by K W Quinn
“How was your training?” she asked, bringing him back to the conversation.
Cass rocked back on his heels. Everything was different now, on levels he probably hadn’t even thought about yet. “Good. I can feel Water now.”
“That’s great.”
“Should we talk?” he asked. Questions and anger rattled in his brain, but it was all distant and fuzzy. He’d used so much magic that lifting his arms was too much work.
“Yeah. I’ll give you the scoop from Charly, and you can fill me in from Amel?”
“Oh. Yeah, that. Of course. Sounds great.” Cass had hoped for something more personal, but he didn’t want to push. “Living room?”
“How about somewhere more private? Just in case.” She sounded timid, and her eyes darted around the hall.
“Right. Of course. Just in case. Charly said he put my suitcase in the last bedroom on the right.” They both turned to walk down the hallway and bumped shoulders.
“Sorry,” Reyah mumbled.
“No, I’m sorry. You first.”
“Thank you.”
Cass held the door open for Reyah, and she walked into the bedroom and stood awkwardly to one side of the bed.
“Should we sit?” Cass asked.
Reyah nodded and perched on the edge of the bed, tucking her hands beneath her thighs. “So, um. About the soul thing.”
Cass sat next to her on the bed, gently bumping his shoulder against hers. “Yeah. About that. Amel says I have your soul now, and you have mine?”
“Essentially, yes. It’s not a full exchange. Your soul didn’t actually leave your body, which is how you’re still you.” Reyah sighed and shook her head. “But in the practical sense, metaphysically, you offered your soul, and my soul accepted it, so we switched. Blended? Charly explained some more details, but it was mostly technical stuff. Magic things. Not relevant.”
“What is relevant? What does any of that mean?” Cass’s hands flapped about as he tried to make sense of it.
“We’re soulmates,” Reyah said, looking up at him through her lashes.
“Like, destined to be together, true love’s kiss, happily ever after?” Cass asked. He couldn’t help smiling because it all sounded so sweet and nice, but nothing about this experience seemed sweet and nice. Except maybe the kissing. “But we kissed before.”
“I don’t know that kissing as a dare counts,” Reyah said with a huff. “Plus, I don’t think it has anything to do with our faces. It was the emotional part.” Was she blushing or was the slight purple tint to her cheeks a trick of the light?
“And the rest of it? Destiny, true love, together forever?” He waggled his eyebrows hopefully.
“Well, destined to be together, yes.” Her eyes flicked over his face but then darted away. “I don’t know how or what it means, and I have no idea about happily ever after. For now, you’re gaining some of my strength, and it’s helping you access your Water talents.”
“What do you get out of it?”
“Easier access to my dragon magic and a kind of empathetic kickback? So now not only can I hear your dreams, I can also—”
“Hear my what?” Cass blurted. He quickly ran through a list of recent dreams for anything he could remember. Were any of the incriminating ones actual sleep dreams or just daydreams?
“I could hear your dreams. Before. When I was tracking you as a target. I couldn’t see them, but I could hear sounds and some general feelings. You dream about your mom’s cooking a lot,” she said with a smile.
Cass chuckled. Her nose was so cute, wrinkling up as she grinned. His eyes caught on that one tiny scale under her bottom lip, that one he wanted to touch. Right now. With his lips.
“Good to know,” he said instead. “I’m sorry I interrupted.”
“I shouldn’t have dropped that on you. But yeah. Hearing dreams. Now I can also, like, feel your emotional state when you’re awake.” She ducked her chin and chewed on her bottom lip. “Sorry if it’s too intrusive. I don’t know how to turn any of this off.”
Cass reached for her hand, pulling it toward him and lacing their fingers together.
“Reyah,” he began and then stopped. There weren’t words for what he wanted to say, but he had to try. “First of all, I’m not exactly difficult to read, so I’m not too worried about that.”
She chuckled deep in her throat and rolled her eyes.
“But also, I’ve wanted to share everything with you for a while now. I wanted to spill my guts and tell you everything.” His heart was thumping in his chest.
“It’s going to take some time to figure out what all these feelings mean. Like learning a foreign language. I think you’re sincere right now, though. It feels sincere.” She squeezed his fingers gently.
“See, you’re a fast learner.”
“Have to be in my line of work,” she said, holding his gaze. It was an invitation. He should ask. He should, but he didn’t want to spoil the moment.
“I have a silly question.” Cass rubbed his thumb along the scales on her hands. She didn’t answer but arched one dark eyebrow at him. “Would you maybe . . .” He swallowed loudly, licked his lips, and examined the ceiling. “Would you take—”
“If you’re about to ask me to get naked and look at my scales, you’re going to have to wait a bit, lover boy,” she cut in, but she was still smiling wider than before.
“Ah, no. Not that the thought hasn’t crossed my mind more than a few times. I was gonna ask you to take your hair down. I’ve never seen it out of the braid, and I kinda want to run my fingers through it.”
She looked down at her hair, resting in her hands.
“If it’s all right,” he finished.
She dropped her braid, and his heart fell. “Show or tell?” she asked, a teasing curl of heat in her voice.
Cass swallowed and hoped her interpretation of his emotions wasn’t too fluent yet.
Bests
“Hey,” Reyah said, leaning her head into Andy’s room. “Got a minute?” She scrunched her nose and smiled with her slightly too-big front teeth, giving her that bunny look that Cass was always going on about.
Andy nodded, unfolding himself from the chair. He laid his book down and stepped into the hallway. Hidden Histories would have to wait.
“Take a walk with me?” Reyah asked.
“Are you gonna murder me in the woods?” Andy asked, squinting one eye at her.
“Don’t ruin the surprise,” she said with an eye roll.
“Oh, of course not. Just wanted to make sure I was dressed appropriately.”
Reyah gave him a quick once-over. “Should be fine.”
“Very encouraging,” Andy grumbled. “Lead the way, blue lady.”
Outside the house, Reyah deflated a little. They walked the well-worn path down around the lake. Andy was content to enjoy the crisp autumn air and wait for whatever it was that Reyah had to say. Soon, it would start snowing. He wanted to soak up as much green as he could.
“I hope,” she started. Then stopped. She shook her head and rubbed her nose with the heel of her hand. “I think that maybe . . . I don’t want you to think . . . I’m not trying to . . . this is awkward.”
“I’m glad you finished one of those sentences,” he said with a smile.
“Do you hate me?” she asked finally. Her hands were stuffed deep in the pockets of her hoodie, but she was holding his gaze. She was a special kind of fearless.
He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. It was an honest question. He wasn’t her biggest fan, but everyone said she was necessary. “No more than bananas,” he answered.
“What do you have against bananas? They’re a great source of potassium.” Reyah wrinkled her nose.
“So are sweet potatoes and watermelon. Year-round nutrition without finicky yellow fruit.”
“Finicky? They’re so durable.”
“But they’re only good for approximately six hours, and then they get all spotty and gross.” Andy waved his hands. T
here were not enough words to describe bananas. Or his feelings. Bananas were easier.
“They’re not good until they get freckled. That’s when they get sweet. You’ve been doing bananas all wrong.”
“I don’t eat rotten fruit,” he said with a shrug. She was so much like Cass.
Reyah fell silent for a few more steps. “No more than bananas?”
“Maybe less than bananas.”
“I’m touched.”
Andy had to smile at her calm acceptance. “Possibly less than olives.”
Reyah shook her head. “I can’t decide if I should always be around when you’re eating so I can get all the good stuff or if I should never go out to eat with you because you wouldn’t order anything good anyway.”
“Well, I figure we have plenty of time to work it out. You have a couple of hundred years left to live, and I don’t think Cass is gonna leave your side until he stops breathing.” Andy watched Reyah stop in her tracks.
“And that doesn’t make you hate me more than bananas?”
Andy shrugged. “You don’t totally suck.” She laughed, and he squinted at her, trying not to smile. “You’re strong and smart and kind and funny, and Cass loves you.”
She caught her lip between her teeth, tucking her chin into her chest.
“Other than lying about your actual motives and trying to kinda kill him, which was extra flaming awful, you have been fun to have around.”
“Yeah, other than that,” she scoffed.
“I’m still upset, but I actually like you. Not as much as Cass, obviously.”
“It is obvious that you don’t like me as much as Cass,” she conceded.
“No, I meant . . . well, yes. I like Cass more than you. And I like you less than Cass likes you, because I have no desire to get all up in your scales. But also, Cass likes you more than me.”
“He doesn’t.” She uncurled her shoulders a little to look him in the eye. “You’re the most important person in the world to him. He sold his soul for you.”
“And he gave his soul to you.”
“I’m not sure the distinction matters,” she started to argue, but Andy stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“But that’s not what I’m getting at. I don’t like you as much as Cass likes you, but I still like you a lot. In fact, I think I might like you more than mini marshmallows.”
“Oh. Wow. That’s a lot. Thank you. I’m flattered, really.” Reyah rolled her eyes, pressing a hand to her heart. This was the woman he remembered.
“Don’t get too flattered. I didn’t say jumbo marshmallows. Just the little ones.” Andy held up his fingers to show the size.
“Right. Got it.” Reyah nodded. “Somewhere between olives and jumbo marshmallows.”
Andy nodded and smiled, walking backward. “Yep.”
She smiled, too, following him. “Glad we cleared that up.”
“Great, now I can get back to learning all the things they didn’t teach us in school.” Andy was surprised at his own enthusiasm.
“We should compare notes. I’ll bet my school was different from yours.”
“Sure. I’ll teach you basic algebra, and you can teach me how to use a garrote?”
Reyah nodded, and Andy’s smile faltered. He’d actually been joking, but now he had way more questions.
The library was fascinating. Andy read up on the histories of the Elements, learning more about Fire than his dad had ever bothered to tell him. Fire was more than strength and domination. It was also the nurturing role of Light and the refining and shaping uses of the Element. Who knew that pride in his talent would come from a pile of books?
Cass had two talents now and a soulmate. Art was training them both from a pile of Amel’s notes. Dez and the witches were out telling the world that the Mistwalker was real. What did Andy have but time? And freedom.
It was refreshing to set his own schedule, and he avoided the third-wheel feeling of watching Reyah watch Cass train.
He did a little dancing, but it made him miss Dez. Even if she wasn’t his soulmate, it was nice to have another wheel around to balance out the Chosen One and his Dragon.
He read, and he took naps in the sunroom. He couldn’t stay cooped up inside, though.
While Cass trained, he took hikes and ran around the lake. He was sitting on a log, watching the gentle waves of the lake darken the stones when he saw her, blue and determined, running straight for him, black braid trailing behind.
He thought it was Reyah at first, but Reyah was with Cass, who was trying to make and control hail or something. He stood, not sure if he should greet her or stop her. She stared him down as she got close, and Andy braced himself for a fight he knew he couldn’t win.
“Come on, the real action is up there, and you’re missing out.” She raced by. Andy blinked twice before turning and following her.
“Are you a friend of Art?” he asked.
She shook her head without losing her stride. She took each turn of the path with a familiarity that seemed to contradict her denial.
The front door opened, and Art stepped out onto the porch. He was dressed in blue plaid today, and his beard looked spiffy, almost like he was expecting company.
“You’re late,” he called. Andy opened his mouth to protest that he didn’t know there was anything to be late for, but she answered instead.
“Not late, just making an entrance,” she teased. She was barely winded. “I didn’t know you were waiting.”
“I’m always waiting for you,” Art said, tenderness in his gruff voice. She rushed up the steps and embraced Art on the porch. Andy turned away as they shared an overly intimate kiss for the outdoors. Was everyone getting their own dragon to make out with? Was there one for Andy out there?
“Come on, Andy,” Art said, moving toward the backyard. “Let’s make introductions all together.” He wrapped his arm around his not-friend’s waist, and Andy fell into step behind them.
Andy could hear Cass and Reyah before he could see them. They were singing a strange duet, some made-up song about their talents and the skills they were learning.
It was awkward and adorable, relying way too heavily on rhyming with “hail.” It was so very them. He turned the corner of the house. They were both balancing on one foot, holding hands in the grass. He couldn’t tell if they were trying to tip each other over or keep one another upright.
“Cass, come here. There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Art called out.
“Doryu?” the woman called. Reyah turned and froze. “Doryu, that is you.”
The woman moved forward, but Reyah moved back.
Art stepped forward. “Cass, this is Lerae.”
“Lerae. Pleased to meet you,” Cass said, extending his hand, but her eyes were fixed on Reyah.
“Please. Doryu?” she pleaded.
“It’s Reyah,” she replied. Andy stared at the two women. He didn’t think he’d ever meet one dragonkin, let alone two. They looked so similar they could be sisters.
“Reyah is your family name. It means victorious. But I named you Doryu, one who understands the way of the dragon.”
Andy and Cass stared at each other in confusion.
“Is that a joke? Because I understand nothing. I had nothing to learn because there was no one to teach me. You left me in a basket with a bunch of mercenaries.”
“I left you with the most capable teacher I knew. I left you where I thought you would be safe and cared for.”
“But you left me.”
Art stepped toward Cass. “Gentlemen, let’s go prepare dinner and give the ladies some space.” Cass and Andy nodded, heading inside silently.
Mother
Reyah stared hard at her mother. With the way dragonkin aged, it wasn’t surprising that she didn’t look that much older than Reyah herself. Her skin was a deeper shade of blue, almost indigo in places, but her features were familiar. The same tilted eyes, bold eyebrows, ridged ears, slightly snubbed nose.
Staring int
o a version of her face worn by a stranger made her skin crawl. Reyah had never thought she would actually meet her elusive mother. Tarone had said she was a drifter.
“Why are you here?” Reyah asked. It was only the first in a long list of questions she had.
“I came to see Art. What are you doing here?”
“He didn’t tell you I was here?” Reyah’s face twisted in disbelief.
“I heard that the Mistwalker was finally here, and I came to see how I could help.” Lerae lifted a hand, gesturing limply. “I didn’t actually talk to Art until I got here. I just came. It’s like that with us. I come and go.” She shook her head. “I’m glad to see you, just surprised.”
“Glad to see me? What a charming thought for meeting your child for the first time,” Reyah scoffed.
“Well, I’ve checked up on you now and then. And I sent letters. Didn’t you get my letters?”
“Your money wasn’t necessary.” The words felt like acid in her mouth.
“I am grateful Tarone was able to provide so well for you.” Lerae’s words were clipped. Reyah watched the tension in her hands and shoulders, bitter but grateful this was uncomfortable for both of them. “I always hoped to meet you someday.”
Lerae tugged on her braid, and Reyah felt her stomach clench. How much of herself was from this woman? How much was she her own?
“Really?” Reyah snorted. “Then why have you never stuck around to actually meet me?” Her own voice was shrill and getting louder.
“I was waiting for the right time!” Lerae hollered.
“I could have used another dragonkin. I could have used a mother.” Anger came easily, and if anyone could take the full force of her feelings, it was another dragonkin. It felt strangely freeing to know she didn’t have to hold back for once.
“Because I knew you were better off without me. I’m not a mother. I only gave birth. I gave you what I thought was best. Much better than being with me.” Her mother pressed a hand to her chest. Reyah noticed that her mother’s talons weren’t quite as blunted as her own.