Chapter 9 - First Change
Elara grew in Mara’s arms.
Not slowly.
Not naturally.
One second she was a newborn.
The next, her limbs lengthened, scales racing across her skin like spilled ink.
Mara fell to her knees with her.
“Help her!”
Brin held everyone back.
“No one touch her!”
Elara’s cry became a roar.
Her wedding-blanket tore apart.
Wings burst open.
For one impossible moment, Mara was holding a dragon the size of a hound.
Then the creature collapsed.
Light flashed.
And a baby girl lay naked in Mara’s lap.
Human.
Completely human.
No scales.
No wings.
Mara stared.
Elara blinked up at her and yawned.
Rowan whispered, “Gods.”
Brin laughed in disbelief.
“She can shift already.”
“Is that bad?” Mara demanded.
“You ask that a lot.”
“Because everyone keeps giving me reasons.”
Brin touched Elara’s forehead.
“The first change usually happens at twelve or thirteen.”
“She’s one day old.”
“Yes.”
Mara closed her eyes. “So bad.”
“Very.”
A horn sounded from the ridge.
Tessa’s scouts returned dragging a wounded man.
He wore palace colors.
Rowan recognized him. “Garrick.”
The soldier collapsed at his feet.
“My king.”
“What happened?”
“Queen Isolde opened the lower vault.”
Rowan’s face drained.
“What lower vault?”
“The one beneath the old throne room.”
Brin swore.
Mara looked at him. “You know it?”
“There are two seals on the dragon king’s prison. One is blood.”
“And the other?”
“A crown.”
Rowan touched his head instinctively.
He had left without one.
Garrick shook his head.
“Not your crown, sire. The first crown. The iron crown.”
Brin backed away.
“That was destroyed.”
“No,” Garrick gasped. “Your mother had it.”
Mara felt every piece click into place.
Isolde had not merely wanted Elara dead.
She wanted control of whatever lay beneath the palace.
“Why?” Mara asked.
Garrick looked at Rowan.
“Because she thinks the dragon king can make her immortal.”
Thunder rolled over the ravine.
Except the sky was clear.
Far to the south, a column of black fire rose above the capital.
Brin stared at it.
“No.”
Rowan grabbed him. “What?”
Brin’s voice dropped.
“She broke the crown seal.”
Elara’s eyes snapped open.
And from the distant city, the dragon king called her name.
May you like
Not “daughter” this time.
“Elara.”
