Dragon Soul

Chapter 1-1

1

Have you ever felt there's a part of you missing?

I had. Each and every day. But that was mostly because I had to live with the knowledge that I'd never be complete. My soulmate, my one, never existed. It was one of the curses of not being a full vampire. And my family's deepest secret. Even more so than Uncle Frederick's killing spree in the eighteen-thirties.

But I couldn't think about that. Not with my best friend getting honoured today. I'd never been to a dragon blessing before, and apparently, they'd never had a vampire at one either, which meant everything was all hush hush about me. But I'd do anything for Ayra. She was like a sister to me, or at least, since she kneed me in the balls for trying to kiss her, she was. More so than any of my real siblings. The world worked in funny ways.

It had taken me a little bit of getting used to her being a dragon. It all seemed so alien still. It wasn't that long since I'd been berating her for not drinking blood often enough. Back when she was a vampire living in someone else’s body. Now she could turn into a massive blue dragon, and probably eat me if she wanted to. I hoped she wouldn't, I didn’t think I'd taste very nice, I used far too much hair product for that.

"You alright, Marcus?" she asked, and I glanced up. She took my breath away, she always did.

"Yes, sorry, just thinking."

"I thought I was supposed to be the one staring off into space today," she teased.

"Yeah."

She had a point. Then again, she was the mother, even if she wasn't right, I had to pretend she was. Not that anyone would be able to tell she’d given birth nine months ago. Ish. Ayra had that glowing new mother look, but her egg was at the bottom of a sacred lake, so there was no proof of child so to speak. Unless I counted the doting husband I knew was close by.

"Are you nervous about being here? You don't have to stay." Her voice faded at the end, and I felt instantly guilty. It would be cruel of me not to. She didn't have anyone else here. As far as I knew, her parents weren't even aware of what had happened to her. Though I could understand that, they'd never been close.

"No."

"Even though you're the only vampire?" She smiled slightly this time, but a sad look crossed her face at the same time.

"You know why they can't be here." I reached out and placed a comforting hand on her arm, trying to cheer her up.

"I know." To my surprise, she laughed. "I think I must be one of the only people in the world to be sad my ex isn't at my weird Blessing ritual."

"Sian's not a normal ex though..."

"I know. And she's not here because it'd be even weirder to have my old body at my Blessing." She chuckled at that one, and I joined in. That was pretty amusing. And not exactly normal. But from everything she'd told me about dragons, not having Tate and Sian here was the right option.

"How are you saying we know each other again?"

"Work." She looked uncomfortable as she said it. Probably because of the number of lies her and Devon were still having to tell. They had to lie during their mating ceremony and when they thought they could stay away from the community, Tate’s parents insisted on blessing Devon and Ayra for their baby. Well, it was still an egg at the moment. But it was another weird tradition they needed to adhere to. And it had to be done in front of the rest of the dragons, and Ayra had to use Tate’s name. Which annoyed her no end, and not just because they both hated the name Tatiana.

But the dragons were rather close-minded. And having a vampire at their sacred ceremony was apparently ‘not done’. But Ayra was freaked out enough as it was. To be fair, I’d be freaked out if I knew I’d had an egg growing in my stomach. Even if it was already out of there.

Okay, yeah, the Blessing ceremony made a little more sense now. I’d want to ask the Ancestors for their favour if I had to push out a big ass egg like Ayra had nine months earlier. And, as they said, better late than never. So I’d have to make sure not to ruin this Blessing by revealing my nature.

"Okay, and no mentioning I'm not a dragon. Got it."

"They might be able to tell..."

"If they do, they do, that's for me to weather."

"Hmm true."

"Now, stop worrying yourself. Are you ready to have the Elders chant over your stomach and paint ancient runes on you?”

Her tinkling laugh came as a reply, but I could tell she was nervous. Devon explained to her many times over what would happen and how she needed to reply, but she was still stressed. I crooked my elbow for to take hold of so I could escort her to the altar. I’d stick close and hold her hand during, but I was sure the Elders wouldn’t allow that. No, that privilege was reserved for the husband and her parents. Not that they provided much support, from what I heard. Tate didn't speak very highly of her family, and Ayra wasn't much better.

“Ready?”

Ayra nodded, her eyes shifting through the room until she found Devon. The nervosity flitted from her face and she nodded.

“Ready.”