Chapter 3
Sora felt his eyebrows steadily rise as he watched the interview play out. It was almost abnormally quiet in the living room, the other people with him glued to the screen. The two men being interviewed were poised, confident, and charming in different ways.
One of them was clearly German; he spoke fluently and easily, oozing confidence even as he sat there with a smile.
The man sitting next to him was not German—and Sora didn’t say that because he looked distinctly Asian.
More that he recognized the translating amulet hanging around the man’s neck.
He did not know German, and the woman interviewing them failed to realize it, as magic was so scarce in the modern age.
The journalist, Slomka, was an attractive woman—blonde hair kept short, her jawline strong, smile kind. She leaned a little forward in the armchair, asking a question. Via the translating amulet on top of the TV, it came through as Japanese, so Sora and his parents could understand it.
“Do you mean to tell me that the dragon clans and mages have been alive all this time?”
Alric, King of the Fire Dragons, dipped his head in a nod.
“Correct. After the Dragon War, we were so decimated. So…lost. Entire ancient families destroyed so quickly. We returned home, too focused on healing our wounds, on taking stock of what we had left, to really consider the outside world. It was many years before I realized the world thought us dead.”
“Wait, you realized?” Slomka interrupted him, her eyes wide. “You’ve lived since the Dragon Wars?”
“Dragons live to be a very old age,” Alric returned, eyes twinkling. “Surely you remember that from your history books in school?”
“I don’t remember them telling me that.” Slomka looked in danger of falling out of the chair altogether, but she kept calm enough to continue. “But please, go on. You realized that the world thought you all dead, and then…?”
“After such a great toll—both physical and emotional—we thought it was best to leave the world ignorant. I speak not only for myself, but for the Ice Dragon Clan as well. This was a joint decision.”
“But this has obviously changed, as I’m interviewing you now. You were the one that requested this, in fact. What’s changed?”
“Us.”
The camera switched to the Asian man, and when it did, a caption at the bottom of the screen read, Cameron Burkhard, Consort. His smile was broad, and there was a twinkle in his eyes behind his glasses, as if he was secretly laughing at some bit of knowledge the audience didn’t have.
“Hoo,” Sora cried out softly in surprise, lips pursed in a soundless whistle.
The dragon king had taken a male consort? Well, the outside world would definitely have mixed feelings about that. Sora’s family wouldn’t blink an eye, though.
Cameron continued. “We mages burst on scene and kicked up the dust. I think the dragon clans were resigned to mages having died out with the Dragon Wars; I was the first they found in modern times. And we’ve been finding more mages ever since.”
His royal husband had a soft look in his eye as he grasped Cameron’s hand, holding it on his thigh. The consort’s returning smile was just as tender.
“The old stories are true,” King Alric said, picking up the thread smoothly.
“Dragons can mate only with mages. My dragons have been without even the possibility of finding the other half of their hearts for far too long. Centuries. With mages once again being discovered, our hope is restored. We’ve decided to step back out into the world, to reveal ourselves, so that other mages might know where to find us.
So that we can once again live as we did. ”
This time, Sora did whistle. “Wow. Talk about a public coming out.”
His mother smacked him on the arm. “You’re not funny.”
“I’m hilarious, and it’s true; they’re both coming out—as a mage and a dragon, respectively—and establishing themselves as a gay couple. All in one shot. Takes nerves, that.”
He looked sideways at his mother, who was sitting on the couch with him.
She’d lost her formal clothes at some point, wearing joggers and an oversized sweater she’d probably snitched from his father’s wardrobe, but her makeup was still on, hair in a tidy bun at the top of her head.
She looked aggravated with him, but that was likely more because of the huge step the dragon clans had just taken.
She did not like surprises, and this one was enormous.
His father coughed slightly, then rumbled from the other side of the couch, “This does say something about how the world has changed. If both Fire and Ice Clans are willing to step back into the light, then things have changed a great deal. More than we had ever believed.”
“They’re revealing that all of the other mage clans still exist, too, Ryu!” his mother protested, high color spotting her cheeks.
Shaking his head, he disagreed with his wife.
“No, Yuki, they’re saying that magic is still real.
That dragons are. That mages are still out there.
They’ve very carefully not said anything about magic clans.
Which is wise of them. The modern world has forgotten a great deal of how the dragon and mage clans of old operated.
I don’t think anyone will put that together quickly. ”
That was likely true. Sora pondered it all for a moment, his eyes still on the screen.
The dragon king and his consort looked happy but cautious, as if they were set on a certain script and not telling any more.
The consort sidetracked a question with the story of how he was discovered, how the Fire Dragon Clan made him realize he was a mage.
It was an interesting story and not at all an answer to what the journalist had asked him.
Yes, they were being very careful with information right now. Sora approved of their caution.
His mother’s expression morphed from peeved to thoughtful.
“I suppose this was inevitable. Modern times makes it so much more difficult to hide, what with cameras on every cell phone, and social media. It’s not at all like a hundred years ago.
They’re wise to step out and say something on their own terms instead of being forced into the spotlight. ”
“They are,” his father murmured. He lifted one hand into the air as if physically weighing a thought. “Although that leaves the question, do we introduce ourselves to them or not? I don’t know much about them, personally.”
Sora might have commented on his father’s caution except for a few facts.
Fact one: His parents were constantly riding him to get married. And he could really use a break from that.
Two: He was itching to go and investigate this himself. The power of curiosity compelled him.
And three: He loved traveling, and Germany sounded like an excellent place to go on a trip.
Now, how to say this so no one argued with him about it? Sora took a moment to phrase it in his head before speaking aloud. “I think, before we make any decisions, we need more information. Why don’t I pose as a single mage and meet them? Scout them out a bit?”
Both parents turned to look at him, his father with weighing eyes. His mother’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Why would you go?”
Sora had already anticipated his mother’s question and had a ready answer. “Because I’m more comfortable with overseas travel than anyone else, as I’ve done more of it. And you can trust my judgement, as I won’t get carried away.”
His father nodded slowly, his gaze back on the TV. “I do want to know more about them before making any decisions. It might well be time for us to come out of hiding, too. But I don’t want to jump without knowing what the landing will be like.”
Apparently, his mother agreed, as she didn’t voice another protest. Instead, she stared hard at the floor, obviously thinking things through.
Sora found himself holding his breath. He’d go regardless, but how he went depended on his parents’ feelings.
If they were supportive, he could go openly.
If not, he’d have to be subtle and stay in the shadows.
The latter approach meant it would be harder to learn anything, and he’d really rather not go that route.
But if this was a chance to stop hiding, to step out openly into the world?
The idea filled him with a glowing sense of anticipation.
It would be amazing, truly amazing, to work magic openly.
To not be confined to these walls any longer.
Sora found himself praying this would work out well and not blow up in everyone’s faces.
“We should discuss this with the rest of the Council,” his mother murmured.
Sora inwardly cringed. He hadn’t thought of them, but Sora meeting with the Burkhard dragons and mages could have far-reaching repercussions for all of them.
“True, but I don’t see them being against Sora going. They know his caution and level head. They’ll value any information he brings back.”
She hummed her agreement, still not looking entirely pleased, but she seemed to at least see the wisdom in what Sora was requesting. “We’ll get the Council’s approval, but you must take precautions. Don’t use our family name, choose some other minor clan’s name.”
Ah, probably a wise precaution. Their family was a bit too famous. “Sure. How about the Vo?”
“That’ll work,” his father said with a nod. “Vo’s a common enough surname no one will really remark on it, anyway. When do you want to leave?”
“Soon. I think it’ll take me a few days to get plane tickets, pack, all of that. If they get too inundated with curious people, it’ll become hard to get into the clan.”
And Sora would really rather not have that fight on his hands.
“That’s fine. I’ll send messages to the Council tonight so we can get things moving. I’m sure they’re watching this interview and wondering the same things we are.” He stood and headed out of the dim living room, headed for the laptop still on the kitchen table in the other room.
Sora was set to follow, but his mother’s sharp brown eyes on his face halted him. “What?”
“If you suddenly fall in love with a dragon and get swept off your feet, I won’t complain,” she promised him dryly. “Since no one here is apparently to your liking.”
“Maybe I need a more target-rich environment, Kaa-san,” Sora teased.
She swatted him on the thigh. “You’re such a bad son. Go on, help your father.”
Sora went, snickering as he did. The odds of him being swept off his feet were actually rather slim.
For some people, romance came easy. They fell in love without much effort.
But for him, it had never connected. It’s not that he didn’t like the idea of having a romantic partner.
Far from it. It was just that, usually, at the end of the date, he was very ready for the other person to go home.
He’d not found the one person he wanted to spend all of his time, affection, and energy on.
He might not ever find that person. He wouldn’t fixate on it, though.
That would just give him an ulcer and a broken heart.
Sora had better things to do with his time than mope because he didn’t have a boyfriend.
Like investigate dragon clans that had just outed themselves to the world.
Sora stole a glance over his shoulder as he headed into the kitchen.
The dragon king and his consort were laughing about something, leaning a little into each other as if to share the joy between them.
They were a beautiful couple, their love and affection obvious.
Sora felt a flash of envy race through his chest. There was no relationship more beautiful than between dragon and mage.
It was pure love, nothing else. It was why mages throughout time had always courted a dragon’s favor, with the hope of having such a happy relationship.
King Alric and Consort Cameron were putting up an excellent united front to the world right now.
At the bottom of the screen, a website address flashed: .
Sora’s mouth dropped open at the craftiness of it all.
The king and his mate painted an enticing picture of love, romance, and happiness—three things everyone was searching for.
Combined with the website, it was like they were saying, If you’re a mage, you could have this same love and happiness, too.
So very tempting.
But was it all too good to be true?