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me, I stuffed and used for archery practice. I think both the Realm and the council need a good shaking
up, but everyone s scared of change.
Just who, or what, is this council you all talk about? Suzie asked.
The council is our governing body made up of wizards, for the most part, who inherit their seat
from their fathers and uncles. Although, a few sorceresses have managed to fight their way onto it when
no appropriate male heirs could be found. They make the policies for the Realm, the laws that all must
abide by.
So they re not even elected? But what if you have a bad bunch in charge? How do you get rid of
them?
You don t. When one dies, another one takes their place.
Suzie shook her head in disbelief. That s dumb. In my world, we elect people to represent our
wishes. It doesn t always mean we get what we want, but if they screw up enough, we just don t elect
them when the next election comes around.
Interesting, said Nat pensively. It would certainly make some of them more accountable if they
knew they could lose their power if they didn t pursue the wishes of the people they represent. And what
about the women in your world? You speak like they re more like me, not tied to the hearth or forced to
marry.
Women had to fight for their rights. We still do to a certain extent, even today. Some countries still
don t accept women as equals. But in my country, women have as many rights as men. We only marry
and have children if we choose to. We wear whatever the hell we feel like and can do any job a man can.
You d like it over there.
Nat, about to reply, halted as a noise came from the door leading onto the parapet. An out of breath
Molly came out onto the walkway, one hand on her hip, hunched over, as she fought to catch her
breath.
Chubby Molly running. Something had happened!
They re back, Molly panted.
Suzie didn t ask who. She flew, Nat hard at her heels. She ran down the hall and stairs to the front
hall and skidded to a stop, looking around. She heard voices from the parlor and headed in that
direction when Beverly appeared in the archway to the parlor, blocking her way.
Molly said they re back. Did he find Jared? Is he okay? Suzie asked, heart pumping.
Beverly took her by the arm and moved her away from the doorway. Suzie s heart clenched in dread.
What? What s wrong? she cried. Oh God, please let them be all right.
Hunter s back with your boy, but before you go charging in, you need to know. Jared shifted while
he was out in the woods. He hasn t been able to shift back. I need to know you ll be strong enough to
face him.
What do you mean he s shifted? Suzie didn t understand.
As suspected, he s got his father s genes. He turned into a dragonling. Unusual at his age, but not
completely unheard of. Before you go in there, you need to remember that, no matter what he looks like
right now, inside he s still your little boy. If you do or say anything while he s in this shape, well, that
could do more damage to him than his kidnapping did.
I don t care what he looks like. He s my son, said Suzie, pricked that Beverly would even think she
would ever do or say something that would make Jared doubt her love for him.
Fine. But don t say I didn t warn you. And remember, no matter what, don t reject him. He needs
you right now.
Never would I turn from him, thought Suzie. I am his mother, no matter what he looks like.
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Suzie approached the doorway again and took a deep breath before walking in. Stupid, but Beverly s
warning had made her slightly nervous about facing her own son.
She saw Hunter s broad back first. Then he turned, and Suzie gave a silent thank you that Beverly
had talked to her or she d probably have screamed or done something equally stupid. For nestled in
Hunter s arms was a little blue dragon.
Its body seemed to be about the same size as Jared s, covered in shimmery blue scales. A long tail
curved down over Hunter s arm, and little claws gripped his arms tightly. But when she looked at the
little dragons eyes, so familiar, she recognized Jared. His big, brown eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Suzie approached, tears pricking her eyes, and held open her arms. Come see me, baby, she said
softly. With a flutter of little wings from his back, wings that she hadn t even noticed, he flew into her
arms and buried his scaly face into her chest.
Mama, he sobbed, his voice strange sounding and raspy.
Suzie rocked him in her arms, cooing to him softly, a flashback to a time not so long ago when he d
been a baby and colicky. She walked around with him in her arms, singing snippets and snatches of
songs, holding him safe and warm as the trembling in his little limbs calmed. Poor scared baby.
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