A dragonling is free to choose their home colony. But they must understand that once they give up their right to be called part of their homeland, they will lose it forever. 

This is Our Law.

~ From the Dragonling Grimoire 

I smacked Ray upside the head with a pillow, but the damn fyn wouldn't wake up. He was snoring louder than even Dmitri. I didn't think it could be possible.

"What am I, a snoring-fyn magnet?" I grumbled to myself before I whacked my new mate with the pillow several more times. When he didn't wake up - just rolled over - I gave up and threw the pillow across the room in exasperation.

Flopping down again, I put a fur over my ears so I could get some sleep. It was pretty close to dawn, but Ray had kept me up all night with his insatiable libido. "Dammit. This is your fault." I muttered towards the sleeping body beside me. "Keep me up all night and then you get to sleep while I'm up dealing with your snoring. Thanks, asshole."

Despite my bitter words, I only felt a mild irritation that was barely a drop against my new-found affection for the fyn. There wasn't the deep, tender love I had for my other mates, but Ray already felt like a close friend. With benefits, of course, but that was another story.

After a while, I was able to drift off to the steady snoring, snuggled close to Ray's side. When I woke up, I was alone on the soft furs. Ray was getting dressed across the room, pulling on a black and gold tunic. I sat up and watched him closely, making note of his body. It was lean and muscular, but it lacked the hardened build that Dmitri had. His copper-colored skin didn't have any scars or bruises.

A royal who sparred for show. Why am I not surprised? Yes, Ryn s mostly fight in their beast forms, but our humanoid forms were usually just as rough and scarred up, from training or fighting. I had a bit of leeway with my body, as I was a young wyk, but since I'd passed by Trial I had noticed the soft fat harden into muscle.

Ray turned then, his sharp golden eyes meeting mine. I was struck how haunted his eyes looked in the half-light of the fire. He smiled at me, the shadows falling away as he stepped closer. "Good morning. Sleep well?"

"After I finally managed to block out your snoring?" I murmured teasingly as I stretched.

"I don't snore." Ray frowned.

"Oh, yes you do!" I snorted, standing up. Ray tossed me a tunic - not mine, but close enough to my size - that matched his before walking to his desk.

"I think I would have known if I snored, Anita." Ray said, pulling on a par of leather gloves threaded with gold around the cuffs.

I rolled my eyes and let it go, pulling on the tunic. "What's up with the outfit, by the way? Are you going somewhere?"

Ray walked over, helping me tie the gold-threaded belt around my waist. "I wanted you to match me when I present you to my colony."

"I- what?! What am I, a prized cow?!"

Ray rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh, hush. My colony has the right to know I have a mate now. You can at least look good and not wear those awful clothes."

"I didn't have much choice in the matter," I muttered as I eyed the rumpled tunic Dmitri had found for me once I'd gotten rid of the Thundercrash uniform, "you know, no money and all."

"You won't have to worry about money anymore." Ray responded lightly. He kissed my forehead softly before stepping away. "But... we will have to worry about your hair. Do you always wake up with such a bird's nest?"

I scrunched up my nose. "Excuse you? My hair isn't that-" Ray took my hand and put it on the top of my head so I could feel the tangled mess that my hair had become. "Oh."

"'Oh' is right." Ray snorted, pushing me over to sit at his desk. "Sit still so I can clear this mess." He dug through the clutter to pull out a golden comb. "Here we are."

Ten minutes later, Ray finally finished. "Alek was never so rough when brushing my hair." I muttered, rubbing my sore head.

"I'm sure he had more time and patience than me." Ray responded, cleaning the strands of hair from the comb's teeth. "Though I can't imagine how. He physically attacked me-"

"And you barged into our room and demanded things." I reminded Ray tensely. "Alek was just trying to protect me."

"He should learn to use words instead of fists." Ray snorted. I decided not to tell him that he was probably the first person Alek had ever punched.

"You're just lucky it wasn't Dmitri." I said as Ray slipped an arm loosely around my waist and guided me out the door. "Your face wouldn't be so pretty anymore."

"He wouldn't dare." Ray scoffed, tilling his head upwards imperiously. "I'm a-"

"A king?" I said cheekily. "I've heard."

Ray blinked down at me in confusion before his ears reddened. "I don't say it that much."

"Yes you do."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Am I interrupting?" A voice said, making me look up in surprise. Mako was standing in front of us, a hand on his hip. "Ani, what's with you and arguing with your mates?

"You're just jealous I'm having the morning-after argument and not you." I shrugged, unable to stop the grin that tugged at my lips.

Mako walked over and slung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me away from Ray. "Details, details. Details that you're totally telling me later, by the way."

Ray caught my gaze and rolled his eyes, but it was lighthearted. "Mako, wasn't it? You could have just asked to join, you know."

Mako stopped suddenly, his face alight with shock. After a moment he beamed. "Ani! You finally have a mate I like!"

I groaned, untangling myself from Mako's arm. "Not this again." Glancing at Ray, I hurriedly explained. "Mako likes to share my fyns with me because he can't get his own."

"False." Mako interjected.

"True. Anyways, Alek and Dmitri aren't into other fyns so they think it would be too weird."

Ray watched us with mild amusement, his golden eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, I suppose if you've done it before-"

"We have."

"Shut up, Mako! Don't give him ideas!"

"I suppose tonight you'll just have to come with us." Ray added sweetly, giving me a wink.

"Is everyone in your colony like this?" I muttered.

Ray nodded, his gaze turning wistful. "I forget that dragonlings from your colony are so orthodox. Back home we have a lot of natural hot springs. That's where we usually bathe." He snorted softly, shaking his head. "Not much privacy when you're in naked in a public place, you know?"

"That," I rolled my eyes, "explains a lot."

Mako looked thoughtful. "We aren't able to bathe too often here, obviously. Even if we don't feel cold because of the magic, it still affects our bodies. I wonder if we would act so bold if we were able to be more open."

"You mean you wonder if they would act so bold." I snorted. "You act like you came from his colony all along."

We had been walking while we talked, and now we were in front of a stall selling grilled haddock. My stomach growled at the smell and Mako smiled. "Oh good. Ray, you get your first lesson about Anita."

"I thought my first lesson was that her angry mates love to fight people."

"Your second lesson," Mako corrected, "is Anita will love you forever if you feed her."

"You make it sound like I'm addicted to food or something." I crossed my arms, but my traitorous stomach growled again.

Ray laughed and pulled his coin purse from his cloak. "Sounds easy enough." He went to the vendor and gave him a dazzling smile before ordering. After handing over the payment, he gave me one of the sandwiches - grilled haddock wrapped in sweetbread. It tasted delicious. I finished mine before Mako and Ray were even halfway done with theirs.

"I told you." Mako said between bites. Ray just laughed.

"The two of you are ganging up on me." I mumbled. "I should have brought someone else along."

"No, please." Ray said dramatically. "I'm afraid to know any of your other friends. They might try to fight me too."

I hesitated, then shook my head fiercely. "Liza and Jordan are really sweet!"

Ray blinked, tipping his head to the side. "Liza... that wouldn't be Princess Elizabeth, would it? From the Kestreldive colony?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly. "... why? Do you know her?"

"We've... met. She's awfully quiet. And very... well, not like you."

"I thought we already established that she's sweet." I said dryly. "Are you saying something about me?"

"Ani," Mako snorted, finishing his sandwich, "you're a lot of things. Sweet is not one of them."

A cough drew our attention. Standing beside Ray was the same wyk from yesterday, eyeing me coolly. "Sir," she said to Ray, "can we talk-"

"Later." Ray waved his hand dismissively. I saw his face waver, the mask nearly coming out, but he cautiously glanced at me and it fell away. "I have things to do, Cassandra."

"Sir." The wyk - Cassandra - answered stiffly, turning and walking off.

"It just got colder in here." Mako murmured softly to me. I nodded, watching Ray. I wondered if he realized she had a crush on him or if he just really was that stupid.

Ray didn't even looked phased. "Come on, Anita. I should probably let your mates know you're alive."

"I don't know," Mako slung his arm around my shoulders again, "I might like to watch them kick your tail."

I suddenly remembered something and looked up at Mako, waiting for Ray to walk ahead before I asked. "Why did you... you know, say that stuff last night? That made Ray...?"

Mako's smile faded away and he looked troubled. "I don't really know. You looked... upset."

I offered my friend a weak smile. "Is that all? Mako, you've upset me more time in your life than some random fyn ever will."

Mako snorted and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but that's my job as your best friend." There's the Mako I know.

"Will you two stop gossiping?" Ray called, already a few yards ahead of us. "We have places to go."

"You have places to go." I corrected lightly. "I'm going for your benefit."

His back was to us, but I could practically feel Ray's exasperation. "Sure, sure. Come on. I can't be late-"

"Because you're a king?"

"Wow. You really love being annoying, don't you?"

"It's her special skill." Mako called in a sing-song voice. "But you decided to pick her and now you're stuck with her."

Ray sent a sour glance over his shoulder. "And to think I actually liked you."

I put a hand over my chest in mock shock. "Mako! I think he's insulting you!"

Mako pulled me against his chest, his voice hitching dramatically. "I'm so offended!"

Ray put a hand over his face and sighed. "Do you two always have to make a scene?"

"Yes." We both said at the same time, then broke into giggles.

"By the stars, I've made a mistake." Ray grumbled. "Should have gone for a nice and quiet wyk."

"That's no fun." Mako said, tugging me along so we walked beside Ray.

Ray rolled his eyes and stayed silent.

"Hey, by the way, did you send my letters?" I asked Mako, already bored of teasing Ray.

"Yep. I'll take you down to the mailroom tomorrow to see if they replied yet."

"Tomorrow?" Ray interrupted, arching an eyebrow. "Don't you think it would take longer? I don't think any dragonlings want to come in this weather unless they have to. Or are you expecting the delegates to ferry your letters?"

"You underestimate my colony." Mako said proudly. "Our founder knew that we would have trouble reaching the other colonies, so he enchanted a hearth to deliver the letters to our outpost next to the border."

Ray stared at Mako for a long moment. "So... it's magic."

"Yes."

"Why is everything magic here?" Ray said, the exasperation returning to his voice. "And not even useful magic. Just showing-off magic."

"What's more useful than instant letters?" I asked with a snort.

Ray threw his hands in the air. "Am I the only one who things in the long run? What about defenses? You could've enchanted something or another to, you know, kill invaders?"

"Ah yes," Mako nodded sagely, giving me a sly wink, "because we totally want to take the jobs from our Ryns."

"Not what I meant-"

"Ray." I put a hand on my mate's shoulder. "Think for a moment." He frowned down at me, so I continued. "Didn't your delegation have to walk here, covered in furs, like ours did?"

Ray nodded slowly, but still looked confused. I held back the urge to roll my eyes. "Ray. What would have happened if some colony tried to invade? They'd have to fly to not be seen by the outposts."

"They would freeze of course- oh." Realization dawned on Ray's face, followed by embarrassment. "I see."

I cracked up laughing, to which Ray scowled and turned away. "I'm not used to this stupid place yet! You may want to stay where you'll freeze your tail off, but I certainly don't."

My laughter abruptly stopped, catching in my throat. "I- what did you say?"

Ray still looked annoyed. "It's obvious you like it here," he motioned around the icy cavern, "and your other colony doesn't exactly sound ideal. Tose two, Dmitri and Alek, they'd follow you to the end of the stars. Why wouldn't you stay here?"

A funny sense of wrongness bubbled up in my chest. Yeah... why didn't I stay? Dmitri and Alek were here, Mako was here. This was my mother's home and my kin still lived here. What was stopping me...?

In my mind I pictured the lively forest stretching across endless fields, interspersed with flowering meadows and warm rivers. No, I didn't like many people, but Jordan and Phoenix were there, and my sister too.

I felt claustrophobic. The icy cavern was suddenly too small, too crowded. Voices echoed in a strange way, creating a cacophony that made my ears ring.

"Anita." I blinked at Ray's voice, looking up. He had his hands on my shoulder, gently shaking me, and had a look of concern on his face. "You okay?"

"I- yeah. I guess." I shrugged it off, threading my fingers with Ray's. "I'm just tired." Giving him a smile, I tried to muster up as much humor as possible. "Because someone snored all night."

Ray didn't look to convinced, but still rose to the bait. "I do not snore."

"I don't know why." I sighed, snuggling into Alek's chest. When we'd arrived back at my room, Alek took one look at me and told Ray, more or less, to fuck off and let me sleep. Dmitri was out, doing some sort of training exercise, but I didn't mind being alone with Alek. We simply talked and cuddled.

"If even thinking about home gave you such anxiety, maybe we really shouldn't go back." Alek murmured. I couldn't see his face, as his chin was resting on the top of my head, but I could imagine worry written across his elegant features. "You seem to like it here anyways."

I sighed again and closed my eyes. "That's the thing, Alek. I... I don't think it was because of home. It didn't start until I thought about how crowded it is here. You can barely stretch your wings without bumping into someone. It's even worse when you're not shifted - on the ground there's dragonlings pressing in from all sides."

"I know." Alek said. For the first time, I noticed how strained he sounded.

Squirming out of the comfortable cocoon of Alek's warm arms, I turned so I could face him. He met my gaze calmly, but I could see the dark circles under his eyes.

"You hate it here, don't you?" I murmured, reaching up to brush a strand of hair out of Alek's face. "Why didn't you say anything?"

It was Alek's turn to sigh. He closed his eyes and took off his glasses. "You like it here. Dmitri doesn't mind it. We haven't been arguing as much now that we're here. It's less stressful..."

"But you're not happy." I finished.

Alek nodded miserably. "It's cold. I can't go hunting. I miss my family; not Dominique, but I was always close to my parents and younger siblings. I wanted you to meet them at some point."

My heart twisted painfully. "Alek... if you're not happy, I'm not staying here. You're part of this relationship too." He took my hands and stayed silent. "I'll tell Dmitri and Mako we're leaving after the solstice." I continued.

Alek's eyes slowly opened and my breath caught at how beautiful he looked. "Thank you." He murmured softly, pulling me close against his chest again. "Have I ever told you that you're the best?"

I couldn't help but grin. "Not enough." I said teasingly.

"Well you are." Alek continued, a small smile gracing his lips. "I'd do anything for you."

"I'm glad you mention that." I said mischievously. "Because I know a way for you to become friends with Ray and Mako at the same-"

"Absolutely not."

"I haven't even asked-"

"Ani," Alek said in exasperation, "mentioning Mako and Ray in the same sentence already sets off alarm bells. And, by the stars, I don't even want to know what you three have been doing."

"Nothing!"

"Yet."

I huffed and closed my eyes. "You're mean, Alek. I thought I was the best."

"You are." Alek said, rubbing my back soothingly. "But the sky would have to fall before I'd agree to ever get in bed with another dragonling that isn't you, especially a fyn."

A sense of smugness filled my chest. "Ha. That means you're all mine."

"Yes," Alek murmured as he kissed the top of my head, "all yours."