12. Alfie

As soon as I stood in front of my mother, all the nice feelings I'd had of being competent and capable went straight out the window.

Somehow, she made me feel about six years old and, worse, I let her. I just didn't know how to behave any other way.

All I knew was that I'd taken charge when Blaze had been in shock and he'd needed me to look after him and I'd liked it. He'd let me help him and he'd looked at me like… like I was a hero or something.

I knew I wasn't a hero. I wasn't anything. I'd never done anything. But it had been nice to feel that way for a while.

That made it doubly hard to have Mother fuss over me and tell me that I wasn't allowed outside again. I barely managed to restrain myself from arguing with her about it, but long experience told me that when she was worried about me, she wouldn't listen.

It was one of the few times I managed not to blurt out all the words in my head, when I could feel our bond vibrating with anxiety and a sort of grief that made the whole bond tight.

The bond she shared with Morgan was identical to the one she shared with me, and it went tight, too. I could tell that she was in full Mother-mode and wanted to know that Morgan and I were safe. The tightness of the bond didn't show up in any of her other bonds, even the bright, glowing bond she shared with her own sister. One glance at my mother and anyone could tell that Aunt Silvia was the most important person to her. Except for me and Morgan, of course.

Yet it was only mine and Morgan's bond that went tight like that.

I sat in the medical room after Glenwise had patched me up and Mother was allowed back inside (Glenwise got very strict about who was allowed inside when he was treating patients and not even Mother questioned him when he got his stern look). I allowed Mother to stroke my hair and tell me off for going outside alone, even though I was allowed to go out alone and it wasn't as though anybody had suspected that a random lunatic would shoot at a dragon inside their own territory.

She only left when I promised I would go to bed and rest, and Glenwise said he would walk me to my room to make sure I got there okay.

Mother hurried away to talk to Father. I could see the bond with Morgan practically pulling her in that direction. I wasn't sure whether to be sorry for Morgan that he was about to be Mothered because something happened to me, or whether to be glad that he would be coming home.

If I were being selfish, I'd be glad. It's just that Morgan had started to enjoy himself out there. He felt safe and I wanted him to have a chance to spend time with the hot instructor he had a crush on.

As soon as Glenwise left me, I hurried out of my room and snuck down the stairs. I nearly ran into Aunt Isabella but I managed to duck away just in time because I spotted our bond rising up and hid before she turned the corner. I liked Aunt Isabella, even if she did only speak Italian because she was homesick for her birth clan. At least it meant that my Italian was excellent. I just didn't want anyone to spot me.

I briefly thought about going outside to see Blaze, since I was doing so well at sneaking around. I didn't, though. I crept along towards Father's study where I could hear him talking to Mother. I wanted to know what they were going to do with Morgan so I could warn him about it before it happened.

Morgan hated surprises.

And, if they did decide to bring him home, I wanted him to have the chance to say a proper goodbye to the trainer he had a crush on.

I heard snatches of conversation. Lord Somerville's coldly authoritative voice said, "I have been down to the borders myself and there is no sign of anybody getting across it. The shot came from outside."

Mother asked, "How did it happen?"

"The borders are weak. I've put protections down and will add more tomorrow. Our Guardian has allowed the spells to deteriorate."

"He is only one dragon. We used to have more—"

She cut off whatever she was going to say, and Lord Somerville said, "It is the Guardian's duty to protect the borders. I will be watching him closely from now on to ensure he is putting adequate protections down."

"Will you continue to put your own spells down?"

"I will focus my protections around the castle."

"Will you consider removing that spell?"

"That is not necessary."

"If he is in danger, he needs to be able to protect himself."

"He is in no danger inside the castle."

There was a moment of silence. I wasn't sure why, until Mother said, "I'd like you to recall our son, Morgan. He should be at home."

"He is training."

"But if we are under threat in any way, we should have all of our clan here."

"A weak dragon won't be able to protect anybody. He'll stay there until he's learned to fight. Then he will be called home to do his duty to his clan."

"At a time like this—"

"He'll stay there and learn to earn his keep."

"He'll be more useful at home, surely, Lord Somerville?"

I noted that she added his title at the end of that sentence. She'd come dangerously close to arguing with him there, and my stomach twisted inside me. I didn't want to think I was worried. I mean, my father wouldn't hurt my mother, even if she was disrespectful.

I did creep closer to his office door, though. Just in case. Something in me pushed to be closer to them, to protect what was mine. I couldn't leave my own mother in danger.

I was so caught up in the sudden jolt of worry that I nearly missed what he said next.

"Morgan will be more use to the clan when I've got him mated to an ally."

The thought made me shudder.

Unfortunately, I had to run then because the door opened and Mother hurried out. I could tell she was heading straight for Aunt Silvia, and her bonds with me and Morgan grew tight again.

As soon as she was gone, I rushed back to my bedroom so nobody would see me, I wasn't sure what they had decided. They'd argued. Actually argued.

I'd rarely heard anyone speak to Lord Somerville other than to say, "Yes, sir," and Mother was the only one who could ever question him. She only did it where Morgan and I were concerned.

The way she'd been speaking, this shooting wasn't just random. It was an attack.

The thought made my insides prickle with unease. Blaze was out there, alone and vulnerable. I didn't like that at all. Everything inside of me wanted to bring him inside, wrap him up in my blankets and keep him safe in my bed. Nothing would be able to hurt him in this castle. Not with my whole clan to protect him.

I actually considered it. Revealing him to Lord Somerville and asking him to let Blaze stay.

After all, fire spirits were powerful. Blaze was sweet and kind. Why wouldn't he let my friend stay?

Unfortunately, no matter how much I longed to make it happen, I knew that it wouldn't. Blaze had entered our territory uninvited and Father would only ever see Blaze as a threat.

I got a horrible cramp at the possibility that Lord Somerville would throw Blaze out. Then he'd be on the outside of our protections, alongside whatever maniac was out there with a gun and a grudge. No, I didn't want Blaze out there. Not at all. I wanted him inside our protections, where he would be safe.

I'd keep my friend secret for a while longer, until I could work out what to do to keep him here permanently.