The next morning, I’m up early, feeling the cool breeze tickle my toes as I walk through the dew-kissed grass. The forest is bathed in the soft light of the morning sun, and a thin veil of fog is lifting. It’s the perfect time for an adventure.
“Luvenia…!”
Ethne’s voice rings out from behind me, making me cringe.
“Hold up! Aren’t you supposed to be leading us?”
I stop in my tracks, a wave of irritation washing over me as I turn to face Ethne and the group of fledglings trailing behind her.
“I’m practically moving at a snail’s pace. We’d get there faster if you…maybe…transformed?” I say, probably the most I’ll say to her all day.
Ethne shoots me a glare, looking disgusted as she turns to the other girls.
“Not today, Luv,” Ginette, the petite, fiery redhead of the group, explains. “We need to look our best—Thad and Sylvan will be watching. Any of us could be their mates.”
“Exactly, Luvenia. They need to find us at our most attractive. Lounging, eating berries, naked, and beautiful.”
Ethne flips her hair, her eyes closed as she gets lost in her own fantasy.
They’re all dressed in revealing, delicate outfits that are easy to tear. It’s all a facade.
These girls love to fly around and roughhouse, but the moment Thaddeus or Sylvan show up, they turn into submissive little kittens.
They’re all too eager to bend over backwards, sigh, and spread their legs.
I know that half of them have already slept with the princes.
Ethne isn’t one of them, which is why she’s the most desperate.
Ginette is the one I like the most. She’s more tomboyish than the rest. But when she wants to fit in, she pretends to go along with the other girls.
I just keep my distance from all of them.
They’re not bad fledglings, just…really, really annoying.
Staying away from them is the smart move. Whenever I’m near them, all the male attention shifts to me. My mother says I was born with an aura that draws men in.
The other female Dragons don’t appreciate losing the spotlight when I’m around.
All the more reason to keep to myself.
After about two hours of painfully slow walking, we finally reach our destination. I show them the fresh berries by the river and the smooth, flat rocks by the water.
It’s the perfect spot for the girls to stretch out and show off.
As soon as we get there, I slip away into the forest.
The only reason I hang around these girls is to keep my parents from worrying about me.
If they think I have company, they won’t worry about me exploring the forest alone.
The girls don’t even know I can transform, but today, I decide to stay in my human form.
It’s too risky to transform with Thaddeus and Sylvan likely still on the lookout for a small black Dragon. I don’t want them to connect the dots and discover my secret.
Last night was a close call. Too close for comfort.
A few minutes into my exploration of the nearby forest, a small blue bird swoops down and lands on my shoulder. It startles me, but I laugh when I realize it’s just Shai.
“How’s your day going, little Shai?” I ask the blue bird, knowing she’s not just any bird.
I know she can only answer questions, not ask them. She can’t speak unless spoken to. That’s because she’s actually a human who’s been cursed to live as a bird.
I just don’t know who did this to her—and she won’t tell me.
“Did you have your morning flight?” I ask, and she chirps before hopping onto my head to rest.
“You’re never going to let me live down that blush when you caught me relieving myself in the forest, are you?” I accuse her, and she chirps again.
“Want to come exploring with me?” I ask.
After a while, I can’t help but climb a tree closer to the berry bushes and the river to check on the girls.
I jump from branch to branch until I reach the very top, balancing precariously on the thin branches. I squat, finding a somewhat awkward but stable position.
Shai flutters down and perches on my right shoulder blade.
But I forget to ask when I spot two boys in leather pants emerging from the forest, a girl on each arm.
So they’ve been here already—for a while, it seems.
I’m not surprised.
I knew it. Deep down, I’ve always had a feeling about these two. I could sense it. And now I can see it.
“Assholes,” I mutter under my breath, not sure why seeing them flirt with other girls makes my stomach churn.
I feel like throwing up almost every time.
“I didn’t ask you a question,” I snap as a feather falls from one of her wings. She winces in pain. “Be careful. Are you okay now?”
Every time she speaks without being prompted, she somehow ends up getting hurt. So, she doesn't talk much.
I pick up the blue feather that's fallen from her and lift it to my hair.
“Can I?” I ask her.
My gaze lands on Ginette. She attempts to rise and walk towards them with grace, but she trips over a rock that's sticking out.
She falls to her knees, and Ethne starts laughing loudly, trying to catch the prince’s attention.
My anger starts to bubble up, and even Shai seems shocked, tweeting out a surprised gasp.
Thad moves to help her, but he's too late. She's already up, and she throws a punch at Ethne’s laughing face.
Ethne dodges at the last second and ends up tripping over the same rock.
Now, both princes are laughing at them instead of helping.
Suddenly, Shai flies off my shoulder and swoops down towards the princes. I hold my breath as she dives in fast and low, unsure of what she's planning…
I can't help but laugh when I see a drop of white goo land on Sylvan’s perfect midnight hair as she flies away.
The princes both glare after the bird, and flames shoot out towards Shai, almost catching her tail. I gasp as they nearly set her on fire, and I watch as she safely disappears into the trees.
A minute later, she flies back from the other direction to land on my shoulder, looking pleased with herself.
“You pooped on his hair? Crazy bird,” I whisper, feeling a strange sense of pride.
“I can't stand them, you know? All of them… Oh, great.” I squint at what I think I’m seeing.
Thaddeus is looking up—way up—as if he's glaring at a flock of birds.
Except his gaze is fixed on one bird.
A bluebird sitting on my shoulder.
Damn it, I didn't plan on running into the princes in the forest again. But they've found me. I got too close.
I’m already scrambling down the tree as fast as I can.
“Sorry, Shai, I’ve got to go.” I hit the ground running.
She swoops down with me and then perches on a branch, tweeting goodbye.
As I weave through the trees, trying to stay quiet, I listen for any signs of the princes.
I’m looking for peace—but I keep that thought to myself. I don’t respond to him. I just keep running towards home.
Eventually, I run out of breath and find a log to rest on. My stomach feels like it’s been flipped upside down.
I feel anxious, scared, angry. I feel…worked up.
Every time the princes are around, or I see them or sense their presence…this happens.
I feel shaken, confused, emotional.
More than I’ve ever felt in my life.
I’ve blocked Thaddeus and Sylvan out. The downside of refusing to let them contact me is that I also can't reach out to them.
I have no idea where they are or if they’re looking for me.
Once I’ve rested a bit, I continue on my way home.
I never see them.
But I know they’re following.
I feel jittery as I run.
I don’t like that they’re suddenly paying so much attention to me. The truth is, I…don’t want them to get to know me.
I’m not as cold or quiet as I let everyone believe.
Madeline.
Her passion is the same as mine, okay? I admit it. We both have the same temper, the same desire for independence.
I just can’t understand why Madeline lost hers.
And I’m scared that I’ll lose mine.
The princes unsettle me, and I’m determined to do everything in my power to keep them from seeing it.
