Danil’s Mate(69)

“Not so you could take me around to any old place. I mean so that I could learn what it feels like to fly.”

Zara smiled. “Flying is really great, but Lucy, it’s not worth the risk. Saddle or not, my scales would absolutely flay you alive if you slipped against them.”

“I know, I know,” Lucy pouted. “They’re sharp.” She’d had the exact same conversation with Amos and he’d reacted the same way. First in outrage at the indignity of a human riding him, and then in horror at imagining what his dragon form would do to her fragile human body.

“Maybe you could ask Amos,” Zara said, somewhat nervously. “I’ll bet he’d let you.”

“Why do you say that?” Lucy asked stiffly.

“Because he would do anything for you.”

Lucy stayed quiet, totally unsure of what to say. She was pretty sure that Zara would never rat her out. But Amos’s life hung in the balance. Pretty sure was not good enough.

“I would never tell anyone, Lucy.” Zara whispered, her eyes serious.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Zara.” Lucy kept her eyes on the sky above her.

“He’s a good man, Lucy. I’ve known him my whole life. He’s gonna get you out of here. I just know it. I just wish I could come with you.” Zara’s voice was almost a whisper at the end.

Lucy’s heart broke cleanly in two and she gripped Zara’s hand.

“Couldn’t you?” Lucy knew she was blowing her cover, but the weight of Zara’s situation fell on her all at once. This poor girl was just waiting, ticking away the days until she became old enough for the King to consummate.

Zara’s eyes were sad as she shook her head. “I can’t go through the portal until I’m 20. The portal only allows dragon shifters in their human forms to go through in either direction. So I wouldn’t make it.”

Lucy cocked her head to one side. “But you’re in your human form right now.”

Zara blushed and shook her head. “Not everywhere.”

“Um. What?” Lucy was more confused than ever.

Zara blushed even further. “Dragon girls keep scales… down there. Until they are about 20, when they disappear on their own. It’s to keep men away from us. To keep us from procreating while we’re too young to be mothers. But it also means we’re in a constant state of half shift. And can’t go through the portal.”

Lucy tried to school her face into a reasonable expression, to not make Zara feel bad. But whoa. “Scales on your hoo-ha, huh? Welp, that’ll definitely keep your virginity intact.”

Zara burst into giggles and Lucy followed, relieved she hadn’t offended her.

“I’ll miss you, Lucy,” Zara said, her eyes sad again.

Lucy just gripped her hand, her brain churning a mile a minute. They stayed like that for a long time until the afternoon light lengthened across the roof. Neither of them wanted their King-less Sunday to end, but they knew it was time to head back to their separate chambers. Lucy felt even more reluctant than usual to let Zara out of her sight. She was just so young and sweet.

Zara needed somebody to look after her. And that night as she brushed her hair, Lucy decided that she was the perfect person to do that. She took a deep breath and knew what she needed to do. Amos was not going to like this. Lucy heard the door to her chamber slide open and knew Amos was there. She paused in brushing her hair and held up a hand to stop him as he slid down to give her a kiss.

“I want to stay in the realm for four more years,” she said.

Amos stepped back as if she’d slapped him. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t want to leave until we can take Zara with us.”

Understanding lit his eyes. “And she can’t go through the portal until she’s twenty.”

Lucy nodded. “So if we make just a few minor tweaks to our plan-,” she started.

“Minor tweaks! Hatchling, four additional years are not minor tweaks to the plan.”

“Well, why don’t we go hide someplace in the Kingdom for four years?” She threw her arms out wide. “It’s a big place, we can find someplace where the King won’t be able to find us.”

Amos pinched the bridge of his nose. “Hatchling, do you understand the resources the King has at his disposal? He has an Oracle for god sakes. And a 15,000 man army that’s ready to march tomorrow. He’s the most powerful being in the dragon realm. There is no hiding from him.”

“Ok, fine. If we can’t hide from him in the dragon realm somewhere, then we stay here. In the castle, and just tough it out for four years.” She turned back to face the mirror and brush her hair, unwilling to look at his face as she said those words.