[Carnelia] “I’m sure you know the official story, the one that the Imperium and our Father have been promoting. Ignore it. None of it is true, except for their attempt at complete genocide for no good reason other than their own greed.”  She brings over a small globe, a representation of our planet, and sets it down in front of us. “This is our world,” she gently spins the globe. “So large, so gloriously diverse. Like so many of us elemental masters, not just the dragons, but the Fae, the ogres…have you ever wondered why we are so different from all the other creatures on this planet? We share almost nothing with them, not in our true forms. Dragons are no more giant lizards than a dragon prince is a human man. We are completely alien.

[Carnelia]  “I’m getting married….to Primus!” “If we are going to do this,” Primus stands up straight, adjusting his clothing, and looks directly at Ona. “We’re going to do it properly without shortcuts. But we need to start immediately. We have just under 4 days until Segundus comes looking to see what we are up to. That isn’t a lot of time. I’m assuming you have a way to contact Mother,” “Several,” Ona confirms. “She can be here by tonight.” “Perfect,” they continue talking around me. I fe

[Ona] “So,” Orion raises one eyebrow, his expression so much like his father’s that it pierces me in the heart. “You are our mother?” We are sequestered in my private rooms, the rest of the family giving us space and time to “bond.” I’m not really comfortable around dragons this age, I never have been. I never expected to be a mother. And in many ways, I guess I’m not. What kind of mother abandons her clutch and doesn’t even return to name them? “Yes, biologically. I did lay you,” I admit. “I’m not sure if I deserve the title of ‘mother,’ that is for you to decide.” “Why did you leave us?” Ursa’s golden eyes glow brightly. “Didn’t you want us?” “I’ll be honest,” I look them both in the eyes. “I did not expect you. Once I learned I was carrying a clutch, I went to the celestial kingdom before your grandfather could catch a whiff of you. I knew that if he found out you existed, he would have had you killed as soon as you hatched.” I take a deep breath before continuing. “I am not sa

[Segundus] The room is dark, cold, and smelling faintly of blood. The early morning chill has yet to burn away as the sun begins to crest over the horizon, turning dew into frost. The cold gray stone of the high dragon court speaks to an older time when drakes didn’t feel such a human need for finery and light. This is a cavern of a room, more like a cave than a palace, dripping and moist, the only truly elegant thing is the throne of solid platinum and the bold dragon who sits upon it. Maximus, the Dragon King, Master of the 7 kingdoms of Luxandra, and Champion of the Sun Wars. My father. I have been waitin

[Carnelia] Our wedding will be at sunset but our final preparations began at dawn. These are done separately, surrounded by family, who will tell us all we need to know before entering this new stage in our relationship. I have no family, so I will have to borrow another. Primus will be spending the evening with Tritus and Ona. I will be spending the evening with Queen Cressida. My mind keeps wandering to the dream from the night before. As the dream faded further and further from my mind, the idea that it could be a memory becam