Chapter 4

Dining Room, Beaufont Residence, West Hollywood, California, United States

"I say we threaten to toss him over the balcony railing," Liv Beaufont said, nodding at the large purple dragon egg sitting on the dining room table, like a centerpiece.

Gen smirked, having made a similar threat to encourage her dragon's egg to hatch. "He says that he'd just bounce off the cement and roll."

Liv grinned across the table at Gen. She looked very similar to the medieval warrior with her long blonde hair, blue eyes and strong build. It made sense though because they were blood-related, just twenty-something generations apart. Liv was one of the two women who Gen had followed through what she thought was a portal across space. It turned out it was a time gate.

Liv, who worked as Father Time's assistant, had been in 1426, fixing some holes in time, and then Gen had spotted the imposters and followed them. That was the short story of how the woman who was born in 1406 was sitting at a breakfast table in the twenty-first century in West Hollywood.

Ironically, Olivia Beaufont, who only went by Liv, similar to how Gen didn't go by the name her father gave her, Genevieve, was a current warrior for the House of Fourteen. Gen and her father had created the magical governing agency with six other magician families. She was the first warrior, the role of the ones who were meant to police magic out in the world. Their counterparts, the councilors, were like her father, William Beaufont. They were the thinkers of the House of Fourteen and analyzed and assigned the cases, ensuring that magic was balanced and right in the world.

Apparently, a lot had changed in the world since William and his daughter created the House of Fourteen. Thankfully, the magical governing agency was still in power and doing the job that her father and she built all those centuries ago. That was something, but for Gen, understanding the changes of the modern world would take much time and probably be very comedic to her relatives, as well as her dragon, who strangely understood the world better than her, although hiding in his egg still.

"I don't think bullying the dragon out of his egg is the right approach," Clark Beaufont said, turning a page in the book he was studying, taking a sip of his steaming coffee at the same time. "From what I've read, a dragon knows the perfect time to hatch based on their purpose and their rider's maturity. It's about finding the sweet spot between time and development."

Clark Beaufont, the only male in the current Beaufont family, reminded Gen a lot of her father, who she already missed sorely. It was hard knowing that she could never get back to her time and see her father. It was easier knowing that she still had family and a mission.

Not just that, but Gen had a mission and opportunity in the twenty-first century. She realized now that she was always meant for this time period. That was why despite everything that Liv and Father Time did to put Gen back in her timeline, it didn't work. This warrior was made for the modern world.

Back in 1426, her father insisted that Gen fight for justice. However, Gen was a rebel who wanted to ride a dragon. She didn't know what that meant, but over time she learned and now that's all she wanted. To be the rebellious type soaring over the sky. In the modern era, that was allowed for women. Back in the medieval time, it wasn't an option.

Gen looked across the table at Clark, the guy who was like her cousin in the future. His blond hair and blue eyes reminded her of William Beaufont, the biggest influence in her life. He might have wanted her, Gen, to be something that she wasn't, but that's only because he didn't know that she had a dragon's egg. He simply didn't know what was possible. And it wouldn't have been allowed for Gen. Not until Sophia Beaufont came along six hundred years later were women allowed to be dragonriders. Everything happened for a reason and those reasons were at play in Gen's life currently.

"Many a dragon has hatched well before they bonded with a rider," Liv argued. "I think that Rufus is just being stubborn."

Gen laughed, looking at her plate of waffles with uncertainty. "His name isn't Rufus, although I can't tell you what it is."

"You won't know what it is until he hatches," Sophia Beaufont advised beside her sister and brother at the breakfast table. This woman was the first actual female dragonrider, although she looked more like a princess with her dainty features and small build and Beaufont blonde hair and blue eyes. However, there was a fierceness in Sophia's eyes that no sane man would challenge, thinking he'd survive. "But I assure you, that you'll simply know it—at your heart."

Sophia had been the first female dragonrider, the first in a hundred years. There had been one thousand and one dragon eggs spawned in the beginning. Then Sophia came along and another thousand spawned. That was the end. All those eggs had hatched—all but Gen's dragon's. He was the very last. But dragons lived thousands of years, so the fact that he and his rider would be here for a long time was something. But also, made Gen antsy for her dragon to hatch so that their life together could start.

"That's bizarre to know someone's name without them telling you," Gen said, looking at the shimmering purple egg, wishing that she could read her dragon's mind the way he could read hers. Gen mused, amazed by this new life and everything that was a part of it.

"Is the waffle okay?" Clark asked, giving Gen a look of concern. "I'm sure the food here is strange to you. I can make you whatever you like."

"The food must be weird," Liv acknowledged. "Are you mostly used to boiled potatoes and roasted turkey legs? Do you know how to use a fork?"

Gen chuckled, grateful for the teasing.

"Don't be so rude," Clark admonished, glaring at his sister across the table.

"She's right actually," Gen admitted. "Forks weren't really common in the 1400s in London. But I'm a master at observing and have figured it out watching you all." She pointed to the siblings all daintily holding forks.

"You are a master at adapting," Clark said with a sincere smile.

"I think you should lean into this medieval thing." Liv dropped her fork and picked up her waffle, tearing into it with her teeth. "Don't conform to our ways. Instead, you should make us savages."

Again Gen laughed. "I'm sure that I'm going to slip up and do a lot to embarrass myself. But I have to think of my father, William Beaufont and how he'd want to represent the family. I've already got a hot temper, so I think it's best if I at least try and have a little decorum."

Liv took another bite of her waffle, using her hands. "Decorum is overrated. You're going to be a dragonrider and they are the most rough and tumble amongst us."

"That's actually very true. What I think you should do is come to the Gullington," Sophia began, picking at her waffle. "That's the home of the dragons. We have experts there in Scotland who can advise. They'll know if there's a problem. They can probably advise on the timeframe. You can be trained as a dragonrider and more while you wait."

Gen nodded, kicking her own waffle around with her fork. "That sounds smart." She'd heard about this Dragon Elite, the organization of angel dragonriders who presided over the arbitrations of the world's government. They were the supreme source of order over the world's affairs. They were different from the Rogue Riders, the other organization of demon dragonriders who presided over the criminal world, keeping it at bay. Both were considered valuable and neither bad, but they served a different purpose. Like yin and yang. Like black and white.

"Well, I think you'll fit in really well in the Gullington," Sophia offered. "How about we take your dragon's egg there for a change of pace? I'm sure you're getting bored hanging around here while these two work." She thumbed in the direction of Liv and Clark.

"I don't think she's bored," Clark said, leaning forward, giving Gen a pointed look. "Last night, there was a strange report about a lone woman who broke up a gang fight before it could take down civilians. And it was right down the street from here. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Gen hid her grin. "What's a gang? What's a civilian? I don't know what you're talking about."

Liv threw her head back, laughing. "I love her so much. She's ignorant when she needs to be and then educated when she decides. We will never know the truth with this one."

Clark regarded his sister with annoyance. "She's your relative, for sure."

Gen patted him on the forearm. "You are much more like my father, the first councilor for the House of Fourteen. He abided by rules and wanted the rest of the world to follow suit. I, on the other hand, well, I was like Liv here. I wanted to break the world and make it anew."

Liv laughed again. "Damn it, if you're not just me from the past."

Gen nodded, smiling at Sophia. "But yes, I think the Gullington sounds old-world and more up my alley. I don't understand electricity and modern conveniences. Take me to Scotland."

"Okay, but just so you know, it's somewhat modernized, just more stuck," Sophia advised. "But yes, I think it could help you to know when your dragon is going to hatch."

All four Beaufonts looked to the center of the table at the large dragon egg. Gen wanted to meet her dragon. That's what she needed to make this strange new life feel complete. But she knew her dragon was waiting until she was ready. So she just needed to do everything to get there. Then they could start their life together, tearing up the bad guys and making the world a better place—finally.