of venison and two mugs, one with ale the other with water. Aeris was shocked by the girl¡¯s strength and how easily she carried their food.

    Aeris¡¯ meat had been cooked well-done while Windor¡¯s was rare. He was confused that Aeris preferred her meat cooked. He took a bite out of it and said hers was lacking flavor. Aeris took a piece of Windor¡¯s venison. The coppery taste of blood was bitter on her tongue, but it also had a strange tanginess that she liked. He tried to convince her to taste the ale as well, but she refused.

    As they ate, Windor pressed Aeris for details about the parties she attended. Aeris tried to be as descriptive as possible about the various sounds, tastes, and sights usually found at human gatherings.

    The Ravager hung on to every word, his tail wagging, and his eyes full of wonder. Aeris enjoyed being able to discuss her life without fear of offending someone. She had forgotten about the other dragons around them and her fears.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Agreeing to this was the best decision she ever made.

    Her happy thoughts were interrupted by the sound of objects clattering to the ground. Standing several tables away was the young girl who served them. Her serving tray and its contents scattered around her feet.

    But Janine ignored the fallen dinner wear. She was too occupied with the dragon standing over her. Aeris recognized the dragon immediately as a Nightstalker, a dragon with jet-black scales and a ferocious attitude. In her books, it said that Nightstalkers were one of the largest known species of dragons, but this one was no bigger than Windor. Sitting at the table with him was another dragon, a Ravager.

    ¡°Do you have stones in your ears, girl? I asked for ale, and instead, you bring me this horse piss,¡± the Nightstalker growled. He slapped the mug off the table with his tail, spilling it all over the ground and onto the girl¡¯s legs. Janine recoiled from the dragon and said nothing.

    ¡°I guess she thought because we¡¯re dragons, we can¡¯t tell the difference,¡± the Ravager said. He circled her, cutting off her escape. ¡°Maybe we should show her what happens to humans who think they can treat dragons however they please.¡±

    Janine¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°N-no, I wasn¡¯t trying to trick you, I swear.¡±

    ¡°Are you calling my friend a liar?¡± the Nightstalker growled.

    Janine shrank away even further and appeared to be on the verge of tears. She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a frightened squeak. She shook her head instead.

    ¡°So, you were trying to trick us then?¡± the Nightstalker said, stepping toward her.

    The girl attempted to back away. The Ravager behind her stepped out of the way but left his tail in her path causing her to trip and fall to the ground with a frightened cry that sounded more like a high-pitched yelp. A few chuckles shivered through the crowd, the Nightstalker and Ravager being the loudest among them.

    Immediately Aeris felt a growl build in her throat. She almost began to go to the girl¡¯s defense, but Windor raised a wing and stopped her.

    ¡°We should stay out of this,¡± he said.

    ¡°But that girl needs help,¡± Aeris argued.

    ¡°And how do you plan to help her? Do you actually think those two drakes will back off simply because you say so?¡±

    Aeris suddenly remembered her last two confrontations with dragons and sat back down. She didn¡¯t want to admit it, but Windor had a point. If she got involved, she wouldn¡¯t be able to do much except make things worse. She wasn¡¯t a matriarch, and she was a domesticate. Those dragons had no reason to listen to her.

    She looked around at the other patrons and felt the growl build again. Everyone else just sat there, watching the spectacle take place. A few looked worried, some shook their heads, and a few were smiling. She knew she couldn¡¯t be much help, but she doubted that was the case with everyone else.

    The Nightstalker stopped laughing and rose, towering over the cowering human. ¡°I asked you a question, girl.¡±

    Janine¡¯s eyes darted back and forth between the Nightstalker and the Ravager until she finally burst into tears and buried her face in her hands.

    ¡°Hey, leave her alone!¡± Aeris shouted.

    The Nightstalker stiffened. He slowly turned, glaring fiercely at Aeris. ¡°What did you say to me?¡±

    Aeris realized she had gotten to her feet and everyone was staring at her. The strength left her legs and she wanted to bury her face behind her wing and pretend she never said anything like everyone else.

    Never let them see your fear. Aubrey¡¯s words jumped to the front of her mind. Aeris stood up to her full height and approached the two drakes. Both the Nightstalker and the Ravager were larger, but she didn¡¯t care what happened to her at this point. It was most likely she would be torn apart by those two dragons, but even that was preferable to the guilt she would feel if she did nothing.

    She understood all too well what it felt like to be terrorized and bullied while others stood by and did nothing.

    ¡°I said, leave her alone,¡± Aeris repeated in what she hoped was a brave voice. She did her best not to let it show in her face how terrified she was. Thinking about how scared Janine was at that very moment made her stay.

    The Nightstalker laughed at her. ¡°You believe that a pet like you can scare us? That is almost funny. Almost.¡± The Nightstalker began to walk toward her, his face contorting with fury.

    The back door of the building burst open and a large man appeared in the doorway holding a rifle. At first, Aeris thought it was the man from the fruit stand, but this man was different. His hair was much darker and there was more of it on his face than on the top of his head.

    The man pointed his rifle at the two dragons, but Aeris could see his hands shaking even from where she stood. ¡°That¡¯s my daughter you¡¯re threatening there, dragon. Now I apologize for what offense she has committed. Now I¡¯ll gladly pay whatever price you deem fair if you just leave us alone and never come back.¡±

    ¡°F-Father, no!¡± Janine cried.

    ¡°You think that¡¯s gonna make up for pointing a gun in my face, old man?¡± the Ravager said.

    Windor appeared by Aeris¡¯ side. There was no fear in his eyes as he glared at the two drakes. ¡°You heard the man; he apologized. Name your price and go.¡±

    For a moment, it seemed the dragons understood the odds weren¡¯t really in their favor and would choose the easy way out. Those hopes were shattered when a devious grin appeared on the Nightstalker¡¯s face. ¡°This girl needs to be taught a lesson about what happens to humans who insult dragons. So that¡¯s my price, old man. You promised to pay whatever price I want, right?¡± He stood over Janine. The young girl¡¯s eyes widened so far, it was a miracle they didn¡¯t pop out of her head. ¡°I¡¯ll take one of her hands as payment.¡±

    Janine shrieked in horror. She tried to scramble backward across the ground, but the Nightstalker overtook her with two short strides and pinned her to the ground. Aeris turned to the man in the doorway. He stared at the group torn between saving his daughter and appeasing the dragons. Everyone else had looked away or was leaving, pretending the grisly spectacle wasn¡¯t about to take place.

    Aeris couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. It wasn¡¯t a hard decision. Why was this man hesitating? Why wasn¡¯t anyone helping her?

    Windor again blocked her path. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do now.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?! It was a misunderstanding! He can¡¯t punish her for that!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it, either. But the man said the dragons had to name their price and he would pay it. By dragon law, he has to keep his word.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about dragon law!¡±

    The Ravager turned on Aeris, his yellow eyes burning with a fury Aeris was too familiar with. ¡°What did you say, pet? It¡¯s bad enough we have to look at you, but then you dare spit on our customs?¡±

    Every nerve in her body screamed to run away, but Aeris didn¡¯t move. Not again. She didn¡¯t stand up for her master when he needed her most. She was going to make up for that now.

    Suddenly a loud whistle pierced the air followed by the familiar growl of a dragon¡¯s voice saying: ¡°Oi, you lot mind taking your fight someplace else? I like eating here and I¡¯m not in the mood to find someplace else after you burn this one down.¡±

    Aeris scanned the area for the source of the voice. Eventually, her eyes fell upon a female Short-snout sitting alone in the far corner, her sea-green scales glistening in the sun. Unlike everyone else, the Short-snout looked bored and a little annoyed with what was happening. Aeris tilted her head in confusion. She could have sworn that corner was empty when she first came there with Windor. How did she get in unseen?

    The Nightstalker¡¯s fury immediately drained from his face and his tail ducked beneath his body. ¡°C-Cutter? I¡¯m sorry, I-I didn¡¯t know you ate here.¡±

    Every other dragon in the courtyard except Aeris bowed. Aeris stood there, unable to react. This was Cutter? When Aubrey warned her to stay away from the dragon called Cutter, Aeris pictured someone large and intimidating. A massive muscled beast that looked more like a thing from someone¡¯s nightmares. This dragon was almost as small as her. She was thin and didn¡¯t look very powerful.

    Cutter rose from her seat and began carefully maneuvering around the tables toward the Nightstalker. Aeris watched in awe, unable to look away. The way the Short-snout moved was like watching water flow, each step, each movement of her muscles seemed to smoothly transition into the next. The frills along the sides of her neck fanned in time with the subtle movement of her head. Even with the numerous scars decorating her body, it was a sight to behold. As Cutter walked past Aeris, she could have sworn the Short-snout sent a look her way. Whether she did or didn¡¯t, Aeris felt something as Cutter drew near, an immense pressure unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was if the very air itself was pressing down on her. It made her want to lower her head, to take her eyes off the dragon, and hope her presence went unnoticed.

    Cutter approached the Nightstalker and smiled. ¡°Jamel, you know that is not how you should fucking speak to a hostess. You come into this young girl¡¯s place of business, then you insult her and threaten her. She was kind enough to offer you some of her family¡¯s homemade ale and you just¡­well, you were there. I don¡¯t remember your mother hatching such an ungrateful little shit.¡±

    Jamel just stood there saying nothing. His Ravager friend said nothing. Cutter was smaller than either of them, yet both dragons stared at her as if she towered above them.

    Cutter leaned around Jamel at Janine. ¡°Are you all right?¡±

    Before Janine could respond, Jamel said, ¡°S-she fell, but I didn¡¯t ¡ª¡±

    ¡°Was I fucking talking to you?¡± Cutter said coldly, still looking at Janine. Jamel immediately fell silent.

    Janine picked herself up off the floor and nodded.

    ¡°Good, now why don¡¯t you go and get yourself cleaned up? I need to have a word with my ¡®brethren¡¯ here.¡±

    Janine nodded and headed back inside as if Cutter had threatened to set her on fire. Her father quickly followed. The other dragons began pouring out of the courtyard. Jamel stood there rooted. Aeris was certain that if dragons could sweat, he would have soaked the ground around him by now. The situation seemed to have been dealt with, so she turned to leave with the others.

    ¡°Not you, Snowflake,¡± Cutter said, still staring at the Nightstalker. ¡°Now on to you: What was it you said about their ale? Ah, yes, you said it tasted like horse piss. Well, I for one like the ale they serve here, so are you saying that I like to drink horse piss?¡±

    Fear exploded all over Jamel¡¯s face. The Nightstalker scooted backward until hitting one of the tables. ¡°N-No! Of course not! I-I-I would never suggest¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you were lying when you said that then, and you were just torturing that poor girl for nothing?¡±

    Jamel¡¯s face fell and his scales appeared to turn from black to a shade of grey. His mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. His entire body was tense as if he was preparing to run at a moment¡¯s notice. Aeris couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    Cutter stepped closer and lowered her voice, but Aeris could still hear her as she spoke again, every word carrying the threat of harm loud and clear. ¡°I asked you a question, drake. Did you or did you not lie?¡±

    The Nightstalker looked around the restaurant as if he expected someone to intervene and answer for him although it was only the five of them. Even his friend, the Ravager, stood by and offered no support.

    ¡°W-well, I may-may have exaggerated a bit,¡± he said lamely, offering an equally lame smile. ¡°I¡­might have been m-mistaken.¡±

    Cutter smiled. ¡°Oh? Well, that¡¯s okay then. I mean, mistakes happen, right? Nothing we can do about it except admit we were wrong. So, why don¡¯t you clean up the mess you made, apologize to that girl, and pay for your meal?¡±

    There was no unit of measurement for how quickly Jamel moved to clean up the dishes Janine had dropped before. At first, the Ravager with him just stood by and watched, but after receiving a threatening look from Cutter, he joined in as well.

    Once all the dishes were safely placed back on the serving tray and the tray placed on the table, Jamel placed a few coins on the tray and made to leave.

    Cutter stepped into their path with a speed that made Aeris jump back in surprise. ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where the fuck d¡¯you think you¡¯re going?¡±

    Jamel and his friend froze, both of them wearing looks like thieves who were just caught breaking into someone¡¯s home. Aeris suppressed a chuckle. She knew she shouldn¡¯t find the situation funny, but she couldn¡¯t help it.

    ¡°I told you to clean up this fucking mess,¡± Cutter said, ¡°That includes the ale you and your worthless cunt friend spilled, too.¡±

    ¡°But most of it has already soaked into the ground,¡± the Ravager protested.

    ¡°Do I strike you as someone who gives a fuck?¡± Cutter snarled.

    The two dragons recoiled at Cutter¡¯s response. Even Aeris felt the need to duck under the nearest table.

    The dragons dropped their heads and approached the small puddle of ale on the ground. They began licking at the stones, trying to clean up as much of it as they could.

    Aeris stared at the dragons, transfixed by what she was seeing. She wasn¡¯t even sure Aubrey had that much authority over another dragon.

    Was this the power of the Matriarch¡¯s Call?

    The two drakes finished, their mouths covered in dirt. They licked their chops, grimacing at the taste of dirt and who knew what else on their tongue. Aeris noticed Janine and her father had returned at some point, but rather than make their presence known, they stood at a distance and watched the drakes with small smiles on their faces.

    Cutter turned to the pair and smiled. ¡°These two won¡¯t bother you again. How much for the meal?¡±

    ¡°O-Oh, I couldn¡¯t¡ª¡± Janine began.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking, girl. I don¡¯t take free meals. Now, how much?¡±

    Janine flinched. She wrung the hem of her apron and stared at the ground. ¡°I-I, um, f-fourteen silver.¡±

    ¡°Okay, these two will handle that and compensate you for the dishes they broke.¡±

    Jamel¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What? But that¡¯s all my coin. Cutter, please¡ª¡± He immediately fell silent when Cutter shot a very angry glare over her shoulder.

    ¡°Let me get this straight: You dragged your worthless scaly ass in here, angry because you can¡¯t keep it up, and decided the only way you could pretend you were a real dragon was by threatening a young human who hasn¡¯t even matured yet and a domesticate who looks ready to piss herself at the sight of her own shadow?¡±

    Aeris frowned at Cutter¡¯s insult. Sure, she was scared, but she knew her own shadow when she saw it. Of course, she also knew better not to express her grievances out loud. After seeing these two dragons under fire from Cutter¡¯s rage, she did not want to be next.

    ¡°Cutter¡­I-I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± Jamel began.

    ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me, you sorry little shit. You come in here strutting around, and then you turned into this sorry, groveling, scared little hatchling at the mere sight of me.¡± Cutter stepped forward until she and the Nightstalker were almost snout to snout or rather chest to snout as the Nightstalker had to crane his neck to look down at her. ¡°You wanna play the mindless bullying dragon from the human tales? Let¡¯s play.¡±

    It looked like the last thing Jamel wanted to do was play anything with Cutter. He just stood there, eyes flooded with fear, body shaking from trepidation. The Ravager with him wasn¡¯t as frightened. He kept switching his gaze back and form between the two dragons. Cutter seemed more interested in the Nightstalker and showed no acknowledgment of the Ravager slowly circling her.

    He bared his fangs and approached Cutter from behind.

    Before Aeris even realized what she was doing, she had begun to move to Cutter¡¯s defense. It was as if someone seized control of her body and forced her to move forward.

    What do you think you¡¯re doing?! Her mind screamed. Do you even know how to fight another dragon? And let¡¯s say you do somehow win¡ªhow do you plan to explain your wounds to Maggie, to Master Aaron?

    Aeris didn¡¯t care. She wasn¡¯t sure she could do anything at the moment. At best she would most likely be in the way. But she knew she needed to do something. This dragon was not about to have his way.

    Before Aeris even made it halfway, Cutter spun around, seized the dragon by the horns with her forelegs, and slammed him face-first into the cobblestone ground. A sickening crunch and a roar of pain filled the air. Jamel turned tail and took off running. Cutter raised her tail high in the air and brought it down on the Ravager¡¯s upturned rear with a loud crack. The Ravager let out another loud pained cry. Still holding the Ravager¡¯s head down, Cutter swung her tail and whipped his rear again.

    ¡°That¡­was¡­not¡­fucking¡­nice,¡± Cutter said, a resounding crack of her tail striking the Ravager¡¯s hide with every word.

    Windor and the humans stared at the scene wide-eyed and Aeris couldn¡¯t blame them. Even she wasn¡¯t sure of what she was witnessing. In the stories she read¡ªeven seeing them in real life, dragons were always looked upon as fierce, frightening, proud creatures, yet she was watching one with its rump stuck in the air being spanked like a child that didn¡¯t listen to its parent.

    Cutter eventually let the Ravager stand, his physical and emotional pain reflected in his face. Cutter took a step toward him, and he let out a frightened squeak and took off after his friend.

    Cutter laughed. ¡°I heard humans do that to unruly children. Looks like it¡¯s effective on unruly dragons as well. Anyway, thanks for your help, Snowflake, even though I didn¡¯t need it. Guess I was wrong about you, you¡¯re stronger than I gave you credit for. What¡¯s your name?¡±

    Aeris continued to stare. This dragon before her, who she took for being unintimidating, was the definition of fearless. Cutter took immediate control of the situation and put those two drakes in their place. And she made it look so easy! If this was how a true dragon behaved, no wonder they didn¡¯t like domesticates so much.

    It wasn¡¯t until Windor nudged her that she snapped out of her trance and spoke. ¡°Um, thank you. My name is Aeris.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m Windor,¡± Windor added.

    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t ask you,¡± Cutter said coldly. ¡°You were content letting those fools torment that poor girl. You didn¡¯t even think about helping till your pussy was threatened.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head. ¡°His what?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, nothing. It¡¯s just a phrase,¡± Windor said quickly.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just a phrase,¡± Cutter added, smiling. Seeing the smile made Aeris uneasy, it made her feel as if she was part of a joke she was unaware of.

    ¡°Anyway, Snowflake, if we ever meet again, I¡¯ll buy you a drink. Regardless of what those two assholes were saying, the ale here is very good,¡± Cutter said.

    ¡°Thank you, but my name is Aeris.¡±

    ¡°I know what I said,¡± Cutter called over her shoulder as she walked away.

    Once the Short-snout disappeared, Windor turned to Janine. ¡°Sorry about the mess my fellow dragons caused. How much do we owe you?¡±

    ¡°No charge,¡± Janine said. ¡°Y¡¯all actually tried to help me. Think of it as my way of saying thanks.¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you so much for helping my daughter,¡± her father added. ¡°You two will always be welcome here and anything you order is half price.¡± He looked around the now empty courtyard and sighed. ¡°Looks like we may as well close up for today.¡±

    Windor nudged Aeris and motioned for her to follow him out of the restaurant.

    ¡°So that was Cutter,¡± Aeris said. She still felt like she was in the middle of a dream. ¡°She¡¯s¡­different from what I imagined.¡±

    ¡°I hear she gets that a lot. But now you know why we said to avoid her. Those dragons got off lucky. Usually whoever pisses her off winds up in pieces.¡± He shook his head solemnly. ¡°What was that Ravager thinking, attacking her like that? Only a female has the right to challenge a Matriarch and there¡¯s no female in this city crazy enough to challenge Cutter.¡±

    ¡°Is she really that powerful?¡±

    ¡°You saw those scars on her body. You don¡¯t get marks like that from accidents. I hate to see what the other dragon looks like.¡±

    It was meant to serve as a warning, but all Windor¡¯s words did was pique Aeris¡¯ curiosity. The stories Cutter must have to tell! A dragon like her must have seen all kinds of interesting places and met interesting people. Aeris couldn¡¯t wait until the day she saw her again.

    Windor¡¯s voice brought Aeris back to the present. ¡°Aeris, I¡¯m sorry, but I have to cut this short. That incident with Janine has likely put Cutter in a foul mood which means I had better get home. When she gets in her moods, she likes to find stress relief and doesn¡¯t care what form it comes in. I¡¯d rather not be caught by her in an alley.¡± He shuddered and added, ¡°And I don¡¯t think she likes me much right now.¡±

    ¡°But she thanked us for trying to help with Janine.¡±

    ¡°No, she thanked you. Me, I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t mind teaching a lesson or two. Trust me, that¡¯s something you don¡¯t wanna see. Plus those two dragons from before might be a little upset with you for getting in their way. It might be best to get you home. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave you until you¡¯re safely back home.¡±

    ¡°Oh, y-you don¡¯t need to do that. I¡¯ll manage. What do you say to meeting back at the bakery at noon a week from today?¡±

    ¡°Sure that works for me. But are you sure you want to go alone?¡± When Aeris nodded, he replied, ¡°I guess I¡¯ll see you in a week then.¡±

    Aeris began her trip home. It was a shame she had to go alone. As scary as the risk of being caught by two angry, vengeful dragons was, she feared her master¡¯s wrath if she came home with an unknown drake after sneaking out.

    But then a thought crossed her mind: why was she so worried? Her master never expressly forbade her from leaving the estate; it was just an unspoken rule she was not to leave the estate grounds without permission. Still, there was something inside of her that screamed not to do anything to upset her master. The rule was unspoken because there was no need to say it. She was to say indoors until her master called for her.

    But why? She asked herself. It was the first time she questioned her master. Sure there were dangers in the world, but why would it specifically apply to her? The others go out alone all the time, what made her so different?

    Other than her thoughts plaguing her, the trip home was quick and uneventful. Aeris was glad to find the yard empty so she could slip into her room without notice. The first thing she did was take the cloak off. Anyone would wonder why she was wearing it or who put it on her in the first place. It took some maneuvering, but she managed to get the cloak off without tearing it.

    No sooner had Aeris removed the garment, did Maggie come into her room. Aeris quickly kicked the cloak into the corner, hoping it would go unnoticed. ¡°Oh, Aeris, there you are,¡± Maggie said. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you.¡±

    ¡°What is it, Maggie?¡± Aeris asked, keeping her fear in check.

    Maggie beamed while pulling an envelope out of her pocket. ¡°Remember when I said I had a friend I wanted you to meet? Well, I finally heard back from him and he says he may know what you are!¡±

    ¡°Yay,¡± Aeris said apathetically. She hoped Maggie had given up on this. The constant building of hope just to hit a dead-end had grown tiring. ¡°So what did he say?¡±

    ¡°He wants to meet you first to be sure. We can¡¯t risk him coming to the estate, so I¡¯ll need time to find a good place to meet.¡±

    ¡°What about Aubrey¡¯s?¡±

    Maggie¡¯s smile fell. ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea, but I guess we don¡¯t have much of a choice. But only if she agrees.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask her!¡± Aeris said happily.

    ¡°Why do I get the feeling you were already going to see her?¡± Maggie asked.

    That took the enthusiasm right out of the young dragon. ¡°Um¡­¡±

    A soft pat on the head interrupted her before she could come up with a pitiful excuse. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Aeris. Just please tell me when you plan to see her. I would rather not be wandering looking for a dragon who isn¡¯t here.¡±

    Aeris nodded, her smile returning. ¡°Yes, Maggie.¡± The smile fell as she watched the woman go to the door. All the feelings and questions from before started coming back, making her dig her claws into the dirt. Just before Maggie could leave, Aeris asked, ¡°Why can¡¯t I leave the estate on my own?¡±

    Maggie stopped at the door. Her shoulders heaved from her quiet sigh. Without looking back, she answered, ¡°Because Lord Strauss wishes for nothing bad to happen to you. Just remember to keep your visits to Aubrey a secret.¡±

    ¡°But why? Why does it have to be a secret? Why not just teach me to look after myself?¡±

    Maggie peeked outside then closed the door and walked back to Aeris. ¡°Where is this coming from?¡±

    The questions were just flooding her mind. She didn¡¯t know why. Something about being forced to keep so many secrets at once. She couldn¡¯t tell anyone about her life with Master Aaron, she couldn¡¯t tell anyone about her desire to learn, she couldn¡¯t tell anyone about her friends, Windor and Aubrey. It was no better than living in a cage.

    ¡°Well, Aeris?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± she took a deep breath and relaxed. If Maggie wanted to know, she would tell her. ¡°I¡¯ve lived alone my entire life. I¡¯ve never even had a real friend besides you and Master Aaron. There are other domesticates out there, so why haven¡¯t I met any of them? I know the other dragons at those parties are forced to sit outside while I sit alone with the humans. Why? What makes me so special?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into you, but there is a perfectly reasonable explanation¡ª¡±

    ¡°What is it?!¡±

    Maggie didn¡¯t answer. A heavy silence fell over the room as the two females stared at each other. The silence was broken when Master Aaron called out, ¡°Margret, where are you? I need to speak with you!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll finish this conversation later,¡± Maggie said. There was no mistaking the relief in the woman¡¯s face that she had an excuse to leave.

    Aeris whined and curled up on her mattress. She had never felt more lonely than she did now.

 Chapter 9: Returning Nemesis

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 9: Returning Nemesis</h2>

    <hr>

    Today was the day Aeris was supposed to go see Aubrey to begin the Ravager¡¯s reading lessons. Unfortunately, Aeris had never taught anyone anything and she had no idea where to even begin. She tried sneaking a few books out of Master Aaron¡¯s study, but none of them held any tips on teaching.

    Even when learning to read from Maggie, it was mostly sounding out the words herself with assistance from the red-haired woman when needed. It was slow, tedious, and at times incredibly frustrating. Until Aeris finally got the hang of reading, it was a chore and she wondered why the humans ever bothered doing it. After almost a year of practice, she saw what she was missing out on. Hopefully, Aubrey would be the same way.

    But before going anywhere, Maggie needed to be informed of Aeris leaving. It was only fair the woman know where she was going.

    So to pass the time, she decided to do some research. Cutter had used several words that Aeris didn¡¯t understand. It was clear they were meant to be insults, but it was why they were considered insults that intrigued her.

    The problem was she couldn¡¯t find the terms anywhere. Maggie had told her of a large book that explained what words meant. It had been a source of information on more than one occasion and had always come through for her, but now it seemed her only hope had failed.

    Aeris stiffened and gave a glance upward when she heard the door being opened. It was too soon for Master Aaron to be home, and Lilith didn¡¯t know about her reading. No matter how nice the woman was being to her recently, it was still too risky. She breathed a sigh of relief when Maggie entered the room carrying a tray in her hands. ¡°Hello, Maggie.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Aeris, I brought you¡ªWhere did you get that book? Damn it all, Aeris, I thought we agreed you wouldn¡¯t go sneaking into Lord Strauss¡¯s study.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maggie, but I only need it for a little while, and I didn¡¯t want to bother you,¡± Aeris responded, still leafing through the pages.

    Maggie sighed, placed the plate on the table, then sat down on the mattress. ¡°I guess it¡¯s fine so long as the book is returned before he gets home. What are you reading anyway?¡±

    Aeris shot another look at the woman and noticed a steaming cup of tea in her hand. Looking at it made her aware that she hadn¡¯t eaten anything since breakfast. But she ignored the low growl coming from her stomach and turned back to her book. ¡°That book you told me about that explains what other words mean.¡±

    ¡°You mean a dictionary? What on earth could you need a dictionary for? Aeris, you could¡¯ve just asked me if you wanted to know what a word meant rather than risk getting caught breaking into Lord Strauss¡¯s study. What word are you looking for?¡±

    ¡°Pussy,¡± Aeris replied calmly.

    Maggie spat her tea all over her front and on the floor. She turned to the dragon, her cheeks and ears a deep shade of pink and tea still dripping from her chin. ¡°Did you just say¡ªAeris where on earth did you hear that word?¡±

    Aeris froze for a moment. She couldn¡¯t risk telling Maggie about the encounter with Cutter without telling her about Windor as well. Somehow she knew the middle-aged woman wouldn¡¯t take the news well. ¡°I-I overheard someone say it while I was out with Aubrey. I was too ashamed to ask her what it meant.¡±

    Maggie quickly composed herself although her cheeks were still as red as her hair and her blouse was stained with tea. ¡°Well, Aeris, it¡¯s a nasty word for coward. It¡¯s also used as a vulgar reference to certain¡­female parts. It¡¯s not a word one uses in polite company.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head in confusion. She understood what Maggie meant but was still perplexed by what Cutter was talking about. Windor was a male, and while she wasn¡¯t familiar with slang terms, she knew the difference between males and females. Unless Cutter was referring to her as a coward, but why? Cutter had said she was the bravest dragon there.

    Maggie stood and took the dictionary. ¡°You won¡¯t find a word like that in here, I¡¯m afraid. Why don¡¯t you go outside and fly around for a bit instead of staying cooped up in this stuffy old room? And don¡¯t worry about the dictionary; I¡¯ll take it back.¡±

    Aeris knew Maggie was just looking for an excuse to change the subject, but if it meant an afternoon of flying, she wasn¡¯t going to complain. But flying would have to wait. ¡°Actually, Maggie, I wanted to tell you¡ª¡±

    Her words were cut short by the door opening and Charles entering the room. Aeris tail wrapped protectively around her rear legs the questions rushing through her mind. How long was Charles standing outside? Did he overhear her conversation with Maggie? Could he see the dictionary in Margret¡¯s hands? Aeris didn¡¯t dare look over her shoulder to check and silently prayed that Maggie hid the book away in time.

    The old man stepped into the room as if nothing was wrong. ¡°Hello, Margret. Did I come just in time for a story?¡±

    Aeris bit back the frightened cry trying to escape her muzzle. Charles had seen the book! What was she going to do? Even if Maggie pretended to read it, all it would take was one glance at the cover to know what kind of book it was. Once he figured that out, he would wonder why Maggie was reading from a dictionary.

    ¡°I just finished reading Aeris a story,¡± Maggie said. Her hands as well as the dictionary were hidden behind her back. Aeris tried her best not to let her relief show in her face. ¡°Aeris was just on her way outside.¡±

    ¡°Well, Lord Strauss needs you to make the dragon presentable,¡± Charles said. ¡°We¡¯re having guests today. You can skip the bath, just a quick polish should do.¡±

    ¡°Strange. Lord Strauss never mentioned to me we were having guests,¡± Maggie said in a stiff tone.

    ¡°I was supposed to tell you, but it slipped my mind. I guess it¡¯s a good thing I reminded you before the dragon slipped away again.¡± He turned and left the room, leaving both females to stare in perplexity.

    Maggie recovered first. ¡°Pay him no mind, Aeris. Let¡¯s get you ready for our guest.¡±

    Aeris was too worried to feel any joy about not having to get a bath. The last time there was an unexpected guest, Lilith came to live with them. Sure things were peaceful between her and the young woman, but it did get off to a rocky start.

    She did everything Maggie asked without question or hesitation. She tried to ask questions as to who was coming and why her master didn¡¯t give any advance notice, but Maggie only told her to hush and let her work. After a quick polish and donning one of her specially-made vests, Aeris was ushered outside and around to the front of the estate.

    Master Aaron was standing next to Lilith and talking to a very thin and tall man with a very thick mustache and beard. Behind the human was a dragon with shining silver scales. The dragon kept its eyes on the ground, but its tail, which had two curved horns on the tip, swayed in the air as if counting the seconds. Aeris froze as she stared at the dragon. He looked very similar to the Silver-Horntail, Reks, who bullied her at the party. She prayed that she was wrong and this was a different horntail.

    As if he could sense her, Master Aaron turned around and motioned for Aeris to come closer. Aeris kept her head high as she approached the group despite wanting to hide behind her wing. She couldn¡¯t appear weak before her master¡¯s guests. Master Aaron would be very upset with her if she did, so she focused on her master instead of the human and his dragon.

    ¡°Aeris, I¡¯m glad you could join us,¡± Master Aaron said. ¡°This is Mr. Zachery Bachmann, a business associate of mine.¡±

    Aeris bowed deeply. ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bachmann.¡±

    Mr. Bachmann looked down at Aeris, his green eyes judging her. It made her dig her claws into the ground. ¡°Well, I see your dragon is very well-spoken. Most dragons have a slight slur in their speech almost like a bestial accent. This one especially needs to take a few lessons,¡± He motioned to the Horntail behind him. ¡°You must tell me your secret for teaching her to speak so clearly.¡±

    Aeris clenched her jaw. It was a compliment, but it felt like Mr. Bachmann was insulting her somehow.

    ¡°To be honest, Aeris and I learned how to speak together,¡± Master Aaron said. ¡°She was there when I was taught how to speak properly and pronounce my words. You could probably do the same with your dragon if you hired a tutor.¡±

    Mr. Bachmann rubbed his beard as he mulled over the suggestion. ¡°Perhaps. But the best tutors can be expensive, and I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll charge extra to teach a dragon. But it would be such a huge help to teach this one how to speak more civilized.¡± He turned the Horntail, his displeasure clear in his expression. ¡°Just like he seems to forget his manners. Don¡¯t be rude, Reks, say hello!¡±

    Aeris felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on her. Of all the dragons to bring here, why Reks? She still remembered his harsh words and nasty looks he gave her during their first meeting. She had to be very careful not to let her shock or displeasure show in her voice or expression. Regardless of her personal feelings, Master Aaron would be very upset if she insulted his guests.

    Reks flinched at his master¡¯s order then stepped forward and bowed deeply and said, ¡°It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Strauss, Lady Lilith, and of course, Aeris.¡± He said Aeris¡¯ name with a small note of annoyance.

    Aeris didn¡¯t respond. She was too busy trying to comprehend why Master Aaron would call Reks to the estate. If Reks was mean to her again, what should she do? Should she call for her master? Deal with Reks herself? She didn¡¯t wish to cause trouble for her master. If things went poorly between them, it would hurt her master. No matter what, she needed to come through and make sure that didn¡¯t happen.

    ¡°Aeris, I need to discuss business, would you mind giving Reks a tour of the estate? I¡¯m sure he¡¯d love to see your room,¡± Master Aaron said. ¡°In fact, why don¡¯t we have Aeris tutor Reks? He is going to be spending more time here after all.¡±

    Aeris whipped her head around so fast, it made her neck hurt. ¡°What?¡± Did Master Aaron just say Reks was going to be spending more time here? Was he going to live here like Lilith?

    ¡°I think that¡¯s a splendid idea,¡± Mr. Bachmann chimed in. ¡°And it¡¯ll give our dragons time to get to know each other.¡±

    Reks lowered his head and shot his master a dirty look. ¡°Whatever you say.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Mr. Bachmann said, raising a brow.

    The Horntail flinched at his blunder. ¡°Whatever you say, sir.¡±

    Aeris wanted to protest, but she also knew better than to disobey her master. She bowed and said, ¡°Of course, Master. Please follow me, Reks.¡± The timing couldn¡¯t be worse. She was supposed to be meeting with Aubrey, not wasting her time with Reks. If it were any other dragon, she wouldn¡¯t mind helping her master. She shook the thoughts from her mind. It didn¡¯t matter which dragon it was. Her master was relying on her, and she wasn¡¯t going to let him down.

    Reks didn¡¯t speak until the humans were out of earshot. ¡°So, you have a room, huh? My master makes me sleep outside. During the rainy days, he¡¯ll let me sleep with the horses.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I guess,¡± Aeris answered politely. ¡°I thought all dragons had rooms.¡±

    Reks scoffed and remained silent. It occurred to Aeris that last time Reks had mentioned the humans showed her special treatment at parties. It never occurred to her that it extended to the dragon¡¯s homes as well.

    But right now, her biggest worry was doing as she was told and teaching him how to speak properly. She barely remembered her master¡¯s lessons, though she did remember getting struck a lot with a very thick ruler whenever she messed up.

    When they reached her room, Reks pushed his way inside without waiting to be invited. Aeris growled at his discourtesy but reminded herself she needed to remain calm for her master¡¯s sake. ¡°I apologize for the mess,¡± she said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting guests, and my master never invites anyone to my room.¡±

    Reks walked over to the mattress. ¡°Look at that, you even have a bed.¡± He tested it¡¯s softness and snorted. ¡°It¡¯s even good quality. You really are spoiled.¡±

    Aeris tried her best to ignore him and went over to her bookshelf. There were no books on proper word pronunciation, but perhaps she could use something as a base to practice with.

    ¡°What are these?¡± Reks asked. He used his wing to brush the harnesses hanging on the wall. A devious smile appeared on his face when he realized what they were. ¡°Oh, you even have a saddle. But you¡¯re way too small to ride. Unless¡­you¡¯re doing a different kind of riding?¡±

    Aeris had no idea what the Horntail was implying, but she knew it was an insult and decided to leave it at that. ¡°Are you finished? My master said I¡¯m supposed to tutor you and you¡¯re wasting time.¡±

    ¡°What our masters want us to do has nothing to do with teaching me anything.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head in confusion. ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    Reks went over to the chest were Aeris stored her vests and cloaks for outings. Using his tail, he flipped open the lid and rummaged around inside. ¡°I know I said you were stupid and na?ve, but can you really not see what¡¯s happening here?¡±

    Aeris snorted at Reks¡¯ comment. It didn¡¯t matter if she saw it or not. Her master was relying on her, and not even Reks was going to mess it up. She went over and shut the chest on the Horntail¡¯s head. Reks grunted in pain and pried his head from the chest, but one of Aeris¡¯ vests hung from his horns.

    Aeris growled and pulled the vest off the Horntail¡¯s head. ¡°Please stay out of my things.¡±

    ¡°Why do you wear that? You¡¯re a dragon, not a human.¡±

    This line of questioning was beginning to get on her nerves. At this point, she was about ready to kick him out and apologize later. She took her time returning the vest to its proper place so she could calm down. She felt a little better by the time she turned to Reks again. ¡°So what if I do wear it? I like how it looks, and it feels nice.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°I bet it¡¯s not the only thing you think feels nice,¡± Reks mumbled.

    He was baiting her and she knew it, but she had to ask, ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°It means I know what the humans want from you at those parties. Why they like having you around so much. Everyone knows you like to lift your tail for humans.¡±

    ¡°I do what?!¡±

    Reks¡¯ condescending smile returned as his tail slapped against the ground in triumph. ¡°You thought we didn¡¯t know? That your master takes you to those parties and passes you around like a cheap toy.¡±

    That couldn¡¯t be right. She hadn¡¯t heard anything about these rumors. Why was this the first time she was hearing of them and who made them up? She had never done anything like that before! Her master was one thing, but he never asked her to lift her tail for anyone else. ¡°N-No, you¡¯re lying.¡±

    Reks rolled over on his side and roared with laughter. ¡°The look on your face! You¡¯ll believe anything.¡±

    It took a great deal of patience to keep her temper in check. He was taking a little too much joy in teasing her. ¡°Reks, I would appreciate it if you took this seriously,¡± she said, her voice even. ¡°Master Aaron gave me a task and I plan to see it through.¡±

    That wiped the smile off Reks¡¯ face. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you? I guess in this case, that¡¯s a good thing. For once I wish I was as clueless as you are. Whatever, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll just stay here until my master tells me it¡¯s time to leave.¡± He curled up in the corner and closed his eyes.

    Aeris was glad not to have to talk to Reks anymore although she had no clue as to what he was talking about. In the meantime, she wanted to head outside and do a bit of flying to clear her head.

    Just as she reached the door, Reks said in a commanding tone, ¡°Stay here.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Aeris asked, not making any attempt to hide her annoyance.

    ¡°Even you aren¡¯t that stupid. How are you going to tutor me like your master said if you¡¯re roaming around alone?¡±

    Aeris sighed and went to her mattress. Reks made a good point, so now she was stuck inside with him until his master called. She didn¡¯t like having Reks there, her room was her haven, the one place she felt safe and secure. Having Reks there felt like her haven was being violated.

    Rather than sit there in boredom, she got up and went to her bookcase and pulled one of the books off the shelf. She curled around the book on the mattress and began leafing through the pages. If the Horntail wasn¡¯t going to cooperate, she was going to read by herself. It bothered her not doing what her master had asked, but unless Reks was going to cooperate¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t going to happen, this was her only option for passing the time.

    It was a basic adventure story about a group of knights who were tasked with rescuing a princess from a dragon. She wasn¡¯t usually a fan of those kinds of tales because of how the dragons were perceived, usually as monstrous brutes who hoarded gold, burned fields, and killed people indiscriminately, but she always liked this one because the princess became friends with the dragon and together they uncovered a plot by the knights to overthrow her kingdom. They work together and defeat the evil knights and in the end, the dragon becomes a part of the royal court. It was Aeris¡¯ favorite story. Only a few pages into reading, Aeris became so absorbed in her book, she forgot all about Reks and his bad attitude.

    The serenity was short-lived as Reks¡¯ voice broke the silence, ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m reading,¡± Aeris replied, not looking up from her book.

    ¡°You read?¡±

    Aeris lifted her head. ¡°You don¡¯t? I know clan-borns don¡¯t care for human writings, but I thought that domesticates read at least. Here, I¡¯ll read it to you.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°You are my guest. It would be rude not to see to it you are entertained. Unless, you¡¯d rather sit there, bored?¡± As much as Reks annoyed her, she wasn¡¯t about to forget her manners.

    Reks grumbled under his breath. ¡°Fine. Go ahead and read.¡±

    Aeris flipped back to the first chapter and began reading out loud. At first, Reks kept rolling his eyes, sighing loudly, or asking obvious questions¡ªmost likely to annoy her. Eventually, he became fascinated with the story. He even came out of the corner and sat in the middle of the room. Every few sentences, he stopped Aeris to ask a question about the words he didn¡¯t understand, and she answered as best she could. It felt nice to have a conversation with him that didn¡¯t begin, include, or end with a statement about her intelligence. Aeris almost forgot about the Horntail¡¯s cruel treatment of her. That they shared a common interest in books made her wish they had met under better circumstances.

    He was very upset when his master called him saying it was time to leave. ¡°Ugh, why is he calling me now? How am I supposed to find out what happens next?¡±

    ¡°You could take the book with you,¡± Aeris offered. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    For the first time, Reks looked ashamed. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t read.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Sorry, I thought you could read but didn¡¯t like to. Isn¡¯t there someone who could read it to you? What about your master?¡± she offered.

    ¡°If I so much suggested he should read to me, I¡¯d go a week without dinner.¡±

    Aeris was taken back his words. She¡¯s been punished by Master Aaron plenty of times, but he never once made her go hungry, nor had he ever threatened to. He also never punished her over something as trivial as asking for a story.

    Reks¡¯ master called him again eliciting a growl from the Horntail. ¡°I guess I should get going. Thanks for the read.¡±

    Aeris trotted to his side. ¡°Wait, what if I taught you how to read? That way you could read the books yourself.¡±

    Reks frowned. ¡°And where will I get these books?¡±

    ¡°Our masters said you¡¯ll be spending more time here, right? I have books in my room. You¡¯ll always be welcome to read them whenever you want.¡±

    Mr. Bachmann called out again, and this time Aeris could sense he was upset. ¡°Reks! Come here you lazy pile of scales!¡±

    ¡°I gotta go,¡± Reks said, quickly hurrying out of the room.

    Aeris followed the Horntail as he went back to his master. He grumbled under his breath the whole way. She tried not to listen in, but she heard some very unpleasant things about the human. It bothered her hearing him say such nasty things. Reks¡¯ master looked after him, fed him, kept him safe. How could he be so ungrateful?

    They found both Mr. Bachmann and Master Aaron outside the front of the estate. Reks¡¯ master, Mr. Bachmann, glared at the Horntail as he tapped his foot on the ground.

    ¡°There you are, you lazy dragon,¡± Mr. Bachmann said. ¡°What were you doing that it took you so long to respond?¡±

    Reks lowered his head, a small whine escaping him before he replied, ¡°Aeris and I were just r¡ªwe were just talking about different foods. Aeris was telling me about the sweets she¡¯d tasted.¡± He shot a nervous glance in Aeris¡¯ direction.

    The two humans shared glances, making Aeris¡¯ heart race. Reks had almost let it slip that she had been reading to him. Maggie had warned her that humans wouldn¡¯t take kindly to finding out she could read, and she dared not test the validity of that statement. It was likely Master Aaron wouldn¡¯t be too upset with her, but there was no telling how Mr. Bachmann would react.

    To her surprise, Mr. Bachmann laughed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to tear you away when you were enjoying yourself, but I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s time to leave. Don¡¯t worry, Reks, I plan to bring you back, so you¡¯ll have plenty of time to continue your ¡®conversation.¡¯ In fact, we¡¯ll be making repeat visits over the next several weeks. I could bring you back next week if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°Master, is Reks really going to come back next week?¡± Aeris asked. But she had plans to meet Windor next week¡ªnot that her master knew about them or could be made aware of them.

    ¡°Of course he is,¡± Master Aaron replied, his smile friendly but his voice suggesting that it was the end of the conversation and that Aeris had better not even think about arguing it.

    Aeris dropped her head and mumbled, ¡°Yes, Master.¡± What was she going to do? With Reks coming back regularly, it would become harder to sneak away to visit Aubrey and Windor. She would have to take Reks with her or attempt sneaking off whenever he was gone. Which meant knowing in advance when Reks was to visit. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard. Lilith promised to help, so it was just a matter of talking to her.

    She stood by her master¡¯s side until their guests disappeared from view then she turned to head back to her room. The sun was already close to setting. It would be dinner time soon. Even if she moved quickly, it would be getting dark by the time she reached Aubrey¡¯s place. A visit would have to wait until after dinner. Hopefully, Aubrey wouldn¡¯t be too upset about her tardiness. They hadn¡¯t officially agreed on time after all.

    Master Aaron¡¯s hand touched her side and she froze. ¡°How was your visit with Reks?¡±

    ¡°It was fine,¡± Aeris said, hoping her anxiety didn¡¯t show in her voice. She wanted to leave while she had the chance.

    ¡°So the two of you had fun, then? I trust you were a gracious hostess.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Master. I was very polite and showed Reks my room just as you instructed. He was very interested when I told him about the books Maggie reads to me.¡± Another lie. While she did mention that Maggie read to her on occasion, Aeris had done most of the reading. It felt strange lying to Master Aaron so easily. Her tail remained still, there was no tightness in her chest, and she didn¡¯t feel at all bad about it. But I should feel bad about lying to my master, shouldn¡¯t I? she wondered.

    ¡°Neither of you knows how to read; surely you did more than discuss books,¡± Master Aaron said, laughing.

    Aeris also laughed, though it was fake. She had learned a long time ago how to laugh at something she didn¡¯t find amusing. It was an invaluable skill for speaking to humans at parties. Just like changing a topic of conversation before things became unpleasant. She decided to wrap up the conversation if she was to ward off any suspicions. ¡°We didn¡¯t talk about much else. I¡¯m sorry, Master, we didn¡¯t get to go over his speech lessons.¡±

    Master Aaron smiled and rubbed Aeris between her horns. ¡°Well, that¡¯s okay. I¡¯m sure Zachery won¡¯t mind so long as the two of you get along. Hopefully, you¡¯ll eventually grow more comfortable around him, and the two of you will find more interesting things to talk about.¡±

    Aeris nodded and took the cue to walk away. Her master didn¡¯t try to stop her. She moved at a half-trot back to her room to avoid suspicion. When she reached her room, she paced around the room until Maggie came in with her dinner.

    No sooner had the tray touched the table, did Aeris start scarfing it down, not even bothering to check what it was.

    ¡°Goodness, was the dragon that unpleasant?¡± Maggie asked.

    Aeris swallowed a particularly large chunk of meat and said. ¡°At first he was, but I learned he likes stories as much as I do. But that¡¯s not why I¡¯m hurrying. I promised I¡¯d meet Aubrey today.¡±

    ¡°But, Aeris, it¡¯ll be dark soon. I know I agreed for you to meet this dragon, but I don¡¯t like the idea of you roaming around at night. It¡¯s dangerous.¡±

    ¡°You can come with me,¡± Aeris offered. No matter what, she had to see Aubrey today. She couldn¡¯t risk the Ravager thinking she had gone back on her word.

    Maggie looked out the window then back to Aeris. Eventually, she let out a defeated sigh and went to retrieve Aeris¡¯ cloak. ¡°You¡¯ll be much faster without me. Just promise me that if you run into any trouble, you¡¯ll run as fast as you can.¡±

    ¡°I will, Maggie.¡±

    ¡°Then finish your dinner¡ªslowly. And you can go. I¡¯ll make sure the coast is clear for you.¡±

    That was all Maggie said before going outside. Aeris quickly ate the last of her steak then slipped outside.

    No one was approaching, and the estate grounds appeared empty. Aeris slipped around the back of her room anyway and darted quickly into the surrounding woods. Once she was certain the trees hid her from view, she broke into a run at full speed towards Aubrey¡¯s.

    Just as Aeris predicted, the sun had dipped below the horizon by the time she arrived. She was tired and out of breath, but she had made it and that was the important thing.

    The moment Aeris walked up to knock on the door, it opened, revealing Helen standing on the other side. She smiled warmly at the young dragon and said, ¡°Aeris. I¡¯m so glad you could make it. Please come in.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late,¡± Aeris said as she followed the woman inside. ¡°My master¡ªer, caretaker wanted me to meet someone.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite all right,¡± Helen said. ¡°Lady Aubrey said that may be the case.¡±

    Aubrey was waiting in the common room, staring at a large painting on the wall. It showed an adult male sitting in a chair, clearly posing for the portrait. It was the only painting of a human in the room. Aeris wondered who the human was and what he meant to Aubrey.

    ¡°Lady Aubrey, Aeris has arrived,¡± Helen said.

    ¡°I noticed,¡± Aubrey said in a neutral tone, still staring at the painting. Aeris wasn¡¯t sure if that was good or bad. ¡°Thank you, Helen, you may leave us.¡±

    Helen bowed and left the room. Aeris did her best to hide her fear of being left alone with Aubrey. Even knowing the Ravager was unlikely to physically harm her, it didn¡¯t make it any easier.

    Aeris decided it was best to explain herself rather than wait to be asked. ¡°Aubrey, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°So how did things go with Windor?¡± Aubrey asked. She turned away from the painting and sat on one of the cushions in the center of the room. ¡°When I heard there was a commotion in the dragon district, I was worried. You can imagine my fright when you didn¡¯t show up today for our lesson.¡±

    ¡°Right. Sorry. My day with Windor was great.¡± Aeris explained at length the fun time she had with Windor. She even mentioned the incident at the restaurant and how Cutter appeared and put the two drakes causing trouble in their place. Aubrey sat silently while Aeris spoke, but she did smile when Aeris mentioned Cutter beating the other Ravager with her tail.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame so many of our kind like to resort to barbarism,¡± Aubrey said sadly. ¡°But next time, Aeris, you shouldn¡¯t be so eager to challenge another dragon. I know I mentioned our kind lives by matriarchal rules, but respect still plays a large role in how much authority you have. Sadly, as a domesticate, the chances of any dragon respecting you are quite low.¡±

    ¡°I know that,¡± Aeris said. ¡°But I couldn¡¯t let them treat Janine that way.¡±

    Aubrey tilted her head but looked at Aeris endearingly. ¡°It¡¯s a real shame that there are so few like you, human or dragon. But enough of that. You mentioned your caretaker wanted you to see someone.¡±

    Before Aeris started talking, she noticed two cups of tea had been left on the table that wasn¡¯t there before. It was almost creepy how Helen had brought them a drink and left without either of them noticing her presence, though Aubrey likely did notice but chose not to say anything.

    Aeris took a much-needed sip of tea, as all the talking was making her thirsty, and told her story to Aubrey. Aeris tried to leave out that Reks was mean to her before and how he was nasty to her today, but the Ravager quickly caught on to Aeris¡¯ dislike toward the Horntail and demanded an explanation.

    Realizing there was no way around it, Aeris told Aubrey everything. How the other domesticates were forced to sit outside while she was among the humans and how they hated her for it, how Reks teased her constantly, and that she offered to teach him how to read. Again, Aubrey kept her opinion to herself and silently listened to Aeris¡¯ tale. She tensed during a few scenes but otherwise said nothing.

    When Aeris finally finished, Aubrey remained silent, but her eyes showed a fury that made Aeris want to leave the room. For a few minutes, the two females sat in silence. Aeris stared at the floor in shame.

    Eventually, Aubrey spoke again, her voice calm. ¡°Sounds like you had a very interesting day. I¡¯m surprised you forgave this Reks so easily. I would have certainly held a grudge against him.¡±

    Aeris looked down at what remained of her tea. ¡°I know. Part of me still hates him for how he treated me, but I also feel sorry for him. He doesn¡¯t even have a room as I do. His master makes him sleep outside and no one reads him stories. He must be so bored and alone.¡±

    It seemed so childish, taking pity on someone who had done nothing but make fun of her. She had more than enough stories about a character who had done the same thing only to be stabbed in the back as a reward. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to hate Reks, not when she could relate to how he felt.

    She was shocked when she felt Aubrey wrap a wing around her body, pulling her close to the Ravager in a dragon-style embrace.

    ¡°Aeris, you are truly a kind soul. It pains me to know what the coming decades will do to you, but I hope you never lose that kindness. I know plenty of both species who could benefit from it.¡± That wasn¡¯t very comforting, but Aeris figured it was the thought that counted.

    Aubrey broke away from the embrace and cleared her throat. ¡°Now that is enough of that. It is getting late, so perhaps we should begin the lessons another time.¡±

    ¡°No, I can start now,¡± Aeris said.

    Aubrey smiled. ¡°Very well then. Let¡¯s begin. And next time, you can bring Reks with you. I would very much like to meet him.¡±

 Chapter 10: The Deal

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 10: The Deal</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris flopped onto her mattress. She had just finished another exhausting day teaching Reks and Aubrey about words with different meanings but similar sounds. Neither dragon understood the concept very well and it turned into a very long debate.

    Only a month had passed since she had begun teaching Aubrey and Reks to read, but it felt like a year. The pleasant weather was beginning to come to an end; the days becoming chillier and the first of the leaves began turning yellow. It was good and bad news. Flying in colder weather wasn¡¯t ideal. Cold temperatures didn¡¯t bother Aeris, but it became much windier this time of year. On the upside, it meant fewer visits to her room so sneaking out to see Aubrey was much easier.

    Aubrey¡¯s lessons were much easier than Aeris thought. The Ravager had spent so much time around humans, she picked up on reading quite easily. Reks on the other hand was the opposite. At first, Aeris thought he was being difficult as usual, but she quickly realized her blunder and saw the Horntail was genuinely trying though he made no effort to hide his frustration at his lack of progress.

    It was a good thing Aubrey had suggested meeting Reks. The Horntail was brought to visit at least four times a week, so it was much easier tutoring both dragons at once. Sneaking out with Reks was much easier than Aeris thought. Their masters would send them off to be alone and wouldn¡¯t check on them until it was time to leave. Whenever they were in Aubrey¡¯s presence, Reks was on his best behavior. Aeris feared he would become even more unbearable in Aubrey¡¯s presence especially during the earlier days of his learning. Instead, he was very pleasant and was even on his best behavior even when Aubrey wasn¡¯t around.

    Reks¡¯ voice pulled Aeris out of her thoughts, ¡°I still don¡¯t get it. If the word is different, how can it sound the same? Isn¡¯t it confusing?¡±

    ¡°You get used to it,¡± Aeris said. ¡°Now can we stop talking about it? What if someone hears you?¡±

    ¡°Trust me, no one is trying to hear us.¡±

    While there were also no problems keeping the Horntail quiet, he showed far too little caution for Aeris¡¯ taste. Aeris worried he was doing it just to spite her, but Reks quickly squashed those speculations. ¡°If my master found out I was sneaking out and learning to read, he¡¯d whip the scales off my hide,¡± the Horntail explained.

    It was a frightening thought. Master Aaron had never once raised his hand to Aeris nor threatened to. Talking with Reks, it became clear how good she had it. Mr. Bachmann was a terrible master and Aeris hated looking at him. Every second she was in a room with that man, it became increasingly difficult to keep her anger in check. He talked down to Reks all the time, and threatened the drake with beatings and missed meals. And that was just the things he did in her presence. Reks said when they were home it was much worse. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have a master who cares so much about you,¡± he would whisper whenever she tried to comfort him after a nasty verbal lashing from his master.

    But she didn¡¯t feel lucky. It felt more like she traded one thing for another, but couldn¡¯t explain why. Sure she was well-fed, had a safe dry place to sleep, and had people who loved her, but it all felt different. As much as she liked it, she was also alone. She knew no one and nothing about life outside her room. Like a precious doll left on a shelf only seeing life beyond its pedestal when it was being played with. She began to notice the smiles weren¡¯t genuine and conversations would suddenly stop if she was near. Worse, she couldn¡¯t speak on these things or it would make her look ungrateful.

    Before Aeris could ask what made Reks so certain, the door opened and Master Aaron walked inside. Aeris stiffened. Just a few minutes later coming back and they would¡¯ve been caught. The panic in Reks¡¯ eyes showed he thought the same thing. That and how he came dangerously close to exposing their secret with his big muzzle.

    Master Aaron turned to Reks and said, ¡°Zachery was looking for you. It¡¯s time to go.¡±

    A sympathetic look from Reks told Aeris how sorry the Horntail was to leave her alone before bowing and leaving the room. Aeris wanted so badly to follow him.

    The past month, there had been a definite change in Master Aaron. He constantly fretted over Aeris¡¯ health and well-being. She had three visits from the vet to make sure she was healthy. Every time she received a bill of clean health, but it didn¡¯t stop Master Aaron from questioning Aeris about her visits with Reks. After every visit came a bombardment of questions about how they were getting along. Aeris told the truth and said they were getting along fine but didn¡¯t provide any details. Strangely, despite the constant questions, she was always left alone with Reks making her wonder what her master was so afraid of.

    Normally, Master Aaron waited until after Reks left to ask her questions, so there was only one reason Aeris could think of why her master would want to speak to her now. But how did he find out?

    She needed to get ahead of this. Perhaps if she explained everything to her master, how she felt isolated and stifled, he would understand and not be as severe in his punishment. ¡°Master¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aeris, please, I would like to go first,¡± Master Aaron said. His tone was calm and gentle, yet she still flinched as if he yelled at her.

    She stiffened when he sat on the mattress beside her. Since Reks¡¯ visits, they stopped ¡°expressing their love¡± for one another entirely. While she enjoyed no longer being physical, she feared she had done something wrong and Master Aaron was mad at her. Whenever she asked him about it, he only said ¡°Of course not, Aeris. I could never stop loving you.¡± She wanted to believe him, but it was clear there was something he wasn¡¯t sharing with her.

    What if his love for her was fading? He had also stopped taking her to parties. It had to mean he was ashamed of her and just didn¡¯t want to say it.

    They sat in silence for the longest time. Aeris refused to open her eyes; she just sat stiffly on the mattress awaiting her master¡¯s punishment.

    ¡°Aeris¡­this is difficult for me to say¡­¡± Aaron said. ¡°Do you remember the name of the dragon who saved you several weeks ago?¡±

    Aeris snapped her eyes open and looked at her master, confused. That question meant he didn¡¯t know about her sneaking out. She was glad to be wrong, but she couldn¡¯t help but wonder why it would be difficult to discuss. She had to be careful in her response, lest he figured it out. Not willing to trust her mouth, she resorted to nodding.

    ¡°Oh, good. Do you think her offer to meet with you still stands?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Well, I mean, I think it would be best to meet with this Patel family. They are very wealthy and have business in a lot of different fields and a great many connections. What I mean to say is, I¡¯m sorry I denied you the opportunity to speak with that Ravager. It would have been a great opportunity for me.¡±

    Unable to contain her excitement and afraid speaking may give it away, Aeris resorted again to nodding. A massive smile was creeping across her muzzle, and nothing she did could stop it. If everything went well, she would be able to meet Aubrey whenever she wanted. Her head was swimming with all the ideas of all the things they would soon be able to do together without the fear of being caught.

    Aaron spoke again, dragging Aeris out of her fantasies. ¡°I¡¯m glad things aren¡¯t entirely bleak. Now if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have to get things ready.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Aeris said, caught off-guard by her master¡¯s words. ¡°W-We¡¯re going right now?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. We¡¯ll be leaving first thing in the morning.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ heart sank. All hope wasn¡¯t lost. She just needed to sneak out tonight and go see Aubrey and tell her Master Aaron wanted to meet her. That shouldn¡¯t be too hard.

    Master Aaron stroked Aeris¡¯s back. ¡°So how are things going between you and Reks?¡±

    ¡°Fine, master,¡± Aeris replied, hiding her annoyance at the question. Reks was just there. Couldn¡¯t her master tell if something was wrong or not?

    Her master smiled and patted her side one last time before standing and going to the door. ¡°Okay, Aeris, we¡¯ll be leaving first thing tomorrow, so make sure you get plenty of sleep. We can¡¯t have you yawning in front of our guests.¡±

    Aeris nodded as she watched her master leave. After waiting a few minutes, she hurried over to the door and peeked outside. There were no signs of anyone out and about. If she hurried, she could run to Aubrey¡¯s and back before dinner. There was no time to get the cloak on. She learned how to slip it over her head without assistance, but it could still take several minutes and every second counted.

    She hadn¡¯t even taken two steps outside before she heard a voice behind her. ¡°Going somewhere?¡±

    Aeris turned around to Charles leaning against the wall to her room. The old human wore an uncharacteristically grim expression that gave Aeris chills.

    ¡°I thought I¡¯d fly for a bit,¡± Aeris lied.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t let you. Lord Strauss¡¯s orders. He doesn¡¯t want anything to happen to you before tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°But I do this all the time. I know how to fly. And I know Maggie will be coming to bathe me soon which means I won¡¯t be able to do anything or risk getting dirty again.¡±

    Charles continued to stare at her, his eyes showing no pity or concern for the young dragon¡¯s plight. ¡°I take orders from Lord Strauss, dragon. Not you. He says no flying, so no flying. Now back in your room. Margret will be out soon, and she doesn¡¯t want to have to look for you.¡±

    Aeris grumbled under her breath and went back to her room. A quick flying session after visiting Aubrey was on the agenda, but not anymore. Worse, there was no way she could sneak off to Aubrey¡¯s with Charles sitting outside her room. She wondered if the old man knew about her sneaking off. But if he did, why was he keeping it a secret?

    As she walked past Charles, she could¡¯ve sworn she heard him say, ¡°Too damn young.¡± Rather than ask what he meant¡ªknowing at best a vague answer would be the response, she ignored him and went inside.

    She started pacing around, trying to think of a way to get a message out to Aubrey. Helen and Aubrey would recognize her instantly. It didn¡¯t help Aubrey had little respect for Master Aaron and had no qualms voicing her objections to him treating Aeris like ¡°his personal plaything¡± as Aubrey would say. The Ravager may not even attempt to hide Aeris¡¯s disobedience just to spite him.

    It wasn¡¯t until Maggie came in with her dinner that Aeris stopped pacing, but the anxiety remained. Dinner was a meat pie. Lydia usually made those when there was a lot of meat that was about to spoil. Aeris loved them, but tonight, she didn¡¯t have an appetite. She ate the meat pie anyway knowing she would wish she had later.

    Maggie was unusually quiet as she stood there and watched Aeris eat. It did nothing to help ease the poor dragon¡¯s anxiety.

    When Aeris finished her meal, Maggie quickly gathered the dishes and told Aeris to follow her outside.

    As expected, the basin for her bath was outside and waiting for her. Maggie quietly retrieved the sponge and started scrubbing Aeris¡¯ scales. The woman¡¯s silence was worrying. The only time Maggie was this quiet meant something was wrong.

    Finally, Aeris couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Maggie is something wrong?¡±

    Maggie nearly dropped the sponge. ¡°What? N-No, of course¡ªAeris, have you and Reks been getting along?¡±

    A terse growl escaped Aeris before she could compose herself. ¡°Yes, we have. Why is everyone so afraid he¡¯s going to hurt me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not him hurting you I¡¯m afraid of,¡± Maggie said. She squeezed the sponge in her hands, squirting soapy water all over her feet which she ignored. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­Aeris there comes a time in every young woman¡¯s¡ªor in your case young dragon¡¯s, life when she goes through some¡­changes. I¡¯m sure by now you¡¯ve taken an interest in another dragon.¡±

    ¡°Maggie,¡± Aeris said gently. ¡°We already had this talk.¡± She remembered it well. Poor Maggie was a nervous wreck and it took her forever to say what she meant. But Aeris got the point or she thought she did. She understood the difference between males and females, and she knew how babies were made. It still made no sense why Maggie felt the need to bring it up now.

    ¡°I know. But you have had so little interaction with other dragons, I feel it is necessary to discuss this with you. With you and Reks spending so much time together alone¡ª¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t have feelings for Reks,¡± Aeris said. It was true. While the Horntail¡¯s mood had drastically improved, Aeris still preferred Windor¡¯s company.

    It was the biggest downside to Reks¡¯ visits. She didn¡¯t get to see Windor nearly as much as she wanted to. It was hard to squeeze in extra time with him and not arouse suspicion. Once she mentioned to Aubrey if it would be okay to invite Windor to their reading lessons, but the Ravager said no. Not every dragon would be interested in reading and it wasn¡¯t safe for too many to know. If even a rumor started that dragons were learning to read, it could cause an uproar.

    ¡°Well, you may not have feelings for Reks, but it doesn¡¯t mean he doesn¡¯t have feelings for you,¡± Maggie said.

    Doubtful given how much Reks bullied her their first meeting, but Aeris chose to keep it to herself.

    Maggie dipped the sponge in the basin and began scrubbing Aeris¡¯ tail. ¡°I just want you to be safe. We never talked about this, but some males don¡¯t like to take ¡®no¡¯ for an answer. Admittedly, I don¡¯t know how it works with dragons, but among humans, some delight in forcing themselves on others. If Reks ever tries getting rough with you, I want you to tell me or Lord Strauss, understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Maggie.¡± It seemed unlikely Reks would try anything like that. According to Aubrey, dragons didn¡¯t even think about touching someone they thought was beneath them and Reks made it clear how he felt about her.

    The bath was finished in silence though Maggie¡¯s mood had noticeably improved. After Aeris was cleaned, Maggie patted her down with a towel and told her to go to her room.

    ¡°But I have to tell Aubrey that Master Aaron wants to meet her,¡± Aeris said.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aeris, but you can¡¯t leave now. If Lord Strauss found out, he would be furious. I can deliver the message for you. Now off to bed.¡±

    ****

    If dragons could sweat, Aeris was certain she would be soaked by the time they reached Aubrey¡¯s mansion. Those feelings of happiness she had before meant nothing in the face of her newfound reality. Maggie had promised to deliver the message herself, but Aeris never got a chance to ask if she succeeded.

    True to his word, Master Aaron was waiting for her at first light and he had even brought her breakfast. He picked out a vest for her to wear and they left without any chance of her getting talk to Maggie.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    The entire trip there, Aeris wondered how she was going to signal Aubrey and Helen so that Master Aaron wouldn¡¯t know what she had been up to for the last several weeks. Now, here they were approaching Aubrey¡¯s doorstep, and Aeris still hadn¡¯t come up with a plan yet.

    She was even more surprised to see Lilith wasn¡¯t going with them. Lilith had all but forgotten Aeris existed the last few weeks and spent just about all of her time at Master Aaron¡¯s side and looked very cross if Aeris drew near. Thankfully Lilith kept her promise about helping to keep Aeris¡¯ comings and goings a secret.

    The first thing Master Aaron pointed out was the surprising lack of people. No one had received them at the front gate nor were they intercepted when they approached the front door. Master Aaron had said, ¡°It seems as if the Patels are a very trusting family.¡± Aeris didn¡¯t dare tell him that it was because Aubrey didn¡¯t want humans taking care of her and no one in their right mind would dare vandalize a dragon¡¯s property.

    Master Aaron continued to grumble under his breath about the lack of hospitality and how his patience was being tested when he knocked on the front door. It took everything Aeris had to keep herself from shaking when she heard the door being opened.

    Helen appeared in the doorway, wearing a large smile on her face. ¡°A¡ª¡±

    Aeris immediately shook her head, and Helen feigned coughing. Aeris stole a glance at her master and noticed he was not at all pleased by Helen¡¯s behavior, but he didn¡¯t show any sign of noticing Helen¡¯s mistake.

    Helen stopped coughing and straightened up, the smile from before gone. ¡°Please excuse me. I¡¯m just recovering from a slight cold. Hello. How may I help you?¡±

    Master Aaron smiled and stepped forward holding out his hand. ¡°I am Lord Aaron Strauss.¡± He gestured to Aeris at his side. ¡°And this is my dragon, Aeris. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re aware, but your dragon rescued mine a while ago, and I wished to express my gratitude.¡±

    Helen looked back and forth between Aaron and Aeris, her face showing she was at a loss for words.

    Aeris was quick to offer a solution. ¡°I was attacked by a Genial in the commercial district and the dragon that lives here rescued me. She told me to seek out the Patel family if I ever wished to see her.¡±

    The way Helen¡¯s eyes widened showed Aeris she understood. ¡°Oh! Well¡­the dragon you are referring to is Lady Aubrey, and she is not here right now. But she will be back soon if you wish to wait inside for her.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Master Aaron said. He accepted Helen¡¯s invitation and walked inside, Aeris following closely behind. ¡°I actually wish to speak to the dragon¡¯s master.¡±

    Luckily, Master Aaron was distracted by the d¨¦cor or else he would¡¯ve seen Helen stifle a laugh. She regained her composure before he turned back to her. ¡°Actually, Aubrey has no master,¡± she said in a very gentle tone. ¡°She is the owner of this estate and is the one you wish to speak to.¡±

    ¡°What? The dragon owns all of this?¡± Master Aaron¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line which struck Aeris as odd. What did her master have to be upset about? It was an honest mistake¡ªone she made herself. Unless he was simply upset to hear that Aubrey was a dragon. But that was silly; there was no way Master Aaron would have a problem with the dragon who saved her life.

    ¡°Would you like a tour while we wait for Lady Aubrey to return?¡± Helen asked.

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Master Aaron said. There was a note of displeasure in his voice.

    ¡°I would love a tour,¡± Aeris said, hoping to steer attention away from her master¡¯s obvious attitude as well as get some alone time with Helen. Master Aaron¡¯s meeting with Helen didn¡¯t end in disaster, but there was still Aubrey to deal with. And until there was confirmation Aubrey was okay keeping everything a secret, there was no such thing as safe.

    ¡°Actually, Aeris, I would prefer it if you stayed close by,¡± Master Aaron said.

    Helen clenched her jaw. Aeris dropped her head. Before she could say make another attempt to ease the tension, the front door opened. Everyone turned as Aubrey entered the estate. Aeris held her breath.

    Aubrey looked at all three of them bewildered. ¡°Wha¡ª¡±

    ¡°Lady Aubrey,¡± Helen said quickly. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I wasn¡¯t there to greet you at the door. This is Lord Aaron Strauss and his dragon, Aeris. Lord Strauss wishes to thank you for saving Aeris¡¯s life.¡±

    The look in Aubrey¡¯s eyes showed that she understood what Helen was getting at. ¡°I saved her nearly three months ago,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Was it that hard finding the estate?¡±

    Aaron straightened and put his hands behind his back. Aeris noticed he was opening and closing his hands¡ªsomething he did when he was annoyed, out of Aubrey¡¯s sight. ¡°I was hesitant to express my gratitude because it hurt my pride that I couldn¡¯t protect her myself. But I have decided to put my pride aside¡ª¡±

    ¡°Because there is something you want from me,¡± Aubrey finished. ¡°It is fine if you wish to talk business, but do not lie to me, Lord Strauss. And I would appreciate it if you didn¡¯t treat your dragon as an asset.¡±

    Aaron pressed his lips into a line again, but he didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he turned to Helen and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, could you give Aeris that tour while I speak with Lady Aubrey?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I would prefer it if Aeris were present,¡± Aubrey said.

    ¡°Well, my lady¡ª¡± Aaron began.

    ¡°Lord Strauss, I doubt you intended it that way, but I did mention you were not to treat your dragon as an asset,¡± Aubrey said in a tone similar to a parent scolding a child. ¡°I will not have her paraded around to suit your whims then tossed aside now that she had served her purpose.¡±

    Master Aaron¡¯s cheeks flushed and he chuckled nervously. ¡°Well¡­I-I have never done anything like that¡­right, Aeris?¡±

    Aeris nodded in agreement, worried her fear would manifest in her voice if she spoke. There were moments where her master had introduced her to different human nobles at parties and sent her away the moment the initial shock of seeing ¡°such a beautiful creature¡± had worn off. But there was no way she was going to say that out loud. Besides, Master Aaron had his reasons, and she didn¡¯t mind because she likely would¡¯ve found the conversation boring anyway.

    Aubrey led them into the living room. Aaron looked around at the placement of the furniture in awe. Aeris did the same although she had set foot inside several times and nothing was new to her; it was important her master not get suspicious.

    ¡°Please sit,¡± Aubrey said, sitting on a cushion. ¡°Would either of you like something to eat or drink?¡±

    ¡°No, thank you, I¡¯m fine,¡± Master Aaron said, sitting on the sofa.

    ¡°I would like some chamomile tea if that¡¯s okay,¡± Aeris said, sitting on the cushion closest to her master. Helen nodded and went for the kitchen.

    ¡°Since when did you start drinking chamomile tea, Aeris?¡± Master Aaron said.

    Aeris stiffened. She had forgotten her first taste of tea was here with Aubrey. ¡°Um¡­Maggie brought me some one day, and¡­I really liked it. I didn¡¯t say anything because I was worried you would be upset.¡±

    Aaron laughed and patted Aeris on the head. ¡°That¡¯s just like you, you silly dragon. Why would I be upset with you because you like tea?¡±

    Aeris laughed nervously and glanced at Aubrey. The Ravager was giving her a strong disapproving stare. Aeris dropped her gaze to the table.

    ¡°Before we begin, I just want to say that I am truly grateful to you for saving Aeris¡¯ life that day,¡± Master Aaron said. ¡°If I may ask: how did you come to own all of this?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re very welcome, Lord Strauss,¡± Aubrey said, her voice was calm and polite and her posture was straight. But her eyes showed she had nothing but contempt for the man sitting across from her. ¡°As for your question, I inherited it.¡±

    ¡°From your former master I take it?¡± Master Aaron said, a slight hint of amusement in his voice.

    There was a brief flash of anger in Aubrey¡¯s eyes that was replaced by weariness. ¡°The man you are referring to adopted me into the family and treated me like one of his own.¡± Her voice was still in the same calm tone, but there was a note of sadness in her voice. ¡°He had no other heirs, but since he and I were so close, he left everything to me.¡±

    ¡°The two of you must¡¯ve been very close then if he was willing to leave everything to his dragon.¡±

    ¡°I doubt we were any closer than you and Aeris are now,¡± Aubrey said with a slight smile.

    Master Aaron¡¯s face fell at Aubrey¡¯s comment. He quickly cleared his throat and said, ¡°Back to the reason I¡¯m here, Lady Aubrey. As I¡¯m sure you are aware, my family¡¯s company deals in antiquities, and as a result, we do business with many companies. I have spent years trying to expand my company¡¯s influence to other places, but I have found it difficult.

    ¡°Now, your family has many connections to these companies, specifically an import and export business, and a private security firm that can provide the service and protection I require at a very modest cost.¡±

    ¡°So you wish for me to introduce you to the owner of these companies in the hopes that you will be able to start a business venture,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°Or rather, you already approached them and they turned you down. Now, you¡¯re hoping to use me and my family¡¯s connections to stage another attempt.¡±

    Aeris noticed her master clench his jaw then he put on a large smile. ¡°I see you are very sharp¡ª¡±

    ¡°For a dragon?¡± Aubrey finished, her eyes burning with anger.

    Master Aaron¡¯s face paled. ¡°M-my Lady, I would n-never presume to say¡ª¡±

    ¡°Please forgive my master,¡± Aeris said quickly. ¡°He¡¯s never done business with a dragon before. He only meant to compliment you.¡±

    Aubrey looked back and forth between Aeris and her master. Aeris kept her eyes fixed on the ravager across from her and didn¡¯t dare look away. She had no idea what prompted her to speak up on her master¡¯s behalf¡ªshe had never done anything like that before. Master Aaron always told her to remain silent during business meetings. He always worried she would say something embarrassing. After her outburst to the Everfields, she had no problems agreeing with her master¡¯s theory.

    To Aeris¡¯ surprise, Aubrey¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Forgive my rudeness, Lord Strauss. I am just so used to humans making subtle suggestions in an attempt to insult me or undermine me in some way. It was wrong of me to assume the worst of you. No self-respecting businessman would intentionally insult someone and ask for a favor.¡±

    Aeris decided to steal a look at her master. Master Aaron was staring at her, his mouth slightly open.

    ¡°Before I respond, tell me, why are you so fixated on this company? I¡¯m certain there are others you can work with.¡±

    At that moment, Helen entered and sat a cup of tea on the table before Aeris. She mumbled a quick word of thanks and sipped her tea in silence. Helen sat on her knees on the cushion next to Aubrey¡¯s.

    Master Aaron cleared his throat before answering Aubrey¡¯s question. ¡°Lady Aubrey, your family has a great many connections, especially in the West. Also, I wish to expand my business to include some of the wild dragon clans.¡±

    Aubrey¡¯s eyes widened as her tail jerked and struck the table. Helen moved almost mechanically grabbing the cups before they fell to the floor. ¡°You wish to do business with the dragon clans?¡± Aubrey asked. ¡°You do know they have never done business with humans. My dealings with them are very limited and I¡¯m a dragon.¡±

    ¡°I am aware,¡± Master Aaron replied. ¡°But times are changing. The dragons can¡¯t possibly think their way of doing things will last much longer.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll say the same about humans. But that is not the issue. I¡¯m afraid that the clans will never do business with a human who keeps a dragon as a pet.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame. But your human partners, they would still be willing to do business, yes?¡±

    Aubrey narrowed her eyes, her tail straightening out behind her. ¡°They would. If I put in a good word. But you have yet to mention why I would bother to do such a thing.¡±

    Master Aaron smiled. ¡°You are aware of the amount of influence Aeris has especially among the families who own dragons? And my business does have its connections which I¡¯m sure you could make use of. If rumors are to be believed, you are trying to fund an expedition? I happen to know a few people who would be more than willing to lend you the equipment you need at a very modest price and even provide you with trustworthy people to use them.¡±

    Aeris heard a slight tearing sound at the mention of families owning dragons. Aubrey¡¯s face remained neutral, however. ¡°You¡¯re very well informed, Lord Strauss,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°It is true, acquiring the tools I require for this venture has been difficult. Even my usual contacts have been struggling to gather the things I require. If I didn¡¯t know better, I would swear someone has a grudge against me. Very well. I see no reason why we cannot partner up. However, I do have one condition: I would like Aeris to accompany me on the expedition. I¡¯m sure she would love the chance to get out and explore the world.¡±

    Even Aeris was taken aback by Aubrey¡¯s demand. In all the conversations about the expedition, there was never a mention of Aeris going or even a desire for her to be there. She didn¡¯t look at her master who was no doubt upset about the suggestion. If Master Aaron wouldn¡¯t even allow her to leave the estate grounds unattended, there was no way he was going to let her go anywhere with who he considered a complete stranger.

    Her master maintained his composure, though a vein was pulsing in his temple. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m comfortable with that idea. Expeditions can be quite dangerous and Aeris has never been outside city limits for obvious reasons. What if you run across a wild dragon?¡±

    ¡°The site is in human-controlled land so there is no danger of running into a clan born,¡± Aubrey stated, her emphasis on the word not lost on Aeris, ¡°And even then, Lord Strauss, I will be there and as a Matriarch, not even a clan-born would dare challenge me.¡±

    Some of Master Aaron¡¯s anger dissipated. Aeris watched with bated breath. Helen seemed unbothered by what was transpiring between their masters. Her mental fortitude was very impressive.

    Master Aaron spoke first, ¡°Very well. If you guarantee her safety, I see no reason she cannot tag along. I know dragons if nothing else would die before breaking their word, so she¡¯ll be in good hands.¡±

    It took everything Aeris had to keep her tail in place and her smile from showing. It had to be a dream. Was her master really going to let her go?

    Aubrey smiled. ¡°Very well, then. You have yourself a deal, Lord Strauss. On my life, no harm shall come to her.¡± She turned to Aeris, ¡°And what of you? Does this suit you.¡±

    Master Aaron slowly stood and bowed. ¡°Splendid. Now I will need a few days to draft the formal documents and have them brought over. I¡¯m sure your attendant can read them to you and ensure everything is to your liking.¡±

    ¡°That will be fine,¡± Aubrey said. She threw a sly look Aeris¡¯ way. The way her lessons were progressing, she could read the documents herself.

    ¡°Thank you so much for your time. Come, Aeris.¡±

    Aeris bowed and followed her master. It still felt like a dream, even after her trip home. Not even the storm clouds in the distance dampened her spirits. This couldn¡¯t be real. She soon found she didn¡¯t care if it was a dream or not. Why not enjoy the moment? Aubrey always talked about that expedition and Aeris wanted to come along, but she never asked because there was no way she could without her master¡¯s permission.

    But now she didn¡¯t have to dream about what it would be like because she was going to be there. Better still, with this agreement, she may be able to convince her master to let her visit Aubrey when she wanted.

    Those happy feelings faded a little when she saw Maggie waiting in her room.

    ¡°Maggie,¡± Aeris said, worried, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Maggie beamed brightly at the young dragon. ¡°Oh, Aeris, I finally received word! The man I told you about, we¡¯ve finally agreed on a meeting location. He wants us there today.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is a bit far, so I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to carry me or else we¡¯ll be all day.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind carrying you, Maggie, you¡¯re not very heavy.¡±

    Maggie laughed and steered Aeris outside. ¡°Thank you, Aeris, it makes me feel so much better to hear that.¡±

    They waited until the estate was well out of view before Maggie climbed onto Aeris¡¯ back. She ran off into the woods following Maggie¡¯s directions. The path itself was rough and uneven. The trees didn¡¯t sit on either side of the path like most paths. Instead, the roots twisted and stuck out in the way and branches hung low, forcing Maggie to bend forward. Aeris had to keep looking at the ground to make sure she didn¡¯t trip. All it would take is one stumble and she and Maggie would hit the ground. As she ran, she told Maggie what happened during her visit to Aubrey¡¯s. She hoped Maggie would be happy to hear the news but instead, the woman tightened her grip on her neck.

    ¡°Maggie, is something wrong?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°No, Aeris. I don¡¯t like you being used as a pawn in some game.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m not a pawn. Master Aaron would never do that, and neither would Aubrey. And I really want to go. Aubrey says there¡¯s so much about history that we don¡¯t know, and I never saw ruins before, and¡ª¡±

    Aeris¡¯s words were cut short when she saw someone standing in the path. She slowed to a trot until the person was clearly visible. The person standing in the way was the largest human male Aeris had ever seen; the man was easily taller than Master Aaron and twice as wide.

    ¡°Maggie, is that the man we¡¯re supposed to meet?¡± Aeris whispered. She didn¡¯t like him. something about the way he looked at them made her uneasy.

    Maggie¡¯s reply didn¡¯t help. ¡°No. I have no idea who he is.¡±

    The man¡¯s clothes were badly worn and weathered. His boots and the edges of the cloak he wore were caked with dried mud. The man¡¯s clean-shaven face was also covered in mud or dirt or both. He took one at Aeris from beneath his bushy eyebrows and smiled.

    ¡°Hello, there,¡± the man said in a very friendly tone. He slung his rifle over his shoulder. ¡°You ladies look like you¡¯re lost. I can help you if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Margret replied, there was a hint of fear in her voice, ¡°We can manage just fine.¡± She whispered into Aeris¡¯ ear, ¡°Back up and let¡¯s try to find another way around.¡±

    At that moment, the sound of leaves and twigs crunching underfoot could be heard on either side of them. Aeris saw more men, each carrying a rifle, emerging from the trees.

    The smile on the man¡¯s face grew larger. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t let you leave,¡± he said, the friendliness was gone from his voice. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get down and step away from the dragon, Miss.¡±

    Maggie didn¡¯t move. The wide grin on the man¡¯s face faltered. ¡°Look, lady, when a man with a gun tells you to do something, you get two options. One, you do as you¡¯re told and maybe you walk away from this. At the very least, you know your death will be quick and as painless as possible.¡± The man pointed his rifle at the two females. ¡±Second, you try to play the hero like the ones you heard about in the stories read to you as a little girl. The problem with those stories is that they¡¯re stories. In real life, all you wind up doing is pissing the man with the gun off, so he winds up putting one in your gut and leaving you to die a slow, painful death and does what he¡¯s going to do anyway.¡±

    The look in his eyes was as cold as his voice as he demanded, ¡°So, I¡¯m gonna ask you one last time: Get off the fucking dragon.¡±

    Maggie did as the man said. Aeris felt the woman shaking as she climbed down.

    The man smiled again. ¡°Thank you. Now, you, dragon, lie down on the ground.¡±

    Aeris stood rooted to the spot, staring at the man. No matter how many times she told her legs to bend, nothing happened. Even if she wanted to, fighting back wasn¡¯t an option. It was as if an embargo had been placed on her body and all movement was sealed, locked away, shut down. The man¡¯s threat rang loudly in her mind. She knew the consequences if she didn¡¯t obey, but for some reason, her body would not do as it was told.

    The man frowned again.

    ¡°W-Wait,¡± Maggie pleaded, ¡°P-Please don¡¯t hurt her.¡± She turned to Aeris, took the dragon¡¯s face in her hands, looked her in the eye, and said: ¡°Aeris, I know you¡¯re afraid. But I am right here with you. I will find a way to get us out of this, but right now you have to do what the man tells you, okay?¡±

    The embargo on Aeris¡¯s mind was dispelled by Maggie¡¯s words, but her mouth still refused to produce any sound. The best she could do was nod to show Maggie her understanding. Her legs trembled something fierce, but she slowly lay down on the ground just as the man commanded.

    Her mind began flooding with memories of stories she read where the main character found themselves in the same predicament. In some cases, an ally would appear at the last second and save them. But even then it did not always go well.

    Aeris silently prayed that someone would come and rescue them in time.

    ¡°What do want from us?¡± Maggie asked.

    ¡°Ah, ah. No questions, please,¡± the man interjected. ¡°I would like this to go as smoothly as possible. And for that to happen, I need you to just shut up, listen, and do as I say.¡±

    Aeris began looking around fearfully; several more men carrying guns had begun to appear, surrounding them. Many of the men had already aimed their rifles at her. She didn¡¯t want to think about what could happen to them.

    The man nodded to one of the others who then pulled a large coil of rope out of their pack. Another one took out a pair of shackles. They threw the rope and the shackles at Maggie¡¯s feet.

    ¡°Take that and tie up the dragon,¡± the man said, ¡°Use the rope to secure her muzzle and the shackles on her legs. Oh, and be sure to tie down her wings¡ªthat¡¯s very important. Can¡¯t have our prize flying away on us.¡±

    Maggie¡¯s hands shook so badly, it took three attempts to pick up the rope. Tears streamed down her face. ¡°P-P-Please, don¡¯t do this. We-we have no money, b-but her master will pay you whatever you want.¡±

    The man sighed and rubbed his temple. ¡°No matter how many times, no matter how plainly I phrase it, they never get the message,¡± he said more to himself than to them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss, but I can already see you¡¯re not gonna make this easy. It looks like we¡¯re gonna have to go with option B. He pointed the rifle at Aeris.

    ¡°N-No! Wait! D-Don¡¯t hurt her,¡± Maggie pleaded. ¡°We-We¡¯ll do as you ask, please!¡±

    ¡°Actually, you got it all wrong, Miss,¡± the man said, ¡°I¡¯m not gonna hurt the dragon, I¡¯m gonna hurt you.¡±

    Maggie turned to run, ¡°Oh god¡ª¡±

    A loud bang and the stench of gunpowder filled the air. Aeris turned just in time to see Maggie falling face-first to the ground. She wanted to catch her, but the embargo on her mind had returned; her body refused to do anything she told it. She watched panic-stricken as her closest friend fell lifelessly onto a pile of leaves.

 Chapter 11: Dragons Fury

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 11: Dragon¡¯s Fury</h2>

    <hr>

    The men surrounding Aeris laughed, some of them making jokes about Maggie¡¯s reaction. As she stared at Maggie¡¯s body, she felt a strange throb in her temple as the voices around her faded. It increased to an agonizing beating making her feel as if her head was going to split open. She wasn¡¯t bothered by the pain. Even as everything around her faded to black, even as the pain in her temple caused her white-hot agony, the image of Maggie¡¯s corpse stood out in her mind.

    They killed her. Maggie had done nothing wrong and they gunned her down. They took her away, and for what? Neither she nor Maggie had anything of value, and even if they had stolen her, Aeris was registered. It wouldn¡¯t take long for Master Aaron to track her down. She had no idea what they wanted, but did they have to shoot Maggie? They killed her as if it were nothing.

    The leader of the mercenaries leveled his gun at her and said something, but she heard nothing. All she felt was the burning rage within her. They would know what that felt like, to be treated like their lives were worthless, as if everything were a game. Yes, she would play their game, and one way or another, she intended to make sure they would never play that game again.

    The moment Aeris felt a hand on her back, she spun, roaring in outrage and slashing with her claws. She took off the man¡¯s leg just below the knee in a single strike. The mercenary uttered a high-pitched scream of pain as he lost his balance and fell over.

    Aeris ignored him and leapt onto the other mercenary. Unable to support her weight, he fell to the ground, her on top of him. She sank her fangs into his throat, reveling in the bitter metallic taste of blood in her mouth. She shook her head savagely, the sweet sound of tearing flesh filling her ears.

    A booming gunshot rang out, but the shot hit the ground next to her. Not that it mattered. She didn¡¯t fear their guns. One way or another she was going to make them pay.

    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± the leader cried. ¡°If you shoot her, we don¡¯t get full price on those scales!¡±

    ¡°But she¡¯s¡ª¡± the other man began.

    He never got a chance to finish his sentence. Aeris spun around and fired a stream of ice at the man. The mercenaries near him leapt out of the way, but he didn¡¯t move in time. The ice froze his limbs. He screamed as his blood vessels burst. Aeris leapt over to the man and struck his near frozen body with her tail. His bones cracked easily and he was flung into the nearby tree. He fell to the ground like a limp doll. Aeris froze his head with her ice breath then stomped on it with both forelegs. His frozen skull easily gave way under her weight.

    ¡°Oh, fuck this!¡± one of the other mercenaries cried. ¡°Shoot her!¡±

    Aeris spun again, sweeping the area with her ice breath, but taking care not to hit Maggie¡¯s body laying on the ground. Most of the other mercenaries sought cover behind the nearby trees. Two unlucky ones were caught in Aeris¡¯ attack and suffered the same fate as their friend. Their bodies fell over like large dolls, dead before they hit the ground

    One of the mercenaries tried to attack from her blind spot, but she heard his footsteps on the now ice-covered ground. She swept her tail across the ground, tripping the man and sending him face-first into the icy dirt. She leapt onto the man¡¯s back and tore at his body with her claws until he stopped screaming.

    Another shot rang out, this one narrowly missing her head and striking a nearby tree, showering her in tree bark. She spun and saw her attacker had already ducked back into the cover of the surrounding foliage.

    ¡°Come out here and face me you cowards!¡± Aeris thundered.

    The four remaining mercenaries came out of hiding. Their eyes were blank, but they all wore the same frightened expression.

    She leapt onto the closest one, biting into his neck as she slashed his body with wild abandon. She didn¡¯t stop until she had completely rent flesh from bone and reduced the human to a pile of meat.

    The second man she sprayed with her ice breath until he was frozen stiff and jumped and stamped all over his body, breaking it into pieces.

    She turned to the third man who patiently awaited his turn. His eyes were still unfocused. Not that Aeris cared. She would¡¯ve preferred if they fought back, but standing there and accepting their fate worked just fine.

    The third man she grabbed by the leg and carried into the air. He was far heavier than she expected, but she didn¡¯t care. She flapped her wings and carried him above the treetops before releasing him. He didn¡¯t even scream as he plummeted to his doom, just wore that same blank expression on his face.

    Aeris growled and followed the man to the ground. He hit the ground and bounced, but she landed right on top of him, feeling his ribcage shatter under her weight.

    Only the leader remained. He was the one who shot Maggie. The one who was responsible for all of this. As she started toward the man, he blinked and looked around as if awakening from a dream. His mouth fell open in horror as he noticed the bloodbath around him.

    He saw Aeris coming toward him, and scream in terror. He stumbled backward, lost his footing and fell to the ground.

    Aeris pounced on him immediately. She sank each of her claws into his arms and legs. The man screamed again.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Aeris commanded. The man immediately fell silent, the same blank look in his eyes as before. ¡°You killed Maggie. What did she ever do to you? Answer me!¡±

    The man spoke, but his voice lacked any emotion. ¡°We were just following orders. Kill the maid. Steal the dragon. Do not damage it. It¡¯s more valuable alive.¡±

    ¡°Who gave you that order?¡±

    ¡°The doctor.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s the doctor?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°LIAR! Who is the doctor?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Aeris dug her claws deeper into the man¡¯s limbs. The man¡¯s eyes widened as if seeing Aeris for the first time and began screaming again.

    Aeris growled and started slashing the man with her claws. ¡°Who is the doctor?! Tell me! Tell me!¡± She screamed at him again and again. The man never answered, just screamed in horrific pain. Aeris continued to tear the man apart even long after he stopped screaming.

    Finally, she was too exhausted to continue the assault. What remained of the man wasn¡¯t even enough to call him human, just a pile of flesh, blood, and torn clothing. Anyone who saw the carnage wouldn¡¯t know what to make of it.

    Aeris walked back over to Maggie¡¯s body. Thunder rumbled in the distance. It was going to rain soon.

    The rain didn¡¯t matter. The sky could fall down around them and it wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Maggie was dead, and it was all her fault. If she had never started that ridiculous search for her origins this wouldn¡¯t have happened.

    Charles¡¯ words echoed through her mind: ¡°You need to stop prying into things best left buried.¡±

    Aeris dug her blood-soaked claws into the dirt and let out a cry of pain, rage, and desperation. It wasn¡¯t fair. Why couldn¡¯t she have just a little bit of happiness? Was it really that selfish to want to know her origins? To want friends?

    She stopped crying abruptly upon feeling a hand touch her leg. She looked down to see Maggie looking up at her. Maggie¡¯s eyes were unfocused as if the woman had just awoken from a nap. ¡°It¡¯s¡­okay¡­Aeris.¡±

    Immediately, an immense joy welled up within Aeris. It didn¡¯t matter if Maggie was alive or a figment of her imagination. All that mattered was that she could see her again. ¡°Maggie?¡±

    Maggie groaned and slowly sat up. A dark bruise covered the side of her face, and a trickle of blood fell from her temple. ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­I think.¡±

    ¡°But how?¡± She walked around Maggie¡¯s body, scanning the woman for injuries. Other than the purple bleeding lump on Maggie¡¯s head and a few leaves in her hair, the woman was perfectly fine. It shouldn¡¯t matter how, but Aeris couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Maggie was still alive. The man had pointed his gun at Maggie and fired¡ªAeris saw it. The smell of gunpowder was still in her nose, and the ringing of the rifle¡¯s boom still in her ears. But Maggie had no bullet holes. No bullet wound meant the shot missed, but it didn¡¯t explain why Maggie lost consciousness.

    Maggie pressed a hand to the cut on her head. ¡°What¡ª?¡± She whirled around, almost losing her balance if not for Aeris catching her.

    ¡°No, Maggie, it¡¯s okay,¡± Aeris said cheerfully. ¡°I got rid of them all. They¡¯re dead.¡±

    Maggie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What do you mean you got rid of them all?¡± She looked over Aeris¡¯ body and her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes glistened preluding the start of tears.

    Aeris looked at herself. Most of her, especially her legs and claws, were covered in blood and bits of human flesh. The area around them was slick with gore. Various body parts hung from the surrounding branches or were tangled in the tree roots. Bloodied, tattered clothing caught in the branches flew in the strong breeze like crimson ghosts. The mixture of blood and gunpowder left a heavy metallic scent in the air. The ground and nearly every tree around them were covered in a sheet of red ice.

    ¡°Aeris, look at me,¡± Maggie said. She grabbed Aeris¡¯ face gently but firmly, forcing her to look the woman in the eye again, and pulled their faces close. A single tear hung from Maggie¡¯s eyelashes, and Aeris¡¯ blood-covered face was reflected in the woman¡¯s green irises. ¡°We have to talk later. Right now, we have to move; we can¡¯t stay here. Do you understand?¡±

    Aeris nodded. Maggie shakily stood up and climbed onto Aeris¡¯s back. Turning away from the grisly scene, Aeris ran at full speed back to the estate. She never stumbled or faltered as she weaved through the overgrown path. On various occasions, she opened her mouth to say something, but quickly snapped it closed again. She sensed Maggie¡¯s tension, her fear. She just didn¡¯t understand why. It was a good thing she killed those men wasn¡¯t it?

    As soon as they reached the estate grounds, Maggie jumped from Aeris¡¯ back. ¡°Aeris, I want you to go to your room and lock yourself in. Do not open the door for anyone other than me and do not tell anyone about what happened today.¡± Without waiting for a reply, she turned and began walking at a very brisk pace back to the estate.

    Aeris went to her room as quickly as possible. The moment she was inside, she pushed the door closed and used the thumb-claw of her wing to push the latch into place, locking the door. Now that she was alone, she began to replay the day¡¯s events in her mind. She saw Maggie fall to the ground; she could see it clearly with her waking eyes. She could still smell the gunpowder from the shot and the despair she felt seeing the closest thing to a mother she ever had lying face down among the twigs and leaves. Then she killed those men, ripped them all apart. She could still feel their flesh giving way under her claws, their screams of pain still echoing in her mind.

    Aeris began pacing around her room; her mind was caught in a vicious whirlwind of thought. She also remembered feeling absolutely nothing as she murdered them. In the stories, the character felt fear or remorse after a kill. She didn¡¯t. But what did that mean? Was there something wrong with her? No, she had done nothing wrong. Those men were going to kill her. That much was clear. She had to defend herself. So why did Maggie look at her like that?

    A few minutes later, there came a soft knock on the door, quickly followed by Maggie¡¯s voice whispering: ¡°Aeris, it¡¯s me. Open the door.¡±

    Aeris went to the door and slid back the latch using the thumb-claw of her wing. The door swung open the instant it was unlocked. Aeris had to jump back just to keep the door from striking her.

    The first thing she noticed was Maggie, slightly sweaty and out of breath, standing in the doorway. The next thing was how the sky had darkened further, the clouds now a dark shade of grey. Brief flashes of light ran across the blanket of grey above them. Maggie looked over her shoulder briefly before motioning for Aeris to follow her. She led Aeris around the back of the stable. Behind the dragon¡¯s room were several large jugs of water lined up against the wall.

    ¡°This is the best I could manage without anyone seeing me,¡± Maggie explained. She grabbed the washcloth sitting in one of the jugs. Aeris noticed her hands were shaking. ¡°The water¡¯s a little cold. I¡¯m sorry but you¡¯ll have to bear with me for now.¡± She began washing Aeris. The water was more than a little cold, but Aeris didn¡¯t think it was right to complain given the situation.

    ¡°Maggie,¡± Aeris began slowly, ¡°What happened back there? I saw them shoot you.¡±

    Maggie dropped the washcloth, but quickly retrieved it and resumed washing Aeris. The woman¡¯s hands shook as they rubbed down Aeris¡¯ scales. ¡°I don¡¯t remember much. Just the man pointing a gun at us. If they shot at me, I must¡¯ve tripped on a tree root and hit my head,¡± she said bluntly.

    That explained why Maggie was knocked out instead of killed and the lack of a bullet wound. A shot also would¡¯ve left blood behind, and there had been no blood on Maggie until she started cleaning Aeris.

    As if sensing Aeris¡¯ thoughts, Maggie added, ¡°If they had shot me, I promise you, I wouldn¡¯t be here right now. That was a gun strong enough to pierce dragon scales, it would¡¯ve ripped my body apart.¡±

    Aeris twisted her head, trying to look Maggie in the eye, but the woman kept turning her head and refused to meet her gaze.  ¡°Are you mad at me?¡±

    Maggie dropped the washcloth again. This time, she took longer to pick it up. She stood there for the longest time in silence. Her hands tightly gripped the washcloth, wringing it as if it held all the answers and refused to share them. Lightning flashed overhead followed by the roar of thunder, making her jump. ¡°N-No, I¡¯m not angry,¡± she said, her voice unsteady. She took one of the jugs and dumped it on Aeris¡¯ body. Aeris exclaimed at sudden pressure on her body. Aeris tried to look at Maggie again, but the woman turned away and brought over another jug. She dipped the washcloth into it and began washing Aeris again. ¡°Besides, what does it matter? They¡¯re dead and we¡¯re not.¡±

    ¡°But you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aeris, we are done talking about this!¡±

    Aeris quickly fell silent. She knew better than to press the issue when Maggie took that tone with her. Maggie continued to scrub Aeris scales. Neither of them said anything. After all but one of the jugs had been emptied, Maggie broke the silence: ¡°That should do it. Now stay here until it starts raining; no one will think twice about you being soaking wet then. I¡¯m going to go back inside and change my clothes.¡±

    Maggie removed the bloody apron she wore and balled it up in her hands until the blood stains couldn¡¯t be seen. ¡°Now Aeris I want you to remember two things: first, you are not to tell anyone about what happened here today. Second, you did nothing wrong. Those men were ready to kill me and do god knows what to you. You saved my life and protected your own; there is nothing wrong with that, okay?¡±

    Aeris nodded in response to both points. She could tell from Maggie¡¯s tone she wasn¡¯t talking to her. It was as if the woman was trying to convince herself of today¡¯s events. Just as Maggie still refused to meet her gaze as she spoke. Maggie smiled briefly, but it wasn¡¯t a true smile. The fear in her eyes remained even if the rest of her face said different.

    Aeris attempted to step closer and Maggie backed away so quickly, she almost tripped over her own feet. Maggie quickly composed herself, gathered up as many jugs as she could carry, and headed back to the estate without another word.

    Aeris did as she was told and waited silently behind the stable until the rain started. It didn¡¯t start with a light drizzle that increased to steady rain; it began with a heavy downpour as if the sky had overturned a massive bucket of water. She walked back to her room, unbothered by the rain drops pelting her body. She entered her room and locked the door behind her, not wanting to be bothered by anyone right now. She dropped her dripping wet body on the mattress and pulled her tail close to her chin as she curled into as small of a ball as possible.

    The rain somehow began coming down harder, filling the room with the sound of water pounding against the rooftop. The wind swirled and howled, rattling the door and windows. Lightning flashed occasionally, illuminating her bedroom with blinding light whenever it did as the roar of thunder drowned out all other noise. But Aeris didn¡¯t even so much as flinch. She couldn''t care less about the storm outside; her mind was elsewhere.

    Maggie had confirmed it even without saying it. She saw it in Maggie¡¯s eyes. The woman she cared about the most was afraid of her.

 Chapter 12: The Proposal

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 12: The Proposal</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris stared at the bowl of hot stew in front of her. Thin wisps of steam flowed up from the meal to the ceiling, a heavenly scent of beef, peppers, carrots, unidentified herbs filling her nose with every inhale. But her stomach remained silent.

    She was out with Windor, yet for the first time since meeting the drake, she wasn¡¯t enjoying his company. Maggie hadn¡¯t spoken to her since the incident involving those men in the woods two weeks ago. Any attempts at conversation were answered with silence or a very brusque, ¡°too busy to talk right now.¡± So far, no one else had asked why the two of them hadn¡¯t been spending time together, and Aeris was in no rush to offer an explanation. Since no one questioned her or treated her differently, Aeris could only assume Maggie made up a story explaining their separation.

    But Aeris knew the truth. Maggie was afraid of her, disgusted by her. Aeris felt so lonely most days. Part of her sometimes wondered if she should be angry at Maggie for cutting contact so abruptly or if she should confront her. Pin Maggie down the next time she came to bring breakfast and demand an explanation. But Aeris could never bring herself to even joke about such a thing.

    Windor¡¯s voice pulled her back into reality. ¡°Hey, is everything okay? You¡¯ve been quiet all day.¡±

    Aeris slowly faced the Ravager sitting next to her. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Sorry, I was just preoccupied. What were you saying?¡±

    ¡°I was asking if everything was okay. I can barely get you to say anything. And you haven¡¯t touched your food.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t have the heart to tell him it was because he chose to eat his steak rare, and the smell of blood reminded her of those men she killed, ruining her appetite. Sometimes, she tasted the blood, and no matter how much water she drank, it wouldn¡¯t go away. I can¡¯t tell him, she thought. There was no telling how he would react to learn she had killed humans. No matter how unlikely it seemed, she couldn¡¯t risk anyone else looking at her the way Maggie did.

    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. I just had a really big breakfast, so I¡¯m not really hungry,¡± she said, her thoughts chastising her. Another lie. Over the last few weeks I¡¯ve become quite proficient at this. It seemed it was the only way to have a conversation. Sometimes it felt like she was living two lives and forced to lie about them. She wanted to be done with it all. The lies, the sneaking about, the stress from the constant threat of being caught looming overhead. The problem was choosing one. Her life with Master Aaron had been a good one, and he took care of her for so many years. But it was also clear that living with him meant living closed off from the rest of the world. Going out into the world meant there were so many things to see, experiences to be made, and people to meet. But she was no fool. The world was full of dangers and there was no shortage of people who wished her harm. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to stay with her master where she was safe from harm.

    She decided she could figure things out later. For now, she would try to have the best of both worlds. ¡°Hey, what do you say we get out of here? I could use some air.¡±

    If Windor suspected something, he chose not to mention it. He paid for their meals and they went outside. Aeris tried to focus on something, anything, else, but her mind kept drifting back to her dilemma. Freedom and danger, or safety and isolation? The question made her stomach tighten even further to the point of nausea. She was glad to have not eaten anything. Windor spoke as they walked, but she wasn¡¯t listening. Whether he was discussing his favorite things to do, asking about her well-being, or warning her about some upcoming danger, she didn¡¯t know.

    As they walked past one of the shops, something caught her eye. She stopped and peered through the glass. Inside the store, there was a human who resembled Master Aaron. The man had his back to the window, so it was hard to know for certain, but he bore a strong resemblance to her master.

    Aeris immediately ducked into the nearest alley she saw, panic overtaking her. It could have been someone else, but the risk was too high. Of all the things going on, her master seeing her was the last thing she needed. Windor didn¡¯t call out or follow her, so she assumed he didn¡¯t notice her leave. More guilt piled onto what she already felt, but she had no choice.

    A little further down the alley, a red door opened and a human walked out. The human ignored her and exited the alley. From their posture and hurried pace, they didn¡¯t want to be seen. Aeris blessed her luck and ducked inside. She didn¡¯t know nor cared where the door led so long as it hid her from her master¡¯s view.

    She seemed to have wandered into some kind of lobby. The air was thick in the dimly lit building. The whole place reeked of alcohol, tobacco, and another scent Aeris couldn¡¯t identify, but it was the loudest of all the smells. The scent reminded her of the smell that filled the room whenever she ¡°showed her appreciation¡± to Master Aaron. It made her wrinkle her muzzle in disgust and her tail flatten protectively over her rear. No one seemed to take notice of Aeris¡¯ intrusion or how she was staring at everyone. All the women were dressed in their underwear or wearing tight clothing Aeris had never seen before. There were also female dragons wearing lace bands around their hindlegs or tails while others wore short dresses. The only males Aeris saw were human, and they were fully clothed. Most of the men were drunk out of their minds and they had a hungry look in their eyes as they pawed over every female within reach.

    ¡°Where the fuck have you been?¡± a voice hissed into Aeris¡¯ ear.

    Aeris squealed and backed away from the voice. She tripped over her tail in her escape and fell on her back, legs still flailing in the air. It took a moment to realize the voice belonged to a female which meant it couldn¡¯t possibly be her master. She righted herself and stared at the carpet in embarrassment. She didn¡¯t need to look at everyone to know the misunderstanding had earned her stares from everyone in the room.

    A hand grabbed her chin and forced it upward. She stared into the face of a human woman. The woman was dressed slightly different from the others, she wore a longer dress that squeezed her small breasts together and hugged close to her waist. The woman¡¯s expression softened a little when she saw Aeris. ¡°Oh, excuse me. I thought you were someone else. I haven¡¯t seen you around here before. What d¡¯ya want?¡±

    Aeris thought hard for an answer, but couldn¡¯t find one. She doubted the woman would believe she stumbled inside by accident, but she also couldn¡¯t make something up since she had no idea where ¡°here¡± was. She noticed the woman was beginning to lose her patience, and the others in the room were beginning  to notice. Some had angry looks on their faces, others were intrigued in a way that made Aeris uncomfortable. It was as if she were a slab of meat left in the middle of a room full of hungry people.

    ¡°Snowflake, is that you?¡± a voice asked from across the room. It was Cutter¡¯s voice, Aeris was sure of it. She was never happier to hear a familiar voice in her life. She spun to see Cutter weaving through the rapidly thinning crowd, smiling broadly.

    ¡°From what I gathered about you when we first met, I never woulda guessed you¡¯d come here.¡± Cutter turned to the woman and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I got this one.¡±

    The woman nodded and left the two of them alone. Cutter steered Aeris down the hall. The hall didn¡¯t smell much different from the lobby. If anything, the smells were stronger, making Aeris feel a little queasy. It was a long hall with the same plush carpet as the lobby. The walls were lined with nothing but doors but all of them were closed. Moaning and other strange noises came from some of the rooms, but Aeris chose to ignore it.

    ¡°Honestly, I thought I was seeing a new side of you, but seeing how Giselle scared the shit outta ya, I¡¯m guessing you came here by accident?¡± Cutter asked.

    Aeris dropped her head. ¡°Yes. I saw my master outside and I ducked in here hoping to avoid him.¡±

    ¡°Worried about pissing off your master, huh? Well, don¡¯t worry, Snowflake. This is the one place you can go if you want privacy. Trust me, no one will say a damn word about who¡ªor what, they see here. Even if that weren¡¯t the case, I own the place, so I can make sure no one is gonna mention seeing you here.¡±

    ¡°Um, where is ¡®here¡¯ exactly?¡±

    Cutter chuckled, a wide mischievous grin appearing on her face. ¡°This is a brothel, Snowflake. One of the finest around if I do say so myself.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Aeris had read about brothels in her books, but none of her books went into much detail as to what went on there. She remembered asking Master Aaron about it once, and he got very upset. It was the last time she asked her master about something she read. When she asked Maggie she was told to avoid such places and not to mention it to other people. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. How do you know no one will say anything?¡±

    A dragoness exited the closest room and passed by holding the end of a leather leash in her mouth and wearing a black vest that stood out against her blood-red scales. A human male crawled behind her on his hands and knees, the other end of the leash tied around his neck. The human was blindfolded, but Aeris didn¡¯t detect the slightest ounce of fear coming from him. She stared at the odd pair as questions of what they were doing and why occupied her thoughts. The dragoness noticed Aeris staring at them and stopped.

    Aeris flinched as something rapped her on the head only to realize it was Cutter¡¯s tail. ¡°First rule if you¡¯re gonna be here, Snowflake: Don¡¯t stare,¡± Cutter said. ¡°That shit makes people nervous.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± Aeris mumbled to the dragoness.

    The dragoness shrugged and yanked the leash, urging the human to continue following her down the hall. Aeris turned away from the bizarre scene, and jogged up to Cutter who had started walking down the hall without her.

    ¡°Second rule if you¡¯re gonna be here: Don¡¯t ask,¡± Cutter said when Aeris opened her mouth to speak.  ¡°People come here for one thing: To live out their strangest fuck fantasies. We don¡¯t ask why or how just so long as you don¡¯t try to hurt anyone and pay up front. And in case you were wondering, what we just saw is why no one will say they saw you here.¡± She chuckled to herself as she added, ¡°Humans make a big deal out of shit like that, but they still won¡¯t stop doing it.¡±

    Aeris nodded in understanding. She had been to enough human parties to know that even the smallest scandal could ruin someone¡¯s reputation. If anyone found out what that human was doing here, he could never again show his face in public.

    Cutter led Aeris to the last door at the end of the hall and ushered her inside. The room was an office similar to Master Aaron¡¯s but a lot less organized. Loose papers were scattered over the floor and the office¡¯s three tables. The office had a shelf lining one of the walls, but it was filled with all kinds of junk instead of papers or books. A single open window covered with red curtains flowing in the breeze gave the room an eerie isolated feel. There was only one chair, but several cushions lined against the far wall. Aeris breathed a small relieved sigh. The air wasn¡¯t as thick in this room and she could breathe easier.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Keep your ass here, Snowflake,¡± Cutter said. ¡°If you¡¯re caught by yourself, the humans might think you work here and try to fuck you, and the females might think you¡¯re here to steal their customers and try to fuck you up. I¡¯ll come get you when I¡¯ve made sure your master isn¡¯t around.¡±

    ¡°Wait, how do you know what he¡ª¡± Aeris didn¡¯t finish her question before Cutter closed the door, leaving her alone in the office.

    Aeris used her tail to sweep some of the papers away so she could pull up a cushion to sit on. Almost immediately, her tail began tapping the floor in irritation. She was used to waiting around, so it didn¡¯t bother her waiting for Cutter. What did bother her was the mess the room was in. Aeris was never allowed to keep her room messy, and she was scolded something fierce if she did. Just looking at all the scattered papers and empty inkwells brought back memories of the harsh reprimands she received when she didn¡¯t pick up her things.

    Aeris decided since she had nothing else better to do, she might as well tidy up. Strangely, the papers scattered around were neatly written and clearly labeled, so Aeris had no difficulty organizing the papers in a system she felt would be easiest for whoever came after. A few papers were torn or filthy beyond recognition and were placed in a separate pile on one of the tables for Cutter to decide their fate later. The empty inkwells she piled up next to the illegible papers. The items on the shelf she left alone. It looked like junk at first glance, but so did some of the things she kept in her room. These things were probably precious to whichever dragon left them there. Aeris didn¡¯t find anything important, just a few random rocks, warped pieces of metal, shards of glass, and broken statuettes she didn¡¯t recognize. One thing that did catch her attention was an old dragon claw. She made a mental note to ask Cutter about that later.

    When Aeris finished cleaning, she took a moment to inspect her work. She could see the wooden floor, and it almost seemed to brighten the room a bit. Cutter still hadn¡¯t come back yet, so Aeris occupied herself by reading the papers she organized. She assumed the documents were complete records of all the things happening in the brothel, but it was hard to tell. The papers were written in code. Something about the code seemed familiar however.

    Staring at the documents, it occurred to her why the code looked so familiar; she had seen something like it before in one of the books in her master¡¯s study. A thought crossed Aeris¡¯ mind. Would it be possible to decipher the documents? She had never done it before and doubted it would work, but the idea excited her. It was like solving a puzzle, something she enjoyed greatly. She set about her task like someone possessed. The fears of Master Aaron discovering her becoming like the fleeting feelings of a bad dream.

    The code wasn¡¯t nearly as complicated as Aeris first believed. The hardest part was writing down her results. Using a blank sheet of parchment and one of the inkwells, she had to awkwardly hold the pen in her jaws to write. She had never written anything before, so it came out horribly sloppy and just barely legible. The documents she deciphered turned out to be records of the brothel¡¯s regular customers. Most of the names she recognized as wealthy business owners she had met at human parties. There was even a document on Rek¡¯s master, Zachery Bachmann.

    She was in the middle of working out the final document when a voice behind her said, ¡°Whatcha doing there, Snowflake?¡±

    Aeris jumped and fell into the table with a loud cry. She spun around to see Cutter standing behind her. ¡°C-Cutter! I didn¡¯t hear you come in.¡±

    Cutter looked surprised by Aeris¡¯ shock but not angry. ¡°Snowflake, I called you several times, but I guess you were too busy wrapped up in cleaning this shithole to notice.¡± She looked around at the now organized room and nodded. ¡°I like what you¡¯ve done with the place. Gisselle has been all over my ass to get this place cleaned up. I can¡¯t get someone else to do it for obvious reasons, so it falls to me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, thank you. I even organized the papers for you. I read about a filing system that should make it much easier to find what you¡¯re looking for. Here, I¡¯ll show you how it works¡ª¡±

    Cutter walked past Aeris without showing any kind of interest in the filing system. Cutter¡¯s attention was focused on the papers that Aeris had been working on. ¡°Snowflake, what is this?¡±

    Aeris swallowed before answering. It just dawned on her that by reading those documents, she had invaded Cutter¡¯s privacy. ¡°I-I was just t-trying something I read about?¡±

    ¡°And what were you trying?¡± Cutter asked. Her voice was calm, but Aeris knew that tone. It was like a calm sea before a rising wave rose up and swallowed everything. Aeris needed to choose her words carefully, if she was going to avoid angering Cutter further.

    ¡°W-well, I couldn¡¯t read the document, s-so I-I was using an algorithm, to decipher it.¡±

    Cutter continued to stare at the desk, her back to Aeris. Although Aeris couldn¡¯t see Cutter¡¯s face, she imagined the dragon was furious with her. Fearing it to be the reason why Cutter couldn¡¯t face her, she slowly backed away.

    ¡°How far did you get?¡± Cutter asked. Her voice was still calm, but Aeris could sense the fury building to the surface. Aeris curled into a ball, images of what happened back at the restaurant over a month ago flashing in her mind. Would Cutter do to her what she did to that Ravager or something worse?

    ¡°I-I-I think about h-half,¡± Aeris managed to say.

    Cutter turned to her and smiled. ¡°Hmm. Not bad Snowflake. You got that far in a short time, and all from memory. You got some serious fucking potential.¡±

    Aeris relaxed, but only a little. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not mad?¡±

    Cutter laughed which made Aeris feel more uneasy than ever. She could tell the laugh was genuine, but that could make little difference in the end. Her unease must had shown in her face because Cutter started laughing harder before nudging Aeris playfully.

    ¡°I¡¯m not mad, Snowflake. In fact, you just made my world a lot more interesting. How would you like a job?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Aeris asked, tilting her head in confusion. She felt an uneasy feeling creep over her like she was part of a joke she didn¡¯t know about. It occurred to her this was the second time Cutter made her feel this way which made the feeling worse. It bothered her to feel uncomfortable around someone who had done nothing but helped her.

    Cutter¡¯s sudden voice snatched away all of Aeris¡¯ doubts. ¡°Snowflake, do you not know what a job is? Look, you do some work for me and in return I¡¯ll pay you. Get it?¡±

    ¡°No, I understand what a job is,¡± Aeris said meekly. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re offering me one.¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re fucking good at deciphering shit. Obviously, my current method won¡¯t work anymore. I met whores who were more difficult. Since you¡¯re so good at it, maybe you could come up with a better one. Now, you want the job or not?¡±

    Aeris nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, I would love a job.¡± She had never had a job before. The topic never came up. Not even during the many parties she attended, had anyone ever suggested she do any kind of work for them. Even Master Aaron never offered to take her to work with him. He always said it was too dangerous and she left it at that.

    ¡°Great! Then for your first assignment, make me a better encryption ¡®cause this shit is useless,¡± Cutter said. ¡°When you figure something out, bring it to me, and you will be paid very well. Now, this won¡¯t be like a typical job. You¡¯ll need to keep it a secret, okay?¡±

    The idea of keeping more secrets didn¡¯t sit quite well with Aeris, but what was a few more at this point she wondered. And this was one secret she didn¡¯t mind keeping. Stories with secret messages and mysteries to solve were always fun to read. The suspense, the drama, the mystery always kept her engrossed, not wanting to put the book down. ¡°I can do that.¡±

    ¡°Good. Go home, Snowflake. It¡¯s gonna be dark soon, and I don¡¯t want you roaming the streets at night. Your master¡¯s gone so you¡¯ll be fine. Oh, and I ran into your friend, Windor, while I was out. I told him you were with me and sent him home.¡±

    Aeris thanked Cutter for her help and started her journey home. The air outside was crisp and refreshing unlike the stale, smoke-and-musk-laden air of the brothel. Just as Cutter had said, the sun was already disappearing behind the neighboring buildings, signaling the day¡¯s end and bringing a sense of calm to the whole city. The loud cacophony of sounds of the street had diminished, and even from the alley, Aeris could see fewer people were about. Aeris carefully situated the hood of her cloak back over her head before leaving the alley. Around this time, Master Aaron would be coming home, so she had to walk back to the estate rather than fly.

    The sun had set by time Aeris made it home, leaving the sky dark and foreboding. She slipped into her room, her mind swimming with ideas on how to design a new encryption algorithm. She would need to re-read some of the books in Master Aaron¡¯s study to refresh her memory, some paper, ink, and possibly writing lessons from Maggie. Or perhaps she could ask Maggie to write the documents for her.

    All of the good feelings welling up inside her vanished like smoke in the wind when she saw Maggie and Master Aaron standing in the middle of her room. Both humans were staring daggers at each other and growing progressively redder in the face. Aeris had no idea what they were fighting about, but it seemed far from over.

    ¡°I appreciate your concern, Margret, but as Aeris¡¯ owner, I decide what¡¯s best for her. I¡¯ve grown tired of reminding you of that,¡± Master Aaron said.

    Maggie shook her head, her red curls flying wildly around her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Strauss, but as the one you charged with Aeris¡¯ well-being, I must put my foot down.¡± She stamped as she said this. ¡°She simply isn¡¯t ready for something like this. And it¡¯s entirely unheard of.¡±

    Aeris crept into the corner and wiggled out of her cloak. She had seen Maggie and Master Aaron disagree on many topics¡ªmostly involving her, but she had never seen them argue like this before.

    ¡°Unheard of or not, I see no reason why Aeris shouldn¡¯t do it,¡± Master Aaron said, his voice rising with every word, but stopping short of shouting. ¡°After all, just because it¡¯s never been done, doesn¡¯t mean that it shouldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°But what about Aeris?¡± Maggie cried. ¡°You never even asked her opinion on the matter. How do you know she even wants this?¡±

    ¡°Because I know my dragon. She and Reks get along so well together; why would she say no?¡±

    Aeris tilted her head in confusion. There had been no incidents like their first meeting, and Reks enjoyed their reading lessons. Every time she was asked, she told everyone she got along well with Reks¡ªone of the few times she didn¡¯t have to lie. She didn¡¯t understand what had Maggie so upset.

    Maggie¡¯s face turned a deeper shade of red. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Strauss, but the very idea of it is unspeakable! Aeris is already confused and feels ostracized from her kind. This will only make things worse!¡±

    Master Aaron gave a short sarcastic laugh. ¡°Her own kind? The first time she tried to converse with her ¡®own kind¡¯ the barbarian drake tried to kill her! Maybe she shouldn¡¯t worry so much about dragon traditions. Besides, this is civilization, not some wild dragon clan.¡±

    ¡°But, Lord Strauss, marriage is such¡ª¡±

    ¡°Marriage?!¡± Aeris cried. She regretted the outburst immediately. She had been taught to hold her tongue whenever her master or any human were speaking, and she not only violated that rule but exposed her eavesdropping as well.

    Maggie and Master Aaron froze, the anger in their faces now replaced with shock. They slowly faced the corner where Aeris hid. Maggie¡¯s hand flew to her mouth. Master Aaron¡¯s face turned pale.

    Aeris rushed forward, bowing low. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! Please forgive me. I had no idea you were here.¡±

    A pair of hands gently forced Aeris to look upward into Maggie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Aeris, you have done nothing to apologize for. I should be apologizing to you for failing you.¡±

    ¡°Margret, stop being so dramatic,¡± Master Aaron said. ¡°Aeris is not in any danger. This is a happy moment for her.¡±

    Maggie¡¯s grip tightened, but it felt so nice having the woman acknowledge her again, Aeris didn¡¯t care.

    Stepping forward with a wide smile on his face, Master Aaron said, ¡°Aeris, I was hoping to tell you this once things were underway, but I guess there¡¯s little point in hiding it. I have arranged for you to wed Reks.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t know what to say, or if she should say something. She didn¡¯t know much about marriage. In all the stories she had read, marriage was supposed to be a happy occasion, but she wondered why were they arguing if that were the case.

    ¡°Lord Strauss, please reconsider.¡± Maggie stood and led Master Aaron to the corner. Although she lowered her voice, Aeris could still clearly hear every word being said, ¡°Aeris doesn¡¯t know the first thing about marriage, and what do we truly know about this Reks? Dragons have different views and customs from humans; we don¡¯t know how he¡¯ll treat her.¡±

    ¡°I understand, Margret. But you know I would never have even considered the idea if I felt Aeris was in any sort of danger.¡±

    Maggie lowered her gaze, her exhaustion clear in her face, looking as if she suddenly aged ten years. Aeris always hated seeing her that way. It always made her feel she asked too much of the woman.

    Master Aaron smiled, clearly pleased there would be no further discussion of the matter. ¡°Now, Aeris, I do not want you to worry about a thing. I will handle all of the planning.¡±

    Maggie nodded, but continued to stare at the floor. Aeris wanted to comfort the woman, but she couldn¡¯t even begin to understand why Maggie was so upset in the first place. Certainly Master Aaron didn¡¯t intend to place her in harm¡¯s way.

    But Aeris never got the chance as Maggie left the room without another word or waiting for a reply. Aeris walked over to her mattress, feeling more confused than ever. If she were married to Reks, what did that mean? Was he going to live here? Did she have to move out? And what about Windor? They hadn¡¯t defined their relationship, but would it be okay to continue to go out with him once she had a husband? She decided Lilith may be able to answer those questions for her later. Right now she just wanted everything to be normal and simple.

    So much for having the best of both worlds.

 Chapter 13: Grounded

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 13: Grounded</h2>

    <hr>

    Usually, seeing Reks filled Aeris with joy because it meant she could visit Aubrey. Now his presence was only a reminder of the sudden turn her life had taken.

    It didn¡¯t help that she started getting terrible headaches for some reason. It had to be the stress. Between sneaking out and keeping the reading lessons a secret, she already had trouble sleeping some nights. She made a point of hiding it from Master Aaron and Maggie. They were already fretting over her health. Maggie still refused to look Aeris in the eye. Any interactions were kept brief and responses were always stiff and hurried.

    Aeris really needed someone to talk to now more than ever, but no one was available. It was near impossible to get Lillith alone anymore, Aeris feared Aubrey¡¯s reaction to her getting married, and she still had no idea what to say to Windor. To make matters worse, flying was now forbidden to prevent any risk of injury. She tried sneaking in a flight once, but Master Aaron saw her and became so upset, it took an hour to calm him down. She felt so guilty for worrying him like that, she couldn¡¯t dare bring herself to do it again.

    So to keep herself sane, she was forced to wander the gardens. It wasn''t bad, but it was best suited for warmer weather. The smells and feelings of isolation were so much different here when the weather turned cold. But there was nowhere else to go. Her break-ins to her master''s study had to be done sparingly. On many days, he spent most of his time there. On others, he hovered over her whenever Reks wasn''t around.

    ¡°Is something wrong, Aeris?¡± Lilith asked.

    Aeris craned her neck to look at the woman behind her. Master Aaron wasn¡¯t with Lilith this time, meaning she could freely for once. ¡°I¡¯m worried about getting married.¡±

    Lilith sat down on a nearby bench folded her hands in her lap. ¡°Oh? That¡¯s perfectly normal you know. Marriage is a big step in any relationship.¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t really know Reks," Aeris argued. "I spend time with him, but that''s all we do. And what about Windor? I haven''t told him yet, and I don''t know what this means for us. I really like him. What if he gets upset?"

    Lilith smiled, making Aeris tilt her head in confusion, failing to find the humor in the situation. ¡°Aeris, you are making too big a deal over this. If you¡¯re so worried about how Windor will react then simply don¡¯t tell him. You said yourself you don¡¯t have strong feelings for Reks. The two of you can remain married and see other dragons in secret. Humans have these sort of arrangements all the time.¡±

    Aeris rolled over to get a better look at Lilith. She scanned the woman¡¯s face for any signs it was a joke. Her stomach knotted when she saw Lilith wasn¡¯t joking. Surely, she¡¯s joking. An affair? Aeris thought. More lies and sneaking around? Is this what my life had become?

    "It''s okay, you know," Lilith said. "I promise you, humans do this sort of thing all the time." She walked over and stroked Aeris'' back. Her movements were stiff and awkward as they always were. "Aaron won''t mind so long as it makes you happy, so all you need to do is focus on the things you enjoy. You don''t want to cause him any undue stress, right?"

    Aeris stood and walked back toward her room. Lilith¡¯s words rang loudly in Aeris¡¯ head. Master Aaron¡¯s happiness was one of the few things that mattered to her. All the insults and other things she put up with to prevent causing her master trouble. ¡° ¡®It¡¯s okay?¡¯ No, it¡¯s not okay,¡± she mumbled. If word got out that she was having an affair, the scandal would hurt her master¡¯s business. She had seen it happen at the human parties, the whispers, the shaming, the condescending stares. After causing so much trouble for her master, how could she even think of causing more?

    ¡°You know, I heard the most interesting rumor today,¡± Lilith called after her.

    Aeris froze. Something about Lilith¡¯s words sent a chill through her. But that phrase meant nothing; Lilith could be talking about anything. There were tons of rumors floating around.

    Lilith walked toward her. Aeris held her tail stiffly behind her to prevent it from wrapping around her body. No amount of reassuring thoughts could quell the desperation she felt crying out to run as far and as fast as possible from the situation. But to do that would be admitting guilt. She didn''t even know what the rumor was. If it wasn''t something to worry about, there would be if she panicked. Lilith leaned and whispered into Aeris'' ear, "I heard someone''s been teaching dragons how to read."

    Aeris felt light-headed. ¡°W-Where did you hear that?¡±

    "People talk," Lilith said, shrugging. "Now, Aeris, you haven''t heard anything, have you? This is a very worrying rumor."

    ¡°But what does it matter if dragons can read?¡±

    "Well, what reason could they possibly have for wanting to read?" Lilith replied with a small chuckle. Her smile quickly faded, however. "They have an ulterior motive. I have never met a dragon who desired to learn anything. You''re a dragon, Aeris, when have you ever felt a need to learn something?"

    ¡°Actually, I would love to learn how to read,¡± Aeris said, emphasizing her annoyance. She almost smiled at the look of horror on Lilith¡¯s face. ¡°Maggie reads to me all the time, and it would be wonderful if I could read those stories for myself.¡±

    The shock didn¡¯t last long. Lilith composed herself and the smile returned. ¡°Aeris, surely you don¡¯t mean that. Could you imagine how dangerous it would be for you if someone heard you wanted to read? Imagine what Aaron would think.¡±

    Aeris said nothing; Maggie had already given her the speech of the dangers of learning. Even knowing the risks, she did it anyway. She asked Maggie to teach her until the woman relented, and it was worth it. Before meeting Aubrey, reading was Aeris¡¯ window into the world. There was so much to experience, and reading helped alleviate her boredom. She wouldn¡¯t give that up for anything and wouldn¡¯t ask anyone else to do the same. So what if Master Aaron didn¡¯t like it? Aeris wasn¡¯t going to keep anyone from the experience.

    The smile slid off Lilith¡¯s face. She straightened up and stared coldly at Aeris. ¡°Looks like someone has sharper claws than she would have everyone believe. But I don¡¯t think you quite understand the situation you¡¯re putting yourself in.¡± She folded her hands in front of her and said in a strong parental tone, ¡°Unless you plan to use them, you shouldn¡¯t bare your fangs.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t respond and started to walk back to her room. Maybe she should bare her fangs more. She was tired of playing the ¡°good¡± dragon and regretted nothing. All those lessons on manners and etiquette, yet it seemed she was the only one being reprimanded for speaking her mind.

    A breeze brought Reks¡¯ scent to her nose. She lifted her head to see the Horntail, his master Zachery Bachmann, and Master Aaron standing in the yard. She sighed and approached the group.

    Looking at Reks only reminded her of what was expected of her, so she kept her gaze on her master. The man I lie to every day, she thought, her guilt worsening with every step. The man who put his trust in me which I betrayed. The same trust I plan to betray today. She needed to see Aubrey and tell her about the rumors. Aeris owed her that much.

    When she reached the others, she bowed and said, ¡°Good morning, everyone.¡± Straightening up, she put on the best smile she could. Just like at the countless human parties she attended with her master, she never showed weakness. Hide it all behind a mask of smiles and courtesy. Reks wore his unease on his face. Instead of returning the greeting as their masters did, he stared at the ground.

    ¡°Reks, is that any way to act around your bride-to-be?¡± Mr. Bachmann asked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re suddenly nervous now? I don¡¯t remember teaching you to be a coward.¡± He chuckled at some unknown joke and slapped the dragon hard on the back. ¡°Come now, females prefer a male who is always in control.¡±

    Reks chuckled along though it was clear he didn¡¯t find it amusing. ¡°G-Good morning, Aeris.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not a coward,¡± Aeris said, annoyed. ¡°And I don¡¯t like you calling him one.¡±

    The three males stared at Aeris in shock. It didn¡¯t feel strange. There was no nervousness, no worry. Only the desire to maintain the firm stance she had taken. Just like those moments before. No, this was different. She felt in full control of herself. Even seeing the look of horror on her master¡¯s face, she felt no regrets.

    Master Aaron recovered first. ¡°Aeris! What¡¯s gotten into you?¡±

    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s all right, Aaron,¡± Mr. Bachmann said. ¡°After all, it¡¯s only right for a wife to stand by her husband, isn¡¯t it?¡± He nudged Reks and glared at the Horntail. ¡°And what of you? Are you going to let your wife fight your battles for you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he is,¡± Aeris replied sternly. ¡°Mr. Bachmann, for dragons, the females are in charge. So, yes, I¡¯m going to fight his battles. Now is there a problem?¡±

    Mr. Bachmann took a step back, turning to Master Aaron to say something. Master Aaron looked just as stunned.

    ¡°Hey, Aeris, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to show me something way over there on the other side of the estate?¡± Reks said quickly as he steered Aeris away from the two humans. Throwing one last disapproving stare at Mr. Bachmann, Aeris allowed herself to be led away. Reks waited until their masters were well out of earshot before he turned to Aeris and said, ¡°Are you insane?! You have no idea what he¡¯s going to do to me once we get home.¡±

    ¡°He wants us to get married; he can¡¯t risk jeopardizing that,¡± Aeris said calmly. ¡°Why do you let him talk to you that way? You are very quick to yell at me whenever I do something wrong.¡±

    Reks gave a short sarcastic laugh. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re one to talk. When¡¯s the last time you told your master no?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s different. My master never insulted me, and he never would¡¯ve done it in front of guests. Everything my master has done, he did out of love.¡±

    ¡°So you say. At least I know where I stand with my master.¡±

    Aeris decided not to argue further. They had enough things to worry about without being at each others¡¯ throats. ¡°Let¡¯s just get to Aubrey¡¯s. By the way, we shouldn¡¯t tell her about the marriage.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like Master Aaron. If she finds out he arranged for me to be married, she might call off the business deal with him. I can¡¯t take that risk.¡±

    Reks was silent for a moment. It seemed he had accepted the explanation until he replied, ¡°You don¡¯t owe him anything you know.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Aeris stopped and glared at the Horntail. ¡°Master Aaron is nothing but nice to me. He treats me well and takes care of me. I owe him everything.¡±

    Reks stared back, but with pity instead of anger. ¡°I used to call you stupid and na?ve to annoy you, but now I see you really don¡¯t know anything. And I see why.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s get to Aubrey¡¯s.¡±

    The walk to Aubrey¡¯s was long and awkward. Reks didn¡¯t say anything which Aeris was glad for. Just when it seemed they had found common ground, he had to go and say something like that. Why couldn¡¯t anyone understand? Like it or not, she was indebted to her master. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t take long before other thoughts distracted her from Reks calling her a puppet again. When she wasn¡¯t thinking about the wedding, she was thinking about Lilith¡¯s suggestion. But she couldn¡¯t do it. Meeting Windor was one of the best things to happen to her. Throwing it all away felt wrong although an affair didn¡¯t feel much better. A life of secrets and sneaking around didn¡¯t sound like fun. But isn¡¯t that what I¡¯m doing now, lying and sneaking around? She wondered. But if I hate it so much, why do I keep doing it? How long can I keep this up, or do I expect my Master to one day be okay with it?

    The feelings of anxiety and guilt eased a little when they arrived at Aubrey¡¯s. Helen greeted them at the door as she always did. Aubrey was waiting for them in the yard. She seemed in a good mood which only worsened Aeris¡¯ guilt knowing the Ravager¡¯s good feelings weren¡¯t going to last.

    Instead, Aeris avoided the subject and started their reading lessons. The lessons went very smoothly. They read one chapter each from a horror story Helen picked and did very well. The distraction pushed Aeris¡¯ troubles away, but the thoughts remained at the edge of her mind like the way darkness lingered outside the glow of a lamp¡¯s dying flame. As the day went on, the darkness drew closer, threatening to swallow her whole. She did everything she could to hide her fears from Aubrey, hoping to have a solution when the reveal inevitably came. But nothing she thought of helped. No solution seemed to work or even sounded feasible.

    After their lessons were over, Aubrey approached Aeris and asked, "Are you going to tell me what''s going on, or do you plan to make me drag it out of you?"

    Aeris turned to Reks who refused to meet her gaze. She turned back to Aubrey, feeling the same way she did when Maggie caught her in a lie. There was no way around it, so Aeris decided to come out and say it. ¡°There¡¯s a rumor going around that dragons are learning to read,¡± Aeris said.

    Aubrey¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you sure? Has anyone said any specifics? Do they know about us?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Aubrey sighed heavily and slapped her tail against the ground in irritation. ¡°This is a problem. If the wrong humans learn of this, it could cause problems for all of us. I have enough to deal with as a dragon in charge of a human household. And you two are already looked down upon for being domesticates. What I don¡¯t understand is how¡ª¡± A low growl stopped her mid-sentence as she turned to Reks, the look in her eyes saying everything Aeris needed to know. ¡°Come here.¡±

    Reks turned around and kept his head down as he walked toward Aubrey. He sat down before the Ravager, his eyes closed tightly, and kept his body tense as if expecting a physical lashing. Judging from the anger in Aubrey''s expression, Aeris suspected he was right to be afraid.

    ¡°Everyone here are the only ones who know about the reading lessons,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°Neither Helen nor myself have said anything, and Aeris would never start a rumor that would put her in a bad place with her caretaker.¡± Her tail slapped against the ground like the crack of a whip, making Aeris and Reks flinch. ¡°Which only leaves you, Reks. I¡¯m only going to ask once: What did you do?¡±

    It never occurred to Aeris that Reks would be the cause of the rumors. Thinking about it now, it made sense. The Horntail enjoyed bragging, and she had to warn Reks to keep his voice down on several occasions.

    ¡°I¡­I was trying to impress someone,¡± Reks said lamely. ¡°She really liked that I knew how to read. But I got carried away, and I let it slip that someone taught me.¡±

    ¡°You fool!¡± Aubrey shouted as she stomped toward him. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done?!¡±

    Reks gave a frightened squeal and stumbled backward falling onto his back. Aubrey stood over him, cutting off any hope of escape, glaring at the cowering Horntail. Already the largest dragon there, she somehow made him appear even smaller. Something she could easily crush underfoot.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Reks cried. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to cause trouble!¡±

    ¡°Lady Aubrey, please control yourself!¡± Helen said. She stepped forward, her face full of fear, but remained out of reach of Aubrey¡¯s tail and claws. ¡°If you harm him, Aeris will be the one who gets blamed.¡±

    Aubrey continued to stare at Reks as if contemplating whether it would be worth the trouble to teach him a lesson. She snarled and flipped the table with her tail, knocking the books and cups of tea to the ground. With one final growl, she turned away from Reks and went inside.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her that upset before,¡± Aeris said.

    Helen began gathering the tea-soaked books. ¡°You¡¯ll have to forgive Lady Aubrey. She¡¯s been under a lot of stress, and these rumors could be very damaging for her. She has many enemies, and they may grow desperate should they learn she¡¯s teaching dragons to read. That would be dangerous for her and a great many people.¡± She took the books inside, leaving Aeris and Reks alone.

    ¡°We¡¯re not dumb beasts,¡± Aeris said, stamping on the ground. ¡°Why is it so dangerous for dragons to begin reading?¡±

    Reks, still laying on the ground, said nothing. Aeris felt no sympathy toward the Horntail. All that talk about her being the na?ve one, and look at the situation he had caused.

    ¡°Because it calls a lot of things into question,¡± Helen said calmly as she returned to the yard with a broom and pan. She began picking up the larger pieces of glass. ¡°It would mean humans have no choice but to acknowledge dragons¡¯ intelligence. But in that case, what does it mean to have one as a pet? Does that mean we are enslaving you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a slave.¡±

    ¡°Not all cages have bars,¡± Aubrey said from the back door. Her fury gone, she now looked small and tired. For the first time, Aeris saw a creature that had been alive for over a century. Old and worn out, stretched over a long line of experiences and troubles. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aeris, but we¡¯ll need to cancel our lessons for the foreseeable future. Until I deal with these rumors, we can¡¯t risk anyone learning the truth. Not at such a delicate time.¡±

    There was no point in arguing. Aeris didn¡¯t like it, but causing Aubrey trouble meant potentially causing Master Aaron trouble. There was no choice but to acquiesce. So long as they stopped meeting, there would be no proof and soon the rumors would be dismissed.

    ¡°But I can still come and visit, right?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°Of course you can. My door is always open to you,¡± Aubrey replied. She threw a dark glare back at Reks who still lay on the ground. ¡°You will also accompany her. It¡¯s obvious you can¡¯t be trusted, and the less time you¡¯re left to your devices, the better.¡±

    Reks opened his mouth to say something, but a withering glare from Aubrey made him snap his muzzle closed and nod.

    ¡°Good. Now Aeris, I think it¡¯s best if you go,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°I need time to think, and I¡¯m sick of looking at him.¡±

    In silence, Aeris bowed and motioned for Reks to follow her as she left Aubrey¡¯s mansion. Part of her wished she had left Reks behind. Why didn¡¯t she see he was the one responsible when it was so obvious? She snorted at her foolishness. It had become a bad habit, overlooking the obvious and refusing to see people¡¯s flaws, and she had gotten sick of it.

    They had lunch at Aubrey''s which meant it was late afternoon by the time they returned to Aeris'' room. The sun had not quite begun setting, but the sky had begun to darken. Aeris almost forgot during the cold months the sun set sooner. She would need to be more careful about her schedule.

    Reks didn¡¯t speak again until they were inside the room. When he spoke, his voice was small and timid. ¡°Aeris, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°What is the matter with you?¡± Aeris interjected harshly. Reks flinched from every word as if it stung him. ¡°And we¡¯re supposed to be getting married. Did you ever stop to think about how this would affect our masters? All that talk about me being the fool and then you do this?¡±

    ¡°I said I was sorry,¡± Reks mumbled.

    ¡°Sorry isn¡¯t good enough!¡±

    Reks stared at the floor and traced a circle in the dirt with his claw. ¡°There¡¯s this female I really like, and once we get married, I won¡¯t be able to see her anymore. It was stupid to tell her, but she was so impressed that I could read it just slipped out.¡±

    Aeris couldn¡¯t stay mad at him. It was hard to believe Reks feared anything except his master¡¯s disapproval. ¡°You know, if you wanted to see her after we get married, I wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± she said.

    Reks lifted his head, wearing a look of confusion. ¡°Why would you do that?¡±

    ¡°Because I want to help you.¡± It had nothing to do with her desire to see Windor. She truly wanted Reks to be happy. Over the last few weeks, she learned that Horntail had it much worse than she did. He deserved to have some happiness. Even if he had been nicer to her initially, she doubted he would still want to marry her. Neither of them had any warning, and no one consulted them to ask what they thought about it. What plans for the future they had. They were expected to smile and nod and go along with it without complaint.

    For once they were going to do something for themselves. Perhaps Lilith was onto something. Since humans did it so often, what would it hurt if they did the same? No needed to know. It would be their secret.

    Reks turned away. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Why are you so nice to me? After the way I treated you, you never held a grudge or hated me.¡±

    ¡°Would you rather I wasn¡¯t?¡± Aeris said as she stepped closer. ¡°Maggie always¡ª¡± she hesitated for a moment at remembering that her closest friend and parental figure wasn¡¯t talking to her now. But this was about Reks, not her; she took a deep breath and continued, ¡°Maggie always said, revenge and hatred are like poison. They can kill you slowly or quickly, but that¡¯s all it¡¯ll ever be good for. Yes, you were mean to me, but I can¡¯t hate you for that.¡± She sat beside Reks and folded her wing around his body much like what Aubrey had done with her. ¡°Besides, we¡¯ll be seeing a lot more of each other, so we might as well learn to get along.¡±

    Before Reks could respond, Master Aaron came into the room. He noticed the two dragons sitting together and quickly cleared his throat. ¡°Forgive me for interrupting, but Reks, your master says it¡¯s time to go. And I would like a moment alone to speak with Aeris if you please.¡±

    Reks gave Aeris a sympathetic look, ¡°I¡ª¡±

    "You can give me your answer later," Aeris said, smiling. "Just think on it for a while."

    With a quick nod, Reks left the room. Master Aaron waited a few moments before turning to Aeris and asking, ¡°What was that about?¡±

    ¡°Nothing important, master. You said you wanted to speak with me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we need to talk,¡± Master Aaron said, his tone firm, indicating he was upset. ¡°Now, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into you, but I don¡¯t like it. First the Everfields and now this? You need to apologize to Zachery the next time he visits, and you will behave yourself from now on, understood?¡±

    Aeris looked her master in the eye and said, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± The firmness gone from his voice and replaced with disbelief.

    ¡°I said, no,¡± Aeris repeated in the same calm tone while maintaining eye-contact. ¡°He was wrong to speak about Reks that way and I won¡¯t apologize for standing up for him. I¡¯m sorry, master, but I will no longer put up with being insulted to my face.¡±

    ¡°Wh-Where did this come from? Aeris, I understand if you want people to respect you, but that is something you earn.¡±

    ¡°It works both ways. From now on, I refuse to respect anyone who cannot perform a simple courtesy.¡± A feeling of confidence began to build in her chest. Despite her objections, she would go through with the wedding, but only for her master¡¯s sake. No longer would she be a burden on him. No longer would her naivete and failure to act put him in awkward situations. She would be more independent and stand up for herself.

    Master Aaron continued to stare at Aeris like something he had never seen before. His confidence returned slowly as he clenched his fists at his side. ¡°Aeris, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s gotten into you, but I don¡¯t like it. Now you will apologize to Mr. Bachmann when you see him again.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then you leave me no choice. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to go without supper tonight.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ mouth fell open. Not once had Master Aaron ever withheld a meal from her. Even after her outburst with the Everfields, she still received regular meals. ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡±

    "I can, and I will," Master Aaron shot back. "It seems this is the only thing that will get through to you. This is a very delicate time for me, and I will not have it ruined with your disobedience. I''ve tolerated your other slip-ups over the years, but it seems the only way you''ll learn is if I''m more firm with you." He headed back toward the door. "Until you decide you''re ready to apologize, you will spend your days here, and you will not receive any supper or sweets." He left the room, slamming the door behind him.

    Aeris went to her mattress. She had finally done it; she took charge and stood up for herself, and it got her nothing but trouble. This time there wasn''t the usual feeling of regret for her actions. Zachery was wrong to treat Reks that way and she would gladly tell the human off again given the chance. Since she was going to be stuck inside for a while, she decided to work on the new encryption for Cutter. She had already taken the books to study the day before and hid them under her mattress. Taking one of the books, she curled up on her mattress and began reading. She couldn''t write and didn''t have the materials to write with so she was forced to commit her findings to memory.

    Time passed much faster than she expected, and by the time she looked up again, it had gotten dark out. Usually, Maggie came in at night to light the lamp for Aeris, but she didn''t come this time. Aeris had read several books on the subject and knew how to light a fire herself. Taking a long strip of metal from her collectibles (she had no idea what the piece of metal was or why she chose to keep it) she held it close to the lamp and stuck the strip of metal with her claws. Eventually, it caused a spark that allowed her to light the lamp. Taking the lamp in her jaws and standing on her hind legs, she replaced the lamp to its hook on the ceiling.

    After a few more hours, her stomach growled and it became hard to concentrate. She drank water from the trough until her stomach was full, but it didn¡¯t last long. The growls grew louder as if in protest to being ignored.

    Aeris decided she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She would have to sneak into the kitchen and grab something to eat. Before leaving, she slipped the book under the mattress, and just as she turned to leave, there came a light knock on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± Aeris called.

    No response. Aeris tilted her head and approached the door. Even if she wasn¡¯t grounded no one would be knocking on her door. Easing the door open, Aeris poked her head outside and saw no one was there. Just before going back inside, a meaty aroma filled her nose. Someone had left a bowl of food sitting on the grass beside the door. Instead of wondering who left it there, she decided to count her blessings and accept the meal.

    After looking around one last time to see if anyone was watching, Aeris pulled the bowl inside. She quickly ate the food in case someone saw or just happened to come in. There wasn¡¯t much, and it was cold, but she preferred it over going hungry. After eating her fill and licking the bowl clean, she placed the bowl in the corner of the room so it wouldn¡¯t be easily seen and went back to her mattress.

    With her stomach quieted, she wondered who left the bowl of food behind. The only two people who would even bother were Lilith and Maggie. Even though Maggie was avoiding her, Aeris refused to believe the woman had stopped caring about her.

    The next morning, the bowl was gone and there was a note in its place that read:

    Hang in there.

 Chapter 14: Thirst for Knowledge

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 14: Thirst for Knowledge</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris paced in front of the restaurant as she waited for Windor, ignoring the cold winds whipping her face. Passersby ignored her in their rush to get out of the punishing weather. She was unbothered by the harsh weather, unlike the shivering humans who often passed her. The wind was more annoying than anything but only due to it whipping her cloak about and blocking her vision.

    Even if she did, there were more pressing things on her mind. Such as telling Windor about her engagement to Reks. She wanted him to hear it from her. Word spreading was inevitable, so it had to be now before someone else beat her to it. She would do it today after lunch, find a nice secluded place and tell him. Upsetting him was her biggest worry. No matter how many times she told herself there was nothing to worry about, the trepidation remained.

    Her pace increased with her nervosity. Not only had she snuck out again, but she was out of her room when her master hadn¡¯t given her permission to leave. If she were caught, Master Aaron would be very upset. But she would cross that bridge if or when she reached it.

    ¡°Snowflake, what a surprise seeing you here,¡± came a voice Aeris recognized as Cutter¡¯s.

    Aeris spun around to see the Short Snout standing before her. Unlike the other dragons Aeris had seen today, Cutter wore a long evergreen cloak embroidered with a gold trim. It made her look regal and important. Aeris made a mental note to ask where Cutter purchased it later. ¡°Hello, Cutter,¡± Aeris said. ¡°I was going to see you today to tell you¡ª¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t talk business in public,¡± Cutter interjected. ¡°Too many ways for someone to overhear.¡± She motioned for Aeris to follow her as she went inside the restaurant. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s windy as fuck out here.¡±

    Aeris followed Cutter inside, a wave of heat washing over her as she crossed the threshold. The place was packed with humans and dragons and buzzed with conversation. The smell of smoked meat and pipe smoke created a unique scent overpowering any other smells. No one appeared to take notice of them, but Aeris tucked her head further into the hood of her cloak and followed Cutter to the only empty table in the center of the room.

    Janine hurried over to greet the pair the moment they sat down. ¡°Hey there, Cutter and Aeris. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen the two of you here together before.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be meeting Windor here,¡± Aeris said. He was already late. She hoped nothing had happened to him.

    ¡°We just happened to run into each other here,¡± Cutter said. ¡°Can you bring us some drinks? You know I can¡¯t get enough of the ale of this place.¡±

    ¡°Water for me,¡± Aeris said.

    Janine smiled at the two dragons. ¡°Coming right up. Y¡¯all just wait here.¡±

    Cutter watched Janine head into the kitchens before turning and staring at Aeris. Something in her eyes made Aeris uneasy. It wasn¡¯t the usual look; Cutter was scanning for something. ¡°You look different, Snowflake,¡± Cutter said. ¡°There¡¯s a fire in your eyes that wasn¡¯t there before.¡±

    ¡°Is there?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but something¡¯s different,¡± Cutter said slowly, leaning forward until her snout was inches from Aeris. Only the fear of what would happen should she pull away kept Aeris in place. Cutter¡¯s next words sent a chill down her back. ¡°You had your first kill.¡±

    She figured it out that fast? Aeris thought, her tail wrapping around her body. What if someone else figures it out? There was no proof of anything¡ªshe knew that, but she couldn¡¯t stop herself from worrying.

    Cutter smiled and returned to her seat. ¡°Not bad, Snowflake, looks like you aren¡¯t as delicate as I thought.¡± She leaned onto the table, her tail pointed straight into the air and wagging. ¡°So, don¡¯t make me beg. What happened? Don¡¯t tell me you got sick of your master being a cunt and got rid of him?¡±

    ¡°Wh-What? No! I would never harm my master. I¡ª¡± Aeris froze upon feeling a strange feeling at her back as if someone¡¯s hand hovered close to her but not quite touching. Instinct took over and with a loud snarl, she whirled on her would be attacker.

    An Aquarian Short Snout standing behind her cried out and jumped backward, slamming into the nearby table. The cups of ale the two humans at the table were drinking fell over and spilled into their laps. An uncomfortable silence fell over the room as the humans jumped to their feet with a string of curses and glared at the dragon.

    ¡°Hey, what do you think you¡¯re¡ª¡± one of the humans, a rather skinny man with a large beard, said. He stopped short, his face going pale. ¡°O-Oh, Cutter. I didn¡¯t see you there.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you did, but you were more worried about getting ale all over your dick,¡± Cutter replied calmly. ¡°Anyway, my friend here is very sorry. How about I buy the next round to make up for it?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah, sure. Thank you, Cutter.¡± He turned to the other human who quickly raised his hands and stepped back, clearly not wanting to weigh in on the situation.

    Cutter gave a quick nod in response before leaning toward Aeris and whispering. ¡°By the way, that¡¯s coming out of your pay, Snowflake.¡±

    Aeris was too grateful the situation had been resolved to care much about the docking of her first pay. The Short Snout she had startled remained where he was. He looked almost the exact opposite of Cutter, and not just him clearly lacking her confidence. Instead of the same luminous sea-green scales she had, his body was a much darker shade of green, almost the same dark shade as Cutter¡¯s cloak. There was also a lack of scars on his body. Aeris assumed it meant he was a domesticate. Every domesticate she encountered lacked scars.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for scaring you like that,¡± Aeris said. She questioned why she reacted that way in the first place. It wasn¡¯t like her to be so jittery. ¡°Was there something you needed?¡±

    The dragon played with his claws. ¡°Um, I¡¯m very sorry to interrupt. I just¡­ Are you Aeris?¡±

    Before Aeris could answer, Cutter cut in with, ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡±

    ¡°I-I am. My n-name is Lanry,¡± the dragon said, his voice quavering. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Aeris. I heard she has beautiful light blue scales.¡±

    ¡°Look at you, Snowflake, getting requests from all kinds of males,¡± Cutter said teasingly.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that at all,¡± Lanry said, shaking his head firmly. His expression changed to horror. ¡°N-Not that I don¡¯t mean I wouldn¡¯t! You are certainly attractive and all¡ª¡±

    ¡°It was a joke,¡± Cutter said, annoyed. ¡°But the shit¡¯s not funny anymore, so get back to why you¡¯re bothering us before I beat it out of you.¡±

    Lanry¡¯s scales turned a lighter shade of green. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± he bowed, his snout touching the floor, and said, ¡°Could you teach me how to r¡ª¡±

    He stopped short and stiffened when Cutter slapped her tail against the table hard enough to silence everyone in the room. Looking around, Aeris noticed everyone wearing the same fearful expression and avoiding looking in their direction.

    ¡°Come with me,¡± Cutter ordered. ¡°You, too, Snowflake.¡± She walked toward a door at the far end of the room, motioning for them to follow. Lanry didn¡¯t hesitate to obey. Aeris quickly followed as well.

    The walk was short, but it felt like an eternity to Aeris. Even without finishing his question, she knew what he wanted to ask her; the drake would¡¯ve asked her to teach him to read. Her mind raced with questions of how long before word got back to Master Aaron and what he would do if he found out. Should she deny the whole thing? Flat out refuse him? She didn¡¯t want to say no, but didn¡¯t feel saying yes would end much better. They were supposed to be keeping the rumors to a minimum.

    Cutter ushered them into a small room. It lacked any furniture or decoration, but flat cushions lay on the floor. With three dragons it was a little cramped, but there was no way Aeris was going to complain. She quietly sat on the cushion though it was so flat it felt like sitting on a piece of cloth. The moment Cutter slammed the door closed, Lanry immediately adopted a submissive position, dropping to the floor, his head bowed and refusing to make eye-contact. ¡°Please forgive me!¡± he cried. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to upset you.¡±

    ¡°Next time, keep your damn voice down,¡± Cutter said. She sat on the remaining cushion and looked down at Lanry. Again, Aeris felt a strange pressure pushing down on her, but it didn¡¯t feel as strong this time and she didn¡¯t feel the need to bow in reverence. ¡°What the fuck was going through your head, thinking you could just blurt out a request like that?¡±

    Lanry slowly lifted his head and said to Aeris, ¡°I need to help my family, but in order to do that, I need coin.¡±

    ¡°So get a job working security,¡± Cutter said. ¡°Or pull carts. Plenty of places like hiring dragons for that sort of work.¡±

    ¡°But so many dragons do that sort of work already,¡± Lanry said. He motioned to his body. ¡°And look at me. No one will want someone like me working security, and I¡¯m not strong enough for hard labor.¡± He threw himself at Aeris¡¯ paws. ¡°Please. I¡¯ll do whatever you ask. My master won¡¯t say it, but he needs help. If things continue, my family may be forced to send me away.¡± He whined as his body trembled. ¡°They¡¯re all I have! I can¡¯t bring myself to leave them.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t want to say anything, but the drake did seem a bit on the skinny side. And if he were this jumpy, working security was out of the question. Seeing Lanry beg her like this was such a pitiful sight. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you,¡± she said.

    Lanry lifted his head, his tail wagging slightly. ¡°Y-You will?¡±

    ¡°You sure about that, Snowflake?¡± Cutter asked. ¡°He can¡¯t exactly use that to get a job.¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Aeris said. ¡°I can¡¯t turn my back on him knowing he needs help. Lanry, do you know the Patel family?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of them, but I¡¯ve never met them.¡±

    ¡°Well, there is a dragon by the name of Aubrey with them. I want you to go to her mansion a week from today. Tell them I sent you.¡± Reks was scheduled for another visit that day, so it would be easy to coordinate a meeting. She didn¡¯t like breaking her promise to Aubrey, but she hoped the Ravager would understand. Aubrey often talked about wanting to help other dragons, so Aeris hoped all it would take was an explanation of Lanry¡¯s plight to change her mind.

    Lanry bounced in place, a wide grin adorning his face. ¡°Oh, thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me! I¡¯ll see you next week!¡± He hurried to the door.

    Cutter extended her wing into his path, stopping the drake short. ¡°Keep your fucking mouth shut about this or else money troubles will be the least of your family¡¯s problems.¡± When Lanry nodded, she lowered her wing and let him leave.

    Aeris remained in her seat. It was clear from Cutter¡¯s voice and posture she was upset with the outcome. Cutter sighed heavily and headed for the door. ¡°Dammit, Snowflake. You just don¡¯t know how to make things easy, do you? Looks like we need to talk, but not here. If we stay here much longer, people will wonder what we¡¯re up to.¡±

    Aeris followed in silence. Their drinks sat waiting for them on the table, but Cutter continued walking. It wasn¡¯t until seeing the cup of water that Aeris realized how thirsty she was, but she followed Cutter outside. The wind slapped Aeris in the face the moment she left the restaurant. Cutter growled and the gust died almost as if fearing her wrath. Aeris knew the idea of a dragon controlling the weather was silly, but she still shivered at the thought of how furious Cutter was with her. That same fear kept her from stopping at the sight of Windor walking toward them.

    ¡°Aeris, there you are,¡± Windor said. ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late. I had to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not now,¡± Cutter said. ¡°Snowflake and I need to have a long chat.¡±

    Windor fell silent. Aeris avoided looking at him and continued following Cutter down the street. Aeris added an apology to the list of things she would need to tell him later. Thinking of a proper apology distracted her from the thoughts of what Cutter planned to say, and also what Aubrey would likely say when Lanry showed up at her door.

    Cutter led Aeris back to the brothel. Aeris wondered why they needed to come here but chose to keep her questions to herself and followed Cutter into the back room.

    ¡°Sit,¡± Cutter ordered, jabbing her tail at the cushions lined against the wall. After Aeris sat down, Cutter turned to her and said, ¡°Please explain to me why you want to make yourself a target?¡±

    Aeris knew a lie wasn¡¯t going to work, so she decided to settle for the truth. ¡°I wanted to help him. I know the humans won¡¯t like dragons learning to read, but I don¡¯t care. He needed my help, and I wasn¡¯t going to ignore him.¡± It filled her with pride to say it out loud. She stared defiantly at Cutter. Regardless of what happened next, Aeris planned to stand her ground.

    To Aeris¡¯ surprise, Cutter began laughing. ¡°You went and grew a big pair of balls,¡± she said. Her smile dropped as quickly as something falling to the floor. ¡°But the real question is, are you ready to deal with the consequences? Listen, Snowflake, if you were any other dragon, I wouldn¡¯t give a damn, but in your case, you need to be careful.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head as she looked at Cutter. ¡°What do you mean? What¡¯s so special about me?¡±

    Cutter¡¯s tail tapped against the floor in a hurried, uneven rhythm as her expression turned grim. ¡°You¡¯re an Ardelle Celestial, but I guess I can¡¯t be too surprised you don¡¯t know that. Your kind supposedly died out centuries ago.¡±

    Aeris felt lightheaded. Her tail began to wag furiously as her mind cleared and her chest tightened. She finally knew what she was, but two questions echoed in her mind: What was an Ardelle Celestial, and what did Cutter mean by they died out centuries ago? At that thought, a third question entered her thoughts. If my kind had gone extinct so long ago, how was I born?

    As if reading Aeris¡¯ mind, Cutter said, ¡°That¡¯s an excellent question. How are you here if your kind is dead? I guess history had it wrong when they said you all died out.¡±

    As if snapping out of a trance, Aeris found her voice again. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ve spent weeks going over books and asking anyone I could. No one knew what I was.¡±

    With an annoyed sigh, Cutter stood up and walked over to the window. After looking outside for something, she pulled the curtains closed. ¡°The story is they were killed during the Great Rebellion, but no one was really keeping track of shit back then,¡± Cutter said. ¡°Obviously, they didn¡¯t all die out, but you definitely don¡¯t see them anymore.¡±

    ¡°So what happened to them?¡±

    ¡°First I gotta ask you something: Do you know what a celestial is?¡±

    Aeris nodded vigorously. ¡°It¡¯s a heavenly being. It¡¯s also the color of a clear sky like my scales.¡±

    Cutter nodded. ¡°So you can imagine that a lot of them got their heads stuck up their asses thinking they were actual gods, or the closest thing to one. They got the idea in their heads they should rule over humans and dragons.¡± A quick growl escaped her. ¡°They came pretty damn close, too.¡±

    ¡°They did?¡±

    Cutter nodded again, her expression grim. She retrieved a scroll from the large shelf and flattened it out on the table. Motioning for Aeris to come over, she pointed at a mountain range on the upper half of the map with her claw. ¡°That there is the Ardelle Mountains far to the north of here. That¡¯s where your kind lived, hence the name. Even today, traveling those mountains is dangerous, so most humans avoid it. Of course, that only made your ancestors even more arrogant dumbasses,¡± she finished, rolling her eyes.

    ¡°How do you know all this?¡±

    Cutter chuckled. ¡°Snowflake, I¡¯ve been in the information game for a long time. It¡¯s my job to know things. And trust me, you¡¯re better off getting as many opinions as possible and figuring shit out on your own.¡± Her smile dropped but quickly returned, her gaze distant as if recalling a distant memory. ¡° ¡®History is a broken promise borne on the lips of a liar.¡¯ A friend told me that a long time ago. For the longest time, I had no idea what she meant.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡±

    ¡°One day you will.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t care about ¡°one day¡±. She was focused on right now and learning more about her ancestors and how they nearly died out and why. So many explanations and scenarios flowed through her head, and she needed to learn the truth. ¡°But, Cutter, I still don¡¯t understand why I¡¯m so special. Why did the humans decide to kill my kind?¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t. The dragons did.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t expect that answer. All the feelings of curiosity rushed out of her. But she still had to know, so she asked, ¡°Did you say the¡­dragons killed their own kind?¡±

    ¡°You heard me, Snowflake. They thought the Ardelle Celestials were too dangerous and killed them.¡±

    ¡°But why?¡±

    ¡°A couple of reasons. For one, they could breathe ice instead of fire. They¡¯re the only dragons who can. Ice can be used to attack or defend, making it in many ways harder to deal with.¡± Cutter rolled up the map and returned it to the shelf. ¡°But the main reason is because they wanted to rule over humans and dragons.

    ¡°Before you say it, I¡¯m gonna explain. Dragon clans have a Matriarch leading them, but there is no clan that¡¯s above another. However, if one clan¡¯s Matriarch kills another, that clan gets absorbed into hers. We call it merging. The Icewalkers planned to merge all the clans into one and lead all the dragons.¡±

    ¡° ¡®Icewalkers?¡¯ ¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I like to call them,¡± Cutter explained. She made a face as if tasting something sour. ¡°Calling them ¡®Celestials¡¯ makes my skin crawl. But that¡¯s not the point. The point is, if they merged all the clans into one, they would be unstoppable. The humans have guns, but they don¡¯t have the numbers to take on all of us at once.¡±

    Aeris still didn¡¯t understand what this had to do with her. She had no intention of ruling over anyone, and she failed to see how teaching dragons to read caused any sort of problems.

    Again, Cutter replied as if reading her mind. ¡°My point is the humans might not remember, but the dragon clans do. If they find out you¡¯re teaching domesticates to read, they might get the wrong idea.¡± She leaned in close and emphasized every word as she finished with, ¡°You don¡¯t want that kind of attention.¡±

    ¡°The wrong idea about what? They don¡¯t like domesticates anyway, so what do they care if we learn to read?¡±

    Cutter sighed and laid her head on the table. ¡°The na?ve thing is cute and all, but that shit gets real tiresome fast. Domesticates are the pets of the rich and powerful. Through them, you could rule this place from the shadows. Before long, the whole human race would be your bitch.¡±

    ¡°Cutter, I don¡¯t want to sound rude, but aren¡¯t you overthinking this a little? One dragon asked me to teach him to read and ¡ª¡±

    Cutter slammed her tail against the floor with a resounding crack. Aeris immediately fell silent. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid, Snowflake,¡± Cutter said. ¡°I know all about the rumors, but I assumed someone was making shit up. Wouldn¡¯t be the first time. There¡¯s already more than one dragon taking interest, and you may not know it, but the humans are getting nervous. So you¡¯ll need to decide to bend or fight back.¡±

    That same thought had crossed Aeris¡¯ mind on several occasions. If the humans learned about the reading, she couldn¡¯t simply stop and forget everything she learned. And if it were possible, she didn¡¯t want to. ¡°I want to help them.¡±

    Cutter seemed disappointed, but faint hints of a smile tugged at the corners of her muzzle. ¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll help you. Go home, Snowflake, you have a lot of planning to do.¡±

    ¡°But what about the encryption you wanted?¡±

    ¡°It can wait. For now you need to get home and think about what you¡¯ve done.¡±

    Aeris nodded and left, heading for home. She felt like she was in the middle of a dream. Today¡¯s events ran through her mind as she tried to convince herself it was real. Did I really just learn my origins? She thought. None of the books she had read mentioned anything about an Ardelle Celestial, but she couldn¡¯t think of any reason why Cutter would lie. A smile spread across her face.

    The closer she got to the estate, the more her happy feelings began to fade and the questions surged through her mind. Did Master Aaron know what she was? He did sometimes call her his ¡°little celestial¡±. Up until now, she assumed it had to do with the color of her scales. She tried to shake the thoughts from her mind, telling herself Master Aaron would never do anything like that. He loved her and had no reason to lie to her.

    But a small part of herself didn¡¯t believe it. No matter how many times she pushed the doubting thoughts away, they returned and slithered to the front of her mind. If I want to know the truth, I¡¯ll need to see my papers, she thought before breaking into a run back to the estate.

    Aeris went straight to her room upon reaching the estate to remove her cloak. By her estimate, Master Aaron wouldn¡¯t be home yet, and her papers were stored in a box hidden in his bedroom. Her best chance to get the papers would be now before he came home. The moment she entered her room, she saw Maggie sitting on the mattress.

    ¡°Hello, Aeris,¡± Maggie said. Her voice lacked its usual cheerfulness and she looked ragged as if she hadn¡¯t been sleeping. ¡°Out visiting Aubrey again?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Aeris replied. She slipped off her cloak and turned to Maggie, her tail wagging furiously at the woman talking to her again. ¡°Maggie, I have something wonderful to tell you!¡±

    ¡°Please, I have something I want to say first.¡± Maggie patted the empty space next to her. Aeris sat down then laid her head on Maggie¡¯s shoulder and wrapped her tail around the woman¡¯s waist. Maggie reached up and stroked the side of Aeris¡¯ head. They sat that way in silence for several minutes. Aeris didn¡¯t mind at all. It had been so long since she heard Maggie¡¯s voice, felt her touch. Eventually, Maggie broke the silence. ¡°Aeris, I need to apologize. Over the last few weeks, I have been avoiding you, and that was wrong of me. I just want you to know, you did nothing wrong.¡±

    Aeris had no idea why Maggie was bringing this up now, but if it meant the woman would start talking to her, then so be it. Even with Windor and Aubrey keeping her company, the loneliness bothered her.

    With a shuddering breath, Maggie continued. ¡°I know it was wrong to distance myself from you like that. And I know you likely blame yourself. But the truth is, I was afraid you would hate me.¡±

    Aeris turned her head so she could look up at Maggie. ¡°What do you mean? I could never hate you.¡±

    Maggie¡¯s hand trembled slightly as she stroked Aeris¡¯ neck. ¡°Those men who tried to kill me and steal you...It was my fault they were there. They had to have been hired by the man I told you about. I was so blind I didn¡¯t realize he couldn¡¯t be trusted.¡±

    Aeris pulled away from Maggie so she could easily look the woman in the eye. ¡°I don¡¯t hate you. What happened wasn¡¯t your fault. If you knew what they were planning, you never would¡¯ve taken me there.¡±

    With a cry of joy, Maggie wrapped her arms tightly around Aeris¡¯ neck. ¡°Oh, Aeris, I¡¯m so happy to hear that!¡±

    Aeris wanted to talk more, but then she remembered what she wanted to talk about. ¡°Oh! Maggie, I know what I am! I¡¯m an Ardelle Celestial!¡±

    Maggie broke the embrace and frowned. ¡°A what? I¡¯ve never heard of that species. Who told you this?¡±

    ¡°Cutter did,¡± Aeris replied as she bounded for the door. ¡°Come on, Maggie. I need your help.¡±

    ¡°Hold on, who is Cutter? And what do you need my help with?¡±

    ¡°I need to find my papers,¡± Aeris said impatiently. She didn¡¯t want to be rude, but there wasn¡¯t much time before Master Aaron came home, and she didn¡¯t want to wait until tomorrow. ¡°I know where Master Aaron keeps them. Just meet me in his bedroom.¡±

    ¡°Wait, how do you know that? Aeris, come back!¡±

    Aeris slipped out of her room without answering. After they got her papers, she would explain everything to Maggie. She ran straight for the secret passage and squeezed inside, going to Master Aaron¡¯s bedroom. After making sure he wasn¡¯t inside, she entered the room. It was risky, but she left the entrance to the secret passage ajar since she had no idea where the switch to open it again was located. The last time she had to sneak out through the back was terrifying and she didn¡¯t want to go through something like that again.

    She went straight to the corner of the rug covering the compartment and threw it to the side. It was impossible for her to remove the floorboard without damaging the floor so she sat down and waited for Maggie¡¯s arrival.

    Several minutes later, Maggie came into the room. Out of breath, she carefully closed the door and turned to Aeris, ¡°What on earth has gotten into you? Can you slow down for one moment and explain to me what¡¯s going on and how you know all of this?¡±

    ¡°Not now. Master Aaron could come home any moment.¡± Aeris patted the floorboard where the box was stored. ¡°It¡¯s in here.¡±

    ¡°You and I need to have a very long talk later,¡± Maggie said as she crossed the room and removed the floorboard. She stared at the metal box, her eyes wide.

    ¡°What are you ladies in here doing?¡± Charles asked from behind them.

 Chapter 15: Making a Decision

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 15: Making a Decision</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris slowly turned around. She didn¡¯t even hear Charles come into the room. Even without looking at Maggie, she sensed the woman¡¯s nervousness. Aeris¡¯ heart hammered against her chest as she stared into Charles¡¯ cool eyes. Master Aaron wasn¡¯t with him, but it didn¡¯t bring her much comfort.

    ¡°Hello, Charles,¡± Maggie said, her voice quivering slightly. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Fear flooded Charles¡¯ face when his gaze fell upon the box in Maggie¡¯s hands.  ¡°Where did you find that?¡±

    ¡°I want to see my papers,¡± Aeris said.

    Charles continued to stare at the box in Maggie¡¯s hands, his hand clutching at the front of his shirt as if holding something beneath it. ¡°I can¡¯t allow that.¡¯

    ¡°Why not?¡± Maggie asked, the confidence returning to her voice. ¡°They belong to Aeris; you have no right to keep them from her.¡±

    The trepidation left Charles¡¯ eyes and returned to their usual emotionless state. ¡°Correction: They belong to Lord Strauss, and it is up to him whether or not she¡¯ll see them.¡±

    ¡°I want to see my papers,¡± Aeris repeated firmly. A strange feeling began to build in her chest, pushing back her fear. I¡¯m going to get in trouble anyway once, Master Aaron gets home, she thought. So I may as well go all the way.

    Charles¡¯ stepped back, a renewed flicker of fear appeared in his face. ¡°You¡¯ll need to ask¡ª¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking,¡± Aeris said, stepping forward. ¡°I know you have the key, and you¡¯re going to give it to me.¡±

    ¡°Aeris, what are you doing?¡± Maggie asked, her voice growing panicked.

    Aeris continued to slowly stalk toward the man and didn¡¯t reply. She had no intention of harming Charles, but she was fairly certain he didn¡¯t know that. But she also didn¡¯t intend to leave the room without seeing her papers.

    Her threat had the desired effect as Charles backed into the closed door. He fumbled for the knob, but his hand was nowhere it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Aeris commanded. Charles¡¯ arms fell limp at his sides and he stared off into the distance oblivious to the dragon threatening him. ¡°Give me the key.¡±

    Charles reach into his shirt and removed the key without hesitation. Aeris carefully took the key in her jaws and jogged over to Maggie who stared slack-jawed at the old man. It wasn¡¯t until Aeris nudged the woman twice that she snapped out of her trance and took the key.

    The clicking of the lock echoed through the room as Maggie sat the box on the bed and unlocked it. She opened the box and pulled out a set of papers. Aeris bounced in place, her tail wagging furiously as she waited for Maggie to read the documents out loud.

    Maggie frowned, and the good feelings rushed out of Aeris. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t understand,¡± Maggie said. She turned to Charles. ¡°What is this?¡±

    Charles continued to stare into the distance and said nothing. Aeris placed her forepaws on the bed and read the papers in Maggie¡¯s hands. With every line she read, her heart sank. In every section, not including her name, was only a single word: ¡°unknown¡±. Nothing about her was known. Not who her parents were, her species, or how her egg was acquired.

    Aeris slowly turned to Charles. ¡°What is this? Why do my papers say unknown?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re origins are unknown,¡± Charles replied in a monotone voice.

    ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± Maggie asked, stepping protectively in front of Aeris. Aeris wondered the same, but she was more worried about her papers.

    Charles continued in the same monotone voice, ¡°The late Arthur Strauss came home one day, covered in blood, carrying a dragon¡¯s egg. I asked him where the egg came from and all he said was ¡®fixing a mistake and keeping a promise.¡¯ He made me swear never to tell anyone what happened. We forged the papers and told everyone the egg was rescued from poachers.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®fixing a mistake¡¯?¡± Aeris asked. ¡°And what promise are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°You do know!¡± Aeris cried desperately. ¡°Please! I¡¯m so close to finding the truth about what I am! I have to know the truth!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Aeris dropped her head and whined. Maggie gently stroked the back of her neck. Aeris spun and buried her face in Maggie¡¯s stomach, her claws scraping against the floor. She wanted to scream and tear everything apart in frustration, but Maggie¡¯s touch brought her comfort and stayed her fury. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Aeris,¡± Maggie said. ¡°It seems we¡¯ll never find the truth now.¡±

    They both jumped at a sudden knock at the door followed by Lydia¡¯s voice. ¡°Hello? Is someone in there?¡±

    ¡°Aeris, go,¡± Maggie whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll put everything away.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t want to leave Maggie alone, but she obeyed and hurried through the secret entrance in the wall, closing the door behind her. Instead of going back to her room, she stayed and watched Maggie from behind the screen. Maggie hurriedly put the papers inside the box before closing and locking it. She then put the back underneath the floorboard and covered it with rug.

    ¡°Just a second!¡± Maggie called. She ruffled her hair, pinched her cheeks, and undid the top button on her blouse before approaching the door. After shoving Charles out of the way, she opened the door and said, ¡°Hello, Lydia. Could you come back later? I¡¯m kind of in the middle of something.¡±

    Aeris couldn¡¯t see Lydia¡¯s reaction, but she heard the woman¡¯s reaction. ¡°Oh. Oh. I didn¡¯t you know you were still active, Margret.¡± She gasped before whispering. Aeris pressed the side of her head against the door to hear what she said next. ¡°In Lord Strauss¡¯ bed? You are quite the rebel!¡±

    ¡°Just don¡¯t tell anyone, okay?¡± Maggie whispered back.

    ¡°Your secret¡¯s safe with me. But I should warn you, Lilith is still here, and you certainly don¡¯t want her to walk in on you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the advice. Where is she now?¡±

    ¡°I believe she said something about wanting to see Aeris.¡±

    Aeris rushed through the passages to get back to her room before Lilith discovered she was missing and came looking for her. She made more noise than intended in her hurry, but she didn¡¯t care.

    Aeris caught up to Lilith as the woman was walking across the yard. ¡°There you are. I was just on my way to speak with you,¡± Lilith

    ¡°I was flying about for a bit,¡± Aeris lied. She didn¡¯t want to risk saying she was in the gardens in case Lilith was just there.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Aaron say you were grounded?¡±

    Aeris stammered in an attempt to find a suitable explanation, but Lilith only chuckled and said, ¡°Well, I won¡¯t tell if you won¡¯t. I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re still asserting yourself. How could he possibly think you would react to being cooped up in that smelly room. Follow me, please. I still wish to have this conversation in your room where we¡¯re less likely to be overheard.¡±

    The entire walk back to her room, Aeris wondered what Lilith could want from her. They hadn¡¯t spoken in days, not that Aeris minded. The way she saw it, the less Lilith knew, the less she had to lie if asked. Once they inside Aeris¡¯ room, Lilith spoke, ¡°First, I want to say congratulations on your engagement.¡± There was a note of displeasure in her voice. ¡°I never thought you would get married before me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get married one day,¡± Aeris offered to cheer her up.

    Lilith smiled, but it seemed forced. ¡°Thank you for saying that. But this is about you and your marriage. You do understand that this will mean big changes for you?¡±

    ¡°What kind of changes?¡± Aeris asked slowly. The thought of things changing caused her tail to wrap around her legs.

    ¡°This is exactly what I was afraid of. No one has taught you anything about being a good wife have they?¡± When Aeris shook her head, Lilith sighed and rubbed her temple. ¡°I thought not. After you get married, your allegiance will be to your husband, and tradition states you must leave and live with him.¡±

    ¡°I have to leave?¡± Aeris asked. ¡°But what about Maggie? What about Master Aaron?¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t be going with you.¡±

    Aeris backed away from Lilith, shaking her head. ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to leave! No one told me I had to leave.¡±

    ¡°Well, what did you expect to happen? You can¡¯t possibly mean to stay here forever? What did you think was the point of becoming more independent?¡± She walked over and stroked Aeris¡¯ back. ¡°At some point, you will have to leave, marriage or no. You can come visit whenever you want. And it¡¯s not as if you can¡¯t visit.¡±

    But I don¡¯t want to visit, Aeris thought. Everything I have is here. Then she remembered Aubrey¡¯s offer. It seemed like a long shot¡ªshe still hadn¡¯t told Aubrey about the marriage and had no idea how the Ravager would react, but Aeris knew she could try to stay with Aubrey.

    The door opened and Maggie rushed inside. ¡°Okay, I think I¡ª¡± she quickly fell silent at seeing Lilith. ¡°I had no idea you were here, Lilith. Please forgive my intrusion.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite all right,¡± Lilith said. ¡°But are you okay? You seem bothered by something.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Maggie said quickly, waving away Lilith¡¯s concern. ¡°I¡¯ll step outside and let you finish your conversation.¡± She backed toward the door.

    Lilith beckoned for Maggie to come closer. ¡°Actually, your timing couldn¡¯t be better. I was hoping you could join us.¡±

    Maggie stopped, her face briefly showing she wanted to be anywhere else, before becoming a mask of neutrality as she walked forward.

    ¡°I was just explaining to Aeris what was to be expected of her as a wife,¡± Lilith explained. ¡°As a widow, I was hoping you could provide some of your expertise.¡±

    ¡°You were married?¡± Aeris asked Maggie.

    Maggie held her hands behind her back, and said in an annoyed tone, ¡°Yes, I was married. To a monster. I doubt any of my experiences would be of any help to her. It would only scare her out of her wits. I don¡¯t know much about Reks, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll treat Aeris right.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡°There is one other thing I¡¯ve yet to discuss,¡± Lilith said. ¡°Aeris, have you and Reks been¡­intimate?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°She means sex,¡± Maggie said brusquely, throwing a sharp look in Lilith¡¯s direction.

    ¡°No!¡± Aeris cried more loudly than intended.

    Lilith remained unperturbed. ¡°It¡¯s a very important topic. She will need to consummate the marriage. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m unfamiliar with dragon mating habits, but she should be informed.¡±

    Aeris looked back and forth between the two women, at a complete loss for words. Master Aaron had asked her to do many things for him, but he had never asked her to do anything like that. She wondered if Master Aaron knew about marriage consummation.

    Maggie quickly walked to Aeris¡¯ side and placed her arms protectively around her neck. ¡°I already had this discussion with Aeris. We don¡¯t need to embarrass her with more discussion on the topic.¡±

    Lilith pressed her lips into a thin line as she stared at Maggie. The tension in the room pressed down on Aeris. For several minutes, the two women communicated with stern, unwavering looks. Aeris wanted to speak up, but feared being the spark that ignited an argument. Maggie didn¡¯t relinquish her grip on Aeris¡¯ neck. Whenever she tried to pull away, Maggie¡¯s grip tightened though she never took her eyes off Lilith.

    Unable to take it anymore, Aeris spoke up. ¡°If I need to know more about dragon mating habits, maybe I should ask Aubrey.¡±

    That eased the tension in the room, or at least convinced Maggie to let go. ¡°Very well. I can defer to her judgement,¡± Maggie said. ¡°But just so you know, Aeris, you don¡¯t need to do anything with Reks you don¡¯t want to do.¡±

    It seemed the end of the conversation. Maggie left the room, throwing one last look at Aeris before leaving.

    ¡°Um, Lilith?¡± Aeris asked. Lilith stopped and peered through the open door before turning back and closing it behind her. Aeris stared at her paws and said, ¡°Could you cover for me tomorrow morning? I need to sneak out again after breakfast.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Aeris. Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°That dragon I told you about, Windor. I need to tell him about the wedding.¡±

    With a small nod, Lilith said, ¡°And what we discussed before? Have you decided what you will do?¡±

    Aeris shook her head. ¡°It depends on him. I don¡¯t like sneaking around with Windor, but I don¡¯t want to lose him either.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re making the right decision. Marriage isn¡¯t necessarily about love. But sometimes a sacrifice must be made for someone else.¡± She took Aeris by the chin and forced her to look upward. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t always mean we have to give up our happiness. So long as you¡¯re happy, Aaron will be able to focus on the things that make him happy.¡± With that, Lilith left Aeris alone with thoughts.

    Feeling alone and confused, Aeris curled into a ball on her mattress to sort out her thoughts. She didn¡¯t want to give up Windor, but the idea of an affair still left a bad taste in her mouth. But how is that any different from what I¡¯m doing now? She asked herself. She was already sneaking around and keeping her interactions with Windor a secret. Reks didn¡¯t know about Windor either.

    She rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Perhaps I should ask Aubrey. Instead of comfort, she felt a tightening in her chest. She reminded herself that Aubrey hadn¡¯t been told about the wedding. Cursing her foolishness, she decided to focus only on what she would say to Windor. Several hours passed. The sun set, plunging her into darkness. Aeris felt sore from laying on her back for so long, but she refused to move until she decided the best course of action.

    The sound of the door opening accompanied by the meaty aroma of salted meat pulled her out of her thoughts. She rolled over and stood up. ¡°Hello, Maggie, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re¡ª¡± the rest of her sentence died in her throat upon seeing Master Aaron standing in the room, holding a tray of steaming lamb roast and a lantern to see by. Her tail immediately wrapped around her body.

    ¡°Hello, Aeris,¡± Master Aaron said cheerfully. He set the tray down on the table. ¡°I know I said you were grounded and that meant, no supper, but I was hoping you¡¯ve had time to reflect on your actions.¡± After lighting the lamp in the middle of the room, he turned to Aeris with a wide smile that quickly dropped. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good. Is something wrong?¡±

    Aeris forced her tail to unwrap around her legs so she could walk approach the table. The smell of the roast was tantalizing, but her fear of what her master wanted to talk about threatened to kill her appetite. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine, Master,¡± she said, struggling to keep her voice even.

    Master Aaron casually stepped in front of her, blocking her path to the table. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. I feared my punishment was too harsh.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡ªisn¡¯t, master,¡± Aeris said. She peered around him to look at the meat on the table. It¡¯s juices ran down the sides, pooling beneath it.

    ¡°I know this hasn¡¯t been easy on you, but I just want you to know that I¡¯m hard on you because I care about you. As a dragon, people expect you to have no manners. It¡¯s important to me that they see you differently.¡± He turned her face toward him. ¡°To see you how I do. Not as some brutish beast, but as someone caring and compassionate.¡±

    Aeris licked her lips. The smell of the meat was making her drool, and she didn¡¯t want to drool into her master¡¯s hand. All she could think about was the lamb roast sitting just a few feet away. Her stomach grumbled loudly, voicing her thoughts. Fighting the urge to tear away from her master¡¯s grip and run over to the table, she looked up at him and said, ¡°Of course, master.¡±

    Master Aaron smiled. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it, Aeris. Now, you understand why you can¡¯t talk to people that way?¡±

    Aeris dug her claws into the dirt and ignored the loud rumblings coming from her belly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t wrong. Those humans were wrong to speak to me that way. My only regret is that I didn¡¯t say something sooner.¡±

    ¡°Aeris¡ª¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t be a burden on you, master!¡± she pulled away from him. Drool dripped from her maw, but still she stood up straight and stared defiantly at her master. ¡°I can¡¯t expect you to always defend me. It¡¯s time I stood up for myself.¡±

    Master Aaron stepped back, a look of shock on his face. It didn¡¯t last long as he quickly composed himself and hid his hands behind his back. ¡°I guess there¡¯s nothing more to say then. I¡¯m very proud of you. Enjoy your dinner.¡±

    He had barely left the room before Aeris dove onto the meat, tearing off large chunks and almost swallowing them whole. It was still piping hot and the various seasonings danced on her tongue. After eating, she blew out the lantern and curled up on her mattress to sleep.

    Aeris awoke the next morning just before the sun rose high enough for its rays to shine through her window. She quickly stretched then wiggled into her cloak. After relieving herself outside, she planned to go straight to Windor. Reks wasn¡¯t scheduled to visit that day, so she would be alone with Windor for the whole day. But more importantly, Aeris wanted to find Windor and explain everything to him. She had been putting it off long enough and it was time to do what she had to.

    The morning crowd was just beginning to form by time Aeris arrived in the commercial district. She had no idea where Windor lived. Not once had he brought her to his residence nor told her how to find it. But she did know one dragon who might. Aeris weaved through the thin crowd toward Cutter¡¯s brothel.

    The red door was unlocked and Aeris didn¡¯t waste time going straight to Cutter¡¯s office in the back. Cutter and the human woman, Giselle, were standing over the table, staring at a set of documents.

    ¡°And you¡¯re sure this accurate?¡± Cutter asked. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to fuck this up.¡±

    ¡°My sister lost an eye and three fingers getting this information. It¡¯s good,¡± Giselle said, her voice laced with her annoyance.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Cutter replied sharply as she turned to the woman. ¡°She¡¯s lucky she came back at all, and don¡¯t think for a second I enjoyed putting her through that, but we needed this information. What are we gonna do when¡ª¡± she stopped abruptly and slowly turned to Aeris standing in the doorway. Giselle quickly pulled a cloth over the papers.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Aeris said quickly. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were busy, but I really need to speak with you.

    Cutter shook her head, the shock of Aeris¡¯ sudden appearance draining from her face. ¡°Not a problem, Snowflake.¡± She nodded to the woman. ¡°Giselle, can you give us a minute?¡±

    The human woman left without a word, closing the door behind her. The moment the door closed, Aeris walked over to Cutter. ¡°Can you tell me where Windor lives?¡± Aeris asked.

    Cutter tilted her head and frowned. ¡°I can, but he lives in the dragon district. You do know as a domesticate, you can¡¯t go there alone. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t be that big of a deal, but rumors of your marriage are spreading, and it¡¯s got several of the dragons¡¯ tails in a twist.¡±

    ¡°Word is getting around already?¡± Aeris asked, worried.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t really expect it stay quiet, did you? Don¡¯t answer that.¡± She walked toward the door, motioning for Aeris to follow. ¡°I¡¯ll take you there myself. I need to visit someone anyway.¡±

    Aeris jogged up to Cutter¡¯s side and followed her outside. It wasn¡¯t until they were outside that Cutter asked. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you haven¡¯t been to his place yet with all the time you¡¯ve been spending together.¡±

    ¡°Windor always said he was worried about me being attacked if he took me there.¡±

    ¡°More like he¡¯s worried about what the other dragons will do to him if you¡¯re caught together,¡± Cutter said with a snort. ¡°I don¡¯t know what shit he¡¯s been filling your head with, but domesticates do live in the dragon district. Sounds more like he¡¯s afraid of pissing off his neighbors.¡±

    ¡°Is it that bad?¡±

    ¡°Depends on who you know, and if you know how to keep your head down.¡±

    Aeris said nothing. She began to worry if going to Windor¡¯s place unannounced like this was going to cause problems for him later.

    The dragon district was different from what Aeris expected. It was almost as if walking out of the city. The cobblestone ground was replaced with dirt and none of the buildings were above one story. The buildings were also shabbier and plain-looking, lacking any sort of decoration as if whoever built only wanted shelter from the elements. Aeris noticed an acrid scent in the air along with the very strong smell of dragon. More dragons than Aeris had ever seen walked the road though she expected that to be the case given where they were.

    ¡°It¡¯s ugly as fuck, but many dragons call this place home,¡± Cutter said. ¡°Dragon clans don¡¯t have homes like these, so we don¡¯t really know what to do with them.¡±

    Aeris remained close to Cutter¡¯s side. No sooner had they reached the dragon district did every dragon in sight turn to them as if sensing her presence. I¡¯m here to see Windor. It¡¯s important I see him, Aeris thought. It helped fight her urge to run away.

    Cutter led Aeris deeper into the district, taking no notice of the strange stares from the other dragons. Aeris noticed that after looking at her, the dragons¡¯ eyes widened when they looked at Cutter just before they turned away. Eventually the looks and stares stopped. The further they walked, the stronger the acrid smell became.

    They stopped in front of a particular house. It was almost indistinguishable from the others with the same shabby exterior and wide door, but Windor¡¯s scent made it clear who it belonged to. ¡°Hold on, Snowflake,¡± Cutter said. She pulled on a thick rope hanging from a large bell beside the door. ¡°Dragons don¡¯t have locks on their doors, but they won¡¯t like you walking into their place uninvited.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about being robbed?¡±

    Cutter laughed. ¡°Snowflake, you have to be beyond fucking stupid to rob a dragon. It¡¯s not like they have anything worth taking anyway.¡±

    It didn¡¯t take long before the door opened and Windor poked his head out. Judging from the sleepy look in his eyes, Aeris assumed they had woken him up.

    Windor yawned loudly and frowned at his guests. ¡°Do you have any idea how early it is?¡±

    ¡°I think what you really want to know is if I give a shit,¡± Cutter replied. ¡°But I think you already know the answer since I¡¯m here.¡±

    Windor shook his head and straightened up his eyes wide. ¡°C-Cutter! I didn¡¯t know it was you!¡± He pushed the door the rest of the way open and bowed. ¡°Please, forgive my rudeness. Won¡¯t you come in?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡± Cutter asked.

    Windor tilted his head as he straightened up, but then his mouth fell open as he looked at Aeris. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to ignore you. I just¡ªWhat are you doing here?¡±

    Before Aeris could reply, Cutter pushed her inside. ¡°I¡¯m sure whatever it is, it¡¯s very important. Anyway, I gotta go. So she¡¯s your responsibility now, Windor.¡± As she walked away, she called over her shoulder, ¡°And if anything happens to her, I will personally come back here and do the same to you.¡±

    Aeris looked around Windor¡¯s house. It was so different from the human homes she had been in. There were no floorboards, and the walls were bare. It only had one room though Aeris realized there wasn¡¯t much need for anything else. If dragons didn¡¯t read, they had no need for a library or anything of the sort, and she doubted they had need of a kitchen. So like her room, it seemed Windor¡¯s house consisted of a single space where he fulfilled all his needs. In one corner of the room lay a pile of seemingly random junk. On the opposite side lay a worn mattress surrounded by several flat cushions but no other furniture. Even despite lack of the d¨¦cor and furniture, the place had a comfortable feel.

    ¡°So this is what your house looks like,¡± Aeris said.

    ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s not more¡­polished,¡± Windor said quickly. ¡°I know you¡¯re used to expensive human homes.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s lovely,¡± Aeris said truthfully.

    Windor pulled up a frayed cushion. ¡°Glad to hear it. Please sit.¡± When Aeris sat down, he asked. ¡°So, why did you track me down?¡±

    ¡°First, I wanted to apologize for running out on you like that...Again.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Aeris. Honestly, I¡¯m surprised Cutter has taken a liking to you. She hardly talks to anybody if it isn¡¯t business.¡±

    Aeris nodded and took several deep breaths to try and calm her nerves. Her heart wouldn¡¯t slow down and her tail wrapped so tightly around her, it began to hurt. I have to do it. So the only option is just come out and say it, she thought. ¡°I¡¯m engaged.¡±

    Windor froze, his mouth slightly agape. Aeris stared at the floor, unable to look upon his face. The two sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. Realizing Windor wasn¡¯t going to speak, Aeris decided to explain. ¡°My master wants me to marry another dragon named Reks.¡±

    ¡°Marriage, that¡¯s the thing the humans do, right?¡±

    Aeris nodded, digging her claws further into the dirt. ¡°It means Reks and I will be bonded for life.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± he said dejectedly. The sound of him in pain made Aeris feel sick. ¡°Dragons do something similar, you know. We form bonded pairs and become mates for life. It¡¯s not the same as human marriage I hear. I didn¡¯t think domesticates did that sort of thing.¡± he added a small chuckle as if in hindsight to help diffuse the tension.

    They don¡¯t, Aeris thought, digging her claws in the floor. But my master needs me to, and I can¡¯t deny him. Not when he¡¯s done so much for me.

    ¡°So, you must really like this Reks if you chose him.¡±

    Still staring at the floor, she shook her head. ¡°But I don¡¯t want him. I want you.¡±

    A brief silence. ¡°Then why marry him?¡± Windor asked.

    She had been dreading that question. Because I¡¯m a good dragon, and I have to do as my master wishes. She thought, but didn¡¯t dare say out loud. Instead, she raised her head and said, ¡°But there¡¯s no reason why you and I can¡¯t be together. Marriage isn¡¯t necessarily about love. It¡¯s a sacrifice I have to make for my master.¡±

    Windor frowned. ¡°What kind of sacrifice could your caretaker possibly need you to make that requires being bonded to someone you don¡¯t want?¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Did you even ask?¡±

    Aeris shook her head, chest tightening further. It was becoming hard to breathe, but she welcomed the idea of passing out if it meant not seeing the look of disappointment Windor wore. ¡°He¡¯s my master. He¡ª¡±

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t own you!¡±

    Aeris flinched at the outburst. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. He takes care of me, feeds me, protects me. It¡¯s because of him the humans don¡¯t see me as a mindless beast. I care about him and it¡¯s important that I show that.¡±

    Even as she said it, the words sounded wrong to her. Maggie always told me I didn¡¯t have to do anything I didn¡¯t want to, but then why I feel so guilty? Why do I go behind his back, knowing it¡¯s wrong?

    Windor growled and started pacing around the room. Aeris said nothing and let him work through his feelings. She wished she had said nothing and this whole conversation had never happened. But she also knew there was no chance of that.

    Eventually, Windor stopped pacing and sat down again. All the anger had left him, leaving him looking tired and broken. ¡°So what happens now?¡± he asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s up to you,¡± Aeris said softly. ¡°I found out Reks and I¡­we will have to consummate our marriage.¡± When Windor tilted his head, she explained. ¡°It means I have to mate with him.¡±

    Windor snorted, but the pain never left his face. ¡°We¡¯re not bonded, so it makes no difference to me.¡±

    Aeris could tell he was lying. ¡°But it does to me. I¡¯ve never been with a dragon before, and I want my first to be you.¡±

    Windor¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wh-What?¡±

    She stepped closer, her heart hammering even harder in her chest. ¡°I said, I want my first experience with a dragon to be with you.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Windor asked.

    Aeris nuzzled the side of Windor¡¯s face and under his chin. His scent had become much stronger. It was comforting and enticing. She let out a slow breath, all her fears and anxieties draining. All the times she expressed her love for her master flashed through her mind. But this time there was no fear or disgust. She shuddered at the thought of Windor¡¯s touch, the feel of his hot breath on her neck, his scaled body pressed against hers. ¡°Yes.¡±

 Chapter 16: Taking Charge

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 16: Taking Charge</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris rolled over onto her side and murred softly. Her day with Windor had turned out much different than she expected and ending on a much more pleasant note. His touch had been gentle the entire time, unlike all the others with Master Aaron.

    Windor¡¯s smiling face greeted her. ¡°Hello.¡±

    Aeris smiled back. ¡°Hi.¡± She leaned forward and licked his snout. ¡°I love you.¡±

    Windor licked her snout in return then rolled over and stood up. He yawned and stretched, spreading his wings and flapping them slowly. A cool breeze washed over Aeris¡¯ scales, and she realized how hot she was. After stretching, Windor folded his wings against his body and turned to Aeris. ¡°I have to go to work. Are you going to be okay here alone?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I have to get home,¡± Aeris replied, standing up as well. ¡°Maggie is probably worried about me.¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess we can walk together then. Here, you¡¯ll need to cover yourself.¡±

    As Windor helped Aeris put her cloak back on, she realized she had no memory of taking it off, but realized it was a good thing. If something had happened to it, she would¡¯ve had to explain it to Maggie later.

    The bright afternoon sun made Aeris grateful for the hood of her cloak. There were very little dragons around, but Windor rushed her out of the dragon district. He pushed her away from any dragons in their path and refused to acknowledge anyone who called out to him. It wasn¡¯t until they left the area that Windor spoke again. ¡°Sorry to do this, but I can¡¯t risk the other dragons getting the wrong idea and doing something. You know our kind is famous for their tempers.¡±

    ¡°No, I understand perfectly,¡± Aeris said. ¡°So, I¡¯ll see you later.¡±

    Windor nodded and walked in the opposite direction. Aeris turned to head home when she heard Cutter¡¯s voice. ¡°Well, you certainly took your sweet time, Snowflake. Judging from your scent, you¡¯ve had a very¡­fun talk.¡±

    Aeris spun around to see Cutter walking toward her. ¡°Cutter? What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Walking of course,¡± Cutter replied. She chuckled then added, ¡°No, I¡¯m on my way to teach a dumbass some manners.¡± She motioned for Aeris to follow her. Aeris quickly followed.

    ¡°Cutter, I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but I really need to get home.¡±

    ¡°Your master doesn¡¯t get home for a couple of hours; you have plenty of time. Besides, I¡¯ve been meaning to talk to you.¡± She stared straight ahead, but her expression turned serious. ¡°With this thing you¡¯re doing, you need to make sure these dragons that are going to follow you respect you. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯re gonna have an even bigger problem.¡±

    ¡°What kind of problem?¡± Aeris asked.

    Cutter was silent for a moment. Then she responded, ¡°Respect is everything to our kind. We¡¯d rather die than waste time following some worthless piece of shit. Do you understand? This isn¡¯t going to be dinner and tea parties. You lose these dragons respect, and you¡¯re as good as dead.¡±

    Aeris said nothing. It didn¡¯t make a lot of sense to her as she assumed those dragons wouldn¡¯t follow her if they didn¡¯t have some amicable feelings towards her already, but she chose not to say anything.

    Cutter turned to Aeris with a small smile. ¡°You¡¯re gonna be pretty damn dangerous. Just don¡¯t let it go to your head, okay? Too many dragons get arrogant and that¡¯s where they fuck up.¡± When Aeris nodded, Cutter said, ¡°Good. So long as you want help the dragons, I¡¯ll make sure nothing happens to you. Now get going. You have a lot of shit to do.¡±

    Aeris bowed and ran for home. Cutter told her she had plenty of time before Master Aaron came home, but Aeris was cautious all the same. Instead of going straight into her room, she peered through the window to see if anyone was inside. No one was in her room waiting for her, so she quickly entered through the door and pulled her cloak off.

    The rest of the day turned out uneventful. Aeris stayed in her room and read until dinner time. Maggie brought her a large roast. After eating, she went back to reading. She couldn¡¯t explain it, but she felt lighter as if a weight had come off her. She felt no anxiety or fear. The wedding didn¡¯t matter, the potential humans and dragons wanting to kill her didn¡¯t matter.

    A week passed in a flash and it was time for Reks to visit. It was also the day Aeris was supposed to meet Lanry at Aubrey¡¯s mansion. For the first time in the last week since leaving Windor, she felt anxious. Aubrey had instructed them to keep their heads down and she had done the opposite and invited another dragon into their fold.

    After breakfast, she waited patiently for Reks to arrive so they could go to Aubrey¡¯s together. Aeris jogged over to the group of humans and her master, keeping her head high and maintaining eye contact with Mr. Bachmann who leveled a steely gaze at her. Mr. Bachmann broke eye contact first and looked away, clearing his throat. She noticed Master Aaron witnessed the wordless exchange and, judging from the tightness in his jaw, wasn¡¯t happy about it.

    But that was fine with her. She turned to Reks and gave him a big, reassuring smile. ¡°Good morning, Reks.¡±

    Since he had been scolded by Aubrey, the Horntail had lost his usual bluster. Staring at the ground, he mumbled, ¡°Good morning.¡±

    ¡°I guess we¡¯ll leave you two alone then,¡± Master Aaron said. He placed a hand on Mr. Bachmann¡¯s shoulder and steered him away. ¡°Zachery, there is something important I¡¯ve been meaning to discuss with you.¡±

    "Lord Strauss, I was hoping to have a word with Aeris alone," Mr. Bachmann said, gently pulling away from Master Aaron.

    Aeris looked at Reks, hoping the Horntail could provide some insight into what his master would want to speak with her about. Reks refused to look her way. When he turned his head, Aeris noticed some of the scales on Rek''s neck looked discolored. She remembered reading something like that occurred when a dragon was injured and its scales grew back. She dug her claws into the dirt.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Master Aaron said. ¡°You may use the garden. Aeris can show you the way.¡±

    As Aeris led Mr. Bachmann to the gardens, she sensed his anger radiating from him like heat. She fought to keep her composure as well. Reks had told her plenty of stories about his master¡¯s harsh treatments, but he never mentioned being struck by the man. Once they were out of sight, Mr. Bachmann turned to her, waggling a finger in front of her face. ¡°Now listen here, dragon¡ª¡±

    ¡°Have you been beating Reks?¡± Aeris interjected.

    ¡°What I do with my dragon is none of your business!¡± Mr. Bachmann said, turning red in the face.

    Aeris was unfazed by his anger. ¡°He¡¯s my future husband, and as I said before. That makes it my business. Now I¡¯ll ask you again: have you been beating him?¡±

    Mr. Bachmann stared at her, his face growing redder by the second. Aeris didn¡¯t care, nor had she any intention of backing down.

    ¡°He¡¯s my dragon and I¡¯ll treat him however I please,¡± Mr. Bachmann said.

    Aeris reacted without thinking, sweeping her tail and knocking Mr. Bachmann¡¯s legs out from under him. With a loud cry, the man fell to the ground. Aeris stood over him, pressing a paw against his chest. He groaned in pain and grabbed her leg, trying to push her off.

    She pressed harder, flexing her claws and feeling them puncture his shirt. ¡°After all he¡¯s done for you, that¡¯s how you choose to treat him?¡±

    ¡°There you are, Aeris,¡± Lilith said.

    Aeris¡¯ anger vanished at the sound of the young woman¡¯s voice. She quickly took her paw off Mr. Bachmann¡¯s chest. There were small tears in his shirt and little droplets of blood where her claws just pierced his skin. Fear took over Aeris¡¯ feelings of resentment at what she had done. Unable to look at the man, she turned to Lilith.

    Lilith didn''t seem to acknowledge what transpired between them. "Please forgive my intrusion, but I need to discuss with Aeris what she''ll be wearing for the wedding. This order must be made well in advance."

    Mr. Bachmann slowly stood and brushed himself off though he backed away from Aeris before doing so. ¡°Y-Yes, certainly.¡± He quickly walked out of the dragon.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    Lilith waited until Mr. Bachmann disappeared from view before turning to Aeris with a loud sigh. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I happened to be nearby. What were you thinking? Do you have any idea the trouble you could¡¯ve caused if you killed him?¡±

    Aeris stared at the ground. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking. I found he was hurting Reks, and I just lost control.¡±

    ¡°Reks is his dragon.¡±

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t own him!¡± Aeris quickly recoiled from her outburst. ¡°I-I mean¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know exactly what you mean. I understand why you¡¯re upset. This partially my fault. I told you to be more independent and to stand up for yourself, but I see now that very well may do more harm than good.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, I have to see Aubrey. She hates when I¡¯m late,¡± Aeris said. She walked away at a half-trot before Lilith could object. Aeris walked away because she didn¡¯t like where the conversation was going. No way was she going back to letting others walk all over her.

    But at what cost? She asked herself. Never had she even thought of attacking a human. Those mercenaries in the woods had attacked her and tried to kill Maggie, but there was no reason to attack Mr. Bachmann. This new change frightened her. If something like that happened while she was out with Master Aaron, it could cause irreparable damage to his reputation.

    Reks was waiting for her outside her room. After ensuring her master wasn¡¯t nearby, she and Reks headed toward Aubrey¡¯s mansion. An uncomfortable silence hung between them. Aeris wanted to talk to Reks about his master¡¯s abuse, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. No doubt it had to be a painful memory for him not to mention how difficult it had to be to discuss.

    To her surprise, Reks was the one to break the silence. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve been thinking about what you asked me before. I¡­I want to go through with it. Kumi means so much to me.¡±

    ¡°Kumi?¡±

    ¡°The dragon I told you about before. The one I¡­was foolish enough to try to impress.¡±

    ¡°Does she know about me?¡±

    Reks hesitated before answering. When he spoke, his voice was small and difficult to hear. ¡°Yes. She found out about the wedding when she and her master got their invitation. She didn¡¯t take the news well. I still haven¡¯t talked to her yet.¡±

    There was no further discussion until they reached Aubrey¡¯s mansion. Around fifteen dragons of different species stood around on the grass and the path. Aeris thought they had somehow gone to the wrong place or that Aubrey was having a special gathering they didn¡¯t know about. She turned to Reks and saw he looked just as confused.

    The moment one of the dragons, a tall Nightstalker, noticed their presence he cried out, ¡°Aeris is here!¡±

    They were immediately swarmed by a ring of scales and bombarded with so many overlapping voices, Aeris couldn¡¯t understand anything being said to her. With all the dragons pressed so close to her, she could barely move.

    Aubrey''s commanding voice cut through the overlapping sounds of the dragons, "Enough!" All the dragons fell quiet and moved out of the way, leaving a clear path straight to Aubrey who stared at Aeris and Reks with a strong disapproving glare. Aubrey turned and walked toward her mansion. Without looking back, she added brusquely, "You two come with me."

    Aeris and Reks followed without hesitation. The other dragons avoided looking their way. They followed Aubrey inside and to the common where Helen sat on the sofa. When she looked at them, there was only sadness in her face.

    Aubrey walked to the far side of the room before turning to face them. Her tail slapped against the wall. ¡°Which one of you is responsible for those dragons out there?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where they came from,¡± Aeris said. ¡°I only told Lanry to meet me here.¡±

    Aubrey¡¯s tail slammed against the wall hard enough to knock several pictures to the floor and cause a large crack to form. Everyone flinched at her anger. ¡°What part of we cannot afford to draw attention to ourselves did you not hear?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Aeris cried. ¡°But Lanry said he needed my help. And I didn¡¯t tell him to bring these other dragons. I don¡¯t know where they came from.¡±

    ¡°What does it matter where they came from?¡± Aubrey spat. ¡°They¡¯re all here for the same thing and there¡¯s no way we can keep this quiet.¡± She began pacing and mumbling to herself. Aeris was grateful she couldn¡¯t understand the angry rant.

    ¡°Lady Aubrey, getting upset with Aeris will not change things,¡± Helen said in a soothing voice. ¡°Just like you didn¡¯t turn away those dragons when they showed up at your door. You wish to help them just as much as Aeris does.¡±

    Aubrey stopped pacing long enough to throw a disapproving glare in the woman¡¯s direction. ¡°That is not the point. She¡¯s not understanding there are consequences to this sort of thing, and it¡¯s forcing my hand. We can¡¯t make a move this early.¡±

    Helen¡¯s expression remained neutral. ¡°But I believe Reks had already started the avalanche.¡± Reks dropped his head at her statement, but she smiled warmly at him and continued. ¡°This sort of thing was inevitable. Perhaps it¡¯s better that this is happening sooner rather than later.¡±

    Aubrey paced for a little while longer before she stopped and sighed, the anger draining from her face. ¡°You¡¯re right, Helen. The number of dragons out there is proof just how serious they are to learn.¡±

    Aeris mouthed ¡°thank you¡± to Helen who winked in response.

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re ready, Aeris,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°These dragons will be relying on you and anything that happens to them will be our responsibility.¡±

    Aeris nodded in understanding and Aubrey led everyone back outside. All the dragons turned to them the moment they opened the door. Lanry stood at the head of the crowd, smiling and wagging his tail. Aeris never felt so nervous. Being around dragons was nothing new, but this time all of their attention was focused on her. Helen gently nudged her and smiled.

    Aubrey stepped forward and cleared her throat. ¡°Hello, everyone. My name is Aubrey. Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me that¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is it true Aeris taught you how to read?¡± a dragon shouted.

    Aubrey stopped and Aeris heard a low growl emanating from the Ravager. ¡°Yes, she did,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°Now I just want to say¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is she going to teach us?¡± another dragon added.

    Aubrey¡¯s claws scraped the ground as she tensed. ¡°That is up to her.¡±

    A gentle push from Helen urged Aeris to step forward. ¡°Um, yes, I-I am going to teach you.¡±

    The dragons began chattering excitedly, a few even stamping the ground in excitement. Aubrey cleared her throat and the crowd fell silent again. ¡°Before we begin anything, we need to establish some rules. First, Aeris will only be teaching the dragons who are here now. You are not to tell other dragons or bring any humans with you.¡±

    ¡°But why not?¡± the first dragon asked.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t it obvious? My master would skin me if she found out I was learning to read,¡± a third dragon chimed in.

    ¡°That is correct,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°A lot of humans will not like the idea of what we are doing here. It¡¯s important we keep this quiet for as long as possible at least until we have enough standing to go public and protect ourselves from retaliation.¡±

    A murmur of unease moved through the crowd and many of the dragons no longer looked as confident or excited.

    Aubrey was quick to speak up again. ¡°Now, now. There¡¯s no reason to be afraid. But for those of you who are having doubts, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve already made your decision. There is no turning back for you.¡±

    The tension increased. Some of the dragons looked scared. Lanry was the only one who wore a smile on his face.

    Aeris quickly addressed the group. ¡°As Aubrey said, what we¡¯re doing is dangerous. I¡¯m sure you all understand that there are humans who wouldn¡¯t like what we¡¯re doing. We can¡¯t afford to make mistakes. If you have doubts, or you¡¯re afraid, now is the time to leave. No one will stop you, and no one will judge you.¡±

    That seemed to calm the other dragons down. A few still looked uncomfortable, but no one left the group.

    ¡°Very nice, Aeris. You have the makings of a good Matriarch,¡± Helen whispered. Aeris was stunned by the compliment. In a loud voice, Helen addressed the group. ¡°Does anyone have any questions before we begin?¡±

    ¡°Is it true you and Reks are getting married?¡± Lanry asked.

    Aeris wished Helen had never said anything. This was not how she wanted Aubrey to find out about the wedding. She slowly turned to Aubrey.

    Aubrey¡¯s face was neutral, but Aeris could sense the anger coming from her. ¡°I believe he asked you a question,¡± Aubrey said. If there was any doubt about how Aubrey felt, the anger in her voice put those doubts to rest.

    Aeris ducked her head and meekly said, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°They can¡¯t hear you,¡± Aubrey said icily.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true,¡± Aeris said louder. ¡°Reks and I are going to be married.¡±

    Aubrey quickly spoke up. ¡°If that¡¯s everything, please follow Helen to the yard so that we may begin.¡±

    Whether it was from the news or Aubrey¡¯s no-nonsense tone, Aeris didn¡¯t know, but the dragons fell silent and followed Helen around the side of the mansion.

    ¡°Just so you know, I was already aware of the wedding,¡± Aubrey said. ¡°Though I am disappointed you were hiding it from me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Aeris replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t know how to tell you.¡±

    ¡°We can discuss it later. For now, we must focus on the task before us.¡±

    There weren''t enough books for all the dragons there, so the first reading lesson was very awkward. While Aubrey had an extensive library, most of the books were too difficult for someone just learning to read. Aeris learned early on that her usual approach wouldn''t work with such a large group. Instead, she tried paring the dragons into smaller groups with a single book amongst them. Aeris, Aubrey, Reks, and Helen went from group to group, helping the dragons to make sense of the books.

    Aeris was more than glad when the day ended. All that explaining and re-explaining the same words and concepts over and over was exhausting. But she was happy with the result. Only two dragons had a fit, which resulted in one of the books being burned, but they were able to quickly re-establish order.

    ¡°Thank you all for coming,¡± Aeris said. There was a small throb in her temple, but she couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I know we didn¡¯t make much progress, but I promise you that will change in the coming weeks. So I¡¯ll see you all back here next week.¡±

    Aeris watched the dragons leave. It was getting late, so she needed to head home as well, but she also didn¡¯t want to leave it up to Helen and Aubrey to clean up. It seemed Reks had the same idea as he also remained where he was.

    After all the dragons were gone, Aubrey approached them. ¡°Aeris, Reks, may I have a word?¡± Without waiting for a reply, she began talking. ¡°When were you planning on telling me about this wedding?¡±

    Aeris ducked her head. ¡°It was my idea. I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you, but I was worried you would be upset and call off the deal with my caretaker.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still worrying about that man,¡± Aubrey replied with an angry huff. She turned to Reks and asked in the same abrasive tone, ¡°And what of you?¡±

    ¡°I-I was afraid of getting any further on your bad side,¡± Reks said meekly. ¡°I know I messed up starting the rumor in the first place.¡±

    Aubrey sighed and sat on the grass. The fury drained out of her face as she shook her head. ¡°This is exactly the sort of weakness I was afraid of. Do the two of you even wish to be married?¡±

    That was the question Aeris was dreading. She knew lying to Aubrey was out of the question, but telling the truth wouldn¡¯t end much better. Bracing herself for the worst, Aeris shook her head.

    ¡°And no one is forcing you into this?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Aeris said quickly.

    ¡°N-No,¡± Reks said.

    Aubrey didn''t explode into a fit of rage and instead sighed again, looking more tired and older than ever. "Then I guess there''s nothing more to say. I don''t know what your caretakers hope to gain from this, but this arrangement is not purely for your benefit¡ªif at all. But that''s enough of that. The two of you should get going; I''m sure your caretakers are missing you."

    ¡°They might, but I want to help you clean up first,¡± Aeris said. She resumed helping gather the dishes from their lunch off the ground. Reks helped as well. While she cleaned up, she noticed Aubrey smiling

    Aeris didn¡¯t say anything, but she had another motive for agreeing to the wedding now. If she married Reks, she could make a case to her master to let Reks live with her. If she did that, Mr. Bachmann wouldn¡¯t be able to abuse him anymore. It wasn¡¯t a perfect method, but it would be enough to help him.

 Chapter 17: The Wedding

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 17: The Wedding</h2>

    <hr>

    ¡°Oh, Aeris, you look absolutely beautiful,¡± Maggie said. Her eyes shone, preluding the start of tears.

    Aeris stared at her reflection in the mirror. A thin wedding veil on her head resembled thin white hair cascading down the back of her head and neck. The dress she wore was the same ivory as her belly scales, ending just before reaching her flank with a short train covering her rear. I do look beautiful, she thought. With her celeste scales, she looked like a piece of the sky given form.

    Maggie dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. Her dress long and a lovely pale blue. Maggie was embarrassed because it hugged her slightly wide hips and showed off her curves, but Aeris thought Maggie had a nice figure.

    Only a month had passed since Aeris had begun the dragon''s reading lessons. A month of wedding planning by day and planning teaching curriculums by night had left her exhausted. Maggie had been designated the maid of honor which helped a lot. Maggie knew about the visits to Aubrey''s, but not about teaching over a dozen dragons how to read. Still, the woman''s help was invaluable for Aeris maintaining a schedule and getting things done while keeping it a secret from Master Aaron. Aeris couldn''t be more grateful for the assistance as she had been feeling unwell for the last two weeks, suddenly overcome with bouts of nausea or sudden fatigue. If possible, Aeris wanted to keep Maggie away from any backlash should things go wrong.

    The dragons she had been teaching to read were making slow, but steady progress. They had learned to recognize numbers and letters, but they were still a long way from reading on their own. After every session, Aubrey gave them all a very harsh warning of what should happen should one of them tell anyone what they were doing. But half of those dragons had been invited to the wedding. All it would take was one dragon to make the mistake of letting slip that they knew each other and everything would come undone.

    Aeris wished she were back at Aubrey¡¯s right now or that she was trying on a new outfit to attend a party. It still didn¡¯t feel real that she was getting married today. She didn¡¯t feel the material of the fabric on her scales, and the guests talking outside sounded like whispers in the wind.

    "It''s okay to feel nervous, Aeris," Maggie said. She stroked the side of Aeris'' neck as she always did to soothe her. "After all, it''s not every day you get married."

    Aeris nodded at Maggie¡¯s reflection. ¡°Maggie¡­what was your marriage like?¡±

    Maggie¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Aeris, you don¡¯t want to hear about my experience. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant one, and I don¡¯t wish to scare you.¡±

    ¡°Is that why you never told me?¡±

    ¡°I¡­yes. And because it¡¯s still a painful memory. He wasn¡¯t a very nice man. He was very controlling and abusive. My parents made me marry him because we were poor and they wanted me to have a nice life.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Maggie hugged her and smiled at their reflection. ¡°Don¡¯t be. If he hadn¡¯t died, I never would¡¯ve gotten a job working for the Strauss family which means I never would¡¯ve met you.¡±

    Aeris knew that statement was meant to make her smile, but she didn¡¯t. ¡°So, how did he die?¡±

    ¡°He was mugged coming home after a night of drinking,¡± Maggie said stiffly. ¡°Now that¡¯s enough of this talk. It¡¯s not the sort of thing you should be thinking about on your wedding day.¡±

    There came a loud knock on the door. The door opened and Lilith came inside. Like Maggie, she wore a sky-blue dress to match Aeris¡¯ scales. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°Just about,¡± Maggie said. She straightened the wedding veil on Aeris¡¯ head. ¡°There, all set.¡±

    ¡°Well, Aeris, are you nervous?¡± Lilith asked.

    ¡°A little,¡± Aeris said. ¡°I just wish Aubrey could¡¯ve been here.¡± It bothered her that no one she was truly close to came to the wedding. She couldn¡¯t risk inviting anyone she knew or else she would have to explain how they met. Even the dragons from her reading group she hadn¡¯t had a chance to know personally; she was still memorizing their names.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aeris, but she did say she wasn¡¯t coming,¡± Maggie said. ¡°And knowing how she feels about domesticates, it¡¯s not surprising.¡±

    ¡°There are still plenty of other dragons here,¡± Lilith added. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can socialize with one of them.¡±

    The band outside began to play. The two human women turned to the door then back to Aeris.

    ¡°I believe it is starting. I have to get in place,¡± Lilith said. ¡°Good luck.¡± She hurried out of the room.

    "I''m so sorry things haven''t worked out the way you wanted them to," Maggie said. "To be honest, I often dreamed you would one day be married." She chuckled a little to herself. "I know it''s silly to think about. After all, no dragon has ever been married and here I am thinking you would be the first. Now the day has come, and I wished it were under better circumstances."

    ¡°No, Maggie, it¡¯s not strange.¡± Aeris had felt the same way. After reading so many books describing human weddings, it all sounded so wonderful. But now, she wished she were doing anything else.

    ¡°Now, it¡¯s almost time. Are you ready?¡±

    Aeris dug her claws into the dirt. Her stomach was in such a knot, it was hard to breathe. ¡°I¡¯m scared. I don¡¯t want to leave.¡±

    Maggie pulled her close and held Aeris¡¯ head against her breast. ¡°Aeris, I already discussed it with Lord Strauss, and he assures me you aren¡¯t going anywhere. And Reks is going to live right here with us. And I¡¯ll always be right here with you.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    The sound of Maggie¡¯s heartbeat calmed Aeris down. The music changed again, signifying it was time for Aeris to come out.

    ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Maggie said.

    The yard looked nothing like before. Rows of chairs lined one side filled with humans dressed in formal attire. On the other side were dragons, each one wearing a fancy vest. At the end of the aisle was a tall arbor archway laced with white flowers. Standing beneath the arch was Reks, wearing a black vest embroidered with a stunning silver design. Beside him stood Master Aaron and Reks¡¯ master, Zachery Bachmann. Both wore formal black suits. On the other side of Reks stood Maggie and Lilith. Standing closest to Reks was a man Aeris had never seen before, wearing long colorful robes. She assumed he was the minister who was going to marry them.

    All eyes were on her as she walked down the aisle. Aeris kept her eyes on Reks as she walked, her heart hammering against her ribs. Every part of her wanted to run. To spread her wings and fly as far and as fast as possible. It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m doing this for him. She thought. Even as the thought crossed her mind, she hated it. She wanted Windor to be the one standing at the end of the aisle. He was supposed to be the one waiting for her.

    Aeris stopped walking. She pushed the thought out of her mind and continued. Why now? I thought I was doing this for Reks¡¯ sake. Why am I having second thoughts now? She asked herself.

    She stopped and stood in front of the man in the robes. The music stopped and oppressive silence fell over the group. The man began speaking, but Aeris didn''t hear a word he said. She fidgeted and couldn''t hold her tail still. All she could think about was Maggie''s dream for her to get married and how much it meant to the woman. Aeris felt she was squandering it by marrying someone she didn''t want to marry.

    Aeris snapped out of her thoughts when someone nudged her. ¡°Huh? I¡ªWhat?¡±

    ¡°Aeris, you have to answer,¡± Reks whispered.

    ¡°Oh, sorry. What was the question?¡±

    The minister smiled and said: ¡°I said: Do you take Reks to be your husband?¡±

    Aeris turned to Reks, then to Master Aaron, and finally to Maggie, scanning each of their faces for a sign of what she should say, hoping one of them would tell her to say no. Her stomach had tightened to the point she wanted to vomit. I have to do this for Reks and Master Aaron, she thought. She tried to answer, but no sound would come out.

    ¡°Aeris, you okay?¡± Reks asked.

    Her tail wrapped around her legs. Unable to look anywhere else, she turned back to the minister. ¡°I¡ª¡±

    A hollow popping sound stopped Aeris short just as her face was drenched by something warm and wet. It was quickly followed by a distant rumble like the sound of thunder. The minister stared back at her, mouth open in horror, his face and robe speckled with drops of red. She turned to Reks and found him lying on the ground, half of his face missing, and a growing pool of blood surrounding what remained of his head. Aeris stood rooted to the spot, staring at Reks¡¯ lifeless body.

    Her mind felt numb. The screams of the guests seemed as distant as the boom of the rifle that killed her husband to be. Staring at Reks¡¯ brain through the hole in his skull made her want to vomit, but she couldn¡¯t look away.

    A pair of hands grabbed her and pushed her away. She didn¡¯t struggle, and her legs moved on their own, allowing her body to be steered wherever the hands wished. All around her people shoved one another, tripped over fallen bodies, and screamed in terror. Their movements were blurred and in slow-motion like when she imagined a scene while reading a story.

    The hands pushed harder on her body, and her legs did as the hands wanted and moved faster. People bumped into her, rebounded off her, but she hardly felt them and continued walking unhindered.

    She was steered into her room. Maggie appeared before her and began checking every inch of her body. Aeris barely felt her touch. Once the inspection was over, Maggie leaned against the wall with a relieved sigh. ¡°Oh, thank goodness you¡¯re not hurt.¡±

    The door burst open, making Maggie jump, but Aeris slowly turned to the interloper. Master Aaron rushed into the room, his face full of fear and his clothes disheveled and splattered with blood. He took one look at Aeris and his face paled.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, she¡¯s not hurt,¡± Maggie said quickly.

    Master Aaron looked around as if expecting someone else. ¡°Is Lilith not with you?¡±

    Maggie shook her head. ¡°I lost sight of her while I was getting Aeris to safety.¡±

    Master Aaron turned away, wiping the sweat from his brow. He turned back to them and said, ¡°Listen, it¡¯s chaos out there. I have to find Lilith and get things under control. Lock the door behind me and do not open it until I say so.¡± He rushed outside and Maggie quickly followed and locked the door behind him.

    She approached Aeris and began wiping her face with her dress. ¡°This won¡¯t get all of it, but I just can¡¯t leave you like this.¡±

    ¡°Reks¡­Reks is dead,¡± Aeris said. The words sounded foreign as if someone else was saying them.

    Maggie stopped wiping Aeris''s neck. "What did you say, Aeris?"

    ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± Aeris repeated. ¡°And it¡¯s all my fault. I killed him.¡±

    Maggie took a firm hold of Aeris'' face. "Listen to me, that was not your fault. You didn''t do anything¡ª"

    ¡°But Aubrey told me something like this would happen!¡± the words just blurted out of her. She didn¡¯t want anyone¡ªespecially Maggie¡ªto know the role she played in today¡¯s events, but she couldn¡¯t stop herself. ¡°Everyone warned me, but I didn¡¯t listen because I wanted to help the dragons! I didn¡¯t mean for Reks to die, Maggie! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m so¡ª¡±

    Maggie pulled Aeris¡¯ head to her breast and tenderly stroked her neck. ¡°Shh. It¡¯s all right. I know you didn¡¯t mean it. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but it¡¯s still not your fault. There was a long line of self-righteous fools who would¡¯ve done anything to stop it.¡±

    Maggie¡¯s words didn¡¯t bring Aeris much comfort, but she decided not to take that away. Maggie held her until there came another knock at the door followed by Lilith¡¯s voice. ¡°Margret it¡¯s me! Open the door!¡±

    Maggie quickly hurried to the door and let Lilith in then closed and locked it behind her. Lilith leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. Her hair was a mess and there was a large tear in her dress. ¡°It¡¯s absolute chaos out there,¡± Lilith said. ¡°Everyone is scattering to the winds trampling over each other. I¡¯ve never¡ª¡± She froze at the sight of Aeris.

    ¡°She¡¯s okay,¡± Maggie said quickly. ¡°The blood is not¡­it¡¯s not hers.¡±

    ¡°Reks?¡±

    Maggie slowly nodded.

    ¡°My goodness,¡± Lilith said, her voice cracking. ¡°Aeris, I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t respond. Maggie sat with Aeris on the mattress and pulled her into another hug. Aeris buried her face in Maggie¡¯s chest and closed her eyes. Images of Reks¡¯ face exploding, showering her in a mess of blood, bone, and scales filled her vision, playing over and over. She kept her eyes closed and said nothing. Maggie stroked the side of her neck, but she found little comfort in it. She could only think of how unfair she was to Reks. How she stood there and in her indecisiveness, made him an easier target.

    They sat in silence until the sounds of chaos outside subsided and still refused to move. By the time the sunset, there was a knock at the door.

    Master Aaron¡¯s voice came from the other side, ¡°Margaret, it¡¯s me. It¡¯s safe to come out.¡±

    Maggie moved to go to the door. Aeris was surprised when she grabbed the hem of Maggie¡¯s sleeve. Her body moved seemingly on its own. ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me.¡±

    Maggie nodded and sat down. Lilith got up instead and went to the door. She then poked her head out and said, ¡°Aaron, neither Maggie nor Aeris is going to be leaving the room for the rest of the day. I¡¯ll be staying with them as well. Is everyone else all right?¡±

    ¡°More or less. Several people were hurt when everyone started trampling each other. One of the dragons broke a leg, and a man lost an eye. We¡¯re still sorting through it all, but it looks like Reks was the only casualty.¡±

    ¡°Did anyone see the shooter?¡±

    "I''m afraid not. By the time I realized what was happening, it was already complete chaos." There came a dull thud, likely from Master Aaron striking the door. "Damn! I knew some people didn''t like the idea of a dragon wedding, but this was too much!"

    ¡°I know. Aaron, could you have someone bring a small basin filled with water, a washcloth, and a change of clothes for Margret and myself?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have Charles bring you the things you need. And I¡¯ll also have pillows and blankets sent to you as well. Be sure to lock the door when I leave, and I¡¯ll have someone posted outside the door for the night.¡±

    Lilith nodded and closed the door. She then joined Maggie and Aeris on the mattress. ¡°I hate to be selfish, but I¡¯m afraid to be alone tonight.¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t the only one,¡± Maggie said. ¡°I¡¯m just glad Aeris wasn¡¯t hurt as well.¡±

    Aeris said nothing. She knew the shooter had more than enough time to kill her too if they wanted. That she was still alive brought her no comfort.

 Chapter 18: Price of Freedom

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 18: Price of Freedom</h2>

    <hr>

    Overturned chairs lay scattered around the yard like fallen leaves, some smashed into splinters from the panicked crowd. The feast that was meant for after the ceremony had been strewn around, trampled, and left to rot. Only the archway remained standing, overlooking the carnage of discarded food and broken furniture. A tense silence hung over the area despite the humans cleaning up the mess of yesterday¡¯s panic. Some she recognized from Master Aaron¡¯s staff, others she had never seen before. Not that she cared.

    Everyone ignored Aeris as she stood under the archway where she was supposed to be wed. The corpse of her now ex-future husband still lay on the ground, the grass surrounding his remains stiff with dried blood. The cloud of flies on his corpse buzzed around her as if to deter her, but she refused to move. The cloak she lay over his body fluttered in the weak breeze. Occasionally it lifted for a moment, providing a view of what lay beneath it.

    Aeris didn¡¯t turn away from the grotesque sight. She needed to see it. See the consequences of her actions. Learn first-hand the price that was to be paid for her insolence and ignorance.

    I was such a fool, she thought. Reks, please forgive me.

    Her master¡¯s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. ¡°Aeris, what are you doing out here?¡±

    Without turning to her master, she replied in a deadpan tone, ¡°Reks is still out here.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a shame, but there are more pressing matters to attend to.¡±

    ¡°More important than seeing to it he gets a proper burial?¡± Aeris asked, her temper rising.

    ¡°I¡­Aeris, please,¡± Master Aaron said, his tone giving away his vexation. ¡°One thing at a time. I promise Reks will be taken care of once we finish with¡ª¡±

    ¡°You will take care of it now!¡±

    The silence became heavier after her outburst. Everyone had stopped their activities and their eyes were on her¡ªshe sensed it but didn¡¯t care. She dug her claws into the grass, her eyes still fixed on the lifeless lump beneath her cloak. The one no one else seemed to give a damn about.

    ¡°Okay, Aeris. I will have someone bury him right away,¡± Master Aaron said, his voice cautious.

    ¡°Where is Mr. Bachmann?¡± Aeris asked.

    The sound of Master Aaron¡¯s footsteps stopped. ¡°Zachery¡­has gone home. He won¡¯t be returning.¡±

    Aeris said nothing. There was nothing to say. It didn¡¯t surprise her that Reks was being thrown away like a broken tool beyond repair, but the thought still infuriated her.

    True to his word, three large men came over and dragged Rek¡¯s body away. It was then Aeris chose to move from where she had sat for so long, forcing her limbs to move despite the numbness and awkward movements. With nowhere else to go, she went back to her room.

    Maggie and Lilith still lay asleep on the mattress as Aeris had left them. Aeris grabbed her cloak and She chose to curl up in the far corner of the room, but not to sleep. She hadn¡¯t slept at all last night, but there was too much on her mind to even think about sleeping.

    A sudden knock at the door made Aeris lift her head and woke up the two women sleeping on her mattress. They both whirled around, wearing the same sleepy, confused expression then jumped upon seeing the other next to them. Any other time Aeris would¡¯ve found such a sight funny.

    Without waiting for a reply, the door opened and Helen stepped inside. Her face paled at the sight of Maggie and Lilith sitting on the mattress.

    ¡°She¡¯s over there,¡± Maggie said, pointing at Aeris in the corner.

    Helen spun around and she breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Oh, Aeris, I¡¯m so glad to see you¡¯re okay. Word has already spread of what happened, and Lady Aubrey is beside herself with worry. She¡¯ll rest much easier knowing you¡¯re all right.¡± She looked around, her smile fading. ¡°Is Reks not here?¡±

    Aeris stared at the floor.

    ¡°I¡­I see,¡± Helen said. ¡°Aeris, I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t stay long. I only came so that I may inform Lady Aubrey of your condition and to deliver a message if you were all right.¡± She straightened up and took a deep breath, her expression giving away that she didn¡¯t want to deliver the message. ¡°For the time being, she thinks it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t come by her mansion.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Maggie asked. ¡°How could she say such a thing? And at a time like this?¡±

    "It precisely because of this why Lady Aubrey wants to maintain her distance," Helen replied coolly. "Whoever is responsible for the attack clearly didn''t want to harm Aeris. If it was meant to be a warning, then we should avoid doing anything to agitate them further."

    Maggie folded her arms across her chest but said nothing. The annoyed expression on her face showed she agreed with Helen''s reasoning, but didn''t like it.

    Aeris didn¡¯t care. She had already lost Reks, and now she was losing Aubrey.

    ¡°I never met this Lady Aubrey, but she certainly has a good mind for this sort of business,¡± Lilith said. ¡°All of this unpleasantness could¡¯ve been a ploy to draw out Aeris¡¯ allies, so staying away is very smart indeed. Let them think they¡¯ve won for now while you regroup.¡±

    Helen nodded to Lilith then turned back to Aeris. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re all right, and I¡¯m so sorry about Reks. Just hang in there, okay? I¡¯ll return to tell you when it¡¯s safe to see Lady Aubrey again.¡±

    Aeris remained silent as she watched Helen leave. Lilith followed after Helen, leaving Aeris and Maggie alone.

    Maggie played with the hem of her blouse and refused to make eye-contact. ¡°I¡ª¡±

    "Could you leave, please? I want to be alone for a bit." Her words hurt Maggie. She saw it in the woman''s face, but she couldn''t stand being looked at with such pity. The same look others often gave her. The guilt already ate her alive inside.

    Aeris waited a few minutes after Maggie left before poking her head out of her room. She wanted to go see Cutter. If anyone had information on Reks'' murderer, it would be her. There were still too many people around. No way to leave the estate without being seen. Under normal circumstances, it would be a problem, but after what just happened, Master Aaron would never let her leave.

    She returned to the corner to wait until the humans left. Even if it meant traveling at night, something she was warned not to do, she was going to see Cutter and get to the bottom of this.

    The door slowly opened. Her back was to the door, so she didn''t see who came in nor did she care. A distinct clicking sound sent a chill through her body. It was the sound of the hammer being pulled back on a rifle. A sound she knew all too well and would never forget.

    Slowly, Aeris looked behind her. Charles stood by the door, a rifle held tightly in his gnarled hands. ¡°I made a promise, but I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re a threat to us all.¡± his voice was calm and firm, but it carried an undertone of¡­regret? Aeris wasn¡¯t sure. Her mind was too focused on the gun pointed at her. ¡°Your actions have put Lord Strauss in their crosshairs, and that can very well get him killed.¡±

    Aeris couldn¡¯t reply. Her mind was blank on ideas for how to get out of this situation. In her current position, there was no way to disarm him or even move without getting shot.

    ¡°Nothing to say in your defense, dragon?¡± Charles said. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what you are.¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m an Ardelle C-Celestial.¡±

    Charles¡¯ eyes widened. ¡°So she told you. Damn that dragon.¡± He said the last part more to himself.

    Aeris stood up, ignoring the danger of her situation. ¡°What? So you knew what I was and didn¡¯t tell me?¡±

    ¡°I asked Cutter to identify you, yes. But I chose not to inform Lord Strauss. The less he knows about you the better,¡± He raised the rifle again and his gaze hardened. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why Arthur saw fit to save you. He should¡¯ve smashed your egg when he had the chance.¡±

    ¡°Do you really hate me that much?¡±

    ¡°Hate? No, I don¡¯t hate you. I pity you for being born into the cursed bloodline. The dragons were right to wipe your kind out centuries ago. Had they not done so, humanity would never have survived.¡±

    His words made little sense to Aeris. Cutter had already told her about what the Ardelle Celestials did in the past and why the other dragons thought it best to wipe them out. But that wasn¡¯t her. She wasn¡¯t arrogant and had no desire to rule over anyone.

    So why am I always being judged for something I had no part in? she wondered. The pounding of her heartbeat loud in her ears. Her legs trembled with fear. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Lord Strauss will hate me for this, but one day, he may come to forgive me,¡± Charles said.

    The window shattered. Charles spun toward the broken glass, firing a shot either in surprise or to deter whatever threatened him. Aeris seized the opening to rush the human, slamming her body into his. He flew into the door and fell to the ground like a ragdoll. The rifle flew from his hands and landed on the ground several feet away.

    Aeris planted herself between Charles and the gun, but the old man made no attempt to retrieve it or get up. Laying on the ground, he looked exactly like a broken and beaten old man, no longer a threat to anyone.

    The door burst open and Maggie rushed inside. ¡°Aeris! Are you all right?¡± She turned to Charles who still lay on the floor. ¡°After all that¡¯s happened, you really would pull a stunt such as this?¡±

    "You are a fool, Margret," Charles said. He slowly stood. His front was covered in dirt, but he did not attempt to brush it off. "You know what she''s capable of better than anyone. Should she decide to turn on us, there will be no stopping her."

    Maggie walked over to Aeris and glared at the old man. ¡°If you¡¯re so afraid of what she¡¯ll do, perhaps don¡¯t give her a reason to turn on you.¡± She said her next words so venomously, Aeris stepped away from the woman. ¡°Now get out. If you ever come anywhere near her again, I¡¯ll kill you myself.¡±

    Charles looked unbothered by the threat, his usual cool composure returned. He turned on his heel and left the room. Just before the door closed, he added, ¡°When she sets this world ablaze, it¡¯ll be on your head, Margret.¡±

    Maggie snorted angrily and turned to Aeris. ¡°Are you all right?¡±

    ¡°What if what he said is true? What if I¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. I won¡¯t have you talking that way,¡± Maggie interjected firmly. She grabbed Aeris by the face. ¡°Do you understand me? You have done nothing wrong, and no one gets to decide whether you deserve to live or not.¡±

    Aeris nodded, but only to calm Maggie down. There was some truth to Charles¡¯ words. She was a threat to others. It was a lesson she was glad to have learned early.

    It took a month for Helen to return and tell Aeris it was safe to see Aubrey again. The weather had turned much colder as autumn was in full swing. Most trees around the estate had lost their leaves already, the others crowned in gold and red.

    During that time, Aeris never got the chance to see Cutter like she wanted. Master Aaron had placed a guard outside Aeris¡¯ room; a large man who never spoke to her. She never even learned his name. She couldn¡¯t leave her room without an escort. No one except Master Aaron was allowed inside without permission.

    It was very annoying, but Aeris didn''t have much time to focus on it. Most mornings she felt sick and didn''t want to see anyone anyway. The biggest change was her appetite. She didn''t want to eat, but she always seemed hungry. Thanks to her new restricted schedule, it was easy to keep it a secret from the others. The last thing she wanted was to worry them further. There was no keeping it from Maggie, however. The woman told her it was stress eating, and she should slow down as she was starting to put on weight. Aeris couldn''t care less about her figure.

    There had been no other attempts on Aeris''s life by Charles or anyone else. According to Maggie, news of Reks'' assassination at the wedding had spread like wildfire and things had become even tenser between the human and dragon communities. There had been a slow, but steady rise of disappearances of both parties. Aeris was consumed with guilt at how her naivete caused the chain of events.

    But Aeris was still glad to see Helen again. Despite the setback, she still wanted to continue teaching the other dragons to read. They were counting on her, looking to her for help, and she couldn¡¯t afford to let them down.

    Sneaking out was the hardest part. After convincing Lilith she would be fine on her own, the woman agreed to distract the guard, however, Aeris was on her own for getting back. Instead of keeping her word, Aeris was distracted the entire trip there. After so many times walking that path with Reks, it felt strange to be back at it alone. As usual, her trip was quiet and uneventful.

    Helen greeted Aeris at the door as always and led her to the common room where Aubrey awaited her. Aeris thought it was an odd place to hold their next meeting as she told Helen to inform the other dragons they were meeting today. To Aeris¡¯ surprise, Aubrey was the only dragon in the room.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Aeris asked. ¡°Where is everyone?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not coming,¡± Aubrey said, annoyed. ¡°Reks¡¯ murder made it very clear to them how the humans handle disobedience. They¡¯re too frightened to so much as sneeze without permission.¡±

    ¡°Although that one dragon did come by,¡± Helen said. ¡°I think his name was Lanry. He wanted to wait for you, but Lady Aubrey sent him home.¡±

    "Because he''s a fool, and we won''t lose any more dragons to such childish notions."

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Aeris said.

    Aubrey sighed heavily and turned to Aeris. ¡°I mean, we¡¯re done with this reading business. I should¡¯ve trusted my instincts and stopped you sooner. It was too soon.¡±

    ¡°But you can¡¯t!¡± Aeris cried. ¡°Reks is dead because of this. If I stop now, he¡¯ll have died for nothing.¡±

    ¡°And do you honestly think the humans will allow that?¡± Aubrey shot back. ¡°I want to help the domesticates as well, but as I told you before, we cannot be reckless.¡±

    "Then we''ll do it in secret," Aeris said. She tried to hide her annoyance, but her claws scraped against the wood floor. "We''ll teach them in smaller groups. Why do we have to stop entirely? Are you going to let the humans scare you?"

    Aubrey snarled and stood. ¡°Watch yourself, Aeris. I have put up with your foolishness and your dependency on that human, but I will not have you calling me a coward. I have been at this far longer than you and I know better than anyone how this game is played.¡±

    Aeris stood her ground and stared back. ¡°You always told me, to stand up for myself, but now the time has come for me to do that, and you tell me I can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Oh, grow up,¡± Aubrey spat. ¡°Do you honestly believe that you can do whatever you want and there will be no consequences? Even if you were the Matriarch of a clan you wouldn¡¯t have that luxury.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about Matriarch¡¯s and I don¡¯t care about the clans! All I care about is honoring Reks¡¯ memory and helping those dragons who are depending on me! If you won¡¯t help me, I¡¯ll do it myself. I don¡¯t need you!¡±

    Aubrey balked at the outburst. ¡°What did you say to me?¡±

    ¡°Everyone please,¡± Helen said quickly. ¡°Emotions are a little high because of what happened and the loss of Reks is very unfortunate¡ª¡±

    ¡°You stay out of this,¡± Aubrey said. Her voice was calm without carrying a hint of harm, but Helen still immediately fell silent. Aubrey continued to stare at Aeris, her eyes full of contempt. ¡°I made you. You were nothing but a submissive excuse of a dragon until you met me. You would be dead now if it weren¡¯t for me. But you don¡¯t need me anymore?¡± She scoffed and chuckled humorlessly before turning her back, and with a haughty swish of her tail added, ¡°You want to play at being a Matriarch? Fine, go. Go and play your childish games at being the hero then return to your ¡®master¡¯ and lick at his boots. Go and tell those dragons to defy their caretakers while you lift your tail when it suits the whims of that man and pretend you still have self-respect.¡± She shot a dark glare over her shoulder. ¡°But when you¡¯re world comes crashing down around you, when you finally see you¡¯re nothing more than a plaything to your caretaker, don¡¯t come crying to me. My home is only open to real dragons.¡±

    Without a word, Aeris stormed out of the mansion. She didn¡¯t need Aubrey. She would help the dragons herself.

    Instead of going home, she went straight to Cutter''s. If nothing else, Cutter would be able to help her find a new place to teach the other dragons. Also, Cutter had that large information network, and she offered to help any way she could. It seemed so obvious before that she wondered why she never bothered to think of it sooner.

    Aeris hadn¡¯t taken her cloak with her, but she didn¡¯t care. She had traveled the city so much, she knew most of the back alley routes the humans used to reach the brothel unseen. Once there, she went straight to the room in the back without stopping.

    Cutter was alone and looked very surprised to see Aeris. ¡°Snowflake? What are you doing here? I thought after the wedding, you would be keeping your head down.¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Aeris said. ¡°I need your help. Most of the dragons I was teaching are too afraid to keep going now. I need you to help me convince them to come out of hiding. I also want you to help me find Reks¡¯ killer.¡±

    ¡°Wow. Straight to business, huh? I kinda like it. You¡¯re finally showing some spine.¡± Her smile fell. ¡°But about Reks¡¯ killer¡­It was my fault. I hired the man who shot him.¡±

    The air rushed out of Aeris¡¯ lungs. After several failed attempts to draw breath, she managed to whisper, ¡°It¡­It was¡­you?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Snowflake. I had to.¡±

    ¡°You had to?¡±

    ¡°Y¡¯see, you drew more attention than I thought. The wrong people were finding out about you, and I had to take the pressure off somehow. You were the intended target. They hired the master of your future husband to deal with your ass. You must¡¯ve seriously pissed him off because he didn¡¯t hesitate to take the job.¡±

    Aeris shook her head even though she knew the gesture was meaningless. ¡°What are you talking about? How could killing Reks possibly save me?¡±

    ¡°Even if I stopped the assassin, they would just hire another,¡± Cutter replied calmly. ¡°My only option was to scare the dragons off and make the humans think they had beaten you. To do that, someone had to die.¡± She scratched the back of her neck and continued in the same calm manner. ¡°I already promised to look after you. Aubrey still has her uses, so it came down to Reks. With him dead and your group scattered, the contract for your life was canceled.¡±

    Aeris fell on her rear. ¡°Why? Why would you do that? Couldn¡¯t you have found another way?¡±

    Cutter tilted her head and frowned. ¡°Snowflake, what the fuck do you think we¡¯re doing here? This isn¡¯t a game. Sometimes, you have to make sacrifices.¡±

    ¡°But now the other dragons are too afraid to come back for the reading lessons.¡±

    ¡°And what do you think was gonna happen if you died?¡± Cutter asked. ¡°Those dragons didn¡¯t go for Reks, they came for you. If something had happened to you, it would¡¯ve done much more damage. At least this way, you can rebuild.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about rebuilding! What¡¯s the point of all this if dragons are dying for it?¡±

    Cutter sighed heavily and gave a somber shake of her head. ¡°Snowflake, I thought you understood, but I guess I was wrong. You can¡¯t get around that shit, y¡¯know. Sacrifices will have to be made, especially if you¡¯re gonna go around pissing people off.¡±

    ¡°But-but¡­¡± Aeris couldn¡¯t find the words to argue Cutter¡¯s logic. The tightness in her chest returned. ¡°No! Why didn¡¯t you find another way?¡±

    ¡°You make it sound as if I wanted to kill him.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you did.¡±

    Cutter laughed then quickly stopped, wearing a look of displeasure. ¡°I¡¯ll let you have that one, but you best remember you have more brains than balls. Dragons don¡¯t like being accused of shit, Snowflake.¡±

    ¡°Then why does everyone accuse me of being stupid?¡±

    The smile returned. Aeris wanted to rush over and slap that smile off Cutter¡¯s face, but Cutter was right. She was far from stupid. Even if Aeris landed a blow, she wouldn¡¯t live long enough to reflect on her mistake.

    Cutter''s smile fell. "Damn. You''re right. I have been treating you like a hatchling, but expect you to show me respect. I''m sorry about that. But do you understand why this is so important?"

    ¡°No, and I don¡¯t want to.¡± Was all Aeris said before she spun and stormed out of the room. A low growl built in her throat until her lips pulled back in a snarl. She made no attempts to calm herself down. If this was what Cutter¡¯s help cost her, she wanted no part of it. The others were so callous and carefree. ¡°A necessary sacrifice.¡± That was all it seemed Reks was to them.

    She couldn¡¯t stand it. His master treated him like he was nothing, and no one seemed to care. All that talk about being independent and helping dragons and that was all it amounted to in the end.

    A sudden thought entered her mind: He wouldn¡¯t have died if it weren¡¯t for her. The guilt swallowed her anger like a roar swallowing a whimper. Thinking about it now, it was her fault. If Reks hadn''t gotten involved with her, if she had told her master the truth about her relationship with him from the beginning, the wedding never would''ve taken place, and Reks would still be alive.

    Aeris lifted her head and found herself standing in front of Windor¡¯s house. The thought of someone else telling her she was behaving like a child made her hesitant to go inside, but she also couldn¡¯t stand the idea of being alone right now. She opened the door and went inside.

    Windor was nowhere to be seen, but this was his home. Eventually, he would return. She sat in the corner and waited for him. Alternate scenarios raced through her mind, tormenting her with ¡°maybes¡± and ¡°should haves¡±.

    She had no idea how much time had passed, but it startled her when the door opened and Windor came inside. He didn¡¯t notice her until she said, ¡°Welcome home.¡±

    Windor gave a startled cry and leaped back, falling against the door. He quickly recovered and cleared his throat. "A-Aeris?! What are you doing in my house? Never mind. I''m glad you''re okay! I heard what happened at the wedding. Some of the dragons think it''s for the best, but a lot of them aren''t happy with¡ª"

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Aeris said softly. She walked over and nuzzled him under the chin. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about that anymore.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    She broke away to look him in the eye. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just¡­I want to forget it ever happened.¡±

    ¡°If I could, I¡¯d take the memory away.¡±

    ¡°No, I mean¡­Just being around you makes me feel better.¡± She dug her claws into the dirt floor as she fought back another growl, but it quickly turned into a whine. ¡°I was going to say no. I couldn¡¯t do it. All I could think about was you and how I wanted it to be you standing beside me, and ¡ª"

    Windor stepped forward and placed his chin on the back of Aeris¡¯ neck pressing their bodies together in a dragon-style embrace. ¡°Shh. We¡¯re not talking about that right now.¡±

    Aeris nodded and let Windor steer her toward the mattress. For the rest of the afternoon, she didn¡¯t think about anything except him.

 Chapter 19: The Last Straw

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 19: The Last Straw</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris rolled over on the mattress. Immediately she was greeted by Windor¡¯s smiling face. He licked her snout and grinned. ¡°Hey, you.¡±

    She smiled then rolled over onto her back and stretched her limbs to the ceiling. ¡°I haven¡¯t slept like that in¡ªI don¡¯t know when,¡± she added, chuckling.

    ¡°Well, I like to think it had something to do with the company you keep,¡± Windor said slyly. He leaned over and nuzzled her neck.

    Aeris leaned into his snout and let out a long slow churr. ¡°I wish we could stay like this all night.¡±

    ¡°I would like you to stay longer,¡± Windor said, continuing to nibble her neck and under her chin. ¡°But I don¡¯t think my neighbors would like it. Shame. I have the day off, so I have nothing but free time.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t. I have to get back home before morning or else my master will notice I¡¯m gone.¡±

    Windor sat up and frowned. ¡°Aeris, you don¡¯t need to fear him. I mean, look at you. You may be a bit small, but you could easily take down a grown man. He doesn¡¯t control you.¡±

    Now it was Aeris¡¯ turn to frown. She rolled over and stood to look Windor in the eye. ¡°He has protected me since I was a hatchling; I¡¯m not going to kill him, or threaten him,¡± she argued. ¡°And I still live with him. I need to follow his rules.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t argue with that. But isn¡¯t being with me breaking his rules?¡±

    Aeris fell silent. She didn¡¯t have an answer to his question. Technically, Master Aaron hadn¡¯t told her not to see Windor. But he did tell her to stay away from Aubrey. In that case, she had been lying and disobeying him for months.

    She felt that strange knotting feeling return. Aubrey told her that dragons have no respect for those who don¡¯t honor their word. Aeris never gave her word, but she still gave Master Aaron the expectation that she was doing something she wasn¡¯t.

    Windor must have sensed her distress because he sighed and nuzzled her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s too early to talk about this now. Wait here while I go get breakfast. It¡¯s the first night we¡¯ve spent together, and I shouldn¡¯t be ruining it.¡±

    It suddenly felt as if someone were pressing on Aeris¡¯ throat. She had to swallow twice before attempting to speak. ¡°D-did you just say¡­What time is it? Is it morning?¡±

    Windor approached the door and peered through the window. ¡°Not sure. From the looks of things, it¡¯s close to midday.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Aeris bounded over to the window, nearly knocking Windor into the corner. Sure enough, the sun was up and shining brightly. Judging from its position it was close to noon.

    Aeris¡¯ tail curled around her legs. ¡°No¡­no, no, no, no, no. Windor, why did you let me sleep here all night?!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I needed to wake you,¡± Windor shot back. ¡°After the night we had, I was a little exhausted.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this! I have to go!¡± Aeris rushed outside and kicked off the ground as hard as she could, taking off into the air.

    She heard Windor calling after her. She beat her wings harder and increased her speed until the wind rushing in her ears drowned out all other sounds.

    She needed to get home, now. If she were lucky, Master Aaron was too tired to check on her when he came home last night. Maggie may have noticed since she came to greet her first thing in the morning, but there was still a chance she was too busy to come by as well. The guard outside her room could have noticed, and if he had, she was in trouble.

    Aeris continued to flap her wings until they began to feel sore. No matter how fast she flew, it felt as if the world was running just a little bit faster ahead of her. As if some invisible force had taken hold of her and was pulling her away from her destination. She began thinking up possible excuses for where she had been all night in case things didn¡¯t go her way and someone noticed she left. She could try blaming things on Aubrey. Master Aaron already knew Aeris wanted to go see her. He may not even be surprised to hear of her disobeying him so long as he believed it was the first time.

    ¡°Aeris is free to come and go as she chooses,¡± Maggie¡¯s voice echoed.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she is,¡± Aubrey¡¯s voice answered.

    Aeris couldn¡¯t deny Maggie had a point; she was free to leave whenever she wanted. Once a dragon reached maturity, it was free to travel the city without supervision. Aeris wasn¡¯t breaking any laws by leaving. And it¡¯s not as if she was doing anything illegal. She was already registered, so that wasn¡¯t an issue. But even knowing that she had done nothing wrong, she felt the need to hide her actions.

    Aeris tried to force the thoughts out of her mind, but it kept returning, louder and more distracting. She knew exactly why she was so indecisive but didn¡¯t want to admit it. Why even as she fought to be more independent she kept thinking of how it would benefit Master Aaron. It was because she was a good dragon; obedient, submissive, manipulatable. She was his good little pet.

    Aeris urged even more speed out of her wings. Her wings ached and begged her to stop, but she didn¡¯t even attempt to slow down until the estate came into view.

    She flew up toward the clouds and circled back toward the forest to avoid being seen by anyone watching from the windows. In the woods, there was a small clearing about a half-mile from the edge of the estate grounds. She could land there without drawing attention and make the rest of the journey on foot. There was a path leading straight to her room. She just had to move quickly enough to avoid being seen. The guard would be an obstacle, but she could tell him she snuck out when he went to pee or something.

    As she drew close to the clearing, she began to slow down. Unfortunately, her wings decided they had enough and seized up. Aeris plummeted toward the ground. She hit the tops of the trees first, the branches slowing her fall. She managed to land on her feet but pain still shot through her right foreleg.

    Aeris bit back the urge to scream ignored the possible sprain, and limped through the forest as fast as she was able. There was little she could do about the injury now. The knot in her stomach tightened further. Even if no one noticed she was gone, now she needed a good excuse for why she was limping. If Master Aaron heard she hurt herself while flying, he would never let her do so again. And if Master Aaron suspected what she had really been doing, flying would be the least of her problems.

    Aeris stopped when she reached the edge of the forest. She was out of breath, her lungs ached, her wings ached, her leg ached, and none of it compared to the fear that gripped her. She watched the open land around the estate carefully. There were no signs of anyone being outside or watching from the windows. Her room was still a good distance away though. But she was allowed on the estate grounds. So long as she remained calm and didn¡¯t draw attention to herself, no one would think twice to see her walking around.

    Aeris tried to look casual as she walked to her room, but it was impossible without limping and drawing attention to her injury. Thankfully no one ever came outside and approached her. The guard was also missing from outside her room.

    She chose to count her blessing and went inside. Now that she was back in her room, she realized how exhausted she was.

    ¡°Tired?¡± Maggie asked.

    Aeris'' heart leaped into her throat and began beating at a rate she never thought possible. ?She was too afraid to blink, let alone move.

    ¡°Where have you been, Aeris?¡± Maggie asked, her voice cold and firm.

    Aeris didn¡¯t answer. She couldn¡¯t. Any excuses she had thought of on the flight over vanished from her mind as quickly as a bubble popping.

    ¡°I asked you a question. Aeris, look at me when I¡¯m talking to you.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t want to. She knew she couldn¡¯t handle turning around and seeing the disappointment in Maggie¡¯s face. But avoiding it wasn¡¯t an option. Avoiding eye-contact would only make things worse.

    She turned slowly, part from fear and part because of her injured leg. Her tail wrapped tightly around her ankles and her heart maintained its rapid beating as she turned.

    Maggie sat on top of a crate by the old table in the corner of the room. Her face was completely calm and her hands were folded in her lap. On the surface, it looked as if Maggie didn¡¯t suspect a thing. But the look in her eyes showed that she was at a level beyond furious.

    ¡°H-hi, M-Maggie,¡± Aeris said, trying unsuccessfully to keep her voice even. As it was now, she was almost squeaking. ¡°I-I was just out-out flying, y¡¯know? I-I figured I would circle the¡­estate a few times before lunch¡ª¡±

    Maggie¡¯s gaze hardened and that was all it took for Aeris to snap her muzzle closed. ¡°Aeris, you are a terrible liar, and you know I¡¯m aware of this,¡± Maggie said in a calm voice. ¡°I actually came by to check on you yesterday, but you were gone. I gave you some space and tried again this morning, and you were gone. I checked the skies, and you weren¡¯t there. I searched every foot of this estate both inside and out, and there was no sign of you. Lord Strauss came by looking for you, and I told him you were relieving yourself in the woods. Now whether or not he believed it remains to be seen, but he has not asked about you again.

    ¡°Do you have any idea how worried I have been? Not knowing where you were and wondering what could have happened to you? After what happened at the wedding, I can¡¯t believe you would run off like that without telling me where you were going.¡±

    Aeris recoiled at Maggie¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I lied, Maggie. And I¡¯m sorry I stayed out all night. I went to see Aubrey and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aeris, I need you to stop,¡± Maggie said. Aeris immediately fell silent. ¡°I already spoke to Helen earlier this morning. She told me about the argument between you and Aubrey. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve been teaching dragons to read! I told you that it was dangerous for you to be learning.¡± She sighed and smoothed her blouse which didn¡¯t require straightening. ¡°But that¡¯s not what I need to say to you. Helen said you disappeared and no one had seen you since. I am going to ask you one more time, and I want you to think very, very carefully before you lie to me again: Where were you?¡±

    Aeris¡¯ tail wrapped around her hind legs so tightly, she couldn¡¯t walk if she tried. She had never seen Maggie this angry before. Her voice and face were as still as a calm lake. Yet she could hear it in the woman¡¯s voice. She felt it whenever she spoke. Every word, every syllable was seething with rage.

    There was no way out. She had to tell the truth. Maggie would see through any lie, and it would only make things worse.

    Aeris stared at her paws. ¡°I-I was with Windor.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t see Maggie¡¯s expression, but she felt the woman¡¯s gaze burning into her skull.

    ¡°And who is Windor?¡± Maggie said, her voice shaking.

    Aeris swallowed thickly and dug her claws into the dirt floor. She continued to stare at the ground as if everything she needed to say had been written there for her. But there was nothing there, just shallow furrows in the dirt she had dug with her claws. ¡°Windor is a drake I have been¡­seeing for some time.¡±

    ¡°A¡­drake? Aeris, you¡¯ve been¡ªLook at me when I talk to you!¡±

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Aeris flinched. It was a struggle to lift her head, but she managed to look Maggie in the eye. The woman hadn¡¯t moved from the table, but she was on her feet. And her fury now masked her face.

    ¡°How long?¡± Maggie asked.

    Aeris couldn¡¯t answer. Her throat had locked up and any sound she attempted to make was cut off and sent back where it came from. She couldn¡¯t understand why Maggie seemed more upset to learn about the drake than her sneaking off. But she dared not ask the question.

    Maggie began walking toward her. Panic gripped Aeris and she yelped and tried to back away, but her tail was still wrapped around her legs. She lost her balance and fell on her side. She curled into a ball and watched with fear-filled eyes as Maggie stood over her.

    "Aeris¡­" Maggie said in a dangerously calm voice, "I need to understand right now: In the last few weeks, you have been going to see a dragon. A male dragon?¡±

    Aeris continued to lay on the floor and nodded.

    ¡°And did you¡­¡± Maggie drifted off before she could finish the rest of the sentence. But Aeris didn¡¯t need her to. She knew exactly what Maggie wanted to know.

    Part of her wanted to lie. Telling the truth wouldn¡¯t end well. It would just serve to worsen Maggie¡¯s fury. She had to lie even if it would just serve to put the woman¡¯s mind at ease. But telling a lie wouldn¡¯t be any better. Maggie would see right through it, and she¡¯d be even angrier.

    Aeris curled up even tighter and slowly nodded.

    Maggie¡¯s mouth dropped open as she stumbled away until her back hit the wall. Then she slid to the floor. ¡°Aeris¡­do you know what you¡¯ve done? Why? Why would you do something so foolish?¡±

    Maggie''s words echoed in Aeris''s mind again: ¡°Aeris is free to leave if she chooses.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she is.¡±

    For the first time, she understood what that meant. Why Aubrey got so upset when she spoke about how happy she was. She was a prisoner. They told her she had freedoms, they told her she could do whatever she wanted, but it was all a lie. A ploy to keep her placated. To keep her from seeing the silk bars of her cage.

    Something welled-up within Aeris. Courage? Rage? She didn¡¯t know. ¡°Maggie, I¡¯m a mature dragon now. Why can¡¯t I go see who I want?¡±

    ¡°Aeris, you don¡¯t understand¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then help me understand!¡±

    ¡°Keep your voice down¡ª¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Aeris stood, her fear forgotten. ¡°I need to know why you say I can do as I please but try to talk me out of everything I want to do. I¡¯m tired of being treated like a child.¡±

    Aeris stood there, her breath coming in short hard bursts. Maggie stared at her wide-eyed. The two stared at each other, letting the awkward silence blanket them.

    Eventually, Maggie stood then brushed the dirt from her clothes and said, "We will finish this conversation later. For now, I will talk to Lord Strauss and make sure he doesn''t suspect anything. In the meantime, stay here and don''t talk to anyone."

    Maggie crossed the room and opened the door. Standing in the doorway was Master Aaron. Aeris fought the urge to bury her head in the dirt.

    ¡°L-Lord Strauss!¡± Maggie cried. ¡°I was just coming to see you. I wanted you to know that¡ª¡±

    Master Aaron¡¯s face twisted into a sneer, and he slapped Maggie across the face. The sound hurt Aeris¡¯ ears as it cut through the silent room. Maggie cried out in pain and stumbled away, clutching her face.

    Aeris backed away until the corner halted her retreat. She had never seen Master Aaron strike Maggie or this angry. His face was so twisted in fury she barely recognized the man.

    Master Aaron stalked inside, slamming the door closed behind him. ¡°This¡­This is what has been going on behind my back. Under my roof!¡±

    Maggie lowered her hand. Aeris caught a brief glimpse of redness on Maggie¡¯s face where Master Aaron had struck her.

    ¡°Lord Strauss, I can explain¡ª¡± Maggie began.

    Master Aaron slapped her again. Maggie fell to her knees. Aeris curled her tail around her body and her wings over her torso like a shield. She wanted to go over and help Maggie, but she was too frightened to move.

    Master Aaron stood over Maggie. For a moment Aeris feared he was going to hit her again. But he only pointed a threatening finger at the cowering woman. "You¡­You put ideas in Aeris'' head. You''re the reason for Aeris'' disobedient behavior. Do you have any idea the damage it could''ve caused if people found out about this? Do you know what I had to do to set up that wedding with Reks? And thanks to you, she''s in danger of developing a reputation as a whore! If word got out, she would be useless to me!"

    ¡°M-Master A-Aaron, please,¡± Aeris pleaded. ¡°I-It wasn¡¯t Maggie¡¯s fault¡ª¡±

    Master Aaron whirled around and pointed his finger at Aeris. ¡°SILENCE!¡±

    Aeris let out a frightened squeak and buried her face behind her wings. She couldn¡¯t see what was happening, but she could hear Master Aaron speaking. Every word still dripped with venom and rage.

    ¡°I have put up with your disobedience for far too long, Margret. I never cared that you did things with Aeris behind my back. I know you have been the closest thing to a mother she¡¯s ever had.¡± He sighed heavily, and his voice no longer carried the anger from before. ¡°But I will not allow you to put her in danger in some misguided attempt to defy me. I¡¯m sorry, but this isn¡¯t going to work. I have to let you go.¡±

    It felt as if time itself had stopped. Aeris had known Maggie for years. Ever since she had hatched, the woman watched over her.

    "What?" Maggie asked, "You can''t be serious."

    ¡°I am serious, Margret. You¡¯re fired. Gather your things and leave.¡±

    Aeris rushed over to her master and threw herself at his feet. ¡°Master Aaron, don¡¯t! Please, don¡¯t send Maggie away!¡±

    Master Aaron looked down at Aeris. "I''m sorry, Aeris, but anything could have happened to you while you were out there. She knew you were running off alone, knew you were destroying the future I worked so hard to build for you and said nothing."

    ¡°But she didn¡¯t know!¡± Aeris said quickly. Not a complete lie, but Maggie knew more than enough. She knew lying could potentially make things worse, but she had to try. If it was the only way Maggie could stay, she would tell any lie she had to. ¡°I lied to Maggie about where I was and what I was doing. She would never let me go anywhere alone, just like you.¡±

    Master Aaron reached down and gently took Aeris''s face in his hands. "You poor, silly dragon. You don''t need to lie for her. Someone who would knowingly let you put yourself in danger is not someone who can be trusted. Trust me, you''ll be better off under someone else''s care."

    Aeris¡¯ vision blurred. It was hard to breathe, but she continued pleading with her master. ¡°Please! I¡¯ll do anything¡ªwhatever you want! Just don¡¯t send her away! I¡¯ll be a good dragon from now on, I promise! I¡¯ll never sneak out again. I¡¯ll stay right here and do whatever you say! Just¡­don¡¯t send Maggie away, please!¡±

    ¡°Aeris, stop,¡± Maggie said. ¡°If Lord Strauss wants me gone then I will leave.¡±

    Aeris faced Maggie. Half of her face had turned red from being struck by Aaron. Her lip was busted open and blood dripped onto her blouse, but she stared at Aaron with a fierce, cold look. ¡°Aeris, Lord Strauss is right. I have knowingly allowed you to put yourself in danger. I cannot let that happen again.¡±

    Aeris couldn¡¯t breathe. Every exhale pushed more air out than she could draw in. The blurring of her vision worsened. It couldn¡¯t be happening. She would wake up to find it had been a horrible dream. Maggie would walk in with her breakfast as she always did.

    But she knew it was a lie. The next time she would wake, Maggie wouldn¡¯t be there. Coming to greet her every morning would be a stranger. Someone who didn¡¯t care for her. Someone she couldn¡¯t share her likes, dislikes, and fears with. No one else besides Lilith gave her the time of day anymore, and even those visits were rare. She began to feel lightheaded as she struggled to breathe.

    Maggie¡¯s expression turned to concern. ¡°Aeris? Are you all¡ª¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t hear the rest of Maggie¡¯s words. Everything turned sideways, and her body felt weightless. Her vision faded to black and she knew no more.

    ***

    Aeris slowly opened her eyes. The familiar sight of the walls of her room brought her little comfort. Her shadow danced on the wall, most likely from the flame of a candle making her assume it was dark out. She knew what happened before wasn¡¯t a dream¡ªno matter how much she wanted it to be.

    The melancholic thoughts were interrupted at the realization someone was touching her. They held her tail and were touching her rear. She craned her neck to see who it was. She was surprised to see the doctor kneeling near her. He was a short wiry man with kind brown eyes. He had been her doctor since she was a hatchling, so she knew he could be trusted.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked.

    The doctor lifted his head. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re awake. Well, this is certainly awkward. Forgive me, but I noticed something when I was examining you and I needed to be certain. He stood and pressed a long tube against her chest, placing his ear on the other end. ¡°How are you feeling? You gave us quite a scare.¡±

    ¡°I-I feel¡­fine?¡± Aeris looked around the room. Master Aaron leaned against the door, wearing a look of concern. Lilith stood next to him, her face a mask of neutrality. ¡°Where¡¯s Maggie?¡±

    Lilith turned away. Master Aaron spoke up in the voice he used when he was informing her of something important. "Maggie is gone. After you fainted, I had her leave. I thought it best she not be here when you awoke and upset you further."

    ¡°What?¡±

    The doctor patted Aeris¡¯ side gently and hushed her. ¡°I need you to remain calm. You don¡¯t want anything to happen to the little ones.¡±

    ¡°Little ones?¡± Aeris asked, tilting her head.

    The doctor suddenly looked uncomfortable and he shot a fearful glance in Master Aaron¡¯s direction. ¡°Uh, you¡¯re pregnant.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ stomach dropped. ¡°I¡¯m what? B-But how? When?¡±

    ¡°I¡­Lord Strauss, she does understand how babies are made, correct?¡±

    Master Aaron chuckled nervously. "She''s just in shock. I don''t think she planned this in any way." He shot a dark look in her direction which she avoided. "Doctor, would you mind giving us a moment? I need to speak with my dragon."

    ¡°Actually, Lord Strauss, I need to speak with you in private.¡± The two men left the room, leaving Aeris and Lilith alone.

    For the first time in a long time, Aeris felt her curiosity return only this time, it wasn¡¯t pleasant. It was a dreaded feeling about what the doctor and Master Aaron could be talking about.

    ¡°So, getting engaged before me wasn¡¯t enough for you?¡± Lilith asked. There was a stinging bitterness in her voice that made it hard for Aeris to look her in the eye. ¡°You said you had never been with another dragon. When did that change?¡±

    ¡°A few months ago,¡± Aeris said meekly.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you didn¡¯t consider the possibility of getting pregnant.¡±

    Aeris shook her head. She hadn¡¯t considered the possibility although she knew exactly how pregnancies worked. Not once had she questioned what she was going to do if she got pregnant. To change the subject she asked, ¡°How long was I out?¡±

    ¡°A few hours,¡± Lilith replied stiffly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you noticed it¡¯s night.¡±

    ¡°Is¡­Is Maggie really gone?¡±

    ¡°She is. Aaron had her escorted from the grounds. I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯ll have her arrested if she comes back.¡±

    ¡°You could¡¯ve helped her. Why didn¡¯t you¡ª¡±

    Master Aaron returned, cutting the conversation short. The doctor was not with him. Whatever the two men had discussed outside, Master Aaron had a large smile on his face. As he approached Aeris, she remembered the fury in his voice and the frightening face he made when he learned of her disobedience. She scooted off the mattress away from him.

    "Aeris, I would never hurt you," Master Aaron said. He didn''t stop his advance and his smile grew wider. If he intended to disarm her, it was having the opposite effect. She closed her eyes tight and braced for the inevitable. Her master had never struck her, but the same was once said of Maggie

    She still flinched when she felt him gently rub her snout. "You beautiful, wonderful dragon," he said. "And here I thought things had gone downhill. I am a little upset you hid it from me, but thanks to you and Reks, my plans can continue."

    Aeris slowly opened her eyes. She chose not to tell her master who the real father was. It would only upset him and there was no telling what he would do to Windor. And something else about her master¡¯s words had occupied her mind. ¡°What plan?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Just know that you are helping me greatly and I can never thank you enough for it.¡± He stood and added. ¡°You just stay here and take it easy.¡± He beamed at her before leaving the room.

    Lilith remained where she stood, looking crossly at Aeris. ¡°I knew I was a fool for thinking I could compete with a dragon,¡± she spat. ¡°The very notion that I had to compete with you at all is insulting. Even when you¡¯re out causing mischief, you manage to become the center of his world.¡±

    Aeris walked back to the mattress and laid down. Now that she was aware of the pregnancy, her body felt different. Heavier and more fragile at the same time. Every movement felt awkward and she worried if it affected her unhatched children. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to cause you trouble."

    ¡°You never do. But I guess that¡¯s what makes you so infuriating. You¡¯re a thorn in my side without even trying!¡±

    Aeris recoiled from the outburst. This was not something she expected from Lilith. ¡°B-But you told me to be more independent.¡±

    ¡°Because I wanted you out of my way,¡± Lilith said. ¡°But that will never be an option. Now that his ¡®precious dragon¡¯ has gotten pregnant, I doubt he¡¯ll even look at me for the next several months. And that¡¯s before they hatch¡­¡± She gave a short, humorless laugh. ¡°I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m still here. I should¡¯ve cut ties and left a long time ago. Maybe I¡¯m just as stupid and na?ve as you for believing this man could love me.¡±

    Aeris lowered her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Lilith frowned then walked over to the door without a word. Aeris wasn¡¯t sure what she had done to make Lilith so angry, but it seemed she was pissing off everyone she knew. She looked down at her stomach which was also larger than normal. Up until now, she never questioned it. Maggie had even made a few jokes about Aeris putting on a few pounds. She wondered where Maggie was and what she was doing now.

    Aeris placed her head on her forelegs and whined. Reks and Maggie were gone, Aubrey and Lilith were mad at her, Cutter couldn¡¯t be trusted, and there was a good chance she would never see Windor again. If there was a way for things to be worse, she couldn¡¯t think of it.

    The door opened and Lydia came inside carrying a large tray of food. The tray rattled as the large woman crossed the room, looking everywhere but in Aeris¡¯ direction.

    ¡°Just set it down on the floor, Lydia,¡± Aeris said. ¡°I¡¯ll come get it.¡±

    ¡°N-No, that¡¯s a-all right. After all, you¡¯re pregnant and it wouldn¡¯t do to make you do too much.¡± She walked up to the mattress and shakily placed the tray on the floor. ¡°I-I¡¯ll be right over there while you eat.¡±

    Aeris stared at the tray. It was her favorite, and a much larger portion¡ªlikely because her master had no doubt told everyone the news¡ªbut she had lost her appetite. But Lydia had taken the time to prepare the meal as she always did and even decided to bring it to her despite her fear of dragons, so Aeris forced herself to eat the meal.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Maggie,¡± Lydia said. Aeris lifted her head. ¡°She was truly a wonderful woman, and she cared about you greatly.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°She wanted me to pass a message along to you: Don¡¯t give up. She¡¯ll come back for you one day.¡±

    Hearing those words raised Aeris¡¯ spirits a little. She swallowed a large chunk of meat and nodded.

    Lydia smiled and they remained silent as Aeris ate the rest of the meal with much more enthusiasm than before. It wasn¡¯t as if she could never see Maggie again. She had become quite proficient at sneaking out.

    When Aeris finished eating, she noticed a note under one of the plates. She gingerly pulled out the piece of paper and read it. It was written by the same hand who wrote the first note someone left by her food all those weeks ago.

    Hang in there.

    Aeris looked up at Lydia. ¡°That was you who was leaving me food before?¡±

    Lydia played with her apron. ¡°I told myself I would never let someone go hungry. And I think cutting someone off from food is a cruel punishment. But you hung in there. Just like Maggie said you would. She talked about you all the time.¡± She retrieved the tray and headed back to the door. Before leaving she added, ¡°You¡¯re stronger than you think, Aeris. No matter what happens next, never forget that.¡±

    Aeris tilted her head as she watched the woman leave. It was an odd note to leave things on. She rolled over on her back and rubbed her forepaws over her bulging belly. It felt so strange to think that now she had become pregnant. She wished Aubrey was talking to her. If ever there was a moment she wanted her help, it was now.

 Chapter 20: The Escape

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 20: The Escape</h2>

    <hr>

    Winter came much faster than expected. No sooner had the leaves fallen off the trees did the temperature plummet and the first snowfall follow. Aeris loved the snow, but she was forced to remain indoors.

    Ever since her pregnancy had been revealed, Master Aaron came down even harder on restricting her activities. To keep her from sneaking out, he began locking her door. It wasn¡¯t much of a deterrent; she could force her way out through the window or dig under the wall if she wanted. But there was no point in doing so. She had nowhere to go. Also, she figured she had caused her master enough stress.

    The times she was let out of her room, she was watched constantly. Her guard was under strict orders to keep an eye on her no matter what. It was a nightmare every time she had to relieve herself in the bushes. Flying was forbidden entirely and she was yelled at something fierce every time she so much as stretched her wings. Due to the windier weather of the winter months, she didn¡¯t fly much anyway, but her wings cramped if she went too long without spreading them.

    The hardest part of dealing with all of it was not having Maggie around to help her through the stress. On several occasions, Aeris awoke, expecting Maggie to be the one to bring her breakfast, only for Lydia to appear instead and everything came rushing back.

    In some ways, it felt as if things reverted to the way they were before she met Aubrey. Lydia and Master Aaron were the only humans who visited her. She spent most of her time in her room alone with only the books to keep her company. It took some convincing before Lydia accepted that Aeris knew how to read, but very little to convince her to keep it a secret. Despite her aversion toward dragons, the woman agreed to bring Aeris as many books as she needed.

    Poor Lydia hadn¡¯t overcome her fear of dragons. She couldn¡¯t look Aeris in the eye and she flinched every time Aeris moved, but she felt the woman beginning to open up to her albeit very slowly. Lydia had become much more comfortable talking to Aeris. Their conversations were always brief, but a few times, Aeris managed to make the woman smile.

    Master Aaron visited a few times. He always bombarded Aeris with questions about how she was feeling. Aeris always responded with she felt fine. Maybe a little sick at times, but no different besides that. Lilith never visited which disappointed her.

    Even with Maggie gone, Aeris never heard from Charles again. A few times when she was outside, she noticed him watching her from one of the windows. He didn¡¯t look at all happy to see her. That was why even if she was allowed to roam freely, she would never sneak into the estate again. Charles had to know about the secret passages by now, and the last thing she wanted was to be alone in a room with him again. It made Aeris grateful for the constant escort and why she never attempted to sneak off again. She didn¡¯t dare do anything that could endanger her eggs.

    On one particularly cold day, one that made even Aeris shiver a little, she gave birth to three dragon eggs. It was a short but torturous process. No one had told her it would be so painful! Thankfully, Lydia was there when the labor started and she was quick to run for help. By the time Master Aaron and Charles had arrived, it was already over.

    The eggs looked very different from she what was expecting. The only eggs she had seen before were chicken eggs. Her eggs were much larger, almost the size of her head. They were also a dark grey like a storm-covered sky and rough to the touch.

    Aeris pulled the eggs close and pressed the side of her head against one of them. They felt warmer than she expected. She smiled when she heard movement inside. The questions surged through her mind. How many were male and how many were female? Did any of them take after her or Windor? How large were they going to get? What should she have them call her? What was she going to name them? It felt so strange to be touching them after they were inside her body. Soon they would hatch and walk around. She would teach them how to read and the proper way to greet others and how to be polite. She couldn¡¯t wait for their first flying lesson. Their first meal. Hearing their first words. An indescribable feeling of elation welled up within her. She would be bouncing with excitement if she had the energy to stand.

    Master Aaron smiled. "They''re beautiful. I''ll be sure to send for the doctor first thing tomorrow." He kneeled and pulled Aeris'' head to his breast. "You are so amazing. These are going to make me so much money."

    Aeris blinked and pulled herself free of her master¡¯s embrace. ¡°Money? What are you talking about?¡±

    Master Aaron stared at Aeris for a moment then he cleared his throat and his expression turned somber. ¡°Aeris, I¡¯m sorry, but I have to sell your eggs. I¡¯m afraid I just can¡¯t take care of three more dragons.¡±

    Aeris curled protectively around her eggs. ¡°What? No! You¡¯re not selling them!¡±

    ¡°Aeris¡ª¡±

    ¡°They can sleep in my room! I¡¯ll sleep outside. They can have my share of the food and I¡¯ll hunt in the woods. I can get a job to help out.¡±

    ¡°Aeris, I¡¯m sorry, but this isn¡¯t up for debate.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    Master Aaron frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t think I like your tone.¡±

    ¡°And I don¡¯t like you talking about selling my eggs as if I don¡¯t get a say in the matter.¡±

    Master Aaron folded his arms across his chest and raised a brow. ¡°Because you don¡¯t. You forget I own you which means I own anything that belongs to you including those eggs. And if I choose to sell my eggs I will.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not touching my eggs,¡± Aeris shot back.

    Master Aaron seized Aeris¡¯ horn and pulled her head backward at a very painful angle. ¡°You listen here,¡± her master said, his voice full of contempt and anger. His eyes showed a manic fury that made Aeris squeeze hers shut. It was like the situation with Maggie all over again. This crazed thing before her wasn¡¯t her master. She refused to believe that. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯re worth right now? Anything from a dragon as rare as you is worth than half my fortune. It was unplanned, but your pregnancy was the best thing to happen to me especially since Reks is now dead.

    ¡°I spent months planning this, traipsing you around to all those stuck-up nobles to find you a suitor. And I was lucky enough to find someone despite your best attempts to ruin me. Now, I already have a buyer ready, and I won¡¯t have it fucked up because you decided to be stubborn. Those eggs are a lot more valuable to me than you are right now.¡±

    Aeris continued to hold her eyes shut. She was too shocked by her master¡¯s words to be angry. She tried to think of an excuse, but it quickly faded just like her elation at giving birth. Everything everyone had told her about her master not having her best interests at heart flooded her mind, taunting and teasing her.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t understand,¡± Aeris said, her voice quavering. ¡°I thought you arranged for Reks to marry me because we liked each other.¡±

    "Oh, grow up," Master Aaron spat. "You honestly think I would bother with all that trouble simply because you two liked each other? Humans hardly marry for love, what made you think a dragon wedding would be any different? The marriage was nothing more than a cover so no one would suspect what we were doing. It''s more common than you think, but we can''t let the dragon community find out."

    Aeris thought back to all the times Reks called her na?ve and wondered if he knew the truth. She wanted to believe he didn''t but she suspected otherwise. Just like she knew why he didn''t warn her. He was afraid of what his master would do to him if he disobeyed. Reks was a domesticate, so if his master put him out, he had nowhere to go as the dragons were less than likely to take him in.

    She shook the thoughts from her mind. She was overthinking things¡ªshe had to be. This whole thing was a nightmare. Master Aaron was the man who took care of her, looked after her. She still remembered the days he took care of her when she was sick, cheered her up when she was injured. Of course, those were memories of their younger days. As they grew older, those days became few and far between until only Maggie was there.

    ¡°But Master, why? Don¡¯t you care about me?¡±

    Master Aaron sighed and rubbed his temple. ¡°I guess this is my fault for sheltering you so much. Aeris, of course I care about you. Do you have any idea how much you¡¯re worth to the right buyer? I could¡¯ve charged people to fuck you and made a mint. That¡¯s how rare you are. If I killed you right now and used your scales to make jewelry, it would be worth more than my estate. But I never did any of those things nor have I ever considered them.¡± He reached out to her, but she pulled away. He didn¡¯t seem bothered by the reaction and continued. ¡°Why do you think I was taking you to all those parties? Why do you think I made a point of parading you in front of those people? Aeris, I could¡¯ve had any drake breed you, but I couldn¡¯t pair you with any random dragon. When I chose Reks for you, I knew the two of you would have beautiful dragonlings. Even now, I¡¯m wasting my time explaining this to you even when I don¡¯t need to. I taught you to obey, not to question. Now stop being stubborn.¡±

    Aeris felt the tightness in her chest return and her vision blurred. She fought to maintain composure. If she lost consciousness, no doubt he would take her eggs.

    ¡°If nothing else, consider it payment for everything I¡¯ve done for you,¡± Master Aaron said. ¡°Afterall when have I ever asked you for anything in return? The safe place to sleep, the luxurious meals, the expensive outfits.¡± His voice rose in volume with every word. ¡°No other dragon for a thousand miles lives as you do. You honestly can¡¯t do one thing for me after all I¡¯ve done for you?¡±

    Aeris curled her body tighter around the eggs, staring at her master¡ªno, not her master. This¡­thing, this cold, heartless creature before her wasn¡¯t her master. Master Aaron was a caring man who worried about her well-being.

    Master Aaron straightened his clothes and regained his composure. ¡°I¡¯ll take your silence as acceptance. The matter is settled. I¡¯m not heartless. I¡¯ll give you the night to say your goodbyes, then I¡¯ll be taking those eggs first thing in the morning.¡± He spun and left the room, leaving Aeris devastated. Charles looked at Aeris with pity before leaving as well.

    She lay there unable to wrap her head around what just happened. Everything was going so well, then in an instant, she felt a crushing depression that made her regret her very existence. Memories of all the times she was complimented on her appearance, the way the humans stared at her, the whispers at her back, they were all lies. Now she understood.

    A soft sniffle brought Aeris¡¯ attention to a corner of the room where Lydia stood. She held her hand over her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks.

    ¡°You knew, didn¡¯t you?¡± Aeris asked.

    Lydia nodded. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I wanted to warn you, but Maggie always said it was best we not tell you.¡±

    ¡°Maggie knew?¡±

    ¡°She did. But, please, don¡¯t hold it against her. She tried so hard to shield you from the truth.¡±

    But Maggie wasn¡¯t there anymore. So it fell to Aeris to do something. She looked down at her eggs. Just thinking about losing them made her chest tighten. No way was she giving them up. Not to her master, not to anyone.

    Aeris looked up at Lydia. ¡°I need to get out of here. I can¡¯t¡ªwon¡¯t¡ªlet him take my eggs. Can you help me?¡±

    ¡°A-Aeris, I don¡¯t know. Lord Strauss wouldn¡¯t like that one bit. I want to help you, but he¡¯ll be beyond furious.¡±

    ¡°Please? I¡¯ll die before I give them up, and I think Mas¡ªAaron won¡¯t hesitate to kill me if I get in his way.¡±

    Lydia was silent for a moment. She looked fearfully at the door and the windows as if watching for anyone listening. Eventually, she moved closer to Aeris and spoke in a hushed voice. "I''ll slip something into the guard''s food and leave the door unlocked. That should give you the night to escape. I''m afraid I can''t do more. I have my family to think about, and I can''t afford to draw Lord Strauss'' wrath."

    Aeris nodded. ¡°Thank you. That¡¯s more than enough.¡±

    ***

    Aeris looked up from her mattress out of her room window. The moon sat high in the night sky without a cloud in sight. She would¡¯ve preferred cloud cover. It would limit the humans¡¯ field of vision, but she didn¡¯t have time to be picky. She crossed the room and looked through the other window to check the estate windows. Each window was dark indicating everyone was asleep. She moved to the door, and pressed her ear against it, listening for any sounds on the other side. She heard nothing.

    She quickly went to the chest in the corner and pulled out her satchel from behind it. Maggie had given it to her one day for her birthday. She told her that it was meant for her to keep something very valuable close by. Up until now, Aeris had never used the bag. There was no need.

    Putting it on was the hard part. The strap had been configured to fit dragons; it had one strap that went over her neck and two shoulder straps that clasped behind her back just in front of her wings. It may have been designed for a dragon to wear, but the clasps were not designed for dragons to use. The clasps were already done and she couldn¡¯t unfasten them without tearing the straps off. After several failed attempts, Aeris managed to somehow slip into the thing. She gently took each egg in her mouth and placed it in the satchel. It was a tight fit, but she was able to close the satchel so no one could see what was inside. Next was the cloak she often wore whenever she snuck out. Putting it on was easy as she had spent the last several months practicing whenever she snuck out. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    She went to the door and slowly pushed it open. Just as Lydia promised, the guard who was stationed outside her room was gone. But there was no telling how long her fortune would last, so she needed to move fast. After sniffing the air and ensuring no one else was around, Aeris stepped outside, making sure to close the door behind her. Even if someone looked out the window, they would see nothing. Unless someone visited her room, her escape would go unnoticed until morning.

    She only managed to get a few feet away from her room when Charles¡¯ voice behind her made her stiffen. ¡°So you finally decided to take matters into your own hands.¡±

    Aeris slowly spun around, expecting to come face-to-face with the barrel of a rifle. She mentally cursed herself for believing that it would be so easy. They knew all the blind spots around the room. Of course, someone would stand somewhere she wouldn''t be able to see. And they knew she would be able to smell them, so they stood downwind to keep her from catching their scent.

    But when she turned around, there was nothing. Charles stared at her, no gun, not even a knife. Even if he sounded the alarm, she could be long gone before anyone could stop her.

    ¡°You can relax. I¡¯m not going to try to stop you,¡± Charles said.

    Aeris wasn¡¯t convinced. She saw no gun, but that could mean anything. ¡°Then why are you here?¡±

    "To help you." He moved toward her. Aeris crouched low and growled. Even someone half his age wouldn''t stand a chance against her unarmed, but she didn''t want to take the risk. Charles kept moving anyway, never taking his eyes off her. He crouched and straightened her cloak to better hide the lumpy satchel over her front.

    ¡°I thought you considered me a threat to all humans.¡±

    ¡°I do.¡± He looked up at her, his piercing green eyes glowing in the moonlight. ¡°But even if it¡¯s for the benefit of the Strauss family, I could never murder a mother and her unborn children. You leaving this place is the next best thing.¡±

    He returned to fixing her cloak. ¡°There was a time where even the idea of hurting you would¡¯ve been enough to break young Aaron¡¯s spirit,¡± Charles said. ¡°He vowed no creature would harm you so long as he breathed.¡± He finished and stood up, examining his work, his face sunken and tired. ¡°Earlier today, he told me he would kill you if you tried to run off with the eggs.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know when that promise to protect you no longer mattered to him. I guess it¡¯s the same reason your species decided to rule over dragons and humans. They learned one day how much more they have and were consumed with greed. Selling just one of your eggs would earn more than what his company makes in a year. He always knew how you felt about it all. He allowed it to continue because he knew you would never defy him.¡±

    Aeris didn''t respond. All that mattered now was getting her eggs as far away from her former master as possible. But before she left, one thing nagged at her. "If you think I''m so dangerous, why haven''t you told Aaron about what I really am? Why didn''t you try to stop him from trying to breed me?"

    ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. My loyalty is and always will be to the Strauss household. If I had my way, you would¡¯ve been driven out a long time ago. But Lord Strauss is only thinking of how much money he¡¯ll make when he sells your eggs. The fool has no idea that the moment the dragons catch wind of it, they¡¯ll kill him and everyone connected to him. Now stop wasting time. Take those eggs and go somewhere far away where he¡¯ll never find you.¡±

    She spun to leave the estate grounds. Rather than go for the clearing in the woods, she planned to make use of the main path which would be faster than running through the wilderness. It would have been faster to fly, but she dared not risk it; the last thing she needed was someone noticing a lone dragon flying through the skies in the middle of the night.

    Unfortunately, she hadn¡¯t gone ten steps when she froze at the sight of someone standing by the back door. It was Lilith; the lantern she held illuminated her face. Aeris swore under her breath. Already the escape plan was falling apart in the worst ways possible.

    Lilith began to approach. Even at a distance, there was no mistaking the condescending smile on her face. Aeris looked around for signs of anyone attempting to sneak up on her. There were no sights, sounds, or smells indicating anyone else.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re alone,¡± Lilith said. She spoked quietly instead of raising her voice, putting Aeris on guard. ¡°Charles, could you leave us?¡±

    Charles bowed and left the two females alone. Aeris watched the woman carefully. Lilith appeared to be unarmed, carrying nothing but the lantern and wearing only a nightgown.

    ¡°You forget I¡¯m a dragon,¡± Aeris said threateningly. Her dislike for Lilith didn¡¯t run deep enough that she wanted to harm the woman. She hoped Lilith would understand that despite the lack of combat experience, she held the upper-hand.

    Lilith stopped far enough away that Aeris couldn¡¯t reach her before she cried for help, the pompous smile never leaving her face. ¡°Why would I try to stop you? If you leave, that means I get to have Aaron all to myself. I won¡¯t need to compete with some beast for his attention nor fear him fucking you behind my back.¡± Her face twisted at the mention of Aaron¡¯s ¡°affair¡± with his dragon.

    Aeris grimaced as well. ¡°You¡¯re really letting me go?¡±

    ¡°Yes, go. Run as far away as you can. In fact¡±¡ªshe raised her other hand which held a small velvet coin purse. She tossed the purse to Aeris. The coins clinked together as it hit the ground.¡ª¡°That should be enough to buy you passage out of the city.¡±

    Aeris kept her eyes on Lilith and her ears strained to catch the slightest sound as she moved to take the coin purse. It couldn¡¯t be this easy. The day Lilith had found out about the pregnancy, she had shown her true feelings. She had nothing to gain by helping her now. If anything, revealing Aeris¡¯ disobedience would be beneficial. But nothing happened.

    As Aeris stared at Lilith, she felt a tug of pity. Lilith had her flaws, but Aeris couldn¡¯t leave the woman to live with Aaron alone.

    ¡°You should come with me,¡± Aeris said. ¡°Once I leave, Aaron will only turn his attention on you, but I doubt he¡¯ll treat you any better. I was loyal to him since the day I hatched, and I¡¯m only a pawn to him. He¡¯s probably using you too. You should leave before it¡¯s too late.¡±

    Lilith''s smile faltered, and Aeris saw doubt in her pale green eyes. Suddenly Lilith''s gaze hardened and the moment of vulnerability vanished. She laughed into her hand, likely to avoid making too much noise. "I''m not some beast, dragon. Beasts are meant to be controlled to reign in their savage natures; Aaron has no reason to do that to me."

    Aeris shook her head and turned away. Lilith wouldn''t admit the truth and she wasn''t going to waste any more moonlight trying to convince the woman. If Lilith wanted to learn the hard way, then that was her choice. Protecting the eggs was all Aeris cared about now.

    Before she left, she cast one last pitying look at Lilith before saying: ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I hope you realize what a monster he is before it¡¯s too late.¡±

    Before Lilith could make another curt reply, Aeris ran as fast as she could into the darkness.

    Her heart hammered against her chest as she ran. She had run away from home, from this point forward she was now on the run. Capture meant more than just being scolded. There was no telling how Master Aaron would react.

    He may even kill her for this.

    ***

    Aeris didn''t slow down until she reached the Dragon''s District, changing from a run to a brisk walk. She kept her head high and did her best to regulate her breathing as she walked. It would be best not to draw attention, and a grown dragon running through the streets did just that. The streets were almost deserted, but she preferred not to take any chances. Lilith and Charles'' sudden appearances taught her to always be on guard.

    When she reached Windor¡¯s place, she lightly tapped on the door with her tail. She needed shelter for the night and a place to rest. She and Windor had to leave by first light. Even if Lilith was true to her word, at best they only had a day before Aaron discovered his dragon was missing.

    There was no answer. She knocked again. Still no answer. She began pacing in front of the door. This was the only place she could go. She had no idea where Maggie lived and even then, it was too obvious. Aaron would look there first. Aubrey told her to never come back and dragons were nothing if not true to their word.

    After a few more moments of silence, she began frantically pounding on the door. At this point, it was likely to awaken others, but she didn¡¯t care. If nothing else, he needed to know.

    The door suddenly flung open and Windor¡¯s rage-filled face appeared in the doorway. ¡°I swear if someone isn¡¯t dead, you will¡ª¡± He took one look at Aeris and all the fury drained from his face. ¡°Aeris?! What are you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s late,¡± Aeris said, ¡°But I had to come see you.¡± She quickly looked around for anyone watching. ¡°Can you let me in? I have something very important to say, and I don¡¯t want to say it out here.¡±

    Windor staggered sleepily to the side and let Aeris in. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.

    Aeris decided to just come out and say it. ¡°I-I ran away.¡±

    Windor¡¯s face fell. ¡°You what?¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t do it anymore. Mas¡ªAaron was just using me; I see that now. I can¡¯t stay with him any longer. I¡¯m just an asset to him. He doesn¡¯t care about me and he plans to use me for as long as he¡¯s able.¡±

    "Aeris, I''m glad you see that human for what he is, but why are you pounding on my door in the middle of the night like this?" His eyes widened as he took a step back. "Did--did you¡­kill him?"

    Aeris shook her head and stared at her paws, unable to bring herself to say the words aloud. Instead, she opened the satchel and showed Windor the three eggs inside. He backed up to the wall, his face full of fear.

    He swallowed and crept toward her again as if expecting an attack at any moment. ¡°Are those¡­eggs? But¡­But you told me you have never been with another dragon.¡±

    Aeris nodded and closed the satchel. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re eggs, and yes, they¡¯re yours.¡±

    Windor began pacing back and forth, muttering under his breath. Aeris tried to catch what he was saying, but she had a hard time making anything out. Each time he looked at her, his eyes were full of fear and anger, her heart sank further.

    Finally, he turned to her, but he didn''t look happy. "Aeris, what have you done? Did you honestly go and have eggs? Why would you do that?"

    Aeris'' stomach lurched. She knew the news would come as a shock, but this was unexpected. "I''m sorry, but I--I don''t understand."

    Windor growled and began pacing again. ¡°I knew it. I should have known better than to deal with a domesticate,¡± he mumbled more to himself than to her. ¡°She told me she hadn¡¯t been with anyone else, I should have known then. But no, I had to go ahead anyway.¡±

    Aeris felt her chest tighten. ¡°Windor? What did I do wrong?¡±

    Windor stopped and glared at her. ¡°Aeris, do you understand the situation we¡¯re in? I¡¯m already testing the other dragons¡¯ patience just by being with you. If they find out that I went and had eggs with you, they¡¯ll never stand for it.¡±

    It felt as if something heavy had been placed on her chest. It couldn¡¯t be happening again. ¡°A-are you saying y-you never loved me? So I was just an asset to you? Just something for you to use when it was convenient?¡±

    ¡°What? No¡ªAeris, you¡¯re misunderstanding. I care about you, yes, but you have to understand how things work around here. A clan-born having eggs with a domesticate is¡ª¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a clan!¡± Aeris cried, her tail slapping the ground. ¡°Those other dragons don¡¯t get to tell you who you can and can¡¯t be with.¡±

    Windor¡¯s expression turned somber. ¡°I wish that were true, but in life, it doesn¡¯t work that way. A lot of the dragons here were exiled from their clans. They can never go back, but they can¡¯t give up their pride and become human pets. I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know why you ran away from your caretaker, but you have to go back.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t go back! He wants to take my eggs and sell them. I can¡¯t let him. And he said he would kill me if I tried to run off with the eggs.¡± She stepped closer, but Windor backed away. The pain she felt was unbearable. ¡°Please, don¡¯t do this,¡± Aeris pleaded. ¡°I have nowhere else to go. Maggie is gone, Aubrey told me never to come back, and I¡¯ll die before I go back to Aaron. Please help me.¡±

    ¡°What do you expect me to do about it?¡± Windor asked, his voice tethering on anger. ¡°Even if I did take you in. I can¡¯t protect you from your Keeper. Any other human is one thing, but this is the human who owns you¡ª¡±

    ¡°No one owns me,¡± Aeris said with a low growl.

    ¡°Either way, I can¡¯t afford to support both of us and three eggs. Your caretaker will likely make sure you can never get any kind of decent job.¡±

    ¡°I already have a job working for Cutter,¡± Aeris said. ¡°If you won¡¯t take me, at least take the eggs.¡± She rushed forward, pressing the satchel against Windor¡¯s body and giving him a pleading gaze to take the eggs away. ¡°Please. He doesn¡¯t know about you so they¡¯ll be safe here. I¡¯ll live on the run and draw him away. I don¡¯t care what happens to me as long as I know they¡¯re safe.¡±

    Windor frowned and backed away. ¡°Aeris, have you not been listening to me? I told you: the others will never accept me having eggs with some human¡¯s pet!¡±

    Aeris stepped back as if he had just struck her. She wished he did. It would have felt better if he did. Her mind felt numb, her body felt numb. She didn''t say a word, nothing, just walked away. She had no idea where she was going as if she was standing still and the world was just pushing her along. She didn''t care where it took her. Anywhere was better than where she was now.

    She didn''t know if Windor was calling after her, but either way, she didn''t care. He had shown his true colors just like Aaron. He had shown how he truly felt about her.

    Once she was far enough away that she couldn¡¯t hear him anymore, it dawned on her she still had no place to rest for tonight. The first place that came to mind was Aubrey¡¯s mansion. Aubrey hated the mistreatment of dragons. She would surely protect her.

    But Aubrey¡¯s last words suddenly echoed in her mind: ¡°But when you¡¯re world comes crashing down around you, don¡¯t come crying to me.¡± Aubrey tried to warn her, but she didn¡¯t listen. If she showed up on her doorstep now, Aubrey would turn her away. Maybe she could go back anyway and beg forgiveness. Surely Aubrey wouldn¡¯t throw her out on the street knowing her former master was after her. Knowing her eggs would never be safe.

    Aubrey said it herself: Dragons didn¡¯t make false promises. Aubrey told her never to come back and she meant it. And dragons treasured respect and pride above all. She would be a fool to think running back with her tail between her legs would earn her any sympathy.

    Staying in the dragon community was out of the question. Aaron would be looking for her once he realized she was gone and he would likely come here first. Besides most of the dragons in those communities were exiled clan-borns. Once they found out she was a domesticate, it was obvious what they would do.

    There was a loud crash behind her, making her heart leap into her throat and her body leap into the air. She scanned the streets in a panic until she saw a drunken human backing away from an overturned cart. It was nothing to worry about, but Aeris broke into a run anyway, fleeing further into the city. That scare reminded her that now was not the time to take a leisure stroll. She could figure out the details of her escape in the morning; right now, she needed to find a safe place to sleep.

    She didn¡¯t know how long she had run, but she didn¡¯t want to stop. Whenever she slowed, she could almost feel Aaron standing behind her, ready to seize her and drag her back to that place.

    Why don¡¯t I just kill him? She wondered. It¡¯s clear my master doesn¡¯t care about my well-being, and I have every right to defend myself. Maybe I should just¡ª

    Aeris quickly shook the thoughts from her mind. She hated her former master for putting her in this situation, but she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to harm him. He still fed her, looked after her, kept her safe. No, Maggie had done those things, Aaron only stepped in when he needed to protect his asset.

    Regardless, killing the man was out of the question. She knew better than anyone how well-connected her master was. If she killed him, she wouldn¡¯t last a week before his allies hunted her down.

    As she continued down the street, she thought of alternatives, each one more extravagant than the last. With each idea, she eventually found some loophole or reason it wouldn¡¯t work and her spirits sagged. Right now it seemed the only thing she could do was get away from her master. The rest could be figured out once she was somewhere safe.

    There was no other option but to visit Cutter again. After she killed Reks, it was obvious the dragoness couldn¡¯t be trusted, but Aeris had no room to be picky. Besides, Cutter meant well, and she told Aeris she would help her at any time. Aeris sprinted to Cutter¡¯s place.

    The brothel Cutter owned was closer than Aeris realized. That was a good thing. She looked up at the pitch-black sky, the innumerable stars twinkling in the dark sea overhead. She had no idea what time it was; there were still a few hours until daylight, but it would be daylight soon. She needed to be on the move by morning. Once Aaron learned that she was missing, he wouldn¡¯t stop until he found her. Her master never did like losing.

    She approached the red door and knocked as quietly as she could. The sound still echoed throughout the empty alley. She huddled into a ball and remained still.

    After staying this way for several minutes, and still no answer, she decided to just go inside rather than risk knocking again.

    The place was dark. Aeris couldn¡¯t see anyone or anything. As she stepped on the lush carpet, she knew the building was empty. Cutter was gone.

    Aeris closed the door and felt her way to Cutter¡¯s room at the end of the hall. This room was empty as well. She found her way to a corner and curled into a ball, hugging the satchel with her forelegs. Aaron didn¡¯t know she knew about this place. She would be safe here until morning.

    She wished it were all just a bad dream. Any minute she would wake up in her room and realize it had all been a nightmare. Maggie would come in to greet her just like she always did. Then Aaron would come in and tell her about another party she had to get ready for that same night. Maggie would wash her up, polish her scales, spray on a little perfume, and pick out a lovely vest to wear. Later that day, she and her master would go to the party and she would watch in awe at everything while the humans admired her and told her how lovely her scales were.

    Aeris growled and forced the thoughts out of her mind. The parties were a lie. Those humans never cared about her. They weren¡¯t admiring her. They saw her the same way they see a lovely piece of furniture. They talk about how lovely it is, but they were secretly imagining what it would look like in their homes. They didn¡¯t see her. Aaron pretending to care for her was a lie. He kept her locked away, made her afraid of the world so she would be dependent on him. So she would never disobey him. And it would make her easier to control when the time came to get her eggs. She knew that now. The veil had been removed and she saw the world for what it was.

    And it wouldn¡¯t go back over her eyes. She wouldn¡¯t allow it.

    With her mind full of thoughts about how to survive for the rest of her life, Aeris placed her head as close to the satchel as possible and fell asleep.

 Chapter 21: An Unexpected Ally

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 21: An Unexpected Ally</h2>

    <hr>

    Aeris hadn¡¯t slept. With every noise she heard in the night, she snapped her eyes open and waited for several minutes before closing them again. In the brief stretches of silence, she had nightmares of waking up to find herself back in her room, wrapped in chains.

    With some light filtering through the windows, Aeris could now see inside her current sanctuary. It was empty as she suspected. All of the cushions, the desk cluttered with papers, the shelf of various items, everything but the carpet was gone.

    A piece of paper sat in the middle of the floor. Aeris walked over to it and saw it was addressed to her. The note was encrypted, but she recognized it as the encryption she had given to Cutter.

    It didn¡¯t take long to figure out what the note said.

    <div>

    Hey, Snowflake!

    If you¡¯re reading this, it means you missed me. Sorry to run without saying goodbye, but ever since that wedding, tensions between humans and dragons are stretched thin, so I need to move my business someplace safe. They may be whores, but they¡¯re mine and I won¡¯t let anyone hurt them. You¡¯re not safe either, but I¡¯ll explain when I come back for you. Until then, don¡¯t you do anything stupid! Keep your fucking head down and avoid traveling alone.

    Cutter

    P.S.

    We need to talk about your master when I get back. There¡¯s something you should know.

    Aeris stuffed the note in the satchel with her eggs. She didn¡¯t understand, but the short version seemed to be Cutter was coming back for her. If she stayed put and kept her head down, she could leave with Cutter.

    But Aaron would be looking for her in the meantime. The thought of him finding her first was frightening, and she had no idea how long Cutter would be gone. That Cutter felt the need to leave a note behind was proof enough she would likely be gone for a long time. Maybe even months.

    There was nothing else to do. Aeris knew she needed to leave the city as soon as possible. Waiting for Cutter to return while Aaron turned the city inside out to look for her was too risky. She counted the coins in the coin purse Lilith had given her. She counted about twenty gold pieces, more than enough to barter for an escort to the next city. She placed the coins back in the coin purse and hurried outside.

    A few passersby glanced in her direction, but no one paid much attention to her. She tried her best not to look too inconspicuous as she slipped into the flow of the crowd. A few dragons who walked past stared at her. Aeris tucked her head into the hood of her cloak and kept walking.

    Near the edge of the city would be where merchants gathered their things to head to prepare for their next trip. Windor told her that once. He said it was where most dragons went to find work. That was where Aeris needed to go. She had never bartered in her life, but she had seen her former master do it plenty of times.

    Hopefully, she could be the negotiator he was.

    The loud rumblings of her stomach snapped her out of her thoughts. She hadn¡¯t eaten her dinner the night she escaped, and she missed breakfast. Going so long without a meal was something Aeris was not used to, and she was already feeling the repercussions.

    Not now. I need to find someone to escort us out of here. I can eat when the eggs are safe, she told herself. Her stomach didn¡¯t want to hear it. It grumbled louder as if protesting the idea. A few people began to look in her direction. Aeris tucked her head and hurried through the crowd. It seemed she had no choice but to grab a quick meal before leaving.

    As she drew closer to the nearest restaurant, a thought crossed her mind. She couldn¡¯t risk going to a place where she might be recognized. Aaron brought her along on many business trips and many restaurant owners knew her by sight.

    She needed a place where Aaron would never go. A place that served dragons would do nicely. The only place Aeris knew of was the restaurant where Windor brought her for their first date. The idea of going to such a place left a nasty taste in the back of her throat, but the loud noises coming from her stomach didn¡¯t give her much of an option.

    She made her way to the restaurant. Upon seeing it, Aeris felt that familiar tugging in her chest as she was reminded of the false memories she made there with Windor.

    Pushing the memories from her mind, she walked in and found a table furthest in the corner. She sat down and tucked her head to hide her face from the few humans and dragons who sat there.

    She heard Janine approaching before hearing the young woman''s voice. "Hello. Now, what can I¡ªAeris? Is that you?"

    Aeris raised her head to see Janine standing in front of her. The girl had grown since Aeris had last seen her. She was taller and thinner, and her hair had grown longer. But there was no mistaking her gentle voice and kind, green eyes.

    ¡°Hello, Janine. It¡¯s great to see you. I¡¯m in a bit of a hurry today, so could you bring me something to go. Anything, I don¡¯t care what it is.¡±

    Janine looked around as if looking for someone and asked. ¡°Are you by yourself today? What happened to Windor?¡±

    Aeris lowered her head so Janine couldn¡¯t see her sour expression. ¡°He¡¯s¡­not coming.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± It was clear in her voice she understood what Aeris was saying. ¡°Okay, wait right here, and I¡¯ll bring you something.¡±

    Aeris nodded and stared at the table until Janine returned with a small leg of lamb. The instant the plate touched the table, Aeris dove on it almost swallowed the leg whole, bone and all. Eating in such a manner was something she was taught to never do, but she was hungry and short on time. There was no one she had to impress anyway.

    After stripping the bone clean, she looked up from her plate to see Janine hadn¡¯t moved.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Aeris asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I want to ask you. You seem¡­different. Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Janine moved closer and lowered her voice. ¡°Aeris, you look like you ain¡¯t slept a wink. What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Aeris turned to Janine. It was true she hadn¡¯t slept, and she would need sleep if she was going to travel. ¡°I need a place to stay. Not for long. Just somewhere I can rest without worry.¡±

    Janine¡¯s expression showed she wanted to ask more questions, but she nodded and said, ¡°I understand. You can stay with me. C¡¯mon, I¡¯ll show you upstairs.¡±

    Aeris followed Janine, fighting the feeling of guilt building within her. She didn¡¯t like the idea of putting the girl at risk to help her, but she had little choice. She needed sleep and Janine was the only one who could provide a safe place to do that. Asking any of the dragons she knew to help her wasn¡¯t possible. They were all domesticates in the care of humans. And after the wedding scared them into obedience, it seemed unlikely any of them would give her shelter.

    Janine led her upstairs. The stairwell was narrow and a bit of a tight squeeze for Aeris, but she managed to reach the top. Janine then led her down a short hall into a room at the far end.

    ¡°This is my room,¡± Janine explained. ¡°You can rest here as long as you like. I have to go back downstairs, but if you need anything, come find me, okay?¡±

    Aeris nodded and Janine disappeared behind the door into the hall.

    Aeris found an empty corner and curled up for a nap. The bed looked inviting, but it would be rude to take it. It didn¡¯t take long for Aeris to succumb to her exhaustion and fall asleep.

    ***

    A door closing jolted Aeris out of her sleep and she jumped to her feet. She looked around frantically for her attacker but found only Janine standing near the door with a sheepish grin on her face.

    ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to wake you,¡± Janine said apologetically.

    Aeris shook her head and faced the window. Night had fallen and the streets were almost deserted. Her heart sank. ¡°I slept the whole day?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you must¡¯ve been very tired. I checked on you a few times, but you never budged. You mumbled a lot in your sleep though.¡±

    Aeris flinched at the mention of her talking in her sleep. ¡°How much did you hear?¡±

    ¡°Nothing that I could understand. I didn¡¯t stick around to hear much anyway.¡± She crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°We¡¯re closed for the night, but if you want anythin I can head down and grab it for you.¡±

    ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯m fine.¡±

    After a moment of silence, Janine spoke again. ¡°Aeris, what¡¯s going on? What are you running from?¡±

    Aeris sighed and carefully laid on the floor, making sure not to put any weight on the satchel.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be easier to take that off?¡± Janine asked.

    Aeris protectively curled around the satchel and growled at the young woman who backed into the wall. Aeris immediately cursed herself for her reaction. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have done that. It¡¯s just I can¡¯t afford to take the satchel off.¡±

    ¡°No worries. But why¡¯s that so important to you?¡±

    Aeris used the claws of her wings to open the satchel. Janine peered inside and her eyes widened in amazement. She squeezed her face and squealed softly. ¡°Oh! They are adorable! Are they yours?¡±

    Aeris nodded and closed the satchel. ¡°Yes, and my master wants to take them from me. He wants to sell them.¡±

    Janine¡¯s smile vanished. ¡°That¡¯s horrible. But buyin or sellin dragon eggs is illegal. If he¡¯s caught, it could lead to a war with the dragon clans. Why would your master risk doing such a thing?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I think he just likes the thrill of it,¡± Aeris said shrugging. ¡°He always did like breaking the rules. I guess that¡¯s why he used to visit me so often even though he had someone to lay next to.¡± Her claws scraped the floor at the thought of her master¡¯s visits.

    ¡°What about the father? Can¡¯t you stay with him for a while?¡± Janine offered. It was clear in her face, Aeris¡¯ last statement had made her uncomfortable and she sought to change the subject.

    Aeris hung her head. ¡°When I told him about the eggs, he sent me away.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I-I¡¯m sorry. You don¡¯t have to talk about it.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. It feels better to talk about it. I¡¯m alone and scared, and I have nowhere else to go.¡± She took a deep breath and continued. ¡°I thank you for your hospitality, but in the morning, I have to leave. I can¡¯t stay here and put you at risk. I have to get out of the city as soon as possible.¡±

    Janine sat on the bed in silence, her brow furrowed as if in thought. Aeris lay quietly on the floor and left Janine alone. Eventually, the young woman spoke again. ¡°If you need to get out of the city, I may have a way. Just last week, we started shippin our ale to other taverns. My Pa has never been so happy. Our next shipment¡¯s in three days. If you can wait until then, you can leave with them.¡±

    ¡°Really? Thank you so much! I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll repay¡ª¡±

    Her words were cut short when the door burst open. Aeris leaped in front of Janine to shield her. A single man came in whom Aeris recognized as Janine''s father. He held a rifle in his shaking hands and pointed it at Aeris.

    ¡°You get away from my daughter,¡± he said.

    Aeris'' tail wrapped around her. He had to have been standing outside the door, listening to them talking. That he was there instead of contacting her former master told her he likely didn''t plan to turn her in, but she didn''t want to take that chance.

    Janine stepped around Aeris and placed herself between the dragon and the gun. ¡°Pa, don¡¯t! Aeris saved my life. It¡¯s the least I could do to repay her.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t let you do that, Janine,¡± her father said. His hands shook and sweat ran down his face. ¡°This dragon is being hunted by the worst kinds of people. If we keep her here too long, they¡¯ll come looking for her. She can¡¯t stay here.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t put you in danger again!¡± To Aeris he said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I truly am. I am grateful to you for saving my daughter, but I don¡¯t see how putting our lives in jeopardy makes us even. Even if you get away, we sure won¡¯t. They¡¯ll come knocking, and they¡¯ll torture my little girl for your whereabouts or he could sink my business.¡±

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°I understand,¡± Aeris said. This man was only doing what he thought was best to protect his daughter. She was doing the same for her eggs. She hated the idea of going back out into the night, but if that was what the man wanted, she would go. She could always spend the night in Cutter¡¯s abandoned place.

    Janine whirled around. ¡°Aeris, no! You said it yourself, you got nowhere to go. You won¡¯t last out there by yourself.¡±

    ¡°Janine, your father¡¯s right. My being here puts you all at risk. You don¡¯t know what kind of man my master is. If he thinks you know where I am, he will do whatever he has to for that information. I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t put you at risk like that. I should not have involved you.¡±

    She turned toward the door, but Janine stood in her way. ¡°No. I won¡¯t send you out into the middle of the night with eggs by yourself.¡± She turned to her father standing behind her. ¡°Pa, please. Just one night. We owe her that much. Can you really send a mother out with her children to sleep in the cold?¡±

    Janine¡¯s father lowered the gun. ¡°Dammit, Janine. I¡­You know I just want you to be safe.¡± He sighed heavily and added. ¡°Fine, you can spend one night here. But come morning, I want you gone.¡± Without waiting for a reply, he spun and left the room, closing the door behind him.

    Janine wrapped her arms around Aeris¡¯ neck but not pressing her body against the eggs. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry about him.¡±

    Aeris returned the hug as best she could while wearing the satchel. She settled for resting her chin on Janine''s shoulder. "Don''t be. He''s just trying to protect his child. I would do the same thing."

    "No, you wouldn''t. But I ''preciate what you''re tryin to do. Come on. If this is to be our last night here, you can sleep with me. The bed''s big enough for both of us."

    Aeris wanted to argue but decided against it. Janine wanted her guest to be comfortable, and it would be rude to deny her. Just as Janine said, the bed was large enough for both of them. It was a bit of a slight squeeze, and the bedframe groaned under their combined weight, but Janine assured her it was sturdier than it seemed. The mattress was a lot softer than Aeris thought it would be. It almost reminded her of her mattress back home.

    She pushed the thought away. She didn¡¯t want to be reminded of anything from that place. The bed was like everything else. Something used to keep her placated so she would be depended on her former master.

    Never again. She thought. Never again would she allow herself to be used like that. To be tricked and manipulated into being someone¡¯s pawn.

    She kept that thought at the front of her mind as she drifted off to sleep, listening to the harsh sounds of Janine¡¯s snoring.

    ***

    Aeris awoke the following morning half-expecting to be staring down the barrel of a rifle. But even that dark thought couldn¡¯t dampen her spirits. Last night¡¯s sleep was one of the best she¡¯d had in days. It was a shame knowing it would be weeks or even longer before she could sleep like that again. Janine¡¯s father was nowhere to be seen although Janine was standing on the other side of the room, stuffing clothes into a small bag.

    Aeris stretched and rolled off the bed. ¡°Good morning. What are you doing?¡±

    Janine jumped at the sudden sound of Aeris¡¯ voice. She looked over her shoulder at the dragon and smiled. ¡°Oh, mornin. I¡¯m just packing a bag. Unlike you, I need to wear clothes to keep warm, and I doubt I¡¯ll be buyin anythin new when we set out.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­we?¡±

    ¡°Of course, silly. I¡¯m goin with you.¡±

    Aeris shot a worried glance at the door. If Janine¡¯s father overheard that, he would come bursting in here with the rifle again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Pa¡¯s downstairs getting everything ready for today. We¡¯ll slip out when the mornin crowd comes in. It¡¯ll be hours ¡®fore he realizes we¡¯re long gone.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why are you doing this? If you feel guilty¡ª¡±

    Janine spun on her with a fierce, demanding stare. ¡°Don¡¯t you start that. You done did more for me than most folks I¡¯ve known my entire life. I won¡¯t send you out there alone with no idea how to survive in the world. It¡¯s a far crueler place than you realize.¡±

    ¡°I know that. I¡¯ve seen first-hand what becomes of trusting the wrong person. But you still don¡¯t have to do this. This is my problem, not yours. If you feel you owe me for saving your life, don¡¯t. You don¡¯t owe me anything.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡± Janine slammed the bag on the floor. ¡°The day we met, you didn¡¯t know me. Had no reason to care if I live or die, but you still put yourself at risk to save my life. Everyone else was just fine standin by and watchin those drakes torment me, but not you. You did something.

    ¡°Aeris, you taught me that as cruel as this world is, there is kindness in it as well. But that kindness ain¡¯t gonna sprout outta the ground. It takes good people¡ªand dragons¡ªto stand up and make this world brighter. I plan to live by that motto for as long as I can. If I die because of it, then so be it. I¡¯d rather die fightin for what I believe in than live betrayin everythin I¡¯ve ever known.¡±

    Aeris didn¡¯t say anything. She knew there was no talking Janine out of this. She hated the idea of putting the young woman at risk, but she also hated the idea of traveling alone. Aeris knew next to nothing about the world even after all the lessons from Aubrey.

    Janine finished packing and went to Aeris, helping her put the cloak back on and placed the hood over her head. ¡°I¡¯m all done. Now, if we wanna leave the city, we¡¯ll need coin.¡±

    ¡°I have some. More than enough for both of us,¡± Aeris said. She fished the coin purse out of the satchel and dumped its contents on the bed.

    Janine¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re right. This is more than enough to get us outta here.¡± Her smile faded. ¡°It¡¯s too much in fact.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    "Aeris, I ain''t no highborn noblewoman, and we can''t have you lookin like you were raised in a mansion."

    ¡°But I was,¡± Aeris pointed out.

    ¡°Not the point. The point is, we go tossin gold like that around, and people¡¯ll think we stole it.¡±

    Aeris''s mouth hung open in shock. "That gold was given to me!"

    Janine shook her head. ¡°People don¡¯t sweat details. They¡¯ll take one look at us and call us thieves then call the city watch on us.¡±

    ¡°So what do we do? We need the coin to get out of here, but if people think we stole it, we can¡¯t spend it.¡±

    Janine scooped the coins into the coin purse. ¡°Simple. We just trade the gold pieces for some silver and copper ones. No one¡¯ll think twice as long as they don¡¯t know how much we really have. Now you go ahead and wait for me out front. I¡¯ll just go to the safe in the basement and trade in these pieces for the other ones and meet you.¡±

    ¡°What if you don¡¯t come back?¡± Aeris asked.

    Janine stopped at the door. She looked over her shoulder and said. ¡°I¡¯ll be back. You didn¡¯t abandon me. I won¡¯t abandon you.¡±

    Aeris fell silent and followed Janine downstairs. Once down in the tavern, they went their separate ways. Aeris kept her head down and walked straight for the exit. No one had so much as glanced at her. Years of experience being treated like a piece of furniture had its uses. She could make her presence unnoticeable when she wanted. Once outside she moved across the street and sat down, waiting for Janine to join her.

    A few minutes later, a young woman wearing a hooded cloak and carrying a small bag walked out of the tavern. Even without seeing the woman¡¯s face, Aeris knew it was Janine. She did her best to hide her jubilation as the young woman approached.

    ¡°I got the coin. We all set?¡± Janine asked.

    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go.¡±

    They started down the street. Aeris stayed close to Janine and followed the young woman¡¯s lead. Janine avoided the side streets and stayed with large crowds. Aeris suspected that would be the smarter move. It made them easier to hide in.

    As they approached the gates, Aeris spoke, "Janine, I didn''t say this before, but I think its best if we don''t mention, the¡­" she let the rest of the sentence hang, knowing Janine would understand what she meant. She didn''t want too many people to know she was carrying eggs. It was unlikely anyone would want to steal them with their sale and purchase being taboo, but she didn''t want to take that risk. Also, Aaron would likely be looking for a female dragon carrying eggs.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, Aeris. I know not to mention them.¡±

    ¡°Also, I don¡¯t think you should call me by my name. It¡¯s well-known among the nobles, and we can¡¯t risk anyone overhearing it.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough. What should I call you?¡±

    Aeris had to think for a moment. It only just occurred to her to keep her identity a secret; she hadn¡¯t thought of a fake name. The only name that came to mind was the nickname Cutter had given her. It seemed appropriate. No one else knew her by that name except Cutter. ¡°Snowflake. That will be my new name.¡±

    ¡°Snowflake?¡± Janine asked. Even without seeing the woman, Aeris could hear the skepticism in her voice. ¡°Okay. If that¡¯s what you want, Snow.¡±

    ¡°Should we change your name?¡±

    ¡°Nah. My Pa¡¯ll be worried, sure, but ain¡¯t nobody gonna be lookin for me. It¡¯s okay if we use my name.¡±

    They continued in silence until they reached one of the gates leading out of the city. There were several groups of merchants loading their wagons to take their goods elsewhere. A few of them even had dragons with them. Aeris scanned each group and weighed their options. She wasn¡¯t sure how, but she could tell just by looking at each group how likely she and Janine were to barter passage with them. It seemed all of those years sitting in with Aaron on his business deals had honed her business senses.

    Her eyes settled on a small group of men loading a wagon. The human giving the orders was a large man with a beard that covered most of his face and hung to his chest. Aeris had a good feeling about that man. He had kind eyes beneath the shaggy hair on his face. And there was no dragon with them which would likely improve their chances.

    "I think we should go with that group over there," Aeris whispered to Janine.

    ¡°Them? Are you sure? I don¡¯t know. That one with the beard looks a little shady to me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. Trust me.¡±

    Janine nodded and followed Aeris to the group of men. The bearded man noticed them first. He stroked his beard and asked, ¡°Can I help you, ladies?¡±

    Aeris flinched and fought the urge to run. The man¡¯s voice was booming and terrifying. But she needed to do this. It was their only hope of escape. She swallowed her fear and inched closer to the man. ¡°Are you leaving the city by any chance?¡± she asked in a brave tone.

    The bearded man looked at the rest of the group then turned back to Aeris. ¡°What business is it of yours?¡±

    Aeris'' tail curled around her legs. "Oh, I just wanted to know if we could journey with you."

    The man¡¯s brow rose. ¡°Do you even know where we¡¯re going?¡±

    Aeris shook her head. She didn¡¯t care where they were going. If it meant having several extra miles between her and her master, she would go wherever she had to. But she knew better than to say so aloud. The whole point of negotiating was to stay in a position of power, that meant not letting the other party know what few options they had.

    Janine spoke up, ¡°We need to get to Auruem. If you guys are headed West, we¡¯d like to join you.¡±

    The bearded man turned to the rest of the group and whispered something before turning back to Aeris. ¡°We are going West, but we aren¡¯t going all the way to Auruem.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Aeris said. ¡°We have other business to take care of anyway. How far are you going?¡±

    ¡°Strendor,¡± the bearded man replied. ¡°Is that okay?¡±

    Aeris turned to Janine for input as she knew nothing about any of the other cities. Janine took the hint and spoke, ¡°That¡¯ll be fine. We can make the rest of the journey ourselves from there.¡±

    ¡°You can come with us, but it¡¯s gonna cost you.¡±

    ¡°How much?¡± Aeris asked.

    One of the bearded man''s companions approached. This one had long, scraggly hair and a jagged scar running down the side of his face. "How much ya got?"

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Janine asked.

    The man with the scar chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s not play games. I can tell by looking at the two of ya that yer desperate. Yer likely runnin¡¯ from someone, so me and the boys¡¯ll need¡­hazard pay.¡±

    Aeris felt her courage draining. They knew that much just from looking at them. She had no idea what to do in this situation. Normally Aaron would try to strike some kind of deal, but Aeris didn¡¯t have anything to bargain with.

    Her eyes settled on the cart the humans were packing, and she saw their bargaining chip. The wagon was close to falling apart; it had been patched up several times over.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t come here to be¡ª¡± Janine began.

    Aeris cut her off. ¡°If you¡¯re going to try and take us for everything we have, we¡¯ll try someone else. It¡¯s a real shame. That cart of yours doesn¡¯t look very sturdy. I suspect it only has a few trips left before it starts falling apart if it hasn¡¯t already. A few extra coins could really go a long way toward buying a new one.¡±

    She spun and motioned for Janine to follow.

    ¡°Hey, is it really all right to leave like this?¡± Janine whispered. ¡°We ain¡¯t got many options.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Aeris whispered back. ¡°They¡¯ll call us back.¡±

    They walked a few feet before hearing a voice call out to them. ¡°Wait.¡±

    Aeris smiled at Janine and spun around, her face neutral. ¡°Yes?¡±

    The bearded man approached them, his gaze looking much softer than before. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Dennis. He thinks he can talk business.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Aeris said. ¡°But don¡¯t let it happen again. I don¡¯t care how much coin we pay you, I will not have myself nor my friend insulted.¡± She was shocked by the firmness in her voice. But it was important to play the role of the tough, no-nonsense dragon if these humans were to take them seriously.

    It seemed to be working because the bearded man suddenly looked nervous. Even a man of his size couldn¡¯t do much if Aeris decided to attack. ¡°I¡¯m sorry again. Let¡¯s discuss the price.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll pay you ten silver now for each of us, and another ten total when reach Strendor,¡± Aeris said. ¡°And I¡¯ll knock off one silver every time your friend insults me.¡±

    The human stroked his beard as he looked over Aeris and Janine. She could tell he was considering her offer, but little else. "I want ten each now, and another ten each when we get there," he said. "And you won''t be knocking off anything."

    Aeris narrowed her eyes. ¡°Either I knock down the price or I snatch off a finger from your friend¡¯s hand. And you¡¯ll get twenty now and ten later.¡±

    The bearded man smiled. ¡°Honestly, I think Dennis could stand to lose a few fingers. But lightening his pockets would hurt him more. You got yourself a deal. We leave now, though.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Aeris said. She nodded to Janine who counted out the coins and placed them in the man¡¯s hand.

    The bearded man stuffed the coins into his pocket and led them back to his companions. ¡°The name¡¯s Cecil. What do I call you two?¡±

    ¡°My friend is Janine, and I¡¯m Snowflake,¡± Aeris said.

    Cecil raised a brow. ¡°Your name is Snowflake?¡±

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Aeris asked in mock annoyance, throwing in a low growl for good measure.

    Cecil quickly raised his hands. ¡°No, no. No problem. I¡¯m sorry if I insulted you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, but the next time will cost you. Literally.¡±

    Cecil nodded and became quiet.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe how well you handled that,¡± Janine whispered. ¡°I¡¯d love to have you negotiatin prices back at the Drunken Lizard.¡±

    Aeris smiled politely. It pained her knowing Janine was likely never going home again. The smile on Janine¡¯s face faltered indicating the same thought crossed her mind. It was easy to forget the danger they faced and that it wasn¡¯t a leisure trip. Aeris didn¡¯t have a plan for what she would do once she reached Strendor. Perhaps she would send a letter to Aubrey and ask for her help or maybe find a way to track down Cutter or Maggie.

    After Cecil explained the arrangement to his two friends, the three humans finished loading the wagon. They walked until sundown, and it was easily one of the hardest things Aeris had ever done. Although Aeris made frequent trips into the woods near Aaron''s estate, she was unaccustomed to traveling rough ground for so long with no break. Usually, she traveled in short bursts and took a break whenever she needed it. She dragged her legs and her muscles strained with every step. She kept to the back of the group to hide how tired she was. Janine stayed by her side. Every time one of them looked back at her or asked if she needed a break, she always put on a brave face and said she fine. She couldn''t afford to look weak and make them regret taking her on. She didn''t want to find out if they would leave her in the middle of the woods. She also wanted to put as much distance between her eggs and Aaron as possible.

    There was no measure of how relieved she felt when the bearded man gave the order that they would be stopping to rest.

    Aeris would have collapsed on the spot if she wasn¡¯t worried about the eggs. She and Janine stayed out of the way while the men set up their camp. Aeris had read about it, but she didn¡¯t know the first thing about camping, so she watched them work, fascinated. They were in the middle of setting up a tent to sleep in when her head began to droop and her eyelids felt heavy.

    ***

    Aeris smelled the savory scent of cooked meat and snatched her head up. The sky had turned black and glittered with the lights of billions of stars overhead. The surrounding trees were blanketed in darkness. The camp was set up, two tents sitting side by side in front of a large campfire, which the four men crowded around. Each one had a bowl and spoon in his hand as they spoke to each other in hushed voices. Aeris looked down and noticed a plate of meat had already been placed next to her. Janine sat next to her, already halfway through her share.

    Aeris didn¡¯t have much of an appetite, but she decided to eat anyway.

    ¡°We weren¡¯t sure how you liked your meat, so I apologize in advance if it¡¯s not to your liking,¡± Cecil said. ¡°Most dragons I met like it rare, but I heard domesticates prefer it cooked.¡±

    ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m a domesticate?¡± Aeris asked, trying hard to keep her voice even or her tail from wrapping around her body.

    ¡°You¡¯re too clean,¡± another man said.

    Cecil poked his companion with a spoon. ¡°That makes it sound like dragons are dirty, Liam.¡±

    Liam shrugged. ¡°I meant what I said. She¡¯s got no scars and her scales look polished. A bit dingy now, maybe, but polished. She doesn¡¯t look like something that¡¯s weathered from traveling a lot, but something new that¡¯s been left unattended.¡±

    Aeris frowned at the man. She understood what he meant, but she didn¡¯t appreciate being compared to an object. Especially since her former master treated her like one.

    ¡°Besides,¡± Dennis said as if he didn¡¯t see Aeris taking offense to his companion¡¯s words, ¡°Only a domesticate needs a human escort to travel between cities.¡±

    ¡°Plus, you were really lagging behind today, and you didn¡¯t even carry anything,¡± Liam added. ¡°Any other dragon in the city would be used to travel. And since we¡¯re on the subject. How¡¯d you two meet? No way a girl your age can afford to take care of a dragon. Nah, if you had that kind of coin, you wouldn¡¯t need to bother us for an escort.¡±

    Aeris started eating her food so she didn¡¯t have to respond. If those men could figure out she was a domesticate so easily, there was no doubt anyone else would figure it out too, and that was a problem. Her unique appearance alone made her stand out, but it would be even harder to blend in with other dragons. She shot a glance Janine¡¯s way to warn her not to say too much. Janine gave a subtle nod in reply.

    ¡°Ignore him,¡± Cecil said. ¡°It¡¯s none of our business whatever your reasons are. But I need you to be straight with me. Is there anyone after you?¡±

    Aeris took one last bite of food and took her time chewing it. It was meant to buy time to compose herself, but she hoped the humans would see it as a sign of confidence. ¡°If you were so worried, shouldn¡¯t you have asked that before we left? No matter, the answer is no.¡±

    Cecil studied her face for a moment, then said, ¡°Fair enough. I just had to be sure. Anyway, we¡¯ll be leaving at first light, so make sure you get plenty of sleep.¡±

    Aeris nodded and resumed eating. She noticed Janine was silently staring at her now-empty bowl. "You okay?" Aeris whispered.

    Janine nodded. ¡°This is the furthest I¡¯ve ever been away from home. I¡¯ve lived in Rubelan all my life. Whenever I left the city, it was always with Pa.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    "Don''t be. I meant what I said. I''ll be by your side no matter what." She wrapped her arm around Aeris''s neck.

    Aeris smiled at the young woman. ¡°Thank you, Janine. I promise I¡¯ll never forget your kindness. You should get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us.¡±

 Chapter 22: Lost and Found

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 22: Lost and Found</h2>

    <hr>

    The trip to Strendor took five days, and Aeris felt worn out. Never had she walked so far in her life. Although it seemed unlikely their traveling companions would try anything, Aeris and Janine slept in shifts. More than a few times, Dennis tried to probe them for information, but they made a point of staying tight-lipped. His constant badgering worried Aeris, so she made a point of not talking to him at all. It wasn¡¯t until she threatened to charge him for asking questions that he finally stopped.

    But the hardest part for Aeris was keeping up with the others. At first, it was easy to hide her fatigue, but there was no hiding it after the third day. By then every step caused her paws to ache and she fell more than once.

    But Aeris refused to slow down or give up. Aaron was looking for her¡ªthat was certain. She needed to get as much of a head start as possible.

    Strendor was far different from what Aeris expected. The buildings seemed more tightly packed together making the formation resembled a clenched fist. The scents were also different. Something about the way the scents of human and dragon mixed that gave it it''s own unique feel. It was Aeris'' first time there, and she would''ve loved a chance to explore, but now was not the time.

    When the time came for them to go their separate ways. Cecil told them where they could find someone willing to escort them to Auruem. There was a tavern on the far side of the city where many travelers went to rest. They were often hired to take smuggled goods to other places, so it was a good place to go for those who didn''t want questions asked.

    But first, Aeris wanted to find a place with a bed and get her strength back. A hotel was her first choice, but Janine pointed out Aaron would be able to track them that way especially since there weren¡¯t many hotels for dragons.

    Unfortunately, that meant their only option was to sleep on the street or in abandoned buildings. It wasn''t ideal, but they had little choice. Janine pointed out there were places where they could rent out a room, but they didn''t have the coin.

    They counted their money, and while Janine had added a little extra when she swapped the coins back in Rubelan, they needed to carefully ration what they had between eating and paying for an escort to Auruem. That meant they were forced to buy the cheapest thing they could find and split it between them. Aeris''s stomach grumbled constantly, but she chose to ignore it.

    After the second day of "resting," they went to the place Cecil mentioned to find someone willing to escort them further west. They found a traveling merchant who didn''t seem shady or at least hadn''t tried to rip them off, but he wasn''t leaving for another three days.

    Waiting three days worried Aeris. There was no telling how close Aaron was to catching up and the sky had been covered in clouds since they arrived. She suspected it would snow soon. If it came down too heavily and blocked the roads, they would be stuck there even longer. The only consolation was any pursuers would have a hard time catching up until the snow melted.

    So while they waited for three days, they found an abandoned house and chose to stay there. Aeris especially wanted to rest as much as she could before it came time to leave. With nothing else to do, they talked about everything they could think of: Hopes, dreams, fears, likes, dislikes, favorite memories. Aeris would''ve forgotten all about her troubles if it weren''t for the crumbling walls around them and the smell of urine.

    Eventually, Aeris asked a question that had been nagging at her. "Janine, I''ve been meaning to ask: Why are we going to Auruem?"

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty far out west,¡± Janine replied. ¡°I figured your master wouldn¡¯t look for you there. Also, it¡¯s right on the border between human and dragon land.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a domesticate. Isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡±

    Janine leaned back where she sat, placing her hands behind her head. ¡°Probably, yeah. But it¡¯s the last place anyone will think to look for you.¡±

    Aeris nodded. It was risky, but if it was still in human lands maybe she could keep a low profile and avoid detection. ¡°We just need to figure out what we¡¯ll do when we get there. The first thing we¡¯ll need is coin. Then we can buy a place to stay.¡±

    ¡°I got plenty of experience helpin Pa run the family restaurant. Findin work shouldn¡¯t be too hard. I just hope your eggs don¡¯t hatch before we get there.¡±

    That thought crossed Aeris''s mind as well. Sometimes she felt the satchel move, so the eggs were definitely getting closer to hatching. She tried to avoid thinking about it too much. She didn''t know the first thing about raising a baby dragon on top of having no coin, no place to live, and being chased by her former master.

    Thinking about the future made Aeris feel lightheaded, so she stood and headed for the exit. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk for a bit.¡±

    ¡°You want me to come with you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not going far. We still have two days before it¡¯s time to go, and I don¡¯t want to wear myself out.¡±

    Aeris also just wanted to be alone for a minute. She would never tell Janine, but she hated that the young woman uprooted her life to travel with her. And Janine had a family; she couldn''t even write a letter to her father and tell him she was okay because Aaron may trace it back to her. She wondered if she should send Janine away. Split the remaining coin between them so she could get home safely. Janine had done more than enough.

    ¡°Aeris?¡±

    Aeris jumped at the sudden mention of her name. She started to run, but it dawned on her that this human mentioned her by name. She turned around to see a blond-haired man standing near the opening of an alley. His clothes were worn and weathered. His long, blond hair blocked most of his face and was also dirty and tangled.

    Her first instinct was to ignore the man and move on, but this human knew her by name. And judging from his appearance, Aaron would want nothing to do with this man.

    ¡°How do you know my name? Did Maggie send you?¡± she asked cautiously.

    ¡°Uh, yeah, she did,¡± the man replied slowly, ¡°Maggie talks about you all the time. That¡¯s how I recognized you. She¡¯s worried sick about you. I can take you to her if you want.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ heart skipped a beat. She had wondered how she would track Maggie down once she was safe. ¡°Okay, please take me to her.¡±

    ¡°All right, do you know where the old factory is just off Watson street?¡±

    Aeris shook her head.

    "It''s a large building, full of boarded-up windows near the warehouse district. You can''t miss it. Meet me there tomorrow morning."

    ¡°Tomorrow? Why can¡¯t I see Maggie now?¡±

    The man started wringing his hands. ¡°Maggie¡¯s not here. She went to run some errands and won¡¯t be back until tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Well, can I just meet her where she lives?¡±

    ¡°No, no. You see, she¡¯s worried that her place is being watched by Aaron. So she doesn¡¯t want you going to her house and getting caught.¡±

    Aeris nodded in agreement. ¡°So I¡¯ll see you tomorrow morning then.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, just remember: the old warehouse on Watson, don¡¯t forget,¡± the man said just before disappearing into the crowd.

    Aeris immediately ran back to the abandoned house to tell Janine the good news. She could barely keep her voice down as she ran to the second floor where the young woman waited. ¡°Janine! Janine, I found Maggie!¡±

    ¡°You did?¡± Janine beamed and looked around. ¡°Where is she?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s out running errands, but she wants me to meet her in the warehouse district tomorrow morning.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Janine¡¯s smile faded. ¡°The warehouse district? Aeris, I don¡¯t like the sound of that. Why would she tell you to meet her there?¡±

    ¡°Oh, she didn¡¯t. A friend of hers did.¡±

    ¡°A friend?¡± Janine asked, raising a brow. ¡°How do you know it¡¯s not a setup?¡±

    ¡°Because he said he knew Maggie,¡± Aeris replied. ¡°If he worked for Aaron, he would¡¯ve tried to lead me somewhere and capture me on the spot.¡±

    Janine rubbed her chin, her expression showing she was contemplating Aeris¡¯ logic. Eventually, she said, ¡°Can¡¯t argue that. They wouldn¡¯t risk you getting suspicious and not showing up.¡± She stood and grabbed her bag. ¡°But to be safe, I want to check this place out now. They won¡¯t expect us to get there early. If they¡¯re still setting up an ambush, we¡¯ll know.¡±

    Aeris nodded in agreement and they headed for Watson Street. Aeris could barely contain her excitement. The man said tomorrow morning, but she had nowhere else to go anyway. Might as well get a head start. And being nearby will ensure that she didn¡¯t miss him.

    Like the man said, the warehouse was easily visible the moment they stepped onto Watson Street; the large warehouse took up most of the area. As they drew closer, she could see the building was falling apart. The windows were boarded up and there were large holes in several places in the walls.

    ¡°This is the place she wanted to meet?¡± Janine asked.

    Aeris nodded and circled the building. There were no signs of anyone else around which she took as a good sign. There was a large hole in the side of the building on the first floor. She stuck her head inside and sniffed the air, grimacing in disgust. The whole place stank of urine, feces, vomit, and alcohol.

    She entered the building anyway, calling out, ¡°Hello? Anyone here?¡± There was no answer. She smiled and turned to Janine. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re the first ones here. Maybe we should stay the night here, instead of going back to the house.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but we can try to go to one of the upper floors?¡± Janine asked, her voice muffled from her hand being covered. ¡°It stinks down here.¡±

    The stairs leading to the upper levels were easy to find and thankfully, not blocked. The upper floor also didn''t stink nearly as much as the lower one did. After checking that was clear of any occupants as well, Aeris picked a corner next to the only unbroken window and curled up there. Through the boards, she saw snow falling outside.

    ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s snowing,¡± she said.

    Janine peered through the boards. ¡°It¡¯s just a light flurry. No big deal.¡±

    Aeris nodded and curled around the satchel. She hoped the snow wouldn''t become a problem for Maggie to get to the warehouse. It was still early, the sun was only starting to set, but she wanted to get an early start tomorrow. "Okay. I''m going to try to get some sleep. I can''t wait to see Maggie again."

    Janine sat next to Aeris. ¡°She really means a lot to you, huh?¡±

    Aeris nodded vigorously. ¡°Uh-huh. She was always nice to me and she always looked after me. I owe her so much.¡± She laid her head on the floor and fell asleep, thinking about how great it would be when she saw Maggie again.

    ***

    Aeris opened her eyes, feeling somewhat refreshed. While she missed her mattress, the night spent in the warehouse was the best night¡¯s sleep she¡¯s had in the last few days, even with the bad smell. She contributed it to the idea she was going to see Maggie today. The first thing she did was open the satchel and check on her eggs. All three eggs remained safely tucked away. She pressed her ear against them, listening for signs of movement. They were quiet today, but that was fine.

    Janine was still asleep, her body pressed between Aeris and the wall for warmth. Aeris wasn¡¯t as bothered by the cold, so she often gave the young woman her cloak to keep warm. As eager as Aeris was to see Maggie again, she decided to let Janine rest a little longer.

    Aeris'' next order of business was to look outside and make sure it was safe to leave. Looking through the boards covering her window, her heart sank. The snowfall had picked up and continued through the night. From the window, it looked as if a quarter-meter or more of snow covered the ground. Worse still, more flakes were falling in a steady flurry. They still had another day before they could leave for Auruem. If the snow continued at its current rate, they wouldn''t be going anywhere anytime soon.

    She gently nudged Janine awake. The young woman looked around sleepily, a slight smile on her face that quickly faded when she took in her surroundings. ¡°Ugh. I can¡¯t wait until I can sleep in a bed again.¡± She looked out the window and groaned. ¡°Looks like that¡¯ll take even longer.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We can stay with Maggie until the snow clears,¡± Aeris offered. They quickly made their way outside. A set of footprints leading further into the warehouse district. Hoping they were Maggie¡¯s, they followed them.

    They moved slowly through the snow, part because of how deep it was and part to be cautious. Aeris had a slightly easier time because her paws kept her from sinking in the snow as much. While she was excited to see Maggie again, she kept her guard up, listening for the slightest sounds of anything nearby. The haze of snow made it difficult to see anything ahead of her and the freezing air made her nose burn. Other than the crunching sound of her claws and Janine¡¯s boots in the snow, there was nothing.

    She glanced up at the frost-covered windows. The snow made it impossible to see anything inside without pressing her face against the glass. She hoped it was the same for anyone who might be inside the buildings as well.

    The alley eventually opened up into a wider space, giving Aeris more freedom to move.

    ¡°Aeris, is that you?¡± said a voice.

    Aeris¡¯ heart soared. She recognized the voice as the human she met the other day. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. Is Maggie with you?¡±

    ¡°No. The snow slowed her down, but she sent me ahead to tell you that she¡¯s on her way. Anyway, are the eggs safe? Do you have them with you?¡±

    ¡°Oh, they¡¯re¡ª¡± She froze. She never told the human about the eggs and it occurred to her that it didn¡¯t seem likely Maggie knew about them either. Maggie had already been sent away before she knew she was even pregnant.

    Her feeling of joy was quickly replaced with fear. Her heart sank into her stomach. She began to back up the way she came. ¡°Janine, r¡ª¡± Aeris spun around and noticed the young woman was missing. There weren¡¯t even tracks in the snow indicating she had come down the alley.

    ¡°I guess your silence means you figured it out,¡± the human said.

    Several figures emerged from the nearby buildings, surrounding her. Each person held a rifle in their hands and pointed it at her.

    Aeris spread her wings and prepared to take flight. She cried out as she felt a sharp pain in her wing followed by the deafening boom of a rifle. She snapped her wings against her body and felt something warm trickle down her side.

    ¡°Hold your fire! Hold your fire! I need her alive,¡± came Aaron¡¯s voice.

    Aeris cringed at the sound of her former master¡¯s voice. Her heartbeat hastened with every step she heard as he drew closer.

    He appeared from the fog, wearing a heavy winter coat and a large grin on his face which was red from the cold winds. ¡°Hello, Aeris. I missed you.¡±

    ¡°You missed my eggs, you mean,¡± Aeris shot back.

    Aaron clutched at his chest and he wore a shocked expression on his face. ¡°My dear dragon, you wound me. I really was worried about you. After all, with you gone, I can¡¯t get more eggs.¡±

    The men surrounding Aeris chuckled. She growled at all of them. ¡°I¡¯m never making another egg again. Especially for you.¡±

    "If I recall, you didn''t do it for me the first time. You did it all your own," Aaron said tauntingly, "No matter. You think I can''t get another dragon to impregnate you? Those filthy beasts can''t control themselves when they smell a female in heat. If it comes to it, I''ll have you tied down and let a group of drakes have their way with you. One of them is bound to succeed." He smiled wickedly at her as he said this and some of the men chuckled. Then his expression changed to a look of concern. "But I don''t want it to come to that. We''ve been through so much together; I''d hate to see you being ravaged by some dragon you don''t know. Just come with me, Aeris. I''ll even let you choose the next drake and make sure he treats you right. How''s that sound?"

    Aeris looked around at the men surrounding her. They had all the exits blocked and most of them had their guns trained on her. Escape did not seem possible. But she had no intention of going back, not when she knew what her fate would be. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere with you,¡± she said flatly.

    ¡°Aeris, don¡¯t say that, please.¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of concern or remorse in his voice. ¡°These men will take you by force if they have to. We grew up together; I don¡¯t want to see you hurt.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you doing this?!¡± she cried, ¡°Did all those years we spent together mean nothing to you? I thought you loved me! Is this all you wanted for me this entire time?¡±

    The expression on Aaron''s face soured. "You know there was a time where you mattered to me, Aeris. But honestly, Aeris, I take care of you: I feed you, I clothe you, I bathe you. I put a roof over your head and food in your stomach¡ªand not once have I ever asked for anything in return." His anger crept back into his voice and his face transformed into the monster she had come to fear. "This one time¡ªthis one time that I ask you to contribute, to do something for me to show your appreciation and this is how you react?¡±

    Anger took over Aeris¡¯ fear. She felt the same way she did during the party with the Everfields and those dragons who made fun of her. She didn¡¯t care if she was surrounded by men with guns. ¡°What about those human parties you dragged me to where you showed me off like some cheap trophy?¡± Aeris asked, her voice climbing with every word. ¡°I endured stares and insults from humans and dragons alike because I didn¡¯t want to cause you trouble. I never told anyone about how disgusting it felt to have you touch me because I felt I had to allow it. You cut me off from the outside world so I would be dependent on you, and I accepted it. I did everything you asked me to and never once complained. I defended you while everyone else called me a fool! I hid my feelings because I didn¡¯t want to cause you trouble and now you¡­you dare to call me ungrateful!?¡± Aeris stepped towards Aaron, feeling her anger give her strength.

    Another rifle shot rang out and Aeris felt a pain in her side and collapsed in the snow. All of her anger and courage drained out of her replaced by searing pain.

    ¡°Who fired that shot!?¡± Aaron yelled, ¡°What part of ¡®I want her alive¡¯ do you people not understand?¡±

    ¡°Relax,¡± replied one of the men, ¡°I merely grazed her. The wound ain¡¯t fatal.¡±

    Aaron whirled on the mercenary, his face as red as the blood staining the snow. ¡°You shoot her again without me ordering it, and I¡¯ll have you shot instead, understand?¡±

    The man didn¡¯t respond, but it was clear in his expression he understood.

    Aaron sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°But back to you my stubborn dragon. If you won¡¯t listen to reason, I guess I¡¯ll have to do this the hard way then.¡± He snapped his fingers. A man appeared by Aaron¡¯s side, struggling to hold something, a person.

    It was Janine.

    Aeris jumped to her feet, the pain in her side forgotten. She was about to rush to the young woman¡¯s aid when the man holding Janine held a knife to her throat.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t move, Aeris,¡± Aaron said, smiling evilly. ¡°Now, you give up the eggs, and I¡¯ll let your friend live.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him, Aeris!¡± Janine cried. ¡°Just take the eggs and¡ª¡± The man holding her pressed the knife against her throat and she fell silent.

    Aeris growled, her muscles tensing. ¡°How do I know you won¡¯t kill her anyway?¡±

    "Aeris, you know me. I''m a businessman. I always keep my word."

    Aeris didn¡¯t know what to do. She didn¡¯t want to watch Janine die, but she couldn¡¯t give up her eggs. There was no guarantee Aaron would let Janine live anyway.

    But she still couldn¡¯t do it. After all Janine had done for her, all that she had given up, throwing the young woman¡¯s life away seemed the worst kind of betrayal. ¡°Okay! You can¡±¡ªShe swallowed the bile building in her throat¡ª¡°You can have the¡ª¡±

    ¡°NO!¡± Janine thrust her elbow into the stomach of the man holding her. He grunted in pain and she broke free and rushed down the alley. Several men fired shots at her, but she turned the corner and vanished. A few men started to run after her.

    ¡°Forget her. We already have Aeris,¡± Aaron said.

    Aeris looked around at the group. Most of them were looking at Aaron and the circle surrounding her had been broken.

    She rushed towards the one section that only had one mercenary guarding it. The man''s face showed pure horror and he cried out, throwing his arms in front of his face. Aeris jumped over the man''s head, clipping his face with her hind leg, and fled deeper into the warehouse district.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let her get away!¡± Aaron yelled after her. ¡°Use force if you have to, but I want those eggs!¡±

 Chapter 23: On the Run

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Chapter 23: On the Run</h2>

    <hr>

    ¡°There she is! Shoot ¡®er!¡±

    The sound of two gunshots rang in Aeris¡¯ ears as she tore through the alley. She didn¡¯t feel the sting of their bullets which she took as a good sign. She ran as fast as she could through the snow, doing her best not to look back at her pursuers. She had no idea where she was or where she was going. One slip, one wrong turn, would mean the end.

    ¡°She¡¯s headin¡¯ fer Dill Street.¡±

    ¡°Cut her off!¡±

    Aeris stumbled as she quickly made a left turn into another alley. It was bad enough to be completely lost, but the deep snow only made her attempt to escape more difficult. The snow left tracks for the hunters to follow, and the constant threat of slipping on ice was nerve-wracking. The freezing air didn''t help; the longer she ran, the more difficult it became to breathe. The only comforting thought came from knowing her pursuers were having the same problems.

    Despite the cold air and snow, her legs and lungs felt as if they were on fire. Her side where she had been hit before stung from exposure to the cold air. She felt her blood trickling down her body from the wound. Tired and losing blood, she would be in trouble if she didn''t lose them soon.

    Aeris looked up at the grey sky. The snow had slowed to a slow and steady flurry, no longer coming down hard enough to mask her escape. There was a chance she could get away if she moved fast enough. She began to spread her wings, but feeling them brush against the walls, quickly snapped them close to her body. The alley was too narrow to spread her wings properly. Besides, even if the alley were wide enough, she couldn¡¯t fly, they would shoot her down in an instant, but on foot, she left tracks in the snow, signaling where she went.

    Aeris looked around at the various frost-covered windows. Most of the buildings in the area were abandoned. There had to be an open window or door somewhere. She needed a place to hide and rest, even if for a little while.

    ¡°I got ¡®er!¡±

    Aeris cried out as pain radiated through her left flank and she heard the loud blast of the rifle. She lost her balance and fell on her side in the freezing snow. She cursed her carelessness and for thinking the clutter in the alleys would serve as a sort of shield. These men were likely trained hunters. Such a simple trick wouldn¡¯t work on them.

    She looked up at a nearby building. Her vision was blurry from the pain, but she saw a large hole in the wall several feet above her. Ignoring her pain, Aeris quickly climbed to her feet and launched herself at the opening in the side of the building. Her leg screamed in protest, forcing another cry as waves of white-hot pain shot through her side. She hit the side of the building, hanging precariously from the edge of the opening. She dug her claws into the floor as she desperately scrambled to find a foothold. Two more shots rang out, striking just above Aeris'' head before she finally managed to claw her way inside.

    Her lungs felt ready to burst, her leg and side throbbed, and she was certain she lost a lot of blood. She was finally able to stop and rest, but the sounds of the men breaking-in below had already begun to echo throughout the building. Aeris looked down at the satchel around her neck. All that mattered was that they didn¡¯t get what they were after, but her pursuers weren¡¯t slowing down; staying still was a death sentence. With a loud groan, she struggled to her feet. Her heart beat rapidly as she made her way toward the stairs. With every step her muscles cried out; especially that left hind leg. Aeris ignored the pain as best she could; it was either walk or die, and she didn¡¯t want to die. Her best option was to get to the roof. With her ice, she could block the door and keep them at bay until the snow could provide enough cover to fly away.

    Climbing the stairs was even worse. Aeris had no choice but to put weight on her injured leg. Every step felt as if a hot knife were being shoved into the wound. She ground her teeth against the pain. They knew she was inside, but they didn''t know where. As long as she didn''t make a sound, they would have to search the entire building for her, or at least until they found the trail of blood she likely left behind.

    When she finally managed to reach the top of the staircase, she spun around and exhaled, covering the stairs in a sheet of ice to slow them down. She took another breath and prepared to tackle the next flight. No time to rest. The ice would slow them, but it wouldn¡¯t stop them. Upon reaching the summit of the next flight of stairs, she covered that stairwell in a sheet of ice as well before climbing the next set. It was an endless cycle of pain. Several times she felt lightheaded and nearly lost her balance, but the thought of escape kept her upright. She didn¡¯t bother to count how high she climbed; she was too focused on not making a sound. But the building didn¡¯t look that tall from the outside; it wouldn¡¯t be that long before she reached the top. She reached the top of yet another flight of stairs and prepared herself once more to tackle the next set. She swore under her breath upon learning the stairwell leading to the roof was blocked. Old pieces of furniture had been piled on the stairs; it would take too long and make too much noise to clear it. On top of that, Aeris could make out pieces of the ceiling or wall beyond the make-shift barricade.

    Aeris frantically looked around the room for a new escape route. It appeared she had taken refuge in an abandoned warehouse, but it looked as if it caught fire, or something blew up in it. Most of the debris-covered floor was coated in snow and ice, the exposed brick walls were bare except for the large holes where the snow blew through and the ceiling had more holes than the walls.

    Aeris quickly made her way towards one of the holes in the wall. She could see another large warehouse just across the street. If she flew there unnoticed, she may find a place to hide and recover her strength. The dragon looked down, noting the several men standing in the street below. She couldn¡¯t go that way; they would easily see her and shoot her down.

    ¡°She went this way. I swear when I find that stinkin¡¯ bitch¡­¡±

    Aeris felt as if her heart had stopped, they caught up with her already! She quickly ducked behind what she assumed was a piece of the ceiling leaning against the wall nearby. Flight was out of the question. She could try to fight back, but even without her injuries, she didn¡¯t know the first thing about fighting, and these men were trained hunters with guns.

    ¡°Ha! Yer just mad ¡®coz she caught you off-guard,¡± a different man said. ¡°Shoulda been payin¡¯ attention. But on the bright side, the scratch on yer face is an improvement.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    The footsteps became louder. There was no doubt about it; the hunters were here. Ignoring the pain in her leg, Aeris curled into a ball as best she could. She tried her best to breathe as quietly as possible. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears as it beat furiously against her chest. Aeris took several quiet, deep breaths. She had to keep quiet and to do that she needed to be calm.

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    ¡°I don¡¯t see nothin¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Keep your eyes peeled, she¡¯s here.¡±

    Aeris closed her eyes so tightly, she began seeing spots. Her heart pounded faster in her ears. She hoped with every fiber of her being for them to give up and go away.

    ¡°Hey, check this out.¡±

    Aeris¡¯ snapped her eyes open as her heart jumped into her throat. She readied herself as the footsteps signaled their approach. If she were lucky, she could catch them off-guard. She doubted she could last long against well-trained mercenaries, but she wasn¡¯t giving up without a fight.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s blood.¡±

    "It leads to this openin''," the hunter suddenly came into view as he walked up to the hole in the wall and looked down. Aeris curled up even tighter. She stopped breathing entirely. All the hunter had to do was look to the right and she would be exposed. Death was only a few feet from her.

    ¡°Think she jumped?¡± the merc standing by the opening asked.

    ¡°Not a chance. Our guys on the ground woulda seen ¡®er.¡±

    "Well, she ain''t here an'' this blood trail lead right outside. Where else she go?" The hunter walked away from the hole.

    Just as the hunter disappeared from view, Aeris noticed a second hole in the wall on the far side of the room. She could easily see another large hole in the neighboring building not far from it. If she moved quickly enough she might make it. At least she could if it weren¡¯t for her leg.

    Aeris looked back at her wounded leg. What she saw nearly made her faint. There was a large gash in her leg exposing pink flesh where her scales should have been. Blood flowed freely from the large wound, painting the lower half of her leg crimson. Aeris looked down and saw her blood pooling on the floor. Some of it was even slowly flowing beneath the chunk of ceiling she hid behind. Her breathing quickened. They were going to see it, most of the floor was covered in snow and ice, so there was no way they wouldn''t notice the red blood on the white snow. Aeris strained her ears trying desperately to hear over the howling wind blowing next to her. Maybe the men hadn''t seen it. Maybe they already left.

    Just faintly, she could hear the sound of footsteps crunching in the snow. They knew she was there and were trying to sneak up on her.

    She turned back to the hole in the far wall. She wouldn¡¯t make it with her leg in the condition it was in. But fighting wasn¡¯t a better option; even if she managed to take those two, more were waiting for her downstairs if they weren¡¯t already on their way up. Aeris once again looked down at the satchel. There was no other option, it was either die fighting or possibly die running.

    Aeris kicked off the ground as hard as she could, shooting out from behind her hiding place towards the other side of the room. The men yelled to fire. Bullets grazed her side, but she kept running. The pain in her leg grew beyond intense, causing the edges of her vision to blur, but she gritted her teeth and ignored it, her gaze fixed on the other building. The booming sound of a rifle echoed throughout the room. Aeris flinched as the bullet nicked the side of her face.

    She reached the large hole and, summoning every ounce of her strength, jumped towards the building on the other side. There was another sharp pain in her side followed by a loud boom as she flew through the air. She quickly tucked her head and wrapped her forelegs around the satchel. She landed on her unhurt side, gritting her teeth against the pain as her body slid across the icy floor. If she wasn''t in so much pain, she would have started laughing. She made it to the other side! Now all she had to do was find another way out before they caught up to her.

    Suddenly Aeris felt weightless, and the high ceiling moved away from her. She looked down in shock as she realized she had slid through a hole in the floor. It felt as if time had frozen around her as she racked her brain for options. The area was too cramped to use her wings to slow her fall, and with her leg, she couldn¡¯t land on her feet. All Aeris could do was wrap her body protectively around the satchel and wait for the inevitable.

    With a loud crash, Aeris hit the floor and debris below. She let out a roar as intense pain, even greater than before, shot through her body.

    Her vision blurred, her lungs hurt every time she tried to breathe, her entire body was wracked with pain. She could barely move. Already she could hear the hunters downstairs, forcing their way into the building. It wouldn¡¯t be long before they caught up to her again. It was over.

    Aeris opened the satchel. Thankfully none of the eggs inside were broken. With her last ounce of strength, she crawled into a nearby corner. They were coming to take the satchel from her, but she couldn¡¯t let them have it. She promised to keep the eggs safe no matter what. Aeris tried to stand up but her body had enough; pain shot through her wounded leg and with a loud cry, she fell back on the floor.

    Her breathing came in short, ragged gasps. She had no strength left. But she couldn''t afford to give up now. With another effort, she somehow managed to force herself into a standing position. It didn''t make much difference; she couldn''t run anymore let alone get away.

    Aeris lifted her head and looked at the stairs. She could hear the men running. It wouldn¡¯t be long now. She looked down at the satchel again. She swore she would die before giving up the eggs. And she intended to keep that promise.

    Aeris lifted her head and looked at the stairs. She could hear the men running through the building. It wouldn¡¯t be long now. She opened the satchel and carefully pulled out one of the eggs. Her chest ached as she ran her claws over its rough surface. She placed the egg on the floor. Her heart began beating in her ears at a furious pace. Her legs shook, whether from fear of what she was about to do or simply from weakness caused by blood loss, she didn¡¯t know.

    There¡¯re no other options, she told herself, When he catches me, he¡¯s going to take them anyway and force me to make more. He won¡¯t take me alive¡ªI¡¯ll bleed to death soon anyway. But I can¡¯t leave my eggs to him¡­I won¡¯t.

    With a deep shuddering breath, she looked up at the ceiling and pressed all of her weight onto the egg. The egg shattered with a sickening squishing sound that made Aeris reel and left a loud ringing in her ears. The blood and amniotic fluid of her unhatched child felt like acid on her scales and paws, the pain more intense than her gunshot wounds and the injuries sustained from the fall. She felt something soft beneath her claws, making her feel sick. She dared not look down, knowing she would lose the nerve to keep going.

    The voices were getting louder. She reached into the satchel and took another egg. After taking another shuddering breath, she pressed on it. It broke just easily as the first. Aeris felt the contents in her stomach rise into her throat. Her paws itched and burned as the fluids seeped through her scales into her flesh. She felt lightheaded. It felt as if a hand had wrapped around her throat, cutting off her air supply. She wasn''t sure she could go through it again.

    But I have to. If even one survives, he wins. I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t watch him take this egg away. She regained her balance and reached into the satchel one last time.

    Her legs shook worse than before. Her vision blurred and the loud ringing in her ears drowned out all other noise. Gripping the egg tightly, she swallowed the bile building in her throat and smashed it between her claws. The sound of the third egg breaking pushed her over the limit; all the bile that had built up in her throat broke through to the surface. She turned away and threw up on the floor. After emptying her stomach, she fell back against the wall, her entire body shuddering from what she had done.

    The hunters entered the room. They each looked horrified when they saw the eggshells and dead baby dragons on the floor. Aaron forced his way through the group. He took one look at Aeris and grinned, but his smile quickly fell. His face turned red. His lips pulled back into a nasty sneer, and he ground his teeth together. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯ve done?!¡±

    Aeris looked her master in the eye and smiled.

    Aaron¡¯s face went livid with fury. He snatched a rifle from the nearest hunter and pointed it at Aeris.

    The boom of the rifle echoed throughout the room as Aeris felt something strike her side. There was no pain. She had just murdered her children. Nothing else compared to the pain she felt now. It didn¡¯t matter what he did to her. Her master had just been denied the one thing he wanted.

    And that was all that mattered.

    ¡°You¡ª¡±

    He fired the rifle again. Aeris could feel her blood pouring freely down her side and nothing else. It felt warm, reminding her of slipping into a warm bath.

    ¡°¡ªuseless, worthless, pathetic¡ª¡±

    The rifle¡¯s muzzle flashed again. The strength in her legs failed her and she collapsed on the floor.

    ¡°¡ªfucking lizard!¡±

    Aaron fired the rifle one last time. Aeris felt nothing; not the bullet she knew was tearing through her body, not the blood she knew was pouring from each wound, and not the cold warehouse floor she rested on.

    Aaron threw the rifle to the ground and shouted something she couldn¡¯t hear. The only sound she heard was that of her slowing heartbeat. A smile crept across her face. Her former master shouted again and stormed away. The hunters turned and began to leave the room.

    Aeris¡¯ vision faded to black, and she knew no more.

 Epilogue

    <h2 style="text-align: center">Epilogue</h2>

    <hr>

    Margret stared out the window at the scene below. The snow was falling in a steady flurry. It reminded her how much Aeris loved the snow. She turned away from the scene, thinking about Aeris wasn¡¯t going to make her feel any better. It was why she was here after all.

    Part of her wished she were anywhere else. Sitting alone in this tiny room, a shady deal in secret, plotting her former employer''s downfall. It all felt like something out of those books she used to read to Aeris. But she knew this was no story. This was her life and plans like this often went astray.

    But she had to do it even if it killed her for Aeris¡¯s sake. That was why she sunk every coin she had into tracking down someone she knew would help.

    The door opened and Margret straightened up like a soldier before a superior officer. A single female dragon entered the room. Immediately she was in awe at the dragon¡¯s appearance. Her sea-green scales seemed to glitter in the dim lamplight which accentuated the web of scars across her body.

    ¡°Hello, Margret,¡± the dragon said. ¡°Or do you prefer Maggie? Snowflake called you that whenever she talked about you.¡±

    ¡°M-Maggie is fine.¡± She felt like a small child in the presence of a parent. It was hard to even look the dragon in the eye. ¡°And you must be Cutter. Aeris mentioned you. She said you were a friend.¡±

    ¡°Aw, she thinks of me as a friend. Most people would say that¡¯s a dumb move.¡±

    ¡°Aeris is not stupid,¡± Margret shot back. She immediately regretted the outburst and wilted under the strong look Cutter gave her.

    ¡°I know she isn¡¯t. She¡¯s a lot smarter than she looks, stronger too. Though it wouldn¡¯t fucking kill her to show some damn patience.¡±

    Margret smiled a little thinking back to all the times Aeris got in trouble because of her curiosity. She quickly stopped the reminiscence and lifted her head. ¡°I want you to kill Lord Aaron Strauss. He¡¯s controlling, manipulative, heartless, and--¡±

    ¡°Whoa, slow the fuck down there, Maggie,¡± Cutter said. ¡°One, don¡¯t blurt shit out like that. The wrong people hear you, it¡¯s your ass and mine.¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. I just. Aaron Strauss is planning to impregnate Aeris and sell her eggs. I can¡¯t let that happen.¡±

    Cutter stiffened, and Margret recoiled. She knew she wasn¡¯t the target of the dragon¡¯s rage, but she still feared being the only outlet in the room. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Cutter asked.

    ¡°I-I said, he wants to-to sell...her eggs.¡±

    A heavy silence fell over the room. Margret was too scared to move or even breathe. She felt the bloodlust radiating from Cutter like heat. It made sweat run down her sides as she contemplated possible exit routes. The rumors about the dragon were true. Cutter was not someone to piss off.

    When Cutter spoke again, the air cleared and Margret felt she could breathe again. ¡°I knew he was planning something sneaky, but selling her eggs? That¡¯s new. I didn¡¯t think any humans were that fucking stupid. If he gets caught, they¡¯ll rip his balls off and shove them down his throat. Actually, I might do that myself.¡±

    ¡°Do whatever you want with him. Aeris needs to get as far away from him as possible.¡±

    ¡°She does. She doesn¡¯t know it, but her master knows more about her than even I realized, and it¡¯s not good for anyone.¡±

    Margret¡¯s curiosity got the better of her. She had been spying on Aaron for years, but it seemed Cutter knew more than she did. ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°It means, this world¡¯s about to learn the hard way why you don¡¯t fuck with dragons.¡± Cutter slapped her tail against the floor, closed her eyes, and mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s too damn early. This shit wasn¡¯t supposed to start for another 30 years.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?¡±

    Cutter opened her eyes and looked at Margret as if realizing for the first time the woman was in the room. ¡°What about you? What¡¯s your plan after you get Snowflake back?¡±

    Margret looked away feeling the heat rush to her ears. She hadn¡¯t thought that far. Getting Aeris away from her master was the top priority for now.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have one,¡± Cutter stated. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll give you one, but first how long before the shit starts flying?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Lord Strauss was quite upset to learn Aeris had been seeing a drake behind his back. I suspect he¡¯ll be trying to find her another suitor. It will be difficult, given what happened to the last one, but I suspect we may have a year at the most.¡±

    ¡°Then give me six months to train you in everything you¡¯ll need to serve Snowflake in the future.¡±

    Margret had a hard time forming a coherent sentence. It was all so sudden. How did she go from hiring Cutter to assassinate someone to becoming her student? And what possible training could she need? All she wanted was for Aeris to live a quiet, peaceful life.

    Cutter rose and motioned for Margret to follow which she did without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Snowflake¡¯s life is about to get a lot more interesting. She doesn¡¯t know it yet, but she¡¯s at the center of this storm that¡¯s going to rip the world a new asshole. Which side will be left standing after all this shit is done will be up to you.¡±

    Margret said nothing as she followed Cutter down the hall. She had no idea what was going on or what Cutter was talking about, but if it meant helping Aeris, she would do whatever she had to. Just hang in there a little while longer, Aeris, she thought. I promise, I¡¯m coming for you.

    ****

    Aubrey sighed heavily as she shifted in her seat for what felt like the hundredth time in 15 minutes. No matter what position she sat in, she just couldn¡¯t get comfortable. She felt restless but the three walks around her estate both inside and out had done nothing but aggravate her.

    Looking down at the book on the table, her mind drifted back to Aeris. It was the source of her anxiety. Whenever Aubrey sat still for an extended period, her mind went back to the young dragon and what she was up to.

    Helen walked into the common room, carrying a tray of food in her hands. Even the aroma of salted meat did nothing to make Aubrey feel better. Setting the tray down on the table, Helen asked. ¡°Is something the matter?¡±

    ¡°What makes you think something is wrong?¡±

    ¡°You were on that same page when I left to make your dinner.¡± She sat down on the sofa. ¡°It¡¯s about Aeris isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Aubrey sighed and closed the book. She hadn¡¯t been reading it all and had no idea what was happening anyway. ¡°It¡¯s always about Aeris. I said things I know regret. I didn¡¯t expect her to choose him over me. I thought she was stronger than that.¡±

    ¡°She is stronger than that. Don¡¯t forget, she sought you out, she chose to defy her caretaker and was still willing to teach dragons despite the risks. I¡¯m surprised you weren¡¯t proud of her.¡±

    ¡°What makes you think I wasn¡¯t?¡± Aubrey asked sharply. She knew exactly what Helen was getting at. The truth was she was jealous of Aeris and she hated herself for it. Aeris was a domesticate, living under a human¡¯s thumb, but in just a few weeks, she had done what Aubrey hadn¡¯t: united several domesticates and convinced them to defy their caretakers. It was quite admirable and annoying. Aeris was timid, apologetic, naive, and eager to please. How did they look to her for leadership? And then she handled the responsibility so well. Aeris had all the makings of a Matriarch. If her call hadn¡¯t manifested yet, it soon would.

    A clan couldn¡¯t be run by two Matriarchs. If Aeris developed her call, it meant Aubrey would be out of a following, and all her plans to unite the domesticates would be ruined. That thought angered her so much. She had spent decades planning this and making connections and she wasn¡¯t prepared to lose it all to some upstart pet who could barely look a fellow dragon in the eye.

    Helen was saved from having to reply by a loud knock at the door. Aubrey wasn¡¯t expecting any guests. What if it was Aeris coming to apologize? Aubrey¡¯s spirits raised at the thought.

    Those hopes were dashed when Helen re-entered the common room with a drake by her side. It was Lanry, the same drake who exposed the secret of Aeris¡¯s secret teachings to half of Rubelum.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Aubrey asked suspiciously. This was not the same meek drake who had come to her weeks before. He carried himself with far too much confidence like a young Matriarch who just awakened her call.

    Lanry grinned and bowed. ¡°Good afternoon, Lady Aubrey. Terrible weather we¡¯re having isn¡¯t it? All this snow is certainly going to be a problem. I might have a hard time finding my way back home.¡±

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Aubrey repeated, topping it off with a low growl.

    ¡°Forgive me. My Matriarch sends her regards.¡±

    Aubrey was too stunned by the statement to respond. Lanry said he was part of a human family. He shouldn¡¯t have a Matriarch. And how long had he known her?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, who is your Matriarch?¡± Helen asked.

    Lanry smiled warmly at the human. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t say, love. Strict orders and all that. Speaking her name if forbidden.¡±

    Aubrey narrowed her eyes at the young drake. His brazen attitude was trying her patience. ¡°What is her name?¡± she said in a strong commanding tone.

    Lanry chuckled, his playful smile growing wider. ¡°I already told you I can¡¯t say. Honestly, I¡¯m surprised you would try your call on me even after I admitted to serving another. You truly are an arrogant one like she said.¡±

    Aubrey was at a loss for words. That he resisted her call spoke volumes about his mental fortitude and trust in his Matriarch. Or this mysterious dragon used her call to order him not to reveal her identity. Either way, whoever he served was dangerous.

    Lanry sat on the floor in front of the table and pulled the tray of meat closer. ¡°I must be getting home soon, so I will make this brief. My Matriarch wishes for you to maintain your deal with Aaron Strauss.¡±

    That snapped Aubrey out of her trance. Not the nerve of this dragon to make a request of her, but what was being asked of her. ¡°Why would I not maintain the deal?¡±

    Lanry paused mid-chew of a piece of steak and swallowed, wearing a forlorn expression. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t know. Rumor has it, Aeris is dead.¡±

    ¡°Wh-What?!¡± Helen cried. Aubrey said nothing. Never had she been struck speechless so many times in rapid succession. this drake had to be lying. It was a trick. But looking into Lanry¡¯s eyes, she knew he was telling the truth.

    Helen rushed over and shook the drake by the shoulders. ¡°What happened? Who killed her? Where is she?¡±

    ¡°The rumors claim she ran away from her master--sorry, caretaker, and he tried to bring her home. She went berserk and attacked him and he was forced to kill her.¡±

    It was a lie. The thought crossed Aubrey''s mind, but she couldn''t say the words aloud. Aeris was far too loyal to attack him without provocation. No, Aeris wouldn''t attack him, period. Even if she snapped, there was no way he was fending off a grown dragon on his own.

    Lanry pulled away from Helen¡¯s grip and went back to the tray of food. ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s all rumor. I have no idea how much of it is true. Especially since there¡¯s no body and no funeral planned.¡±

    It didn¡¯t surprise Aubrey. He saw Aeris as nothing but a tool. As if he would waste the time and money to give her a proper burial.

    ¡°I will say, though, that it seems odd you aren¡¯t the first to know,¡± Lanry continued. ¡°After all, you are supposed to be friends, no, my faithful Matriarch? Why wouldn¡¯t you shelter Aeris in her time of need?¡±

    Before Aubrey could stop herself, she flipped the table, sending it sailing over Lanry and Helen¡¯s heads. It landed on the far side of the room with a deafening crack and broke into pieces. In a single leap, Aubrey was in Lanry¡¯s face, their snouts almost touching. ¡°You know nothing, drake. Don¡¯t push your luck.¡±

    Lanry didn¡¯t show even an ounce of fear. ¡°Forgive me, my Lady, I wasn¡¯t trying to upset you. I was merely voicing my opinion, something I will be certain to keep to myself from now on.

    ¡°Before I go, I will say that it is in your best interest to honor your agreement. My Matriarch wishes to keep an eye on Aaron and you are already in the perfect position for doing so. So what say you?¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Aubrey snarled and turned away. She wanted nothing to do with that foul man. In all her dreams, she never imagined he would go so far as to kill Aeris for defying him. And Aubrey blamed herself. She knew what kind of man he was, and yet she forced Aeris to go back to him.

    ¡°Lady Aubrey--¡± Helen began to say.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Aubrey spat. The word grated against her throat. ¡°I¡¯ll...honor my agreement. Now get out, and tell your Matriarch if she wants something from me, she had best come ask herself. The next time she sends a messenger unannounced to my home to order me about, I¡¯ll send him back in pieces.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to let her know, my Lady. No, no, love. I can show myself out. Thank you for the meal by the way.¡±

    Aubrey didn¡¯t turn around until she no longer heard the sound of Lanry¡¯s claws on her floor. she looked down at the deep grooves her claws had left on the hardwood she just had polished. It was so aggravating. Never had she been so disrespected by a fellow dragon. That the Matriarch had sent a drake to her home to tell her what to do was unheard of in the wild.

    ¡°Are you all right, Lady Aubrey?¡± Helen asked.

    Aubrey took a deep breath and turned to the human woman. ¡°No. I apologize for the mess and for wasting the food you prepared for me. I¡¯ll take care of cleaning it up, I want you to send a letter to your cousins. I want to know who this Matriarch is that Lanry serves.¡±

    Helen bowed and left the room. Aubrey walked over to the pile of splintered wood, leftover meat, and broken glass. Whoever this Matriarch was, she had a lot of nerve. Lanry was most likely sent as a spy which meant his reveal of Aeris to the other dragons was no accident. Someone was playing games, and she did not like it. They were going to learn the hard way she was nobody¡¯s pawn.

    ****

    Charles shuddered from the night chill. It was one of those nights again. The kind of night he would''ve loved to walk around the estate before relaxing by a cozy fire. But tonight he would do no such thing. Even as he currently walked the halls of the Strauss mansion, it wasn''t to relax or to unwind. He was keeping a watchful eye for Lord Strauss''s enemies. Ever since he learned of Lord Strauss''s plan to sell his dragon''s eggs, he made a point of wandering the halls every night with a hand on the pistol tucked into his jacket.

    Sometimes he wondered exactly where he went wrong in watching over the young man. Perhaps that was why Lord Strauss got the idea in his head he was invincible. What else could drive the man to take such a large risk with selling dragon eggs? Even certain humans wouldn¡¯t go along with such a thing for fear of angering the dragons.

    Charles figured it was his fault. He allowed Lord Strauss too much freedom. The young man very rarely had to pay the consequences of his actions. It likely gave him the feeling he was invincible, untouchable. Even now, most Lords and Ladies were afraid to defy him. The Strauss family had a great deal of reach and influence. Most of Rubelum was under Lord Strauss¡¯s control. His word carried more weight than even he realized.

    Charles checked the front door and found it locked, and no signs it had been tampered with could be seen. Perhaps that was why they put Aeris directly under Lord Strauss¡¯s care. Was it a means to teach him humility? Or to teach him to control dragons as well? Charles wondered if he was supposed to do something. Was it his job to step in during the moments when Lord Strauss was taking things too far? Should he have taught Lord Strauss to be more humble? More understanding? Charles never had much love for dragons, but even he found some of the ways Lord Strauss controlled his dragon to be disgusting. But it had to be done. Her power was dangerous. If she had been allowed free reign, if she had control over her power, she could¡¯ve had one of the most influential families in the world wrapped around her claw.

    He supposed it didn''t matter anyway. His allegiance was to the Strauss family and them alone. If Lord Strauss returned with the dragon or the eggs, Charles decided he would find a way to convince Lord Strauss to give up on his crazed plan. Having one dragon under his thumb did not make him invincible.

    The front door opened, and Lord Strauss stumbled inside followed by cold winds and snow. His coat was wide open, and his clothes were disheveled. Charles halted in his approach to Lord Strauss¡¯s side as two more men rushed into the room. One of them quickly broke away from the group and headed toward the cellar. Charles ignored the man and hurried over to his Lord¡¯s side. Taking off his jacket, he threw it over Lord Strauss¡¯s shoulders. ¡°My Lord! What happened?¡±

    ¡°N-Nothing,¡± Lord Strauss said, his words heavily slurred. Charles reeled from the stench of liquor on his Lord¡¯s breath and in his clothes and skin. ¡°I¡¯m fine...let go of me!¡± He pulled away from Charle¡¯s grip and lost his balance. The other man quickly caught him before he hit the floor.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Charles asked. ¡°Did you succeed?¡±

    Lord Strauss gave a short bark of a laugh. ¡°Succeed? You mean in my plan to rule over dragons and men? That plan is nothing more than a dream now.¡±

    ¡°Aaron shot the dragon after she smashed her eggs,¡± the other man explained. ¡°He¡¯s done nothing but get drunk since we left Strendor.¡±

    Charles moved to close the door to hide his shock. For years all Lord Strauss would talk about was the opportunities having that dragon would give him. It all started when Lord Strauss was 15-years old and came home one night, drunk. Charles remembered sneaking the young lord upstairs and getting him cleaned up so his parents wouldn''t know. Young Aaron had mumbled something about the luckiest man alive, and how humans and dragons would bow to him. It made no sense to Charles, but he wrote it off as drunken banter. But strangely enough, that was the time when Lord Strauss''s attitude toward his dragon changed. Young Aaron''s parents died of illness less than a year later.

    Charles quickly pushed the thought out of his mind. This was the young lord¡¯s childhood all over again. Everyone accused him of murdering his parents, but Charles stood by Lord Strauss¡¯s side. He defended him when everyone else was so quick to turn their backs on him and with no evidence supporting their half-baked theories. The only one who stood by Lord Strauss¡¯s side was his dragon, Aeris. Not once did she ever suspect him of any wrongdoing, and was quick to support him whenever he needed.

    He shut the door with more force than he intended. That dragon was more loyal to Lord Strauss than he was. Perhaps that was why he hated her so much. Her dedication to her master was unwavering. If Lord Strauss hadn¡¯t decided to sell her eggs, she likely would¡¯ve never left his side.

    ¡°Charles!¡± Lord Strauss shouted. ¡°Are you listening to me?¡±

    Charles snapped out of his daydream and turned to Lord Strauss. ¡°Forgive me, sir, I--¡±

    Lord Strauss seized Charles by the collar and slammed him against the wall. ¡°If you can¡¯t follow a simple order, I¡¯ll find someone else!¡±

    The other man pulled Charles free from Lord Strauss¡¯s grip. Charles could only stare at his employer. He wanted to blame it on the alcohol, but he knew better. Lord Strauss had been on edge ever since the incident with the wedding. He had become paranoid and lashed out over the simplest things.

    ¡°Lord Strauss, please, you¡¯ll awaken Lady Lilith,¡± Charles pleaded.

    ¡°Fuck her!¡± He staggered into the common room and collapsed on the sofa. ¡°That damn useless overgrown iguana! Of all the times to defy me, it had to be now?¡±

    ¡°Lord Strauss, what are you--¡± his words were cut short when his lord suddenly seized his clothes again and pulled him close.

    "They''re going to kill me when they find out I lost her. I should have had her chained and dragged back here!" He released the butler and put his face in his hands. "I let my anger get the better of me and made a rash decision. And now it''s going to cost me everything. She was so special. I would have had everyone in the palm of my hand had I not failed."

    Charles said nothing and started walking to go collect a blanket for Lord Strauss. It was better that Aeris hadn''t been brought back. He saw the defiance in her eyes, her dedication to escape. The last thing they needed was for her to develop a hatred toward humans.

    He didn¡¯t know how much Lord Strauss knew about the dragon that was once in his care, but he was quite lucky she never turned on him.

    ¡°It¡¯s not over,¡± Lord Strauss mumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll start again and show all of them.¡±

    Charles ignored the drunken mumbling and continued to fetch the blanket. Perhaps this was a sign. He would need to do better. Lord Strauss avoided a very dangerous situation. Charles knew he would need to make sure there would never be a next time.

    ****

    Janine trudged through the deep snow. Her lungs burned, her muscles ached, and her body was numb from cold. The blizzard had worsened in the last few minutes, going from a steady flurry to heavy downfall that blanketed the world beneath a hazy white curtain. The wind whipped the snowflakes around her, stinging her frozen cheeks and slicing through her clothes. But she was grateful for the miserable weather. It meant it would be harder for anyone to see her. Unfortunately, it went both ways. She could barely see past her nose in the blizzard.

    Finding Aeris was the only thought on Janine¡¯s mind. She knew she stood little chance of making a difference, but she remembered the day those two drakes harassed her at the restaurant. She remembered how Aeris came to her aid even knowing she stood little chance of surviving. The same Aeris who was willing to give up her eggs to save the poor human girl.

    Janine owed Aeris a debt she could never repay, but putting everything at risk to save the dragon who defended her was a start. So when hearing the booming shots of a rifle cut through the frozen air, she knew she had to help Aeris or die trying.

    She just prayed she wasn¡¯t too late.

    Finding her way back to the place where Aeris had been surrounded by mercenaries had been the hardest part. The snow had mostly covered her footsteps, making retracing her steps difficult. Upon returning, the blood-trail left behind by Aeris was easy to follow. The lack of a body lifted Janine¡¯s hopes while also filling her with dread.

    Should she find Aeris, what then? She wasn''t a doctor and didn''t know where to find one or how to bring them here if she did.

    The boom of more shots being fired cut through the frozen air. Janine urged her legs to move faster. Her aches and numbness seemed forgotten.

    Aeris was surrounded by armed mercenaries. Even if she tried to help the dragon, it would do little good. She was armed with a single dagger and no training on how to use it properly. Killing even one trained, well-armed mercenary would be a feat.

    But she had to do something even if she could only provide a distraction. Janine steeled herself against the cold winds and urged her tired legs to wade through the deep snow that grew deeper by the second. She hoped to find Aeris and get to shelter to wait out the storm before she froze to death.

    When she finally saw the dull outline of the warehouses, she heard four shots in quick succession. For some reason, hearing it made Janine''s breath catch in her throat. She swallowed her fear and continued.

    Janine¡¯s older footsteps had been completely buried by the time she returned to the circle of buildings where Aeris had been cornered. There was a fresh set of footprints left by several people in a hurry. The footprints were human, but there were dragon prints among them. The falling snow had not yet filled in the deep prints. Next to the dragon prints was a trail of fresh blood easily visible in white snow.

    Janine drew her dagger and followed the blood. There were no bodies which was a good sign. It meant Aeris got away.

    Thanks to the footprints, it was much easier to walk through the snow. Every time Janine turned a corner, she dreaded seeing Aeris''s lifeless body lying bloody in the snow, running into a group of mercenaries searching for their quarry, or both. It had gotten quiet since Janine returned to the site and she had to rely solely on her instincts to guide her through the blizzard.

    Suddenly, the blood trail and the dragon footprints ended. Janine noticed there wasn¡¯t a large pool of blood or any signs of something heavy being dragged away. Aeris wasn¡¯t killed here, but where did she go? Janine looked around for any sign to indicate where her friend could have gone. She eventually noticed a trail of blood leading up the wall to a large hole in the nearby building. She followed the human footprints, believing it would lead her to a way inside. Once she rounded the corner, she found the building¡¯s door had been broken down.

    A small blanket of warmth fell over Janine as she stepped inside. It wasn¡¯t true warmth to stave off the cold, but it shielded her from the wind and snow at least. She kept a tight grip on her dagger and tried to move as quietly as possible. Beads of sweat formed on her brow while she shivered. She heard nothing, but there could still be mercenaries lurking inside. The men who had come through before left prints from their snow-covered boots on the floor. Janine followed the trail up the stairs.

    She followed the trail to a large floor covered in debris. Two large holes decorated the side and opposite walls letting in the cold winds and covering the floor in snow and ice. Unmistakable on the ice was more blood. Janine followed the blood to the far side of the room near the large hole in the wall. She peered cautiously over the edge to the alley below. There was no sign of a body.

    Janine fell back from the hole with a sigh of relief. Aeris was still alive, but where was she? Janine hadn¡¯t heard any more shots since she got back, and it worried her. Either Aeris had lost her pursuers, or they had caught her, the latter leaving a grim image in Janine¡¯s mind.

    She forced the image away and looked for a clue to indicate which direction Aeris fled next. The alley was too small to fly and if she were injured, it didn''t make much sense for Aeris to jump. Her eyes settled on the hole in the building wall directly across the alley. Aeris must have jumped to the other side.

    Janine made her way downstairs, her chest tightening from anxiety. She was so focused on finding Aeris, she never considered what to do when she found her. If Aeris were surrounded by mercenaries, what then? What if Aeris was too injured to move? Janine''s thoughts made her increase her pace. She would worry about that if it came to it. For now, finding Aeris was all that mattered.

    The moment she stepped outside, the wind nipped at her exposed face freezing the sweat in place. Janine continued, shivering worse than before. She watched the snow for more prints, hoping they would lead to a way inside.

    The wind worsened, making Janine stop in her tracks to steady herself and brace against the new wave of ice being blown in her face. It wasn¡¯t a good sign. If it continued like this, she would have no choice but to find shelter and wait it out. She continued, holding a hand over eyes to shield from the worst of the wind.

    She tripped and fell into the snow with a loud cry. Ice and snow filled her clothes, making her scream again from the shock of the coldness against her skin. She quickly jumped to her feet and checked the ground to see what she tripped on.

    Barely distinguishable in the swirling snow was what looked like a dragon¡¯s tail.

    Janine jumped to her feet and began digging to unearth the tail. The tail was covered in celeste scales and droplets of blood. Janine dug more frantically now, trying to get to Aeris¡¯s head as quickly as possible. She swept the snow off Aeris¡¯s body and gasped in horror, a new chill running through her that seeped into her bones.

    Aeris''s body was red with blood, darkest in places where she had been shot. The snow had entered some of the bullet holes.

    Janine began digging furiously, trying to find the satchel containing the eggs. She was dismayed to find the satchel empty.

    Janine unearthed Aeris''s head and cradled the dragon in her arms. The wind roaring around her sounded like a whisper. She no longer felt cold or tired from trudging through the snow. She didn''t care if she froze to death. She had failed.

    Janine thought she heard a groan. It was a small sound¡ªshe almost believed she had imagined it. She pressed an ear to Aeris¡¯s snout and listened. It was hard to tell over the roaring wind, but she was certain she heard Aeris¡¯s ragged breathing.

    Aeris was alive! Janine looked around, hoping to see someone just happening to walk by. Even without the impenetrable blanket of snow, she knew the snow was too deep for anyone to be traveling. She felt defeated. Aeris was too heavy to carry indoors, and the dragon was in no shape to walk. Janine needed a way to get Aeris out of the cold and stop the bleeding.

    ¡°Just hold on,¡± Janine whispered. ¡°I¡¯ll go and find something.¡± She hated the idea of leaving Aeris alone, but she needed a way to get her indoors.

    As Janine made her way back to the warehouse to look for something to use, she heard the sound of footsteps crunching in the snow. Was someone out here after all? Janine moved toward the source of the sound, praying that it didn''t belong to one of Aaron''s mercenaries or Aaron himself. Part of her relished the idea of running into Aaron alone in the middle of a blizzard. But revenge would have to wait.

    Two shapes could be seen moving through the snow. One was human-shaped, the other could be a dragon or a horse¡ªit was hard to tell. Either way, Janine wasn''t sure if they were hostile.

    "I''m telling you, Terran, there''s no point in being out here," a voice said. It was a dragon''s voice. Janine had heard enough dragons to know the difference.

    ¡°You heard those shots, Maxis,¡± another voice replied. We need to make sure it won¡¯t come our way. Or they¡¯re not looking for us. Besides, someone called for help. Didn¡¯t you hear it?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything except a half-assed excuse why we should come out here and freeze to death.¡±

    Janine rushed out of her hiding spot in the direction of the voices. She waved her arms over her head and shouted over the howling wind, ¡°Hey! I need yer help! Please! My friend has been¡ª¡±

    A savage snarl cut through the air as one of the shapes flew toward her. Janine cried out and stumbled backward, falling on her back in the knee-deep snow. She flopped about in an attempt to get up, swinging the dagger with wild abandon to deter her attacker.

    A claw pinned her dagger-hand in the snow, and the head of a pitch-black dragon loomed over her. Its lips were pulled back as a low growl emanated from it. Janine had seen dragons with black scales, but she couldn''t remember what they were called. She struggled to free her arm. Her dagger was useless against a grown dragon, but if she could stab it in the eye, she could get away.

    ¡°Maxis! What have you got?¡± a deep male voice cried.

    Still keeping its yellow eyes on Janine, the dragon replied, ¡°It¡¯s a human girl. I think she¡¯s trying to set us up. I¡¯m gonna kill her so she can¡¯t alert her friends.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not!¡± Janine said quickly. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna hurt you. I just need help fer my friend! She¡¯s hurt an¡¯ bleedin bad, but I can¡¯t carry her myself.¡±

    The dragon, Maxis, didn¡¯t seem convinced. She heard footsteps crunching in the snow. A few moments later, a human appeared. He was a large man in both height and width suggesting he had the muscle of years from training. Janine¡¯s heart sank at the sight of the man. He had to be a mercenary, and the only ones she knew of in the area were under Aaron¡¯s employ.

    Janine didn¡¯t know what to do. Even if her hand were free, she was in a bad position to defend herself. Against a man that size and a grown dragon, she may as well try to change the weather.

    The man turned to the dragon. ¡°Let her up.¡±

    ¡°You sure?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to argue, Maxis,¡± the man said irritably. ¡°Let the girl up. It¡¯s freezing out here.¡±

    The dragon grumbled, but let Janine stand. She quickly stood and put the dagger away.

    ¡°Please help my friend,¡± she pleaded.

    ¡°Okay, where is your friend?¡± the man asked.

    Janine led them to where Aeris lay. She knelt next to the dragon and checked her breathing. Aeris was still breathing, but it was shallow. She turned to the man, silently begging for his help.

    Maxis took one look at Aeris and snorted. ¡°She¡¯s as good as dead already.¡± He turned to the man. ¡°Terran, please tell me we aren¡¯t wasting time on this.¡±

    Terran didn¡¯t say anything as he stared at Aeris with wonder. Janine could see the man had questions and was likely wondering why a young woman like her was traveling with a dragon in a blizzard.

    Finally, Terran spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s get these two someplace warm. Then you¡¯ll need to get Sasha to help the dragon.¡±

    Maxis grumbled but lowered himself so Aeris could be placed on his back. It took some maneuvering, but Terran was able to secure Aeris so she wouldn''t fall off. He then scooped Janine up in his arms.

    ¡°Sorry about this, but we need to move quickly. Our place isn¡¯t far,¡± Terran said.

    Janine didn¡¯t argue. Now that Aeris was getting help, she had become aware of the strain she put on her body. She could no longer feel her fingers, toes, or face. Her arms and legs moved sluggishly like moving through water.

    She craned her neck to look at Aeris. If Aeris did survive, it would be difficult explaining her eggs were gone. Hopefully, Janine could help Aeris move on and repay at least a small part of her debt.

    Janine shook her head. No, she wasn¡¯t doing this to repay her debt. She wanted to save Aeris because they were friends.

    She just hoped Aeris wasn¡¯t beyond saving.

    The story will continue with Book 2: Rebirth