Chapter 1
A birthright is not something that can be denied. It’s a fact I’ve been taught since I was old enough to realize what I am. To know that one day I will connect with the magic hidden deep beneath my skin and take my rightful place as my father’s heir, alongside a Kin meant just for me. It’s something that has both excited and terrified me, something that I can no longer run away from. It’s here, brimming on the last rays of the sun setting, as dragons of clans gather to watch me transform under the New Moon. I’d always stood amazed as the people I’d known since birth transformed into their scales, wondering if my turn would take their breath away as theirs does mine.
“You look like you’re going to puke.” Rancor whispers, a teasing glint in his eyes as he stares down at me. We’d been forced together by our birthright, became friends by choice and he’s the thorn in my side I can’t seem to get rid of, not that I want to. He’d morphed into his scales months ago, with no luck on finding his Kin and while I still hold out hope that he will, I don’t want to end up like him. Waiting for your Kin seems like a kind of torcher my delicate self can’t handle.
“Only because you smell so bad.” He doesn’t, but I’d rather insult him than admit that I don’t feel quite right. He laughs, lifting his hand to ruffle my hair but I catch his hand mid-air, flipping it behind his back with a raised brow, effectively causing us to be chest to chest, well more chest to stomach area. His eyes flash a jade green, and I release him because it makes me feel a little more uneasy than I think it should.
“Hey, are you okay?” Concern settles on his face, and I contemplate telling him how I feel but I don’t even think I can articulate it. It’s something like creeping nerves, like something isn’t quite right. Instead, I nod, turn to focus my attention to where my parents are talking to the priest and mumble something about not wanting to get into trouble because I’m not focusing. My parents have been preparing for this ceremony for months, making sure everything is just so, and I don’t want to disappoint them by messing around.
He nods, still looking unsure but he lets it go, something I’m thankful for. It’s not a long wait before the priest steps up to the podium and welcomes our clan to the celebration of my New Moon Ceremony. Everyone’s eyes are on me as I make my way down the isle of white lilies grown in my mother’s garden, flowers she’s been tending with extra care for this day specifically. Proud smiles adorn every face I catch but none of them outshine the pride I see on my parents faces. Stepping into this day, morphing into my scales, it means carrying out the training as Vice Leader, to one day take over my father’s position. I only hope I can be as worthy of it as they make it seem.
“Hydra, you look beautiful, my darling.” My father cups my cheek in his rough hand while my mother fixes a curl that’s fallen into my face. A kiss on the forehead from my father and then they both take a hand and position me in front of the priest. The grey-haired man gives me a playful wink and bows his head slightly as my parent’s step away.
“Hydra Valentine, do you promise to protect the clan with your life? Laying it down for those weaker than you, thinking not of yourself but of what is best for the greater good for our survival?” I swallow hard, knowing that there is no choice in this.
“I do.” The words ring clear and he grabs my left hand with his, his palm sliding up my forearm, leaving a ice cold sensation in it’s wake, when he removes his hand our clan symbol shines, bright light breaking from beneath my skin and then it dims, leaving in it’s wake a tree blossoming on the side of a riverbank. Cheers erupt from around me and I can’t stop the smile that forms on my lips, despite the anxious feeling ever present inside of me.
“You are welcomed into the Silver Moon Mountain clan as a warrior.” The priest announces, my head snaps to my parents, eyes wide as my father beams with pride and my mother has an indulgent smile on her lips. I know she’d hoped I would get a more peaceful rank, something that would allow me to practice my botany skills more, but she’s proud none the less. More cheers erupt and I’m swallowed up by a bunch of the head warriors as they form a circle around me and perform the welcoming chant, morphing into their scales one by one, my father the leader as he flies into the sky, allowing them to form a bridge between the sky and the ground, ending with me to symbolize I will soon be joining the ranks.
As they all morph back the last ray of the sun disappears, leaving the sky bright with only the light of the moon hovering above us. I frown, as the uneasy feeling that’s been silently stewing all day hits me with full force. I look around, not quite knowing what I’m searching for until my eyes land on Rancor, making his way down the isle towards me. As our eyes lock into place, I move towards him, a frown on my face as the unease ebbs away.
“Do you feel it too?” I nod, though I don’t quite understand what I’m feeling. This isn’t at all what my mother described morphing to feel like. He reaches out to me, interlocking our fingers as a bright light form between us, encasing us both in its glow. Hues of green and gold swirl through it, around us, intertwining and weaving until it’s formed what looks like a bridge between our bodies.
Whispers erupt from around us, though I can’t pay attention to them, my eyes focused on Rancor as his dragon rises in his eyes, keeping me captive as it searches for mine but it’s not there yet. Our bond can’t be completed until my dragon rises in agreement and it makes me almost anxious for her to appear. Having my best friend turn out to be my Kin is something so wonderfully unexpected I don’t even mind that it’s happening before my transformation.
“We bless the bond of Kin formed between Hydra Valentine, daughter of the Vice Leader and the Dragon Prince Rancor Whitlock both of the Silver Moon Mountain clan!” The priest announces and once again cheers erupt around us and along with it the impending feeling of complete and utter doom.