Page 8 of Taught By the Dragon
And in all her time inside the prison, the younger ones had always been more honest. Scared as well, true. But after a while, prisoners learned not to feel anything so they could keep going.
Most did that, at any rate. The few who hadn’t found a way to cope had taken their own lives.
But Percy had stayed strong, determined to make her dream of flying a reality, no matter what.
Before she could think better of it, she said, “The only thing I really think about is if I’ll ever have my inner dragon again.”
She paused, willing herself to keep it together. For a brief few months, her inner beast had been her only friend. But she couldn’t show such weakness to strangers, so she continued, “I want to learn how to fly. How can I make that happen?”
For a beat, she waited to see if the males would growl, or yell, or stalk over and slap her—all stuff the guards had done any time she’d challenged them or spoken out of turn.
Unlike most of the other prisoners, she’d never lost that core spirit. Percy had always thought that pissing off the guards was a way to pass the time, a game to keep her sane.
And it’d worked.
Bronx spoke. “You need to talk to Bram, Ava’s uncle and the clan leader, before we can answer any of that.”
“So you lot are just my babysitters?”
Melanie took a few steps closer to Percy’s bed. That stupid warm smile made Percy wary, but she didn’t scurry away. She needed to feel out these people to figure out her new survival plan.
One of the males said, “Don’t get any closer.”
Melanie stopped, waved a hand in dismissal, and kept her gaze on Percy. “I don’t think she’ll hurt me.”
Percy shook her head. “How the fuck do you know that?”
“Let’s just say that I have a lot of practice with growly, outwardly asshole temperaments and know it often hides some wounds.”
Percy blinked. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Melanie glanced at Tristan and back at her. “That’s a story for later. But let’s just say I don’t think you’ll hurt me. And even if you haven’t talked to Bram yet, my mate is a teacher and helps young dragon-shifters learn how to control their beasts—how to shift, fly, all that kind of stuff. So if you have questions, I’m sure he can answer them.”
She eyed the human and then the frowning dragonman, Tristan. Then she realized something. “Wait, he’s your mate? But you’re human. How’s that possible? Dragon-shifters hate humans and abandon any half-babies like me.”
Fuck.She hadn’t meant to let that slip.
Melanie’s eyes widened. “Why would you say that? Tristan and I have twins, and everyone here adores them, not caring that I’m their mother.”
“You’re just lying to make me feel better.” She scooted away from the human. “Leave me the fuck alone. I’ll wait for this clan leader bloke before I say anything else.”
Violet chimed in. “My mother was human too. And you’ve met my dad here, who’s a dragon-shifter. No one’s ever scoffed at me for my parentage. Oh, some of the lads call me annoying, or some people say I talk too much or ask too many questions. But that’s just who I am, and their words have nothing to do with my blood and DNA or whatever. Whoever told you that lied to you.”
Percy looked between Violet and Melanie, trying to look for deceit or, at the very least, to figure out what sort of game they were playing. It would be perfect of them to tell her what she wanted to hear, that she wasn’t a freak on so many levels.
Bronx said quietly, “Let’s leave Percy alone. Violet can fetch some sandwich ingredients, and we can all make them in here. That way, Percy can see we’re all eating the same food, and she can make it herself. How does that sound?”
He stared straight at her, his eyes flashing, but merely alert and not pissed off.
“You’re asking me? Why?”
Some emotion flashed through his eyes, but then it was gone. “Because that’s what normal people usually do. There are bastards who dictate, of course. But usually you ask a person if they want something, give them a choice, and try to respect their wishes.” He glanced at his daughter. “If it’s within reason. Sneaking out and trying to hitch a ride to a human city at twelve most definitely doesn’t fit that category.”
Violet shrugged. “I had to try. No one was telling me anything, and I wanted more information to add to my journal.”
Bronx took his daughter’s hand. “I’m sorry I dismissed your wishes as a waste of time. I had no idea that it was so important to you.”
Violet smiled at her dad. “I know. You said so back then. And since then, you’ve helped me loads to fill up the notebook. Although I still need some information. And you promised when I turn sixteen and get my dragon-shifter tattoo, that we’d visit Birmingham.” She looked at Percy. “That’s the human city my mother was from.”
