The Dragon Rebellion (M-Preg) - ON HOLD

Chapter Nineteen: New Plan

The first hatchling...

He certainly didn't look nineteen. Was it his Dragon blood that made him appear more youthful? Did he even age the same as a human?

Reid continued to study the young alien with unveiled suspicion.

"Why are you here? How did you even get in here?" he finally asked when it seemed the young boy wouldn't volunteer any more information. No, he was too busy studying Reid himself with an odd fascination.

Nayavu pouted, face turned in up in childlike distaste. "I sense you. I grow...curious. Wanted to see if you were like me, but you are different."

"Like you?" Reid repeated with a frown. Nayavu simply nodded with a wide grin. "You never did explain how you got in here."

Nayavu's grin widened to the point of showing too much of those sharp teeth. It was distinctly Naerian...alien. Predatory. Reid stiffened at the sight.

"You keep a secret?" Nayavu asked.

Reid nodded obediently, though whether or not he would tell depended on who would benefit.

And like a burst of starlight and glitter, the young Naerian disappeared in a cloud of Gemma dust. When the tiny particles cleared, there was no indication that he had ever been there.

Reid gaped at the empty spot before slowly, the air shimmered again with dust and Nayavu appeared seeming quite pleased with himself.

"How did you do that?" Reid wondered aloud.

Nayavu's chest puffed out again. "I am the first. I am special!"

"You said keep it a secret...does anyone else know what you can do?" Reid asked with interest.

Nayavu frowned. "Uncle Kincaid said keep a secret. He knows I am different, but I never show him this. I would not be able to sneak out if he knew."

Uncle? Had their King sired a clutch and they didn't know? Did that make this young alien a Prince?

"Do you know who sired you, Navayu?" Reid asked.

Nayavu shrugged.

"Are there more like you? More hatchlings?"

Nayavu's eyes narrowed, guarded. "Are you really Uncle Kincaid's pair?"

Reid forced a smile, sensing the Dragon boy's hackles rise, and tried to ease the suspicion. "You can smell him, can't you? These are his rooms."

Nayavu paused to think about that. Seeming sold, he nodded. "There are twelve. The others are young. Weak. Not like Nayavu."

Twelve...after twenty years of this torture and abuse only twelve survived hatching? Reid kept his fury under wraps, not wanting to frighten the young one. Maybe he could use this opportunity to his advantage. He could get Nayavu and the other hatchlings on his side, learn more about the outside.

This could work, especially since Reid could see the loneliness and desire for companionship burning in those amber eyes.

"How did you learn how to do that?" Reid asked. "It's very impressive."

Nayavu's eyes widened, excitement blossoming within them. "I practice. I am good at manipulating Gemma."

Manipulating Gemma...was that what Reid did? Could he learn to do what Nayavu did? Disappear?

"Can you do anything else?"

Nayavu shook his head.

Reid smiled again, more genuine this time. "It must be lonely, keeping this secret."

Nayavu nodded with a frown. "I grow excited when I sense you. I thought...I'm not alone."

Reid took a gamble, sitting up and making space on the bed. Nayavu tracked his movements with the same sort of predatory accuracy Kincaid did.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Reid asked.

Nayavu nodded eagerly.

"I am special too. I can manipulate Gemma, but I've only done it once. I don't know how to do it again."

Reid looked down at his hands, a perfect frown on his face. The bait was laid, all he had to do was wait.

Nayavu's eyes grew huge as he leaned forward eagerly. "I can teach you!"

With just enough hope brimming in his eyes, Reid looked up at him. "You will?"

Nayavu nodded rapidly.

Reid smiled and opened his arms. Like a lost puppy finding their home, Nayavu scrambled onto the bed and into Reid's arms where he curled up and purred. It was strange. Everything about this situation, however, Reid couldn't bring himself to feel the same way about this child as he did the other aliens.

Maybe it was the human blood that ran through his veins? Maybe it was the childlike innocence? Or maybe it was the need to care for someone since he could no longer do it for his mother?

Either way, he felt at home holding the slim boy in his arms, cradling his head, and relishing in the feel of providing comfort to another.

"This will have to be our little secret, Nayavu. You can't tell anyone about me, not even Uncle Kincaid."

"I will not tell. I promise," he swore.

Reid stroked his head gently all while plotting his next moves.

A/N: Hi hello! I'm back...sort of. I don't have a set schedule for this story yet, I'm still trying to figure that out. But I will be updating it a bit more frequently now that I am done with NaNoWriMo (though not even slightly done with the first draft of The Black Curse unfortunately). We are up to chapter 25 on Patreon if you are interested in reading ahead, the link is in my bio. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the read. Until next time!