Prologue

Tatum

"Happy birthday, Tatum."

My mama pulls me into her arms, squeezing me tight, her arms around my middle. I lean down and rest my cheek against the top of her head. I've been taller than both my moms since I hit 14 and now I tower over them both.

"Thanks, Mama."

"Gods, it's hard to believe you're twenty five. Where the hell has time gone? I feel like it was just yesterday that your mother and I brought you home."

Speaking of my mother, she steps outside, joining the two of us in the backyard. For as long as I can remember, it's been just the three of us. Some adopted parents might tell tall tales about where their kids came from but thankfully, my moms have always been super straightforward, answering any question I might have.

When I was just an egg, someone brought me to my mothers. My moms lived out on their own, unable to have children of their own no matter how hard they tried. They always tell me that I was an answer to their prayers. They might not be my moms based on blood, but that's never mattered to me. I love them so much and I know without a doubt that they love me too. That's a really special feeling, to be fully accepted.

They've made a wonderful life for me. I never wanted for anything and was always able to be unabashedly myself.

"Gift time," Mom says, pulling me into a quick hug before handing over a small gift wrapped in last week's newspaper. "Happy birthday, sweetie pie."

"I told you, you guys didn't have to get me anything."

My mama rolls her eyes, shoving my arm. "Of course we got you something. It's not every day you turn twenty-five! Now open up."

They've already gotten me a new sweater, new shoes, a new cell phone, some bed sheets, and a suitcase. What else would they possibly need to give me?

I carefully pull the paper away, exposing a little black box. I pop the box open, my breath stuttering in my chest at the sight of something so beautiful. Little purple earrings that'll fit perfectly in my gauged holes. I pick one up, turning it every which way so the light can reflect off the pretty purple design.

"Mama. Mom. These are beautiful."

"These are really special," my mama explains, looking over at Mom with a soft smile. "Your mom made them herself using your egg."

"My egg? Really?"

Mom nods her head, looking almost shy. "I thought it would be symbolic. Or something. Maybe it's silly. But you're finally old enough to shift and I wanted a little part of your past to be with you as you venture out onto bigger and better things."

"Oh, Mom," I breathe out, pulling her into another hug. "Nothing is better than being with my family. I love you both."

"I know, I know. You're always welcome here, Tatum. You're our little boy." Ironically, she has to crane her head up in order to say that to me.

I replace my black earrings with my new amethyst ones. "How do they look?"

"Lovely," Mama says, reaching up and patting my cheek. "Gonna attract a pretty boy or pretty girl with those things."

"Oh my gods," I murmur, covering my blushing face with my hands. They've been on my case for a few years now, telling me it's time to think about finding myself a mate and settle down. That would mean actually leaving my house and meeting other people. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. "Maybe you should just arrange a mate for me. Maybe I'd have better luck that way."

"Absolutely not," Mom says, shaking her head. "Your mate is out there waiting for you. I'm not going to fuck that up by arranging something for you! You've gotta get out there and find them yourself, Tatum."

I groan. "Why can't they come find me?"

"Fine, it looks like I'm ordering take out again and hoping the delivery person is your mate," Mama says with a long sigh, grinning over at me to let me know she's teasing me.

"I hate you," I tell her, nodding my head. "I hate you both."

"Hey! What did I do?"

"You married her!"

My mama wraps her arms around my mom, leaving a smacking kiss against her cheek. "You're damn right I did, and I'd do it all over again if given the chance."

They share a chaste kiss, smiling at each other with bright eyes. I've always had the most pure example of what love looks like with them. They love each other desperately, fiercely, yet so achingly softly. When I find my mate, I want to treat them the way my parents treat each other. I want that kind of love.

Now, if only I could have that type of love dropped in my lap without me having to actually do anything. That'd be great, thanks.

"Do you want us out here for your shift?"

Oh right. The whole reason I'm out here in the first place. Since I was a little boy, I've always known I was a dragon. I could feel my inner dragon inside of me, growing along with me, maturing and finding his place inside of me, but it wasn't until today that I felt the need to actually let him out.

He's prowling back and forth inside of me, giving a snort of annoyance at not being out already. He's clawing at the inside of my mind, begging to sprout his wings and soar.

I swallow thickly, doing my best to swallow back my nerves.

Knowing I'm a dragon is one thing. Actually experiencing it is another entirely.

"You guys can head inside. I'll come back in when I'm back on two legs."

"Sounds good," my mom says. She gets up on her tiptoes and leaves a soft kiss against my cheek. "I'm so proud of you. You're going to love being in your shifter form. It's so freeing," she tells me with a knowing look. I've never been good at hiding anything from them.

"Have a good time but try to stay around here. If you fly into the city people might see and that's the last thing we want."

"Got it," I tell them, giving them a thumbs up. "I won't be exposing the populace to my wings. We're all good."

My moms give me one last wave before heading inside our little house. I do my best to calm my racing heart. Why is shifting for the first time so nerve-wracking? It's not like I didn't know I was a shifter, but for some reason, actually having the ability to be in my dragon form fills me with both dread and excitement.

My moms are both bird shifters. Ravens, to be exact. So I know all about shifting, making nests, having weird shifter impulses that have to do with the animal form inside. What they don't understand is how much bigger and deadly a dragon is compared to a raven. In my dragon form, I could do so much damage. I won't! Obviously. But I could.

I can't keep putting this off. The dragon inside of me is pacing back and forth, frustrated at being confined. He wants out and he wants it now.

I quickly strip out of my clothes, putting them into a pile by the back door. Stepping further into the wooded area behind our home, I close my eyes and focus on that feeling inside of me, the part of me that's beast rather than man. I feel the shift begin, shimmering over my skin, burning me up until my skin molts and is replaced with scales. My body elongates, changes, morphs. It hurts at first and I cry out without my permission. I feel like I'm being torn apart and reborn into something new, something bigger and better.

I blink my eyes open, the world around me completely different. I'm much taller in this form, towering over everything around me. If I got up on my hind legs, I'm pretty sure I would be taller than the trees.

I look down at my front feet. My scales are the most gorgeous purple, almost iridescent and shiny. I dig my claws into the dirt, feeling the ground mold to my movements easily. I feel strong. I feel unstoppable. Nothing could ever conquer me or hold me down.

I stretch out my wings, flapping them a few times just to feel the wind shift around me. I could take to the skies. I could fly across the country faster than a plane if I tried.

Instead, I leap into the air and flap my wings a few times, getting myself up over the tree line. Feeling myself fly leaves me breathless with emotion. This feels so right, so perfect. This is where I'm supposed to be. This is what my inner dragon has been longing for.

While up here in the air, above the world, something pings at the back of my mind.

What?

The breath leaves my lungs in one long pull. I feel two people, can feel their presence at the back of my mind. I can feel that they belong with me, they're a part of me.

I'm not alone.

Ever since I was a little boy, my mothers did their best to explain what I was. They told me it wasn't safe for me to tell people that I was a dragon. Other shifters can smell that I'm a shifter but I could never tell them exactly what my animal skin was. I always thought I was alone in the world, the very last dragon.

I quickly dive down, landing once more. My chest is aching. I'm not alone. I have two people out there who are dragons just like me and I will do everything in my power to find them.

Clutch matescomes to mind. A term I'm not familiar with but feels right. My clutch mates are out there.

I shift back into my human form, stumbling against a tree as I catch myself balancing on two feet instead of four. My hand touches my chest, suddenly feeling alone once more but even so, hope blooms within me, knowing I have family out there waiting for me. They must feel me too, right? Maybe they're longing for me the same way I'm longing for them.

As quickly as I can, I get my clothes back on and burst through the backdoor.

"Sweetie! How was it?"

"Incredible," I tell them with a grin, "and there's something else. I think I have two siblings?"