Ryn

Chapter Four

Pity on the one who comes between a mother and her eggs. If anyone, be it Wyk or Fyn, Dragonling or Draggy, attempts such a feat, their lives are forfeit to the mother.

This is Our Law.

~From the Dragonling Grimoire

Yeah. My fyn left me all alone.

It's normal, really. 

At least, that's what I told myself. Alma tried to reassure me that maybe my mate would come back, maybe he just couldn't find me, but after a while, we both silently gave up hope.

Now, I was in my room, staring at the two melon-sized eggs in wonder. They were a milky white, one stained the faintest of blue and the other pale gray, their shells flexible but unbreakable. It was impossible for them to be smashed unless a dragonling breathed fire directly on them. In fact, in six moon cycles, I would have to set them on fire so the hatchlings could push through.

Hatchlings.

The thought sent a thrill through me. It hadn't been too long ago that I'd hated the idea of being forced to raise children. Now I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to do at this time. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it was because of the chemicals my brain was producing to ensure I didn't abandon my offspring. Science aside, it was a pretty damn good feeling.

Several of the older wyks had been by to drop off blankets and pillows for the nest, and Garik had even brought me food when I needed it. Lord Edik hadn't bothered to stop by, but he had sent a letter telling me that I was removed from active duty until the eggs hatched. I was, of course, expected to take part in training still. Typical.

Speaking of training, I looked out my window to judge the sun position. Damn. Nearly time to go. I laid a hand against one of my eggs. "I'll be back soon," I whispered as if they could already understand me. Maybe they could.

Probably not.

I located my broadsword and attached it to my belt before double checking to make sure all the windows were locked, even though I already checked half a dozen times. Maternal instinct does that to you. Or paranoia.

After I extinguished the candles, I left my rooms - after triple checking that I locked the doors of course. Maternity was going to kill me. Or make me learn patience.... probably just kill me - and wandered through the complex. About sixty other wyks lived in my complex, along with their harems- excuse me, niches. Niche was the preferred term.

It's a harem, guys. No way to escape it.

My mind slowly wandered back to my fyn. No, I wasn't lovesick, not in the way some people were, but it still stung that he didn't even stick around to tell me his name or at least show me his human form. Now I was left wondering who exactly he was. His scales were the darkest black I'd ever seen, like a starless night sky. No way was he an Umny - no dragonling had skin that dark.