Inside the huge, fire-lit halls of Ember Cliffs Palace, the walls made of black stones glowed warmly from the fire burning in the big fireplaces. The sky outside was already dark, and only the golden firelight filled the palace with a soft, deep glow. The whole place felt strong and ancient, a home made for dragons who once ruled skies.
At the center of the main hall, sitting on a large black throne, was Blaze, the Dragon Lord of Ember Cliffs.
He wasn't just handsome—he was dangerously handsome.
Blaze had long, messy hair that was molten gold, falling around his strong shoulders. His eyes were deep red, like glowing coals in the dark, sharp and full of power. His jawline was strong and sharp, covered lightly with stubble that made him look even more wild and manly. His face was full of strength, his nose was straight, and his thin lips rarely smiled, but when they did—it could shake even the bravest warrior's heart.
His body was tall, broad-shouldered, full of muscle, the kind of strength that looked natural for someone who could fly through storms and breathe fire without fear.
Even sitting there, relaxed, he gave off the feeling that no one could defeat him.
And yet now, he sat quietly, resting his chin on his hand, listening carefully to the excited little voice in front of him.
Drake.
His son.
Small, wild, full of golden hair and bright amber eyes, who was bouncing from foot to foot as he spoke.
"Oh Dad, you have no idea!" Drake started, his arms flying everywhere as he spoke quickly. "Miss Clara is gone! She was replaced today! I don't know why exactly, but I think Principal Dante got angry because she wasn't teaching us properly! So now we have a new teacher!"
Blaze didn't move his face much. He just watched silently, listening to every word without saying anything.
Drake continued, even more excited now.
"And! I like the new teacher! She's nice and funny! She lets us color anything—not boring ducks and trees like before!" He made a face, pretending to throw up. "And we got to play a lot too! And guess what? Luna got lost! And I found her first! Me! Not Vlad Jr., not Boo, ME!"
He thumped his small chest proudly like he just won a great battle.
Blaze stayed calm, his red eyes focused and deep, but there was a light in them, a quiet pride that he didn't show on his face.
When Drake finally finished and stood there panting, Blaze leaned back in his seat.
The firelight made his strong jaw and proud face look even more powerful, like a king carved from stone.
"You found your missing classmate," Blaze said in a slow, deep voice.
Drake nodded quickly, his hair bouncing.
"And you followed your new teacher's lessons?"
Another fast nod, his golden eyes shining.
Blaze stayed silent for a few more seconds. Then he raised his hand and gently patted Drake's head, ruffling his hair.
"Good," he said, voice low and strong.
"You protected your own.
You listened to your leader.
You did well, my son."
Drake's face lit up with pure joy. His little chest puffed out proudly, standing tall in front of his powerful father.
Just as Blaze finished patting Drake's head, the heavy quietness of the hall was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Before either of them could react, a small figure came running toward them with surprising speed.
"Where's my baby?!" a woman's excited voice cried out.
In a second, Drake was scooped up into a tight hug, his small legs swinging off the ground as he giggled loudly.
Pyrra.
Drake's mother.
She was short compared to the tall dragon warriors, but she carried herself with the strength of someone who could command fire itself. Her long auburn hair was tied up in a messy braid that swung behind her, and her golden brown eyes sparkled with pure joy the moment she saw her son.
Pyrra hugged him tightly against her chest, rocking him side to side like he was still a newborn hatchling, even though his legs were kicking playfully in the air.
"Hey, Momma!" Drake giggled, wrapping his small arms around her neck and rubbing his cheek against her shoulder.
Pyrra didn't care that he was a growing dragon boy who would one day be a fearsome warrior. To her, he would always be her tiny, precious hatchling.
"My little spark!" she said lovingly, kissing the side of his messy golden hair again and again, "I missed you so much today!"
Drake laughed even harder as she rocked him back and forth, his voice filling the great fire-lit hall like warm music.
Blaze watched them quietly, his face unreadable, but the faintest softness touched his fierce eyes as he saw his mate and son together.
Still rocking him in her arms like a little pup, Pyrra finally sat down on one of the large velvet chairs beside Blaze's throne, pulling Drake onto her lap like he was still two years old.
Drake didn't mind at all.
In fact, he cuddled into her proudly, flashing his gap-toothed smile like a king returning from a long battle.
Pyrra cupped his chubby cheeks between her warm hands and gave him a serious look, even though her eyes were full of laughter.
"Alright, little flame, tell Mommy everything. Did you eat properly today?"
Drake nodded eagerly, his golden hair bouncing.
"Yup! Breakfast was yummy. And lunch too! I ate all my food—AND I didn't throw any at Boo this time!"
Pyrra gasped, putting a hand over her mouth in fake shock. "You didn't throw food? Is my son sick?"
Drake giggled hard, his little tail wagging against the side of the chair.
Blaze, sitting tall and dignified in his black throne, simply rested his chin on his fist, watching the scene unfold with the patience of a dragon who knew there was no stopping this once it started.
Pyrra kept going, poking Drake's forehead gently.
"Did you bully anyone?" she asked seriously.