The Hatchling

Last Dusk

I, unknowingly, recoiled away from him.

He was half human? How did that work? How was did he still look and act like a shifter?

Malachai saw the terror striking me and frowned a little. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He looked hurt by my reaction.

"Half human?" I repeated quietly.

He nodded again gravely. "It's not so bad. I never met my father, so no emotional trauma. My mother was a rebellious teen and got pregnant. She barely knew the man."

What a terrible story. A boy without a father. I could imagine a blue eyed toddler growing up without a father and a struggling mother.

"How'd she even meet him?" I blurted. "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that."

Malachai seemed pleased I had calmed some. "No it's fine. My mother works in region government. Just a council member. She met humans in a diplomatic meeting of some sort a long time ago. Long story short, nine months later she had me."

"Nine months?"

"Well yes. Humans are pregnant that long."

I couldn't imagine spending nine months with a hatchling growing inside me. It sounded like hell.

Deep in thought, I asked him another question. "Wait, so you were born a human?"

"Indeed."

This was all so strange. He was the opposite of everything, yet he looked just like one of us. I didn't understand how someone so beautiful could be half demon.

I said nothing else as we walked into the dining hall. The people all quieted as our strange group came in.

They looked at Alric and I with concern, at Beck with fear, and Malachai with disdain.

A group of soldiers joining trainees for lunch saw Malachai, and it looked like one was going to say something, but then he saw Beck and quieted.

The red head man ground his teeth together and finally smirked with dark intent. "Nice bitch Beckette," he snorted, looking at me in a way that made me want to shower for hours.

Beck looked like he was about shift as he let out a piercing roar, but Malachai simply set his hand on Beck's shoulder and that was it. Beck growled, but did no more.

What was between those two? Did they hate each other or not?

Malachai stared at the man for an uncomfortably long period of time, but said nothing else as we took our seats.

I sat with him, Beck, and Milo while the others sat at the neighboring table.

"How long will you be here?" Beck huffed at Malachai as he stuffed his mouth with the mystery meat.

Malachai hummed softly as he carefully sliced a piece of his loaf off. "Not sure. I was gone for a few months, so it will probably be a while. Why? Afraid I'll threaten your thrown?" He laughed.

Beck didn't look as amused, and so I guessed Malachai had the answer right.

Beck stirred in his seat as he finished his meal and continuously moved his eyes between Malachai and I.

"So you and Beck were on the same squad?" I finally broke the silence.

"Indeed."

"Who was better?"

Beck hissed at me between his teeth. "What, do you doubt me?" He snapped.

Malachai smiled, thinking back. "Oh he was certainly the better fighter. Physically, he trumped me, but I'd like to think I had a mental edge on him. I was squad leader."