an's

y should have known better than to try to outsmart a dragon. We were clever creatures. I pretended to be dead at the precise moment, slumping to the floor dramatically and heaving a deep, "dying" breath. I was

to find another woman he could at least share a companionship with—since he would never love someone as deeply as my mother ever again—and birth another son that would hopefully, by some miracle, ca

of his mate and children. They killed him eventually, afte

limply in his chains. They boasted of their strength

you are strong? You shackled us! We were defenseless! You use

I staye

then skin us to keep as prizes. We were all in our dragon form, our most basic image, changed from our human f

ng

m. My vocabulary was reduced to simple commands. Bite. Tear. Rip.

d through the man's chest, the

e up my throat and out of my mouth. Th

, tearing into them like a starved

that harmed my family. I looked back at them, whimpering pitifully. My sister, so young and fragile. My moth

like my father. I would be stronger than that. I would protect my mate and our children. I would bu

hters. I would love and cherish each and every one of them, showing them how to defend themselves so that our race would be u

my family, carelessly sloshing through the ashes and blood of the others. The blood created a sticky ooze that

rown. I held it carefully, dusting it off with the soft pads of my fingers. It was gold and littered with jewels that possessed brilliant luster. Elaborately carved, legends say that the man who made it

ose shakily to place it on my head. It nest

agnificent castle, adequate for the royals of supernatural races. When they accepted the fact that they were being mercilessly hunted, they moved themselves into a cave buried deep in the mo

Of course, we were reptiles. We liked the ground too, but our wings yearned to be used, to glide through the crisp air without a care in the world. Since we

e ground. The scales that covered our bodies, although similar to a reptile's, glided through water as easily as a fish. Our wings allow

these qualities. If she was a mage or witch, she would be able t

mingle with other species. Our mates, although chosen for us, were always other dragons. My mate

he wreckage on the ground. I picked it up, an

about me

were black due to the shadows that constantly encased their bodies, even in the brightest light, and also their empty eye sockets when they became angry, le

bathed in days. My eyes, my characteristic trait, sparkled like bottled amber. My crown sat proudly atop my head, gleaming in the last bit of sunlight for al

ed strong, cruel men. I believed I had overheard that Jonathon and Felicia had birthed a son, Xavier, when I was a toddler. He would be the picturesque insurgent, most

t beating. I didn't bother trying to reset it. My body healed naturally, a

ders and wide chest coupled with my impressive height made my size

e reasoned, ever the voice of wisdom

e. She could be anywhere, though, and I

lliant idea. I would

s as her other than me. Second, I would give her my powers. She would be able to control all four of the elements as well as I could. If she grew up knowing of her abil

to change into their ancient form. The dragon was the very first supernatural creature, and th

t it right, my dragon supplied. I hissed eagerl

ures against hunters and enemy supernaturals. I would go there. She wouldn't understand what was happening to her, no matter her race, and would more than like

mate made me squish my natural pride down and ask for protection from the hunters until she arrived. I knew it's what my parents would expect me to do. I would prot

was no way she would ever lea

_________________

s think of your fir

ed for this story?

t me know how the beginnin

you g