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I slumped back against the couch. My heart was racing like I’d run a marathon.

“Tail!” Dylan shouted. “I have a tail.”

I leapt to my feet and ran down the hall with Stephan.

Dylan was in the center of his bedroom, eyes wide with shock as he walked in circles like a confused dog. His tail jutted out from, of course, his tailbone, pushing the waistband of his pajamas down. His video game was still on the television, controller abandoned. “I was about to win! And then it was just there.”

“Bet you were a little worked up,” Stephan said.

“I guess,” Dylan said. His tail waved like it had a mind of its own. “I’m glad it didn’t come out of my butt.”

“I told you,” Stephan said, laughing. “Your tail looks great.”

“Really?” It was nearly the same length as Dylan was tall, covered in sage-green scales with hints of orange throughout. It was the same color as Stephan’s dragon. I shook my head in disbelief. His dragon was going to be a mini-Stephan, too.

Stephan nodded. “How does it feel?”

“Weird.” Dylan frowned. “Like… off-balance. And it kind of hurts.”

“That’s all normal. That’s good.”

“Do I have this forever now? How am I gonna sleep?” Dylan asked.

“No, it’s not forever. It’s like your fangs and your claws, remember? You can pull your tail back in, too.”

Dylan grimaced. He grabbed his tail in both hands and hugged it close to his body like a stuffed animal. “But it’s so big!”

“Yup. So it’s gonna be a little different than retracting your claws, okay?”

Dylan steeled himself. He was such a brave kid. Stubborn, too. Like his father. He nodded.

“Harley, can you come help?” Stephan asked. “Hold Dylan’s hand?”

I nodded, then stepped forward and knelt next to Stephan. I took Dylan’s hand in mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“All right,” Stephan said. “Remember how we talked about retracting your fangs? Focus your attention on your tail, now. Right at the base, on your back.”

Dylan closed his eyes tightly, and he gripped my hand so hard I had to bite back a cry.

Stephan spoke in a soft, soothing voice as he walked Dylan through the process of retracting his tail. It went slowly, but not as slowly as I expected. Dylan listened carefully to Stephan, breathed steadily, and gripped my hand as he slowly withdrew his tail. After a few moments, his tail disappeared. He released my hand and slumped forward onto Stephan.

Stephan rubbed his back soothingly. “Good work, Dyl.”

“Uh-huh,” Dylan mumbled.

“You all right?” I asked.

“Think so,” Dylan said, his voice muffled against Stephan’s shoulder.

“Yeah, you’re just fine,” Stephan said. He scooped Dylan into his arms, then stood up like he weighed nothing at all. He deposited Dylan into his bed and pulled the comforter up over him.

Dylan was half-asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. “M’glad I have such a cool dad.”

Stephan chuckled and ran his hand gently over Dylan’s forehead. “I’m glad I have such a cool son.”

I leaned against the doorframe as Stephan turned off the TV and put the controller away, then picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and tossed them in the hamper. When he was done, he straightened the comforter over Dylan. He looked down at him with a small smile on his face.

These were the kinds of things I did for Dylan. The kinds of things I’d never thought I’d see Stephan do. And yet here he was, doing just that. The love he had for Dylan radiated off him. He turned and smiled at me. “We should let him sleep.”