Chained to old wounds

CH 65

I nodded. “They’re quite cheap here. A bit of rock and magic. I–”

Kai let out a

loud

A particularly large firework exploded in the sky, revealing the silhouette of a phoenix, followed by that of a dragon. The two creatures seemed to dance in the night sky, entwining like two lovers. I smiled. I remembered the first time I’d seen that firework as a child.

I remembered how petulant Keiji grew at the sight of it, resentful. I could not think of a time in which Keiji had not been resentful toward me.

Kai turned to me. “What are those?” he asked, his voice filled with wonder.

I frowned. “You’ve never seen a depiction of a dragon or a phoenix?”

or what they are?

He shook his head. “Is that what they

“Yes,” I said slowly, trying to keep my voice level as the curiosity and dread started to take over. Where had he been living that he had never seen such a thing? The images of them were spread throughout the kingdom.

Do you know much about what it means to be a dragon?”

He blinked and flushed, shaking his head.

“Come here.”

He shifted toward me, and I lifted him onto my lap, looking down into his eyes. I didn’t remember how young I was when I grew my first set of scales.

I offered him my hand and pulled up my sleeve so he could see the trail of scales down my arm, they were faint, barely risen, and uncolored but he gasped.

“Am I going to have scales like that when I get older?”

Yes, though what color they’ll be is anyone’s guess. These are new scales. As you get older, you’ll get more.”

| cleared my throat. “Every dragon of the royal line has a companion, someone who brings balance and harmony to their life, but the truth is that every dragon has a companion somewhere, a phoenix, of noble standing or not..

“There are commoner dragons?” He asked.

“Yes,” I forced a smile. Had he never met a commoner dragon? That narrowed down where in the kingdom he might have been living. “A dragon’s companion is often referred to as a phoenix, due to our origins, but there is a difference between a true phoenix and a dragon’s companion”

He looked between me and Morgan. Like you and Lady Morgan?”

I nodded, my heart swelling with pride.

“What about Lady Ari?” He frowned. “Father calls Ari his phoenix…

I glanced at Morgan who had the slightest tilt to her lips. A shy, cunning smirk I wanted to kiss

“Morgan is my wife, yes, and my phoenix, but she is a true phoenix.

He frowned. “How do you know the difference?!

Morgan went through the Trial of Fire Only true ph

phoenixes can survive it.”

He winced. “Then, Lady An definitely isn’t a real penis. She gets burned all the time with Father’s lamps. She tried a lot of times.”

I tried not to laugh, but Morgan had no such qualms,

It’s okay. I post hope Father finds a phuer

a phoenix more like Lady Morgan,” he said, leaning into my arms.

To your father nice? Tasked

CH65

“No,” he said softly. “But… he talks to me sometimes

Sometimes?

“Do you see him often?” I asked.

“Sometimes.” He sighed, dozing off, “But I don’t think he likes me… It’s never fun.”

I stroked his hair. Im sorry to hear that.”

“It’s okay,” he murmured. “He only hits me sometimes.”

I went still. Morgan looked furious. Light danced in her eyes, but I wasn’t sure if it was from the fireworks or from the fire of the phoenix within her. Either way, it excited me. I leaned over and kissed her soundly, savoring the taste of her lips and the sweetness of the candy still lingering on her tongue. A soft moan escaped her, urging me on. Kai was already fast asleep in my arms, clearly tired from everything that had happened.

When I pulled back, her eyes widened, and she turned bright red.

“You’re so lovely, Let’s head back