Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
“Belgium. I—”
“Belgium! Why would you ever go to Belgium?”
“The same reason I was in London—trying to track down a dragon using the scale,” he replied wearily. He’d been having this same conversation with his mother for a few years now. The only difference was that an ocean separated them instead of a kitchen table.
“Nonsense. It’s all utter nonsense. We never should have let you go.”
Which was the same answer he’d heard from her every time he’d brought up this trip. It was sad they were having the same talk while he sat in Germany. He took this as a clear sign that nothing was going to change with his family. His mother was bellyaching at him now, but it could have just as easily been his father. The only one who’d ever believed in dragons, magic, and their mage heritage was his gramps.
“I’m in Germany now—”
“Germany! What’re you thinking? Do you think you’re some spoiled son of a millionaire who can just tromp across Europe without a care for his family? Do you think we’re made of money?”
“No, Ma, but I need—”
“What you need to do is come home this instant! It’s nearly Christmas, Freddie, and you should be home with your family.”
“Yes, I understand, but—”
“There are no buts, mister. Family is important. It’s the only thing you’ve got. I raised you better than this.” She sucked in a breath through her mouth and almost snorted it out of her flared nostrils. How many calls had he missed to have her work herself into this froth? “Just running wild across Europe like you don’t have a care in the world. God only knows the kind of trouble you’re getting yourself into without us there to watch over you. The people you’re meeting. I shudder to think if you catch some disease. The shame it would bring on this family—”
North closed his eyes for a moment and turned her ranting voice down to a dull roar. It was the only way to keep his sanity when dealing with his mother. His father was nearly as bad, but he wasn’t the type to rant. That was left to his mom. No, Dad just sort of frowned down at him, as if everything about his person was a disappointment to him, the family, the state of Georgia, and all men everywhere in that order.
“Mom! I found dragons!” North blurted out, cutting her rant to an abrupt halt.
“What?” she said, her voice softening for the first time.
“While I was in Brussels, I met a pair of dragons. They brought me to a castle in Germany where an entire clan of dragons are living with mages.”
“Oh Freddie, you need to get out of there. Those aren’t dragons. They are going to kill you or sell you for sex. I saw a documentary on that—”
“They are! They are dragons. And mages. Gramps and I aren’t the only mages left. I’ve met them. I’ve seen them doing magic. All the old stories Gramps heard are true.”
A groan nearly escaped North when he saw his mother’s dark, skeptical look. He wasn’t sure if she didn’t believe him or simply didn’t care. Dragons, magic, and the family’s mage heritage had never meant anything to her. It was all about what she called the real world and the family’s image to the community, which already had a black eye because of North.
Boys weren’t supposed to like other boys.
Boys weren’t supposed to wear make-up. (Especially better than their own damn mothers.)
Boys weren’t supposed to like bright colors.
Boys weren’t supposed to be soft spoken.
The list went on and on and on. North’s entire person seemed to break every rule she had for what a boy was supposed to be, and he was so damn tired of trying to cram himself into the box she painted for him with all her rules and expectations.
This trip had always been about more than finding dragons. It was about getting away from all of his family’s rules and finally being himself for just a little while. It was about being able to breathe.
“Freddie, it’s time for this nonsense to end. You’re coming home tomorrow,” she announced in her firmest voice.
Now it was his turn to screech. “What?”
“No more galivanting off around Europe. Your spoiled brat routine is over. You’re not some entitled little prince who gets to have his way at the cost of his family.”
“No, not yet! I’ve been gone only a few days. I just found the dragons and the mages. Tomorrow, I’m working with the head mage. She’s going to teach me some new magic. We’re going to talk about the clans and what happened to the dragons. This was the whole point of the trip. I can’t stop now.”
The world was crumbling beneath his feet. No matter what he said, he could see his mother’s stern expression grow more resolute. “What about your family? Have you forgotten about your family, Freddie?”