Dragons Live Forever Read Free Page B

closer to the castle, I’m able to telepathically communicate. “I come in peace and wish only a few hours to visit my friends.”
    “Uncle Tahr, you must come and see my new machine,” Ashrac immediately responds and I can’t help but smile. In dragon form I’m sure my smile looks ferocious and this just causes my sharp teeth to spread further. Ashrac is a young teenager now and is fascinated with electronic devices that don’t work in the dragon realms. It’s the magic that keep them from doing whatever they were designed to do. Ashrac doesn’t care. A few years ago, I brought him a circular robot that cleans human floors in the earth’s realm. You would think it was a mountain of gold by how much he coveted the useless item.
    “Come in peace, my friend,” Bastian says.
    “If not, I will tan your hide,” Acasia adds, which makes me laugh.
    She’s such a… mother. It’s the only word that describes her. Somehow I don’t see Roxy responding quite so gently. Slicing their head off, yes, and she’s more than capable. But tanning, no.
    I land on the high perch of Bastian’s tower where he accepts guests. Ashrac flies around from the opposite side and lands. I shift at the same time he does and the lad throws himself into my arms.
    “I’ve missed you, Uncle Tahr. I’m so very sorry about Meagan and I miss her too.”
    His words cause my gut to tighten. I inhale Ashrac’s unique young scent in order to shake off thoughts of Meagan. Bastian is truly blessed to have such a child and I’m blessed that his parents allow my visit.
    Looking down at the top of his head, I can’t help but realize how much this young man has grown. There will come a day that he won’t throw himself into my arms with the abandonment of youth. A strong yearning to take him to my castle and keep him comes over me. I look up and see Bastian in his human form with a glint of fire in his eyes. I release Ashrac reluctantly and tousle his hair. “You must stop growing or you will be larger than me soon.”
    Ashrac’s chest puffs up and I see a hint of the child he once was. “Mother says I’ve grown three inches in the past six months. I will be bigger than you and father this next year and then I shall come and steal all your treasure, Uncle Tahr.”
    It’s impossible not to grin when he’s so carefree. I remember stealing treasure from other dragons when I was a child. I think all the dragons were in on the small thefts that allowed the children to practice their stealth. That was before the curse and before dragons lived with years of lonely agony. But as it was then and as it is now, children are the greatest treasure a dragon can have. I envy Bastian and Acasia and also Laryn and Roxy. Their miracles shall never be mine.
    Bastian breaks into my thoughts and holds garments out for me to put on. “Acasia is waiting below. She plans to serve tea.” He holds up his hand before I can comment. “Yes, I know that it’s ridiculousness. She believes she can teach our son the proper ways of a gentleman and I wouldn’t dare make her think otherwise.” His hard stare has me closing my mouth and fighting a grimace.
    “Must we, Father?” Ashrac complains.
    “Yes, or your mother will be unhappy and we don’t want that. Once you’ve had tea, you may show Tahr your new device.”
    Ashrac turns from his father to gaze up at me. “She will have small sweet cakes, so it shall not be all bad, Uncle Tahr. Then I will show you the greatest invention ever made.”
    I dress in the offered clothes. I should have brought my own. I’ve forgotten about Acasia’s many rules and no nudity when having tea is one of them. “I can’t wait to see this great invention, Ashrac. You must tell me all about it and exactly what it was built for.”
    Ashrac takes my hand and leads me inside. Even his hands have grown and it gives me a melancholy feeling to think of what will happen when he is a man. Will the curse guide his life as it has ours? It’s