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“Uh-huh,” Dylan said.

“This time, lean into it, okay? Your dragon knows what to do. Take a deep breath.”

Dylan looked at me, his hazel eyes big and fearful.

“You can do this, Dylan,” I said. “You’re strong. You’re ready.”

It happened in stages. First, his claws emerged from his fingertips. He still had a death grip on Stephan’s shoulders, and pinpricks of blood appeared on his bare skin where Dylan’s claws dug in. But Stephan didn’t react. He kept his gaze on Dylan’s face. Careful. Attentive.

Gold gleamed in their hazel eyes.

Then Dylan’s tail appeared—long, sage green, and speckled with gold. He exhaled hard a few times, and smoke drifted from his nostrils. Stephan gestured for me to scoot back, and he shuffled back as well, so Dylan was on his hands and knees on the grass. Stephan set his hand on the back of Dylan’s neck and murmured soothingly to him.

Time seemed to slow down, and the air crackled with magic. It was different than Stephan’s shifting magic—brighter, rawer.

It happened in a slow wave. Sage green scales rippled over Dylan’s body. His wings emerged, stretched out like arms, then his body changed shape: bigger, stronger, his elongated neck, and his dragon’s head square-snouted and sharp-toothed.

And then it was over. It couldn’t have taken more than a few minutes, but it felt like years. I buried my face in my hands, but I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

Stephan stood up and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, tugging me close to his body.

“He looks exactly like you,” I whispered.

Dylan’s dragon was a smaller replica of Stephan’s. Same sage green scales, same gold detailing, same long neck and tail. He chirruped, then trotted around the clearing gleefully. He swung his head around, toward the lake, the trees, and the sky, then closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

“Everything smells stronger when you’re shifted,” Stephan explained quietly. “It’s remarkable.”

Then Dylan bounded over to me and Stephan. He bumped his head against my shins, and I sank down to the ground infront of him. He was about as tall as I was when I was kneeling. Smiling through my tears, I ran my hand over the smooth, warm scales on his head. Dylan made another pleased chirrup and nuzzled his nose into my hand. Then he turned and knocked his head against Stephan’s legs, a little harder than he’d bumped me.

Stephan laughed. “You want to play?”

Dylan chirruped and bounced up and down on all fours like an excited puppy.

I laughed and wiped my tears away. I was so proud of him. Dylan was so cute and so happy.

I’d been so terrified about him shifting for the first time, but it had gone better than I ever could have imagined.

And I knew that was only because Stephan was here.

Stephan looked at me, an eyebrow raised in question. God, he was handsome in the moonlight. It was late, but this was a special moment. I wanted to see them together. All I could do was nod.

Stephan shifted as well, with a crackle of magic and a flash of green scales in the moonlight. Then there were two identical dragons in the clearing, one big and one small. I sat down on the grass, pulled my knees to my chest, and rested my chin on them.

Dylan flapped his wings in an attempt to fly. He couldn’t do more than hover off the ground a little before he flopped back down. Stifling my laugh, I hid my smile behind my hand.

The two dragons chased each other around the clearing. They could communicate, somehow, and I watched as Dylan followed his dad around with wide eyes. They played for what must’ve been an hour, tumbling in the grass and blowing smoke rings. Every now and then, Stephan launched into the sky and soared around in circles right above Dylan’s head. Dylan yelped, jumped, and nipped at his feet.

The sky turned a pale gray as dawn approached. Dylan’s energy waned, and his dragon’s head began to droop toward the grass. Stephan shifted back into his human form, then gathered the dragon into his arms. He stroked Dylan’s head, then spoke in that low voice again. Soon, with another crackle of magic, Dylan shifted back into his human form, wearing just his pajama pants and shivering in the night air. He exhaled a final puff of smoke, then wrapped his arms around Stephan’s neck in a silent demand to be carried.

Chuckling, Stephan picked him up. I ran my hand over Dylan’s hair and kissed his forehead. Dylan hummed in acknowledgment, but his eyes were already closed.

Stephan carried him back into the house and up the stairs. As soon as Dylan hit the mattress, he sighed happily. “Hey, Dad?” he mumbled sleepily.

“What is it, bud?” Stephan smoothed his hand over Dylan’s forehead.

“When I learn to fly, I’m gonna be the fastest dragon ever.”

My heart felt so big and full of love, I was afraid it would burst right out of my chest.