Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

**Avery**

I try to hide my panicked soul as I shield my body from them. Conner stands and I wince. He puts his hands up, “Before we discuss all of this, I have an idea.” I narrowed my eyes as he shook his head. “Avery, we won’t push you into doing

anything. This can be at your pace, but what I am suggesting is a quick shopping trip because you will need something to wear besides that shower curtain,” he said softly.

I looked down. He’s right, but if I take away from my savings I won’t have much to leave my adoptive parents when I go

to college. Growls started emanating from The Trio. I scrambled back, but when I did the shower curtain shifted. Clint and

Cassius both surged forward, but Conner caught them by the collars of their shirts.

“Brothers, restrain yourself. Let’s let her put some clothes on,” Conner said calmly as he pulled them towards my now

doorless doorway. “Avery, this short trip is on us. Consider it part of our penance, please.” He poked his head in, “Knock

on the wall when you are ready.”

I sat on my bed for a few minutes to make sure that they wouldn’t return until I was ready. Still wrapping the shower

curtain around me, I walked into my closet and shut the door. I rummaged through the few things on my rack before I

settled on a black knit dress that Trisha had given me. It was always too big because my body resembled a toothpick. I

boobs. I now have boobs! I am very pleased about that

The dress she gave me fits rather snugly but it

fingers

and closed the

steadied my now rapidly beating heart. Once I wasn’t on the verge of a panic attack, I looked through the

with a golden crown of scales around its horn. It looked

afraid. You know me as I do you even though we haven’t talked since

sweet

aren’t dreams, they’re memories. There’s a reason that your favorite color is blue too because it used to

crack open the closet door, “If you know so much about me, what song did Mom sing?” I

not even Tim, who at the time I considered my best friend.

among the thorns there’s a beauty few can see. She lays in wait, sleeping, dormant until light reveals

myself walking to my bed and sitting beside the dragon who was singing my mother’s song in

began to fall as I began to remember it all. I reached over and started petting

kitten’s fur. I hummed and sang with her, “In a land that time forgot, our hope

anew. Rise, rise our warrior

the dragon who was silently sobbing as she

She looked up at me with her said glowing blue

my head, “Avery, I am so so sorry. I did

am Regina. I am your dragon. We were born as one. I have longed to speak

parents were slaughtered