Dracon (1st book of the Draconon Series)

Chapter 45

I nudged my guard's shoulder hard when I heard his voice in my head again and had him say "my princess" as the first thing that he told me. "I thought we talked about this, Targon," I softly scolded while I narrowed my eyes and scowled, and he chuckled and slowly nodded.

"We are not alone, Your Highness," he said and bowed his head a little, and I bristled slightly while I narrowed my eyes further. "We still have someone here with us while we talk."

"Yana doesn't count, though," I said, earning another chuckle from my guard. I moved my head away from Targon and moved it closer to my grandmother, much to her happiness and joy.

My grandmother smiled and moved her hand across my snout and face gently, and I closed my eyes a little while I slowly started to relax. "Hello, my Dear," she soothed with a chuckle still in her voice. "Are you feeling any better, Love?"

I closed my eyes all the way while I enjoyed the warmth and comfort of my grandmother and nudged my face closer to her hand. "Tell her that I said much," I said, letting out a grumbly purr.

Targon nodded and moved to my neck, biting back a small chuckle. He rubbed my neck while he looked at my grandmother with an unknown expression in his eyes that I didn't see but knew that I didn't like. "She says "much,"" he said. "Do you want to stand?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Yes," I said instantly and opened my eyes before I moved my face away from my grandmother's hand, much to her sadness. "I want to fly, too."

We shouldn't do that just yet, Clove, Sylias said. We need to get accumulated as a dragon first and then get back to Frederick. I am sure that he is worried because we have been gone for quite a while.

My whole body grew tense when she said our Gathron's name, and a wave of anger and annoyance coursed through my body.

Targon noticed my change in behavior and narrowed his eyes a little, and worry flashed through them while he set his jaw. "What is it?" he asked in a tone that told me not to lie to him. "What's wrong?"

I bit back an annoyed sigh and flicked my ears closer to my head while I looked at him. "I am still mad at Frederick," I replied coldly while I shifted my body so that I could stand.

Targon pressed his lips into a thin line and slowly told me to continue.

I flicked my tail against the ground and unfurled my wings before I tucked my wings closer to my body and stood, groaning while I did so.

I looked around and noticed that I was tall, taller than I have ever been before. I lifted my head until my neck was stretched to its limits and looked around again.

"Your Highness," Targon softly scolded, when I didn't elaborate, and I looked at him with a pensive expression on my face. He had his arms folded across his chest and had a small scowl on his face, and I couldn't help but slowly blink while I looked at him.

He didn't say another word, and I could tell that he wanted me to finish this conversation we were having.

I held back an eye roll and flicked my tail in annoyance. "We can finish this conversation later, Targon," I said, leaving no room for arguments. "Shift." I paused and flicked my tail again, feeling a bit guilty about how direct that sounded. "Please."

Targon bit back a small smirk and slowly nodded, not even phased at my "lack of manners" when I told him to shift. "Of course, Your Highness," he said with a small chuckle in his voice and took a couple of steps back so that he could shift without hitting us.

"What are you doing, Young Man?" Andromeda asked and placed her hands on her hips. "Why did you move away from us?"

"Because she told me to shift into my dragon form, Andromeda," Targon replied coldly. "We aren't going to fly off if that is what you are worried about."

Not yet, at least...

"Hmph." She pressed her lips into a thin line while she narrowed her eyes and scowled. She didn't say a word while she looked between the two of us with something in her eyes that I didn't understand.

Targon instantly shifted in his dragon form when she didn't say another word, standing taller than me and bowed, tucking his long neck closer to his chest and not meeting my gaze.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to him, the feeling of walking in this form feeling like second nature, even though it had been years since I had last done it.

Maybe flying would be the same...

I nudged Tafgon's neck and side, getting very annoyed with him. "Get up, Targon," I said and nudged him again, vaguely remembering doing this when we were younger, and I had shifted the first time. "There is no need to bow down to me."

Targon chuckled and stood. He nudged his head against mine, and I closed my eyes a little while I nudged him again. "There is always a reason to bow to you, Your Highness," he said softly, and I grumbled something under my breath.

Again he chuckled and nudged me again. "Come, let us walk around for a bit before we shift back into our human forms and go back to your mate and your new house."

"Ours," I said and narrowed my eyes, earning a small smirk from him. "It is our house, Targon. You are living with me."

"I know," he said and nodded again, biting back a small chuckle. He looked toward Andromeda and walked over to her.

I watched as he said something to her and knelt down beside her so that she would be able to hop onto his back.

Andromeda chuckled and shook her head, feeling very amused. "I am getting too old for this, Targon," she said but got onto his back anyway. "We need to get steps or a saddle for you to wear if I am to do this."

Targon chuckled and shook his head before he stood. He looked toward me and gestured for me to follow him before he started to walk away, and I followed him.

"Is shifting into my human form going to hurt, Targon?" I asked when that thought crossed my mind and caught up to both my grandmother and my guard.

I looked around before I looked at him when he sighed and shook his head.

"That I don't know, Your Highness," he said solemnly while he shook his head again, flicking his tail in annoyance. "That I do not know."

And neither do I, Sylias said, feeling guilty about the pain that I had been through to become this form again. I hope not, but I do not want to get your hopes up if it isn't true...

Great...

And with that, Targon and I continued to walk side by side in silence with me getting used to being a dragon again.

Please don't let me be in pain when I shift back into my human form, I silently prayed to whatever was out there that would help me like the Moon Goddess or the Ruthord or whatever divine entity was out there. Please.

I can't bear to lose my dragon again...