Chapter One

Tatum

Isit down at the kitchen table, looking between my moms. "Why do you look so nervous?"

Mama sighs, reaching out and taking my hand in her own. "After we got you, we read up on anything to do with dragons. Some things were easy to find but others took a lot of bargaining and a big chunk of our savings. It was worth it though."

My brows wrinkle in concern. "You never told me you spent so much."

"You're worth everything," my mom says, nodding her head seriously. "We just wanted to be prepared."

"Okay," I say slowly.

"As we've told you before, we were given your egg while you were still in it. Your birth parents had passed away. To this day we don't know if it was due to natural causes or if hunters got them, but somehow your egg was safely taken and given to us."

I nod my head, already knowing this about myself, listening as my mothers talk. My stomach is up in my throat as they continue to talk.

"There's one legend that stuck out to us more than the others while we were reading through the books we'd gotten," Mama explains. "A tale involving three dragon brothers."

I raise my brow at them. "That's why you look so worried. I told you I felt two siblings out there when I was in my dragon form and now you're sure I'm, what? Some legend that's actually real?"

"I know it sounds unlikely, but you should know about it nonetheless. The age of dragons has been over for some time and most shifters believe that all of the dragon shifters have died off. Or rather hunted to extinction. But this tale says that the reign will begin again with the arrival of three brothers. The three will renew the dragon bloodline and the land would be ruled by them once more."

I blink at my moms, trying to process this. "And you seriously think that's me? I don't want to rule. This isn't medieval times! There's no kings to rule over their country or shit like that. I'm just a guy!"

"We know that, but there are some in the supernatural community who might think otherwise. We just want you to be safe."

"I know that. I promise I'll do everything in my power to be safe, but I also know that I need to get out there and find them. I can feel it right here," I tell them, touching the center of my chest. "I need them like I need you two. They're a part of me." I reach out and take each of their hands. "But just because they're my blood, doesn't mean I love you any less. Once I find them, I want you to meet them. I want all of us to be a big, dysfunctional family."

My moms look at each other for a moment before nodding. "We want that too, sweetie. What do you need from us?"

A smile forms on my lips. Of course they would support this, I really shouldn't be surprised. "Nothing," I tell them. "I have a good chunk in my savings and I have a car. I just need to pack my shit and hit the road."

"You have to promise to stay in touch, Tatum. I swear if I don't hear from you then I'm sending a search party after you," Mom says and I can tell she's only half joking.

"I promise."

It doesn't take long to pack up all my shit and get it into my car. Monte and I have been together since I was a teenager getting my very first car. He might sound like shit somedays but I have faith in him. I wouldn't want to make this trip without him.

That night as I sleep, I dream of a lush forest where I'm allowed to stretch my wings. I dream of connection and family. I dream of being surrounded by people I love.

When I wake up, I realize I'm smiling from the dream. There are people out there I'm destined to meet and the best time to start my search is right now. I quickly get myself ready to go, give both of my moms a tight hug, and then get into Monte.

"Alright, buddy," I say, petting the dash, "it's time to find our siblings."

With that, I'm off. Maybe I should have sat down and actually planned this entire trip but instead, I get onto the road and head in the general direction I feel like the bond I share with my siblings leads me. This half assed planning is sure to bite me in the ass but I don't care. I feel like I need to be doing, so away I go! For all I know, they could be on a different continent but I don't care, I'm trusting my instincts and letting them guide me.

I turn my car onto the highway, moving south. I keep driving for a few hours, moving from one state into another, stopping only to use the bathroom, stretch my legs, and get myself some food. One hour turns into two turns into twelve.

Somewhere along the line, I decide it would be nice to switch from the main highway to some back roads. The scenic route would keep me more entertained than the random billboards of the highway. Plus, I keep passing little farms with fields of cows. They're so cute!

The only problem? My car is making a weird fucking noise.

"Come on, Monte," I say, tapping the dashboard, hoping it'll keep him going just a little while longer. "You're okay. You're fine."

The noise is like a loud thumping and I have no idea if it's coming from my wheels or my engine or something else entirely. Gods, maybe I should have taken that community class about basic car care when it was offered.

Maybe it's actually a clanking? Fuck, things don't feel right. The steering wheel is starting to shake and the thundering noise is getting louder. I'm trying not to full-on panic but the overwhelming noise isn't helping me keep calm.

I should pull over. I should call my moms. I should do something.

I just keep driving.

I'm sure a town will be just over this hill. Just a little further and everything will be okay. It's getting to be about eight o"clock at night, the sun is starting to set. Everything seemed so perfect and bright this morning and now I can't help but wonder if I've somehow made a terrible mistake?

Just as I'm getting ready to completely give up and pull onto the side of the road, I see a sign telling me there's a town ahead. Thank fucking Christ. Hopefully I can get Monte into town without having to pay for a tow truck to meet me out here.

The noise is growing even louder, like metal grinding against metal. That can't be good. I should pull over.

But I'm so close. Fuck it, I'm gonna make it into town. Monte can do this.

It'll be fine.

I crest over a hill and see the lights of a town not too much further. Amazing. Perfect. Awesome. I've never been more pleased to see a town in my entire life.

As I cruise down the hill, I hit the break, getting Monte to slow down. The grinding is even worse now. I'm just about to pull into the parking lot of a gas station when the unthinkable happens.

The entire car jerks, the driver side slamming down against the ground. As best as I can, I get Monte pulled to the right, pulling him against the curb. I watch with wide eyes as my front left tire continues rolling down the hill without me.

"No, no, no, no!"

It can't keep going, right? It'll tip over and stop. But it doesn't tip over. It doesn't stop. It continues to pick up speed until it slams into the side of a vehicle parked at the bottom of the hill.

"Oh. My. Gods."

The side of the vehicle caves in from the force with which Monte's tire hits it. The rest of Monte seems okay. Other than the front which is on the ground instead of on the tire. I turn him off and lean back in my seat, breathing through my nose.

I don't think tonight could get any worse, but at least I've made it into a little city? Silver lining?

Fuck. Hopefully the locals are nice.