had a soft look in his eye as he grasped Cameron’s hand, holding it on his thigh. The consort’s returning smile was just as tender.
“The old stories are true,” King Alric said, picking up the thread smoothly. “Dragons can mate only with mages. My dragons have been without even the possibility of finding the other half of their hearts for far too long. Centuries. With mages once again being discovered, our hope is restored. We’ve decided to step back out into the world, to reveal ourselves, so that other mages might know where to find us. So that we can once again live as we did.”
This time, Sora did whistle. “Wow. Talk about a public coming out.”
His mother smacked him on the arm. “You’re not funny.”
“I’m hilarious, and it’s true; they’re both coming out—as a mage and a dragon, respectively—and establishing themselves as a gay couple. All in one shot. Takes nerves, that.”
He looked sideways at his mother, who was sitting on the couch with him. She’d lost her formal clothes at some point, wearing joggers and an oversized sweater she’d probably snitched from his father’s wardrobe, but her makeup was still on, hair in a tidy bun at the top of her head. She looked aggravated with him, but that was likely more because of the huge step the dragon clans had just taken. She did not like surprises, and this one was enormous.
His father coughed slightly, then rumbled from the other side of the couch, “This does say something about how the world has changed. If both Fire and Ice Clans are willing to step back into the light, then things have changed a great deal. More than we had ever believed.”
“They’re revealing that all of the other mage clans still exist, too, Ryu!” his mother protested, high color spotting her cheeks.
Shaking his head, he disagreed with his wife. “No, Yuki, they’re saying that magic is still real. That dragons are. That mages are still out there. They’ve very carefully not said anything about magic clans. Which is wise of them. The modern world has forgotten a great deal of how the dragon and mage clans of old operated. I don’t think anyone will put that together quickly.”
That was likely true. Sora pondered it all for a moment, his eyes still on the screen. The dragon king and his consort looked happy but cautious, as if they were set on a certain script and not telling any more. The consort sidetracked a question with the story of how he was discovered, how the Fire Dragon Clan made him realize he was a mage. It was an interesting story and not at all an answer to what the journalist had asked him. Yes, they were being very careful with information right now. Sora approved of their caution.
His mother’s expression morphed from peeved to thoughtful. “I suppose this was inevitable. Modern times makes it so much more difficult to hide, what with cameras on every cell phone, and social media. It’s not at all like a hundred years ago. They’re wise to step out and say something on their own terms instead of being forced into the spotlight.”
“They are,” his father murmured. He lifted one hand into the air as if physically weighing a thought. “Although that leaves the question, do we introduce ourselves to them or not? I don’t know much about them, personally.”
Sora might have commented on his father’s caution except for a few facts.
Fact one: His parents were constantly riding him to get married. And he could really use a break from that.
Two: He was itching to go and investigate this himself. The power of curiosity compelled him.
And three: He loved traveling, and Germany sounded like an excellent place to go on a trip.
Now, how to say this so no one argued with him about it? Sora took a moment to phrase it in his head before speaking aloud. “I think, before we make any decisions, we need more information. Why don’t I pose as a single mage and meet them? Scout them out a bit?”
Both parents turned to look at him, his father with weighing eyes. His mother’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Why would you go?”
Sora had already anticipated his mother’s question and had a ready answer. “Because I’m more comfortable with overseas travel than anyone else, as I’ve done more of it. And you can trust my judgement, as I won’t get carried away.”
His father nodded slowly, his gaze back on the TV. “I do want