Chapter 15 #2
“It’s very hard to tell,” Finlay says, his honey eyes fixed on the pulsing egg with unusual intensity.
“If Raven is in mortal danger, he can hatch early to protect her. Most times it’s two years in his mate’s presence.
Or longer, depending on the specific curse placed on him.
” Finlay seems to stare through the egg rather than at it, his phoenix sight clearly seeing something we can’t.
“What do you see?” I ask, leaning forward. The way Finlay is staring at the egg makes me certain his phoenix perceives something beyond our normal senses.
“The magic holding Solaris is unique. It’s linked to a celestial event.
” He pulls his phone out of his pocket with quick movements and searches for something specific.
After a moment, he holds out an image of the Dragon constellation positioned over a blood moon—the celestial bodies aligned in perfect harmony.
Raven takes the phone from him with trembling fingers and stares at the image intently.
Suddenly she slides off the lounger with enough force to make it rock and runs over to her celestial map mounted on the far wall.
We follow her curiously as she runs her finger around the circle, tracing planetary movements and lunar cycles.
“It’s the Great Worm Moon in March... Well, Wyrm Moon,” she corrects herself with a small laugh. “It’s a blood moon and a total lunar eclipse on March third...” Raven looks back at Solaris’s egg with wonder and certainty in her eyes.
I pick him up carefully, using the carrier to scoop the egg up, and bring him over to her. She immediately pulls him back out of the protective leather and hugs him to her chest like a child with a beloved toy. “You’ll be free March third,” she whispers against the warm shell.
His egg pulses and vibrates vigorously in her arms—the most animated response I’ve ever seen from him.
“He’s very excited,” Finlay observes, watching Raven and the egg with a soft smile.
“You can hear him? Like, actually hear what he’s saying?” I look between Finlay and Raven with amazement. I thought only Raven could communicate with her cursed egg.
“Yes. He wants to ask questions at the meeting too,” Finlay says as Raven gently slides Solaris back into his carrier for safety.
We head back to the lounger and resume our positions, settling into the comfortable cushions.
“Okay, Solaris, everyone is ready,” I announce, not entirely sure how loud I need to speak for a dragon trapped in an egg to hear me.
The egg pulses and vibrates several times in quick succession, then falls silent—almost like he’s gathering his thoughts.
“He’s been listening to everything that has been happening,” Finlay translates, his voice taking on the cadence of someone relaying another’s words.
“He’s happy the dominance challenges are happening.
He wants to know how everyone feels about having an ancient drake joining the nest in the new year. ”
Finlay looks at the egg, then up at each of us expectantly.
“I’m not gonna lie,” Corvus starts, then laughs to himself with self-deprecating humor.
“I kind of can’t wait. Being the lead drake is hard work, and being so young, I’m not always taken seriously by older dragons.
” He pauses, running a hand through his white hair.
“If having Solaris as lead drake keeps the family and future hatchlings safe, I am all for it. The ego hit is worth the security.”
“Dragons have a hierarchy like blink hounds do. It’s maintained through power and bloodline,” Keir says, then hesitates, tilting his head thoughtfully. “How big are orange dragons, typically?”
“They come from the southern continent and are about the same size as a red or black dragon, with a temperament similar to a red or green—proud and territorial,” Finlay explains before Solaris vibrates insistently.
“He says what they lack in size. They make up for in firepower. Orange dragons have the hottest flames of any species.”
“As a black unicorn, we are raised to fear dragons,” I admit with a smile at Raven, feeling her hand find mine and squeeze.
“Imagine my surprise when I found out I was mated to a black dragoness.” Everyone chuckles at that, the sound warm and familiar.
“As long as everyone is treated fairly and the family is safe, that is all that matters to me.”
Finlay shakes his head and rolls his eyes with good-natured exasperation. “I won’t be the oldest in the nest anymore, so there’s that small mercy. But like the others have said, as long as Raven and future progeny are protected and everyone is treated fairly, it’s all that matters to me.”
Solaris vibrates again, the motion making the carrier rock slightly in Raven’s lap.
“It’s December twelfth,” Raven answers his unspoken question. “My birthday is on Thursday of next week. The dominance battles are Wednesday, and tomorrow is Friday—the Processional before the Choosing for unmated dragonesses.”
Solaris vibrates again, clearly asking for more information.
“Dad made it so eligible males sit at tables with their bloodlines documented on parchment,” Raven explains patiently. “The females walk around and examine the options, see if anyone strikes their fancy. We have the choice, like the females of the past did before the old ways were corrupted.”
Raven rubs Solaris’s shell affectionately as he vibrates with what I assume are more questions or commentary.
“He’s telling her about the past—females used to migrate looking for grand displays the males used to attract females centuries ago,” Finlay fills in for the rest of us who can’t hear the ancient dragon’s voice.
“Let’s draw the new rotation to start on Monday,” Corvus suggests, pulling out the smaller bag he prepared earlier and shaking it. The paper slips inside, rustle with the movement.
Keir goes first, reaching in and pulling out a folded piece. “I got four.” He holds up the slip of paper so we all can see the number clearly written.
“I guess I’ll go next.” I stick my hand into the bag and swirl it around, feeling the paper slips brush against my fingers. Eventually, I grab one and pull it out. “Two.” I hold the slip out to show the others, noting Corvus already has his phone out to record the new schedule.
Corvus hands me the bag and reaches in himself. “Three.” He shows us the slip with a satisfied nod.
“Looks like you get Monday, Finlay.” Corvus reaches out and shakes the phoenix’s hand with genuine warmth before standing to head to the kitchen to tackle the dishes.
“I just got here?” Finlay looks at me with genuine puzzlement, then stares at the last slip as he pulls it out of the bag like it might bite him.
“It’s what’s fair. Luck of the draw and everything,” I explain with a smile, looking at him and clapping him on the back with friendly force. “We’re a family, and we do things as fair as possible. No favoritism, no special treatment—even for the newest mate.”
It’s gonna take him a while to fully settle in and understand how we operate, but for now, I’ll be here to help him adjust the best I can. We all will be—that’s what family does.