Page 25 of Dragons & Dumplings
Hurt lanced through me like icy needles.
Yuri’s words and actions weren’t matching up. So which one was true?
Mikhail paused. “Her fleet? I have seen no other dragons here.”
“There’s a whole infestation of them living in Willowmere. Some of the blasted firewyrms must have made a pact with the vampires, as they often spend time in their castle, out in the woods. And I heard even more of them are coming in a few days’ time for their annual Harvest Feast.” Yuri’s tone was cool and even, as if he weren’t spouting a bunch of nonsense.
He knew I was the only fire drake in Willowmere at the moment. So why was he lying? Then again, where Mikhail had seemed eager to go after me before, now he seemed hesitant to attack an entire fleet with just himself and his little brother.
Was Yuri actually…trying to protect me?
But Mikhail lowered his fist, his slitted eyes appraising Yuri coldly. “So like the weakling you are, you decided to cozy up to one of their naive younglings, rather than fight the entire fleet?”
A muscle feathered in Yuri’s jaw, but he didn’t defend himself. Or me. “Even our fleet’s mightiest warriors would risk grave injury if they were to fight a fire drake fleetalone.”
“I suppose you have a point.” Mikhail crossed his arms over his chest, his claw-tipped fingers tapping a sharp rhythm against his thick leather jacket. “But how did you manage to win over one of the red-scaled lizards?”
“It wasn’t difficult. After all, firewyrms are simple, stupid creatures—just as Father, our Great Chief, taught us.” A shadow fell across his face, matching the one that fell across my heart.
My pain began morphing into a simmering rage. Howdarethey talk about me and my people like that! No wonder my parents risked everything to escape the two warring fleets.
“True,” Mikhail scoffed. “They’re known for their irrational emotions and tempers, not their brains, after all.”
“I imagine Father will be pleased to hear this news.” Yuri looked down, as if he were the opposite of pleased.
“Aboutthis,yes. But he is livid that you ran away—all to pursue such an inglorious career aswriting.”Mikhail raked his scathing gaze over his little brother. “Not that there’s much hope for you as arealwarrior, despite all the effort and training we’ve wasted on you.”
Yuri was on the run?
I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
“Even writing to better know the Great Glacius?”
Mikhail’s fist flashed out so quickly that Yuri couldn’t react in time. Mikhail hit him in the stomach, so hard that Yuri doubled over in pain. I could hear him struggling to breathe from my hiding spot, and had to resist the urge to go to him.
“Howdareyou talk back to me.” Mikhail’s voice was practically a growl. “It seems your time away from the fleet has made you forget your manners. Now apologize for the way you just spoke to me.”
I could practically hear Yuri grinding his teeth, but he gritted out, “I apologize for the way I just spoke to you, Elder Brother.”
“That didn’t sound very sincere to me.” His tone was angry, but there was a cruel smile on his face—as if he were enjoying watching his little brother in pain. As if he relished causing it. “You’ve left me no choice; I’ll have to beat the manners back into you until you remember your place.”
My hand flew to my mouth as I gasped in horror. Mikhail was a monster! If this was how his family treated him, no wonder Yuri had run away!
What if the reason Yuri had suddenly pulled away at the diner was because he had spotted his brother? What if he had been trying to spare me from Mikhail’s vitriol? From his violence?
He had seemed tense, but insisted on walking me home. But why? Why had Mikhail waited until Yuri was alone?
A series of thuds echoed through the late night air as Mikhail pummeled Yuri. I saw the glint of claws before blood sprayed onto the cobblestones.
His scales! Why weren’t his scales protecting him? Had he forgotten to form them even after that lecture he gave me?
“Your punches have gotten way weaker, Mikhail. They used to hurt a lot more than this,” Yuri wheezed, half-straightening to glare up at him. “Or maybe you’re just frightened a scary fire drake might hear and come looking?”
“Shut your filthy mouth!” Mikkhail slapped Yuri so hard that he staggered. Claw marks scored his cheek. “Clearly, you haven’t learned your lesson yet.”
Mikhail stepped back and transformed into his dragon form. Massive white wings unfurled from his back, and he grew in size until he was nearly as large as the surrounding houses. His tail was tipped with a bulbous club, and his scales glittered like ice under the light of the moon.
Yuri transformed as well. Where his brother was built like a tank, Yuri had the lean build of a lithe fighter. There was an elegant tilt to his neck, and to the wickedly curved dagger shape of his tail.
