Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
A dozen tacos later, Ravi was groaning. His stomach was full and happy, but he didn’t want to stop. Thank god they were out of shells and meat. He was going to explode soon.
“Should I make more?” Sora asked.
“No. No more tacos. I’m so full. They were amazing.”
Sora chuckled and rubbed the top of Ravi’s head for a moment before moving the tray aside. “I’m glad you’re happy. You need to eat if you’re going to heal properly.”
Ravi’s head popped up as a thought hit him. “Did you eat?”
How could he have not thought of that? Even injured, his first priority was always the health and safety of a mage. He shouldn’t have been so worried about his own belly that he forgot about what Sora might need. In his defense, tacos.
Sora laughed and settled back on the pillows next to his head. “I had some oatmeal in the kitchen while I was waiting for your steak to finish.”
“That’s it?” Ravi gasped, earning another chuckle.
“I’m not a big breakfast person. Oatmeal is plenty for me. I definitely can’t handle tacos early in the morning, but I enjoyed taking care of you.”
“You’re sure?”
“Most definitely.” Sora went back to rubbing Ravi’s head, and Ravi settled back down.
Ravi had almost drifted off to sleep when Sora spoke again. They’d fallen into a comfortable silence. Much of Ravi’s pain had subsided thanks to Sora’s healing efforts, and his tummy was full of tacos. With good company and comfy pillows, he was ready for a nap.
“Ravi, can I ask you a personal question?” Sora inquired softly.
“Sure,” he replied without hesitation. He’d happily answer any of Sora’s questions.
“Are you the only wind dragon in this clan?”
“Yep. Always have been.”
“Really? Do you mind if I ask why? Why aren’t you with other wind dragons?”
Ravi opened his eyes and cocked his head a little so he could look up at Sora. The man sounded so confused by it when the answer had always been so obvious to Ravi.
“It’s because of the war.”
“I don’t understand.”
Ravi snuggled his head a little closer.
“My parents were very close friends with Hoheit’s parents, the king and queen of the Fire Dragon Clan. The wind dragons fought alongside the other dragon and mage clans against the Jaeggi. I was just a baby at the time, and I was left behind at Burkhard Castle, where I’d be safe from everything.”
“Do you know how old you were?”
“Probably only two or three years at most. My first memories are of this castle. My parents and my clan were killed during the war. As far as I know, I’m the only wind dragon in existence. Alric lost his parents at the same time. He didn’t hesitate—he immediately adopted me. I know I’m a wind dragon, but I’ve always been a member of the Burkhard Clan.”
Sora smiled at him, but there appeared to be a lingering sadness in his eyes. “They clearly love you and see you as one of their own.”
“Definitely,” Ravi said, his voice full of enthusiasm. “No one has ever treated me differently because I’m not a fire dragon. I’m family first. If anything, they value me even more because I can do things that they can’t. I’m the fastest in the entire clan. I can control the wind. I am one of the personal bodyguards to the royal family.”
“You have a lot to be proud of, and you are very loved here. I didn’t mean to make it sound like you weren’t,” Sora said, rubbing his head again. “I guess I just found it curious to find a wind dragon alone among fire dragons.”
“I understand. I guess I only ever saw myself as just another dragon among the Burkhard dragons.” Ravi paused and closed his eyes, snuggling his head against Sora. When he spoke again, he’d dropped his voice as close to a whisper as he could get in his dragon form. “I love my family. I wish I could remember my real parents, but I don’t. Dieter and Alric have told me a few stories, but even they don’t have many to tell. I’ve always felt loved and cherished here. A true part of the family. But I have wondered…”
“Wondered what?”
“What it would be like to meet another wind dragon. Are there things that I don’t know because the fire dragons simply can’t teach me? I never want to leave my family, but…are there things I don’t know about myself, things I can only learn from another wind dragon?”
“Possibly.”
“There are old stories that some wind dragons might exist within the Lost Clan, but no one has heard from them. Most of us don’t believe they even exist anymore. But if they do, I wish I could talk to another wind dragon for a little while.”
Sora’s hand drifted across Ravi’s head in a soothing caress. “So do I, Ravi. So do I.”