Apple Pie and Cinnamon.

Dylan

“Get your ass up and go fly the border, boy.” My father scolds me as I was just getting comfortable on the couch.

“Ugh, really? I did it this morning, surely you could have literally anyone else do it? What about all those people you rule over?”

My father roars, spitting bits of fire as he threatens to shift in front of me. Mum would kick his ass if he shifted in the house again and then she’d probably kick mine for pushing his buttons.

“Do you not understand that our family needs to set an example to the rest of the community?! You are the son of a member of the council! People are always watching!”

He yells on and on about stupid council shit until I leave. I honestly couldn’t give two fucks what people think of me. I never asked to be a part of the council. If I’m being honest, I’m not even sure I support it. I can only imagine if the shoe was on the other foot, how it would feel to be killed just because you were born a certain way. Those people didn’t ask to be born with magic, and not all of them have done something wrong. Just like not all shifters are good and do good things. My father certainly isn’t good. He’s a fucking ass wipe, out murdering complete species just because they’re more powerful than he is. I reach the edge of the mountain our village is set upon and shift, letting my dragon out as we take to the sky and circle the perimeter. Another dragon sees me coming for his position and retreats. Probably to go home and eat dinner with his family, just like I’d like to do. I circle my area for a while until I become utterly bored and head down a little further looking for an animal to hunt. My dragon loves a good chase just as much as I do, and it’s not like the village is unsafe if I leave my post. You’d have to be stupid or have a death wish to invade a dragon village. I spot a wild boar, there’s always plenty on the mountain and I dive low to grab it with my talons when the most earth shattering, mouth watering scent hits me and I falter. I miss the pig by amount ten meters and nosedive into the ground, flipping and rolling until my back hits a large oak tree and fall sideways with a huge thump. I quickly shake it off, getting back to my feet and putting my nose into the air, inhaling as deeply as possible as I search for the scent. It’s like a warm apple pie, with a huge cinnamon kick. I had been craving apple pie for a good month now for some reason. It had become my favourite food.

*Mate!* My dragon tells me. I take one step in the direction I think it’s coming from, and it disappears. It’s just fucking gone! I to roar to the fucking Gods, before I think…If my mate isn’t a dragon shifter, I might scare them. I have a mate! And now, I must find her and keep her safe. I’ll protect her and provide for her, and we can build a family, and I’ll make us a home where we can watch our children grow.

I take to the sky again, staying low as I look through the trees for any sign of her. Hours pass with no sign, no scent. I’m starting to think I just imagined it…but my dragon is sure. Our mate was here… It’s getting late by the time my mum comes to find me.

“You need to rest, Dylan. Tomorrow we’re expected to stand by your father as he gives another speech to the village about our success in defeating the resistance.” She mind links me as she flies closer.

“You and I know that’s a load of dragon shit, mum. No one has seen or heard from the resistance in months.”

“Yes, but it keeps the people from being scared. Sometimes a little lie is for the greater good.”

“Whatever you say mum.”

We fly back up the hill together. She doesn’t bother addressing the fact that I was so far off my post and I shift back, grabbing my clothes from where I left them and heading inside the house.

“There’s dinner on the stove.” Mum says as she follows me in and heads in the other direction. Mum has always been the kinder of two evils when it comes to my parents, but still, she’s never once bothered to actually be a parent. Not like those mothers you see playing with their kids or showing up to their school events. I don’t think we’ve ever actually shared a meal together. She only had me because dad wanted an heir and oh how disappointed he was to get me. The son who doesn’t give a fuck about his status. I swear, at the first chance I get, I’m out of here. I just need to find that reason to go. Until then I guess I’ll play along with his little façade and act like the honourable son of the great and mighty Damicus Rommati.