Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,2

while growing up. After Roland had become king, Drake had been there, part of the royal court, younger than Roland, but not by much. He’d admired the young king as a friend and a leader even back then. Drake suddenly realized he’d missed Roland’s strong personality and the influence of his presence in the years he’d been gone.

“It’s good to be home, my liege.” Drake knew he had never spoken truer words.

A scuffle from behind caught all their attention as heavy, hurried, dragonish footsteps sounded through the large throne room. Drake’s back was to the doorway, but he knew the sound of those particular dragon feet. He’d grown up hearing them and would never forget the rhythmic click of this dragon’s claws on stone. A feeling of mixed dread and delight stirred in the pit of his stomach, and he steeled himself before turning to face his destiny.

“Drake!”

The feel of her voice in his mind caused Drake’s knees to weaken. It felt so good, so right. Drake had denied himself this feeling for far too long.

The peach-colored dragon approached him at full speed, her wings outstretched as she landed with a bounce in front of him. Without pause, she swept him into her wings and pulled him in against her smooth, scaled neck.

Jenet had grown since the last time he’d seen her. She was almost full size now, and so beautiful it made his heart ache.

“Sweetheart.” Drake hugged her close, allowing himself the luxury of burying his head against her sinuous neck for a short moment. Jenet had been born when Drake was very small, and they’d grown up together. They were closer than brother and sister. They loved each other deeply though they were of different species. “It’s good to see you again.”

Drake felt the tightness behind his eyes that he refused to humor. He had to keep firm control of his emotions here. He’d learned the hard way over the years he’d been gone to temper his feelings—for good or ill. His hot temper had cost him his family and home once before. He had learned a hard lesson then and had never let his emotions get the better of him again.

Jenet stepped back, her wings withdrawing as Drake stood facing her. Her fiery jewel eyes focused on him as she sent her thoughts out to all in the room. “I claim you, Drake, as my knight partner—”

But Drake cut her off. “We’ll have none of that, Jen. I told you before I left it’s just not meant to be. I’m no knight.”

Gasps sounded from all around, and Drake realized their audience had grown. He stepped back to see not only Roland and Nico, but his mother and her two mates, as well as their dragon partners had entered the room. They stood behind Jenet now, staring at him.

“Hello, Mother.”

Of all the family now gathered in the room, his mother had been the least to blame for the blowup that had caused him to leave. She had tears running down her beautiful, pale face, and Drake opened his arms as she ran to him, enveloping her in a huge hug.

She hadn’t changed much in the fifteen years since he’d stormed out of their home. Partnering with dragons expanded their humans’ lifespans by hundreds of years, but Drake had given all that up when he took to the road so many years ago. He knew his own face showed every moment of the time that had passed.

His mother clung to him, her pale blond hair glistening in the light from the overhead dome, vented to let out the dragon smoke. She was petite and seemed shorter than he remembered, but then he’d grown to his full size since leaving home as a teen. She wasn’t shorter—he was taller. The thought gave him pause. What else about him had changed? And would it be so easily seen?

“I’ve missed you so much, Drake. I’ve dreamed of the day you’d return.” His mother moved back, stroking his face with her delicate fingers. Drake loved his mother and had missed her, but he wouldn’t allow emotions to overrule his better sense again.

“I’ve missed you too.” Truer words had never been spoken.

A hard, masculine hand thumped his shoulder, and Drake looked up to find his dark-haired father smiling at him. His mother moved away so the two men could share a quick hug and handclasp.

“You look good, my boy. You’ve filled out and wear your years well.”

“Thanks, Ren. It’s good to see you again.”

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