Page 14 of Phoenix's Fire

"Naomi is Jeera and Zasen's - the Wyvern's - mother. Jeera is the Wyvern's little sister."

"Okay," Meri breathed. "I didn't expect that."

"Expect what?"

"For the most dangerous of the Dragons to have a younger sister."

I had to press my lips together to keep from laughing. I actually understood what she meant. Zasen had been described as a monster, and monsters didn't have families. He did. It made him feel a lot more like a person than a myth.

"Just remember that everything we were taught in our lessons is a lie," I said, offering my hand. "Ready?"

"Ready," she replied, but she didn't sound like it.

So I opened the door, but before I could even take a step, Meri grabbed onto that hand I'd offered. Her fingers were tight, clinging to me like a lifeline. And yet, she followed.

Five

Ayla

The initial meeting was chaos. When Meri came out, everyone was talking to each other, standing in the living room. I'd gotten used to looking at these people, but when my friend sucked in a shocked breath, they all moved. Kanik stepped on Jeera's toes trying to make room. Zasen pulled his mother out of the way, and Rymar jumped back, putting his body against the door.

Meri had frozen, but I knew how to make this better. Tugging gently on her hand, I moved her to the chair I usually sat in, then claimed the closest corner of the couch. That would put her at a safe distance from everyone.

Behind the chair, Zasen jerked his thumb back towards the kitchen. Rymar nodded, slinking along the wall to head that way. Kanik paused to catch my eye, but when I nodded, he moved to follow the other men.

That left only Jeera and Naomi in the living room. Moving around the coffee table, Jeera took the chair opposite Meri, groaning as she eased herself into it.

"Brielle and Irrik went to get some things," she said in English.

"Who?" I asked, catching that second name.

And Jeera grinned. "Our boyfriend. The Reaper who gave you the pliers."

My mouth fell open. "That was your boyfriend?"

"Mhm," Jeera said, looking a little smug. It was actually rather cute.

But Meri's head was jumping between all of us. "What's a boyfriend?" she asked, her voice soft and respectful. "Is that what you were telling me about, Ayla?"

"No." I grimaced, trying to think of how to explain this. "It's what they call a suitor, but Dragon suitors are different."

"I thought he was a Reaper."

"He is," Jeera assured her.

Meri just shook her head in confusion. She couldn't even form a question.

Naomi decided that was a good time to speak up. "We - everyone here in Lorsa - are Dragons. The people who move from place to place as they grow food? They call themselves Reapers. Many of us have tails -" She gestured to Jeera. "- but not all." She tapped her own chest. "Many Reapers are tailless, but not all. Sometimes Dragons decide to live as a Reaper. Sometimes a Reaper lives as a Dragon. My daughter - "

"Who?" Meri asked, quickly looking at me.

"This," I told her, "is Dr. Naomi Griffin. She is Jeera and Zasen's mother. The one I was telling you about."

Meri's eyes were huge, but her face was stoic, as close to a perfect expression as she could manage right now. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she mumbled before giving me a pointed look.

"What?" I asked.

"I thought she was a Dragon!"