Page 8 of The Dragon King's Awakening

"I've heard of that, but I don't know how it works.All I know is the dragons don't do that anymore."

"The Ultiori are gone now, so there is no need to limit our numbers and hide our young."The words taste bitter as I speak them, memories of my own hibernation rising unbidden."Any offspring he had would have been in the first generation of hibernating dragons.Every generation only allowed itself to live for five hundred years or so, reproducing in the first few decades, then sending their young to hibernate for five centuries while the elders did their best to survive the Ultiori scourge."

Rachel shifts against Zahraxis' chest, her aura flickering with growing understanding."Renounce their lives?"She glances at Zahraxis, who nods solemnly."You mean they'd commit suicide?"

The raw horror in her voice echoes my own childhood grief."The act allowed them to concentrate the power into a single generation, which made each generation the strongest it could be, giving it an advantage against our enemy.It also protected the youngest among us until we were old enough and resilient enough to hold our own against them."

Her aura pulses with empathy as she processes this."That's so sad.You only got to know your parents for how long?"

"Between ten and twenty years, give or take."I trace idle patterns on her back, drawing comfort from her warmth."I was one of the youngest in my generation, going into hibernation when I was only twelve years old.It was...the hardest thing I've ever had to do."The admission comes easier than expected, perhaps because of how our energies have mingled, creating something new and right between the three of us.

She reaches out to touch my face, stroking her fingertips down over my jaw.The tenderness in her touch makes my throat tight."You were just a baby, and your parents were gone when you ascended, weren't they?"

"They left me enough to be comfortable," I say with a shrug that doesn't fool either of them.Through our strengthening bond, I feel Zahraxis' surge of protective anger on my behalf.

He shifts beneath Rachel, reaching for my hand where it rests against her lower back.He squeezes with surprising gentleness, then speaks in halting English."Unfair to you and them.We must make right."

"The Ultiori are gone, friend," I remind him, though his concern warms something deep inside me.Our shared dominance has evolved into something more complex, more equal.

Zahraxis looks unconvinced, seeking confirmation from Rachel.She shrugs, her skin glowing with the residual magic of our joining."I don't know much, only that it's true.There was a war and everything, but I only heard about it all after the fact.Like, literally a few weeks ago, after I got to this island.I didn't know much about the higher races at all before I learned I was Bloodline."

He cocks his head at this, his calculating expression belying his apparent confusion.The Gold in him reads the truth in her aura even as he asks, "What is 'bloodline'?"His gaze flicks to me for explanation.

I start to answer, then stop, suddenly aware of how much there is to explain."It's a long story, brother."

"I am free.I have time," he says, pulling Rachel closer to press their foreheads together."Time enough for knowing my mate.If you are Bloodline, I will learn what Bloodline means."

I can't help but chuckle at his determination, even as duty tugs at me."I get it, she's a surprising blessing to find at the end of a feral rampage.But I have a duty to return you to the Court.I shouldn't waste time.Or your precious energy, for that matter."

"Isn't he better?He seems fine, after all this."Rachel waves at our naked bodies, still flushed and tangled together.Her aura pulses with contentment, and I have to admit, she has a point.The energy she's given us both has done wonders, especially for Zahraxis.

"As depleted as he was, it will take time for his reservoir to heal enough to hold power for long," I explain reluctantly."You gave more than enough to fill my well for a week, but his has shrunk over the centuries to the point he can only retain a thimbleful.We have a long journey ahead of us to reach the city where the Queen lives.She's waiting for us.The Court has magic strong enough to help nurse him back to full health, not to mention dragon law requires lost dragons go through a reintegration process if they've been out of touch for more than a few decades."

Her aura dims at this, and she stares down at the stone between us."You just got here," she says in a small voice that makes my chest ache.

Zahraxis tightens his arms around her and glares at me."Stop.You're making her sad."

She clears her throat, visibly gathering herself."You don't have to leave immediately.Look at him—he's clearly better than when you started fighting.The school has lodgings for the visiting instructors.It would be safe for him to stay there, regain some strength, learn about...everything."She gestures at the world around us, and I feel her hope rising.

I prop myself up on one elbow, torn between duty and desire."The queen?—"

"Will understand if you take a day or two to help him acclimate before dragging him into court politics."She lifts her chin in challenge, and damn, if it isn't adorable."And you can't tell me you've never bent the rules before."

I laugh, caught out by her perception."You've got me there.But?—"

"But nothing.I'm here.He clearly needs me.I feel it, and I bet you do too.You don't think we should be separated right after finding each other, do you?I'm your mate, aren't I?You wouldn't have landed on this island if you weren't meant to be here.I mean, maybe it's some other student who's meant to be yours, but I'm willing to bet it's me."

My tongue forks involuntarily at her words, anticipating the marking that will claim her as ours.She notices, her nipples tightening in response.

Zahraxis rumbles in agreement."We must stay.The queen can wait a day more.I can survive."

I shake my head, but there's no heat in it."You weren't exactly fending for yourself these past centuries, brother.You were a prisoner."

"Even more reason to let him rest," Rachel argues."And you look like you could use a rest too.How long have you been chasing him?"

"Two weeks," I admit, knowing I've lost this battle.

"Then you both must be exhausted.It's nice here, and the food is delicious.I'll bet between the three of us, we can convince April to let you stay in staff housing tonight.We can figure out the rest tomorrow."

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