Anexis Matos

Rose wraps herself around Harald, burying her face in his shoulder as hot tears stream down her face. Harald hugs her tightly against him.

“Be careful,” Sebastian says. “Those tears can burn you. It may not be so strong right now since she’s still a cub, but still.”

Harald nods, distracted. He’s not sure why she’s crying. Why she’s wrapped herself around him like when she was a baby. What’s scaring her so much?

“I’ll tell you later,” Sebastian says. “Calm her down first. Maybe put her to bed. She needs some reassurance, but you might be the only one who can give her that.”

Harald kisses the top of Rose’s head.

“Do you want to stay here tonight?” he says.

She nods, shifting in his lap.

“Okay,” he says. “You’ll stay with me tonight.”

She nods, coughing.

“Is it going to rain?” he says.

“No,” Sebastian says as Rose shakes her head.

Her tears stop a few minutes later. She falls asleep wrapped around him.

“What happened?” Harald says.

“She’s afraid of the cameras,” Sebastian says, “because, before she came to the palace, the people that kept her used cameras to watch her all the time. They were  everywhere.”

“It’s bringing back memories for  her.”

“Yeah. I know we can’t stop this now, but this may be the worse idea we’ve come up with.”

Harald holds his baby sister, stroking her wing.

“I think you’re right,” he says, “but we can’t cancel. It’s already been made public. We can keep her away from the cameras, but–“

“Yeah,” Sebastian says.

They’re silent for a minute.

“I can make sure the recording is more discreet,” Sebastian says, “but that might not change anything. She’ll still be able to see them if she’s looking for them. I think she might be.”

“Hmm,” Harald says, considering. “I can reassure her, but I don’t know if she’ll really believe me.”

Rose coughs.

“The stress might be making her sick,” Sebastian says. “It’s not surprising.”

“Isn’t that why you took some time off a few months ago?” Harald says.

“Yeah. I was burning up.”

Harald nods.

“Here’s another thing to consider,” Sebastian says. “Are you going to introduce her to the women?”

“No,” he says. “Absolutely not. Not unless I can trust them, but that’ll be an exception.”

The door opens.

“Rose has not done that for years,” Mother Irina says. “What happened?”

Sebastian explains as she sits beside Harald.

“Oh,” Mother Natalie says. “Are you sure you want to continue this? I’m sure we can make some excuse.”

“I don’t think it’ll work that well,” Harald says. “The public will feel disappointed and I don’t want a scandal.”

The women sigh. That’ll always be a problem in their lives.

Rose whines as she coughs.

“You’re lucky,” Mother  Irina says, “that shadow dragons can’t make you sick.”

“Especially since she gets sick often,” Sebastian says. “That powder that Vivian sent should help.”

Chocolate milk is ordered and Harald wakes Rose. She refuses at first, but he manages to persuade her. She drinks the milk with no complaint and falls asleep again.

“It’s like she’s a baby again,” Mother Irina says.

He met Rose in unusual circumstances. He returned from school for the summer. Sebastian, Marie, and Ashlin decided to spend vacation at the palace.

“Sweetheart, stop!”

Harald was on his way to his room when the shadow dragon matron yelled in irritation. Claws grabbed his ankle. He blinked at the twinge of pain, bending toward the cub. He sat on the floor and the cub climbed into his lap and curled up against his chest.

Her body was sticky, but it didn’t feel like candy or a similar consistency.

“Your Highness,” the matron said, “I’m sorry. She just arrived and–“

“It’s okay,” he said. “Why is she sticky?”

“It’s blood. She’s heavily injured and refuses to allow us to care for her.”

The shadow dragon cub shifted closer, laying her head in his chest. She whined.

“I know you’re hurt,” the matron said. “Come. We’ll make it better.”

She shook her head, screeching.

“She seems calm with me,” Harald said. “Maybe I can help.”

A moment of silence.

“Alright,” she said. “Do you need my help?”

“No,” he said. “Thank you.”

He stood, careful not to move her.

“I’ll get her to a healer,” he said. “I’ll keep you updated on what happens.”

“Alright,” the matron said. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Of course.”

He left with the shadow dragon cub in his arms.

“We’re going to see some friends, okay?” he said. “I don’t know why you didn’t want the matron to care for you, but you’re hurt.”

She nodded hesitantly.

“I’ll be there the entire time,” he said. “I promise.”

He found Sebastian, Marie, and Ashlin in his sitting room.

“Hey,” he said. “I need some help.”

“What happened to you?” Ashlin said. “You’re bleeding and so is the shadow dragon in your arms.”

He explained how he met her.

“Your cut doesn’t look that bad,” Marie said, “but she has no wings.”

He sat on the couch between Ashlin and Marie.

“Can you let my friend help you?” Harald said.

The cub nodded and Harald shifted her, laying her on his lap. Marie touched her leg. The cub flinched, but stilled when Harald touched her cheek.

Ashlin moved to the floor and pressed her hand to his cut. A moment later, she moved away.

“You should be fine,” she said.

Sebastian spoke in shadow tongue. The cub replied.

“Oh,” Sebastian said. “Her name is Rose. She said she knows you, but you don’t know her.”

“How?” Harald asked.

Rose screeched.

“Her  mom,” Sebastian said. “She said her mom knew you.”