Chapter 9: Ancalagon

The morning after I cried my dragon’s lament, I wake to Cyrene rubbing her little hand on my face.

“Calgon, wake up. Wake up, Calgon,” she says, in her sweet toddler voice.

I don’t open my eyes, but I growl softly, immediately eliciting her very high-pitched squeal of excitement.

“Who dares to wake the dragon from his sleep?” I say, keeping my eyes closed and my voice deep.

“Me! Me!” she says excitedly.

“And who are you, little one?” I growl lowly at her.

“Pwincess Cywene!”

“Princess, you say?”

“Mmmhmm!” she’s so excited by our game that she’s squirming around on what’s left of the bed. I make sure to keep my arm around her so she doesn’t fall off.

“And does the Princess think she’s strong enough to claim a dragon?” I growl.

“I have dis,” she says, showing me her hand with my mark on it. I open my eyes, taking her hand and kissing her mark.

“Oh, well then, you are a Princess, indeed. Only the Alpha of Dragons can give you that. You must belong to him,” I say, blowing on the mark and w