Page 115 of Visions of You

His mother's eyes widened. "Casca and Fei are not mistakes," she insisted, her voice rising.

Jaron couldn't hold back any longer. "The virus inside them could have brought on the end of the world!" he snapped, his hands clenching into fists.

His parents exchanged a glance. "But it's gone, isn't it?" his mother asked.

Jaron stared at them, realization dawning. They must have felt it when Keegan purged the virus. It must be gone from their bodies too. Everything Malkira had told him had been true.

"She came to us a few years ago," his mother admitted, surprising Jaron. "She tried to tell me there was something wrong with my children." She shook her head. "I thought she was just trying to scare me into giving her more money. We paid her a small fortune to get the job done. She used it to buy that house." Jaron's mother looked disgusted. "She should have been satisfied."

"It wasn't about the money," Jaron spat. "You always think everything's about money."

"Usually it is," his father said. "Now where are my sons? Don't tell me that witch still has them."

"That witch," Keegan said, "is dead, while you are allowed to live on in ignorant arrogance."

"Get out of my house," Mr. Tymera bellowed. "You can't come in here and insult me."

"If Keegan is leaving," Jaron said, "so am I."

"You're not going anywhere before you tell me?—"

"I'll bring your sons by tomorrow," Jaron cut the older dragon off. "But I won't force either of them to stay here. If theychoose to live with me and you won't let them, I promise you I'll do exactly what you were always scared I'll do. I'll ruin this family."

"How could you?" Mr. Tymera demanded.

"I'd do it out of love," Jaron said. "I don't expect you to understand."

He turned to leave, but before he went for the door, he turned to the potted plant that sat to the side of it. It had deep green leaves and it was almost as tall as Jaron was. His father called himself a gardener sometimes, but he never even watered the plants inside the house. Everything that grew inside and out of their home was all their staff's work.

"What are you doing?" his mother asked.

Jaron smiled at her, turned to the plant, and set it on fire with one breath.

Both of his parents' faces were ashen when he left.

"You handled that well," Keegan said, following Jaron out of the house.

Jaron stopped a few feet away from the door, looking back. "Are they ever going to change?" he wondered out loud.

He hadn't meant for Keegan to look into it for him, but the vampire did anyway. His gaze went distant, and Jaron knew he was seeing something other than what was right in front of them.

After a minute, he snapped out of it.

"They might surprise you," he said.

"In what ways?"

"You might never have the relationship with them you desired as a child." Keegan rested a hand on Jaron's shoulder."But they'll be better parents to Casca and Fei because of you. They'll know you're watching." Keegan paused. "In all likelihood, Fei will choose to live with them. Casca can go either way. There's a chance he'll spend a few more years at this house to make sure Fei is okay." Keegan's lips curved. "He takes after you in that regard."

"I don't want him to take on that role."

"You should leave it up to him," Keegan advised. "Just let him know our home will always be open to him."

"Our home," Jaron mouthed. "Where will that be?"

"Do you want me to spoil every surprise the future holds in store?"

Jaron thought about it.