Chapter 29
A Test
Sinta
“I don’t understand.”
“You just need to touch or sniff the items. Maybe eat a few of them.” Yelana explains. “The literature wasn’t exactly clear. That happens sometimes when stuff gets translated form the Fae Tongue.”
“I’m not eating that.” I refuse and jab a finger at the jar containing swamp water, a toad, and some soggy dirt.
“You don’t have to eat that.” Imelda soothes, then glances at Yelana. “We think you don’t have to eat that?”
Yelana just shrugs and looks back down at the very vague instructions they printed from their database thingy, flipping through the pages. “Honestly, all it says is; ‘The uninitiated must immerse themselves in the habitat of each perspective breed…….. instinctual reactions will confirm the dragon’s origin’.”
“Origin?” I mutter.
“I can speculate, but some of these early scholars were big fans of herbalism – smoking it anyway – so there is every chance it is so vague because they were high.” Imelda admits.
The horrified look I give her says it all.
“Okay, let’s just start with touching and scenting. My dragon can’t stand me touching anything slimy, I literally jerk back from it. So, yours should react pretty much the same.” Yelana encourages, shooing me closer to the table laden with absolutely random shit.
Cringing, my fingers curling at the thought of touching any of this, I warily examine the collection.
Clumps of dirt in jars, sand, various weird-looking plants – both alive and dead – and a range of different stones varying from size and texture. Tree bark, metal ores, some fruits, bowls of ice, what I thought was salt water, some fresh water, root-looking things, gemstones.
Huge expensive gemstones.
“Where the hell did you guys get those?” I point at the rough blue and green chunks that were very obviously uncut gems.
“They’re mine. We’ll have to get you your own if you end up being a breed that needs them.” Imelda warns, this possessive glint in her eye before she shoves it aside and smiles.
Note to self – don’t fondle the gems for longer than necessary.
Clearing my throat, I step closer to the table and start to reach for one of the funny-looking plants.
“Wait!”
Jumping a mile high and yanking my hand back, I glare at Yelana as she rushes forward.
“Most of these plants are poisonous—”
“What?!”
“So don’t eat them. We brought wet wipes and sanitizer to make sure we get it all off of your hands. None of them will affect you just from touching, but don’t try to taste them.” She explains with a sheepish look.
I swap my glare to Imelda, who winces and looks away. “I was about to say something. She beat me to it.” The Princess mumbles.
Grumbling, glaring, I move away from all the plants and decide to start with something a lot safer. Like the rocks.
Picking each stone up one by one, weighing them in my hands, rubbing my fingers over them, I wait for some sort of reaction.
I don’t feel anything towards them, and my dragon doesn’t stir. No special interest, no magnetic attraction or need to possess.
Placing the last of the rocks down, I look at Yelana and shake my head with a shrug.
She grunts and picks up a clipboard, striking something out on the paper and then scribbling a few things down.
Moving onto the gemstones, I think they’re pretty and get distracted taking in the raw angles and the way the light plays on them.
But my dragon still doesn’t stir. She doesn’t even open an eye.
Placing down the two chunks, I shake my head again.
Lips pinching, Yelana and Imelda share a look, and Yelana scribbles something else on her clipboard.
Shuffling down the table, I reach out and place my hand in the tub of hot sand.
It's pleasant, the heat itself feels nice and soothing. My dragon huffs a sound, rolling in her slumber, but as I sift my hand through the sand, I realise I don’t like the texture. Too rough, and no moisture.
Pulling my hand out, I make a so/so gesture to Yelana.
Nodding, she jots down a note.
Examining the four different jars of dirt – two very obviously moist and the other two just dusty soil – I read the labels on the sides of the jars.
Warm Moisture, Cold Moisture, Dry Nutrient, and Garden Soil.
Sticking my hand in the Garden Soil, wiggling my fingers into it, I immediately don’t like how dry and littered it is – I could almost smell the recycled compost in it.
Yanking my hand out and shaking it, I signal no to Yelana.
She frowns and writes it down.
Trying the dry nutrient, it’s not just me that rejects it. My dragon roils with a decidedly disgusted thrash the minute it touches my fingers – a very firm no.
“Definitely not that one.” I confirm, trying to wipe it off my hand.
Imelda offers me a piece of paper towel which I gratefully accept, giving me a sympathetic look.
“Just be glad I made Yelana check the dirt for bugs first. She wasn’t going to.” Imelda accuses with a revolted shudder.
The female rolls her eyes, smirking. “It’s not my fault bugs don’t bother me.”
Imelda huffs at her.
“Thanks.” I laugh, shoving my hand in the next jar without preamble.
Cringing at the feel of the cold, mushy soil, I yank it right back out and gag. “Ew, no, yuck.”
“Yeah, not a lot of dragons like the cold moisture.” Yelana murmurs.
Wiping off my hand, I drag the Warm Moisture jar closer to me.
Submerging my hand in the loose damp soil, the warmth of it enveloping my skin, feeling like a hug with its subtle heat and pressure, I’m not surprised when my dragon lifts her head with a pleased purring sound.
The sound escapes me, fluttering out into the room.
Grinning, Yelana and Imelda give a synchronised nod.
“That’s a definite yes.” The Princess brags.
“Warm Moisture. Not exactly common, so we might’ve narrowed it down to three.” Yelana states.
Nodding, I step sideways so I’m in front of the jars of water.
“Sea Water, Swamp Water, Freshwater, and Lake Water?” I read aloud. And next to those is a bowl of ice cubes.
Pulling in a breath, I put my hand in the Sea Water since I had gone Storm Swimming with the guys recently.
It was a little cold, not exactly unpleasant, but it didn’t garner the same reaction as the warm soil.
Withdrawing my hand, I put it in the Swamp Water with a cringe, gagging when the toad in it touches my skin.
The slimy green stuff and mushy soil in the bottom of the jar didn’t help either.
I retch, mimicking my dragon, and violently yank my hand from the jar.
“I’m going to take that as a no.” Yelana mutters.
I shudder, accepting the extra towel Imelda hands me. “Hard no.”
Wanting to get it over with, I try the other two waters quickly, neither having a major reaction.
Placing my hand on the half-melted ice cubes, my beast bares a fang and curls herself into a protective ball, insulating herself in heat.
“She doesn’t like that at all.” I tell them. “She curled away from it.”
“Doesn’t like cold…..” Yelana writes down something else. “Excellent. That still leaves us with three options.”
“Three options…….” Eyeing up the two small chunks of metal ore, the pieces so raw they had bits of rock and dirt on them, I pick one up in each hand.
I almost drop them, they were far heavier than they appeared, and I had to flex a little to bring them up to my face.
Taking a tentative sniff, all I got was earth, the signature scent of metal, and I think what might have been magma.
I didn’t feel anything, so I put them back on the table. “Nothing with them.”
“Well, that rules out the Club Tail. We’re down to two.” Yelana drawls.
“Remember, some of the plants are poisonous. If you are going to sniff any, don’t let them touch your face.” Imelda warns.
“Aren’t some plants noxiously poisonous?” I point out and squint at them.
“Yes. But I’m mostly sure I didn’t pick any of those ones.”
I give Yelana a pointed side-eye but move to stand before the large range of plants anyway.
Starting safe, I pick up a red rose and sniff it’s middle.
I immediately sneeze – since roses and I have never really gotten along – and place it back down.
Next I pick up a small vine with some little white flowers on it.
It smells nice, and my dragon opens an eye to peer at it for a moment, but then she turns her head away.
“What is this one?” I hold it up to show the girls.
“Jasmine.” Yelana answers.
“Is it poisonous?”
“Only to animals if they eat it.”
“Oh.” I drop it back on the table and wipe off my hand.
That’d explain why she looked at it for a moment. She probably knew it was dangerous to her.
“It’s not poisonous to Fae animals. Only earthly animals.” Yelana adds. “Dragons and other mythics are safe from it.”
Well there goes that theory.
Imelda moves to stand beside me, pointing to one of those orange lily flowers with spots. “Try this one. If she was interested in the Jasmine, it could be because it’s an exotic flower. They originated in ancient Persia; the Tiger Lily comes from Asia.”
Picking up the flower, giving it a tentative sniff, I wait a moment.
She shows no interest at all, and I don’t really like the smell of it.
“No. I think it might have been because it was poisonous.” I admit as I set the flower back in its spot.
“Did she like that it was poisonous or was she wary of it?” Imelda prods.
“I don’t know.” I think hard, even try to prod an answer out of her. She only huffs at me. “She’s not giving me anything to go off. She’s been kind of sluggish lately, especially after the fight. I think it took a lot out of her.”
“Without knowing how to regenerate her, she would have been storing up little bits of power for years. It is entirely possible she is now drained – that isn’t good for either of you. You must be as close to full power as possible for the Shift. We need to keep you topped up 24/7.” Imelda states, reaching out to nudge a........ mushroom? “Try this one. I’m pretty sure it’s poisonous.”
Picking it up, the mushroom had a light orangey-brown umbrella top, with a thin ghostly grey, white, and orange stem.
It didn’t look harmful, it looked like an ordinary mushroom. Not scary at all.
Pinching the delicate stem between two fingers, I bring it to my nose.
Earthy, a bit of a sweet tinge, mealy, and it felt like a firm sponge between my fingers.
Something about it was very appealing.
Head rising with intense interest, slumberous eyes wide, my dragon took in the mushroom through my eyes.
Rising inside me, suddenly energised, she stretches up and opens her maw wide.
Confused and taken off guard when my middle cramps with hunger, my hand moves to clutch my stomach.
“Sinta?”
“You didn’t lick it, did you?” Yelana demands, eyes wide.
“No.” I assure her, but I don’t give her the mushroom when she reaches for it. “I think she wants me to eat it.”
“No way.”
“That is not happening.”
I stare at them, my middle seizing with hunger cramps, and shrug. “She’s sitting inside me with her mouth open, and my stomach is getting hunger pains. She wants me to eat it.” I insist. “Isn’t that a good thing? Why would my dragon want me to eat something if it’ll hurt me?”
“It will do more than hurt you. That mushroom can kill a human in under two minutes.” Yelana snaps.
“Is there an antidote?” I ask.
“Why the fuck would I have an antidote?” She growls.
“Oh, I don’t know, you have us all – including the Princess of House Fire and Gold – in a room with deadly plants, so I imagine a smart person would have the antidotes with them in case there was an accident?!” I snip.
Yelana blanches.
Imelda, eyes wide and mouth tight, slowly nods. “Indeed, a smart person would.” Fussing with the sleeves of her flowy white blouse, she clears her throat. “Unfortunately, neither I nor Yelana thought of it. We got a bit distracted.”
The next few minutes was filled by a heavy silence. And a fair amount of awkward glances.
“Okay, so, no antidote…..” I murmur after we all exchange apologetic looks. “What about a healer? Could they intervene?”
“Yes, actually.” Imelda beams, then deflates a little. “Oh, but we need to keep this secret. I only have one I trust and she’s unavailable.”
“We could call Elijah? I’m pretty sure he has a biology class that’s ending any minute now.” Yelana offers.
I flash them a surprised look. “You guys know Elijah?”
“Yes. We grew up together.” Imelda murmurs as she pulls out her phone. “Do not eat that mushroom until we have a safety net.”
Guilty, lowering the mushroom from where I’d been intently studying it, I set it back on the table and force myself to go sit in a chair.
“Yes, Elijah, hi. I was wondering……”
Imelda hurries Elijah into the room, Yelana checking the hall before slamming and locking the door.
“Can someone explain to me why Sinta needs to eat an extremely toxic mushroom?” Elijah glowers, his Dominance swirling around the room, his beast obviously agitated.
Rising from my chair, I go to stand beside him with a jittery smile. “We’re testing to see what kind of dragon I am.”
“And for some reason the crazy she-dragon is insisting Sinta eat that.” Yelana points accusingly at the mushroom.
Elijah pins me with a surprised look.
“What? Its not just an urge, my stomach is starting to hurt from how badly she wants it.” I insist.
He frowns. “Okay, but why do you need me? Didn’t you guys bring antidotes?”
None of us look him in the eye.
His sigh is exasperated. “Now I get it.”
“Oh, shut up. It was one time.” Yelana snarls.
“For now.” Imelda snorts.
“Hey, you didn’t remember either.”
“I wasn’t the one gathering poisonous plants.” The Princess points out, fussing with her shirt.
Yelana snarls at her.
“Okay.” I call, waving them both away from each other.
I was starting to realise they were like siblings – close as can be one minute, trying to rip each other’s throats out the next.
“Is there a Green Dragon Breed that eats poisonous flora?” Elijah demands.
“Yes, two actually.” Yelana confirms. “A Venom Dragon, and a Thorn Tail Dragon. It’s looking like the Venom at this point, but after she eats the mushroom and one more test, we’ll know for sure.”
Elijah’s wary gaze swings to me.
“Would your beast ever push you to eat something that could kill you?”
He jerks back, head already shaking. “Of course not. If I die, he dies. I trust my lion with my life.”
“Then why would mine? It’s the exact same scenario.” I point out.
His lips thin, his eyes narrowed, but he nods.
“Okay, so, we’re a go?” Yelana checks.
“Are you absolutely sure, Sinta?” He demands one last time.
“She is. She hasn’t changed her mind once.” I murmur, referring to my dragon. “I trust her.”
Shoulders slumping, shoving a hand through his hair, he huffs a sigh. “Okay.”
Sauntering over, he pulls a chair up to the table and sits, then grasps my hips and pulls me down onto his thigh.
I stare at him over my shoulder, brows raised.
“If I already have my hands on you, I’ll be able to counteract the poison quicker.” He reasons. “And I heard you spent time with Fade, so now I feel a little left out.”
I blush bright red, ducking my head.
“Elijah.” Imelda huffs.
“Relax, Melly, we’re not treating her bad.” He quickly assures her. “We all like her.” He practically whispers, his hands rubbing my hips.
“If I find out otherwise, I will roast every single one of you.” Imelda declares, her tone every inch a haughty Princess. “I’ve grown fond of this female.”
I peek at her, and she flashes me a wink.
“On my honour.” Elijah assures her.
I glance at him, and he smiles, pressing a kiss to my temple.
“Okay, this is cute and all, but can we get on to the mushroom?” Yelana sighs.
“Oh, right.” Reaching for it, I shove the whole thing in my mouth with absolutely no thought.
Elijah jerks under me, his hands whipping out to clutch my arms, and the girls jerk forward with a cry.
Chewing slowly, the spongey texture reminding me a little bit of cake but firmer, I swallow it down and wait.
It takes a moment, but suddenly my dragon is rolling in my stomach, preening a happy purr, her head extending and maw opening for more.
And I feel absolutely fine.
“She liked it.” I announce, placing a hand atop Elijah’s shaking one. “She wants more, and I feel fine.”
They release a relieved breath.
“Elijah?”
“My magic tells me she’s fine. No raised levels, no toxins – it’s like her dragon just absorbed it all.” He confirms, his fingers linking with mine on my arm.
“Bloody hell.” Yelana mutters, wiping at her face. “You’re enough to give a girl a fucking heart attack.”
I hum and reach out for another mushroom, this one a mix of blues and kind of looks like a jelly fish, and eat it.
Elijah tenses and Yelana jerks, but after a few minutes and me swallowing without consequences, they relax again.
“Don’t eat those around me. I can’t take the pressure.” Yelana growls and storms off to collect a container from the fridge.
Imelda nods, her face pinched. “I agree. I can’t take it.”
Wincing, I give them a ‘sorry’ look. “I’ll have to keep a sealed tub of them at the House. I might need to label it, so the guys don’t touch it too.”
Elijah nods. “We’ll put your name on it, and if anyone asks, we can just say your snake requires it. Unless you’ve told the others?”
“I’m thinking about telling Fade.” I admit. “But Tomashi has no right to my secrets.” I say with a scowl.
“You two aren’t getting along?” Imelda frowns, taking a seat on a nearby armchair.
“Understatement of the century.” I grumble.
“They’re too similar. It’s like shoving two lobsters into a small tank. One of them isn’t coming out alive.” Elijah snickers.
I elbow him with a glare, but he only presses another kiss to my temple.
“Okay, final test!” Yelana announces, stopping before me with a large plastic tub.
“Then I can eat the rest of the plants?” I demand, my dragon eyeing them with voracious hunger.
“Sure.” She huffs, removing the container’s lid.
I immediately lean away from the raw entrails inside.
“Ew. Why?” I groan.
“Venom Dragons eat raw meat, but Thorn Tail’s roast their meat with dragon fire before eating it.” She moves the container closer to me, shaking it. “Come on. Don’t be shy.”
Frowning, my fingers curling, I look away and thrust a hand into the cold, slimy tub of meat.
And immediately gag, my dragon shaking her head – raring away with a growl.
Yanking my hand back out, I snatch the wipes from Imelda and hurriedly clean it.
My dragon calms down as soon as I have that slime off of my fingers, pinning Yelana with a very unhappy look.
“She doesn’t like you right now.” I tell the female.
“Yeah, I can’t blame her. My dragon hates this stuff too.” Yelana laughs and slams the lid closed.
“But that confirms it.” Imelda croons, smiling.
Yelana bustles over to her clipboard, scribbles a few things, then turns and holds it up.
“Congratulations, Sinta Cora, you are a rare Thorn Tail Dragon. The first in almost five centuries.” She cheers.
I stare at the dragon name, circled in bright red marker, and feel my beast perform a series of happy flips – feeling like butterflies in my stomach.
Turning to Elijah, I tell him, “I’m a Thorn Tail.”
He nods, beaming a massive smile. “You are a Thorn Tail Dragon.”
Turning back, I let a smile take over my face, grinning like a loon. “I’m officially a dragon.”
“Well, you always have been, but sure. Yeah, you are officially a dragon.” Yelana agrees. “Now we can properly help you prepare for the shift.”
Imelda nods. “And after that, prepare you to enter Fae society.”
“I’m a Dragon.” I repeat.
“You are a Dragon.” Yelana confirms with a smile.
“I’m a Thorn Tail.” I breathe, and Imelda gives me a bright smile.
“You are a Thorn Tail, Sin.” She murmurs.
I feel like it had only just sunk in. I was a Dragon. I was a Green Dragon, a Thorn Tail.
I wasn’t powerless, and I was going to shift.
My smile could stretch the width of the globe.
“So what do we do now?” I ask, wrapping my hands around Elijah’s forearm.
He hugs my waist, nestling me against him.
“Now we get some books.” Yelana pulls out a list, handing it to me. “We pack up those plants for you. And we make sure you are ready.”
Because I was going to shift. I was going to be a dragon.
Determined, happy, and so excited, I promised myself there and then.
Nothing was going to stop me.