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The sun shone brightly over the city of Drayhoone, and King Mikan thought to himself that it was going to be a good day. He had promised his cousin Rodic that he would be present for his second transition into dragon form. The first transformation was always private, and Mikan had not been allowed to attend. Because of the bond they shared, his presence could have interfered with Rodic’s choice of trainer. But he had sworn to be there for the boy’s second change.

King Trace met Mikan at the shuttle bay rather than the palace. Raje, the lead trainer, had insisted that Mikan stay away from the training arena until Rodic chose his trainer, so there would be no outside influence. Once a youngling made that choice, the trainer became the only dragon they would respond to in dragon form until they fully merged with their other half. The choice was mostly a formality 99% of younglings chose Raje. Still, tradition required the ceremony for the rare exceptions.

With their bodyguards in tow, the two kings began walking toward the palace, catching up after their last meeting. Their talk was not only of Rodic’s transformation. The Queen’s egg was due to hatch, and preparations for her thousand-year reign celebration were already underway. As the Queen’s cousin, Mikan was looking forward to the festivities.

Then, without warning, an explosion thundered from the south side of the city. The ground trembled. Both kings turned toward the commotion and saw three full-sized dragons hovering over the city facing down a black-and-red youngling.

Mikan’s slayer commlink blared an emergency alert:

“Prince Rodic has escaped the training arena. He has not chosen a trainer. Approach with caution. Repeat: youngling loose in the city.”

Neither Mikan nor Trace hesitated. They shifted into their dragon forms, the black-and-blue dragon and the feared white dragon filling the streets, sending civilians scattering for cover.

“How in the hell did he escape?” Trace growled.

“I think the bigger question is how is he flying?” Mikan answered grimly.

Rodic darted through the air, using his smaller size and speed to outmaneuver the slayers. But he hadn’t accounted for the Queen’s sentinel. Captain Kyle, small and blisteringly fast, shot into the sky and intercepted him. Moments later, the Queen herself, her great red dragon joined, trying desperately to reach her son. But Rodic, driven purely by instinct, ignored her attempts.

“I can tell Brie is trying to reach him, but he’s not responding,” Trace said, his agitation rising. “I don’t want anyone hurting my son.”

“He’ll only respond to a trainer,” Mikan replied. Then he released a thunderous roar that silenced the chaos below. His voice boomed through the dragon mind-link: “Remember, this youngling is the Prince. Do not harm him.”

Rodic heard. He turned, vanished from the slayers’ sight, and reappeared directly before Mikan. The two dragons roared at one another. Mikan groaned. “Oh, hell. Land and transform, you little demon.”

Rodic obeyed, swooping down and shifting back into his Draynor form. Trace and Mikan followed. Straider, Trace’s sentinel, stripped off his shirt to cover the boy’s nakedness while the kings wove their skin into the appearance of clothes. Through the mind-link, Trace broadcasted that Rodic was safe and ordered the trainers to meet them in the throne room.

Inside the throne room, Queen Brieanika and the three trainers awaited, their faces grim. Rodic, however, looked delighted.

“Who got him to change form?” Raje demanded.

“I did,” Mikan admitted, raising his hand.

“I specifically told you not to interfere.”

“Don’t blame me. You let a youngling escape, and the slayers were about to harm him. I merely reminded them who he was. How did I know Rodic was eavesdropping?” Mikan countered.

Raje’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Then his training is now your responsibility, King Mikan.”

Mikan scowled. “I don’t have time to train anyone.”

Queen Brie chuckled softly. “We could always suspend your slayer duties until he is trained.”

“Don’t you dare,” Mikan growled. He turned back to Raje. “Answer me this, why was he flying?”

“That is the mystery,” Raje admitted. “He transformed, grew nervous at our presence, and perhaps sensing you nearby he panicked. He blasted a fireball into the arena wall, tore through it, and fled. If not for Captain Kyle’s speed, the city might be in ruins.”

Trace narrowed his eyes. “You seem strangely calm about this. None of this is normal.”

“Neither are his parents,” Raje replied. At Trace’s glare, he bowed his head in respect. “No disrespect, my King, nor to our Queen but the boy’s bloodline is unlike any other. Two Torch parents. Two of the strongest dragons. His speed nearly matches Kyle’s. Nothing about him is ordinary.”

“I really like flying,” Rodic said at last, grinning.

Mikan crouched before the boy, peering into his eyes. He reached into Rodic’s mind and froze. “It can’t be.” He rose sharply.

“What is it, cousin?” Brie asked, sensing his unease.

“Rodic has already merged with his dragon.”The words stunned the chamber. Raje checked the boy himself, then fell silent in shock.

“Well?” Trace pressed. “Has he?”

“Yes,” Raje confirmed quietly. “I have never seen this before. But with the royal line… the unexpected is inevitable.”

Mikan frowned. “The only other female of the royal line to wed a Draynor was my mother.”

“And you can shift into any form you please,” Raje reminded him. “And your brother Daxen can conjure ice storms that could freeze this city for a solar year. Unique things happen in your bloodline.”

Before Mikan could respond, Raje’s commlink buzzed. He read the message and smirked. “It is official. Prince Rodic has chosen you as his trainer, King Mikan. What’s done is done. I recommend you assemble a team of Captain Kyle, to counter the boy’s speed, and King Trace, to help manage his fireballs.”

“I can handle fireballs,” Mikan huffed.

“Not these flames,” Raje said gravely. “The residue at the arena proves it, it was a Torch’s flame.”

Trace’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

“Prince Rodic is a Torch. He’ll need training to control that fire.”

All eyes turned to the boy. Rodic blinked innocently. “Can I go flying again?”

Mikan sighed, rummaged through his bag, and pulled out a restraint. He locked it around Rodic’s wrist. “No shifting or flying without my permission.” He gestured to Stryker, the boy’s sentinel. “Take the Prince to eat while we discuss his training.”

When the boy was gone, Brie’s face hardened. “Mikan, I know that restraint. That was no training cuff, you put a slayer’s restraint on him. What was his first-level reading?”

Mikan hesitated, then admitted, “Nine.”

The Queen’s voice cracked. “Raje, what is happening to my son?”

Raje stepped forward, his expression gentler now. “Your Majesty, he is fine. This is not a curse or an affliction it is simply the uniqueness of the royal line. Power always manifests differently when royalty and Draynor blood are joined. Rodic’s early merge, his speed, his flame… they are rare, yes, but not dangerous to him. He is strong. Stronger than most younglings his age. With proper guidance, he will thrive.”

Brie’s hands trembled, but her shoulders eased as she met Raje’s eyes. “Then we guide him,” she whispered.

“And we will,” Raje promised, his tone steady.