Page 4 of Visions of You

"I would say he's the strongest ruler we've had in a while," Jaron pressed on. "He can shift into his full dragon form. None of us can do that." It was a rare power for a dragon-shifter to possess these days. Some said that interbreeding had diluted their powers to a degree they could not shift anymore. King Nevin however was living proof that this theory was bullshit.

"It's because he found his fated mate," Casca said. "Miss Jaynara said so."

Their father grunted. "As if a mortal could be a dragon's fated mate. You'd do best not to listen to those rumors. If King Nevin and Prince Curren can shift, it is because their father's blood runs strong in them."

"Their father couldn't shift," Jaron pointed out.

"You know, Jaron." His father fixed him with a long look as if he'd finally had enough of Jaron's insolence. "I've been very indulgent with you. Allowing you to do as you please, but I think it's well past time you stopped acting like a child."

Jaron bristled. "How am I acting like a child, Father? Because I have a mind of my own?"

"You're twenty-one years old and your littlest brother understands the world better than you do." He pointed at Fei. "Why are we better than mortals?"

Fei perked up, eager to prove that he did in fact know the answer. "They don't have magic!"

"Exactly," Jaron's father said. "They hid away from the world and missed out on the gift of magic because of their cowardice. They stopped evolving. It should not be our responsibility to protect them from the consequences of their decisions."

Jaron's mouth tightened. "So you think it's fine when witches harvest them for organs or vampires keep them as blood slaves?"

"Jaron!" his mother scolded him. "Not in front of the children!"

"Oh, I forgot you don't want Fei and Casca to know what's really going on out there." He pushed away his plate. "Maybe they'd grow up to be decent people instead of spoiled assholes who can't think for themselves." Jaron got up from his seat, ignoring his parents' protests, and walked out of the dining room.

He'd had enough.

"Jaron Krotfric Tymera!" his father's booming voice chased him all the way to the door, where Jaron slammed it shut behind himself.

Then he spread his wings and launched himself into the sky, flying high over the city of Solea.

In the darkness, the city's lights sparkled below him like the diamonds his family valued above all else.

How silly when there were so many more valuable things.

Like spending time with your friends. Jaron glanced in the direction of the fairgrounds. His friends had gone to see the Solstice fireworks tonight.

Maybe he could still make it in time to join them.

CHAPTER 3

Keegan made his way through the crowds at the solstice fair, his senses assaulted by the scents of fried food and sweet drinks mingling in the warm summer air. Mordyn walked ahead, one arm casually draped over Apollo's shoulders as they bantered back and forth.

"That's not what I said!" Apollo insisted. "I said my work was important. I didn't say yours wasn't."

"You implied it."

"I did not."

Keegan had lost track of their argument a few minutes ago. The two were in good spirits, though, and he wasn't inclined to intervene.

Up ahead, Keegan spotted a group of people waiting—no doubt Apollo's teammates that Mordyn had mentioned. There was a tall dragon, a mage in orange robes, and a green-haired half-nymph whom Keegan knew as Ceska—Apollo's assistant.

Keegan exchanged greetings with all of them without making an effort to get to know them. He wasn't in the habit of being rude, but he wasn't very interested in these people. Or rather, he didn't want to be interested. When he liked someone, he wanted to manipulate the future in their favor.

It was best for Keegan to restrict the people he cared about to members of his coven.

After a few minutes, the group found a grassy spot near the edge of the fairgrounds to set up their picnic blankets.

Keegan sat and looked around. He'd had this vague feeling of foreboding ever since he'd decided to join Mordyn on this outing, but he had no idea where his inner compass was trying to point him.