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They stretched their arms out beside their bodies before they both pushed in one direction, slowly making their way around the fire. Their hands would go up, then down, then separate as they spun and twirled.

The fire in the centre began to spiral in the direction they were dancing.

Kaeylyn was giggling as she tried to copy Valerie’s movements, sometimes offbeat, like she didn’t know the next move. Valerie’s face didn’t look as hard as it usually did, instead appearing remarkably soft while she sang.

She looks like she might be enjoying herself.

At the very end, they both threw their hands up. Geryon felt a wave of wind energy come from them right before a smoky snake-like creature with wings formed.

It shot upwards, exploding into a cascade of glitter when it hit the tree canopy.

“I did not see your moon Dragon, Valerie!” Kaeylyn frowned when they both calmed, her small torso wildly huffing.

Valerie’s chest was pumping a little harder than it usually did, but it was barely noticeable.

“It is because yours was so bright that it shadowed mine.”

It is because she does not have access to her magic.He wondered if that was the real reason she didn’t want to do the dance.

Kaeylyn put her hands on her hips in disbelief. “You have the strongest magic I have ever seen. It is even stronger than Mother’s.”

“Exactly. You should be proud you shadowed it.”

Valerie clapped for her, and she went so bright red in the face with joy, Geryon feared she’d pass out. Her hands shot to the sky as she spun in a circle.

“Do you think Faerydae saw it?”

“He is always watching over us, so yes, and I am sure he is proud.” She turned her face up to the moon. “It is why we do the dance on the full moon, to honour him. He would not miss his own celebration.”

It was such a wild concept to Geryon that these two Witches would go out of their way to waste magic just to honour their Dragon ancestor.

They sat by the fire, Kaeylyn choosing to sit between Valerie’s legs. She accepted it like she wasn’t bothered by her sister climbing over her, restless and constantly moving. She even braided her hair.

She can be feminine like this?He never thought he would see her willingly plait the hair of another. She even tried to comb it with her fingers first.

“Do you think I will get to meet a Dragon one day?” Kaeylyn turned her head up to Valerie as they spoke.

“I most certainly hope you do not.”

The girl gave a pout, folding her arms across her chest when she looked down at the fire. She gave a sigh.

“I know they hate evil Witches, but I am not evil. Why can I not see them?”

“Because they have been hunted by our kind. We do not deserve such kindness from them. If you are to meet one, it will most likely bite you in half.”

Valerie began to tickle her sister’s sides to punctuate her words, and the girl squealed. Her lips quirked ever so slightly.

“I would much rather die by the mouth of a Dragon than of old age,” the girl giggled. “At least then, my death would be useful!”

“That is only because you do not know how sharp their teeth are. They will chomp you.” She lifted Kaeylyn’s arm and bit into it.

“But would that not follow the old ways? Why can a Witch not be a sacrifice for a Dragon?”

Geryon knew what she spoke of.

How their kind came to be was by accident. Humans used to give a sacrifice to the Dragons, thinking they were gods. His kind allowed them to think this foolishness so they could get an easy meal.

One Dragon decided he liked the human he’d been given. Rather than eat her, he bedded the woman, not knowing it would create a Witch – a creature that was human but could use magic, like them. This was none other than the great Dragon Faerydae.