3

We entered through a side door into what seemed like a closed off foyer. Two men guarded the wooden door and they bowed their heads as the Elders stepped through. They gave me a curt nod and bowed their heads at Jesse.

“You may now take off your jacket and shirt,” Elder James said to me.

I took my jacket and shirt off and Jesse took them and hanged them over the back of a chair. They indicated another chair for me to sit on and I sat down slowly taking in my surroundings. The walls were gold inlaid with intricate carvings and all the different types of beasts were represented on the walls.

This place was rich with our history and heritage and I bet that anything you wanted to know about us could be found in here. It would also be heavily guarded at all times to preserve our secrets from outsiders.

“Lucas Grey, you are the first born son of Geoff Grey, late Sire of the Grey Lair?” Elder Peter asked me.

“Yes Elder,” I confirmed as I stood up.

“Do you swear to treat your beast with the respect and honour it deserves?” Elder James asked.

“Yes Elder.”

“Do you swear to rule with a just heart, a swift fist and make every decision with your lair’s prosperity in mind?” Elder Gareth asked.

“Yes Elder.”

“Do you swear to protect the bonded half that fate gives you and to not reject the one that is your match?” Elder Peter asked me.

“Yes Elder.”

“Do you swear to be a father to your people, a warrior to your fighters and a leader that can be trusted?” Elder James asked.

“Yes Elder.”

“Lastly do you swear to keep the secrets of our kind from those that wish us harm and to annihilate our enemies whether they be supernatural or human?” Elder Gareth asked.

“Yes Elder.”

“Lucas Grey, deposit your blood into the cup,” Elder Peter said.

I took the knife from the table next to me and slit my wrist. I watched as my blood dropped into the golden cup. I held my wrist there until it started to heal and about a quarter of the cup was filled. The Elders nodded their approval and they each opened a vial and mixed the contents with my blood.

“Drink and open your mind to all the possibilities,” Elder James said.

I took the cup and drank my own blood. It tasted slightly bitter and then sweet. The cup was taken from my hand as I felt something stir within me. My mind felt fuzzy and I felt drunk or high or something in between those two.

“Step into the fire and meet your beast,” Elder Gareth said but his voice seemed far off and for a moment I thought I heard him say fire.

I stepped forward and I felt the heat of flames envelope me. It was comfortingly warm but it didn’t burn me. It seemed like a portal of some sorts and on the other side was a vast cave and I could hear the dripping sound of water.

It smelled almost stale inside, like the air had been trapped there for a while. Sounds echoed and I heard a loud roar but I didn’t feel afraid. My senses were coming back to me now and the fiery entrance was at my back.

I kept walking forward, an invisible thread pulling me to something. I could hear movement and to my left a few rocks fell from an overhanging ledge as something moved along it. My skin prickled and my curiosity was piqued.

“Lucas,” a voice said calling me forward.

“Where are you?” I asked the voice.

“Follow your instincts and don’t look back,” the voice said again.

“Lucas,” I heard my father’s voice.

“Dad?” I called out and stopped walking.

“You’re not ready son,” he said to me and I looked around in disbelief.

“I’m ready!” I yelled at him.

“You’re not, Lucas. Look at yourself,” his voice said.

“You’re not my father,” I said and took a step forward as his image dissolved in front of me.

“Lucas,” the other voice called again.

“I’m coming beast,” I said and I heard a chuckle.

“Hurry up halfling, I don’t have all day,” he said to me.

I hurried down the cavern that sloped down so much that I had to crawl on my hands and knees before it opened up in a magnificent room. I saw a throne up ahead and then the shadowy figure of the beast lurking there.

I looked at him and I felt pride as my father walked out of the shadows once more. I took a step backwards wondering how many illusions this ceremony would throw at me.

“You have a magnificent beast awaiting you Lucas,” my father said.

“Is this real?” I asked.

“As real as you want it to be. I’m so proud of you son,” he said and I felt my emotions taking over again.

“I miss you Dad,” I said to him.

“I miss you too. Take care of your sisters. I love you all,” he said before disappearing again.

“Anytime today halfling,” the beast said and I looked towards the throne again. He was lurking in the shadows behind it.

“Come forth beast and merge with my soul, from this day forward I claim you as my own and together we will become the Sire of the Grey Lair,” I said loudly to him.

“As you command,” he said and I saw him as he moved out of the shadows.

I stood there in awe and watched him as he lunged at me and merged himself onto my body, a burning feeling that made me scream out as the tattoo of my beast formed on my skin, searing himself into me as he became one with me.

“My name is Bazzoit,” he said in my mind and I opened my eyes.

“Thank you Baz,” I said and he bowed his head at me.

I felt more powerful, stronger, bigger, my senses were sharper and I felt almost invincible as I made my way back to the cave. I looked at the burning exit and I smiled as Baz nudged me forward to claim what was ours.

I stepped through the fire back into the room where Jesse and the Elders waited for me. Jesse gasped when he saw me emerge and all three the Elder’s eyes were wide as they took me in. My beast was magnificent and I could feel him inside me.

“I am the dragon,” I said as they all bowed their heads at me.

“His name?” Elder James asked me opening the book to my family’s lineage.

“Bazzoit,” I said to him.

“You will now be recognized as the Sire of Grey Lair on your eighteenth birthday,” Elder Peter said.

“Thank you,” I said as I put my shirt and jacket back on.

“Congratulations young man,” Elder James said and I shook their hands again.

Jesse and I left the building alone and he had an arm around my shoulder. The same two men opened the door into the foyer just as we reached it and the night air felt crisp against my hot face. I felt almost feverish and Jesse opened the car door for me.

“Is this normal?” I asked him.

“The fever? Yes, you’ll pass out in a few minutes as your beast completes the transition,” Jesse said as my eyes closed and darkness surrounded me.

I didn’t recall the drive back to Aurora or how Jesse got me in the house because I woke up the following morning in my bed when Hannah jumped on me and told me I was going to be late for school. The previous night felt like a dream and my head pounded like it would with a hangover.

“Morning halfling,” Baz said and my eyes widened.

“You’re real,” I whispered out loud.

“Of course I’m real Lucas, I’m right here,” Hannah said as she frowned at me and hopped off the bed.

“Close my door!” I yelled and heard the door slam shut.

I showered and got dressed and sighed as I realized that I would have to grab breakfast to go. I made my way downstairs and the guys were waiting for me by the stairs.

“How are you feeling?” Jax asked me.

“I’m okay,” I said and Rev eyed me skeptically.

“We had to carry you to bed, you were dead to the world man,” Preston said and I smiled.

“Apparently it’s the transition that needs to complete,” I said.

“So come on then show us what you got,” Chris said as she joined us.

“Don’t freak out,” I said as they all watched me.

“Why would we freak out? Unless you got a red dragon,” Jax said and I laughed.

I took my shirt off and turned my back towards them. Baz’s head rested on my right shoulder as his left wing wrapped over my shoulder into my neck. His other wing came down lower and grazed my ribs on the right side. His body covered almost the entirety of my back as his left foot rested across my kidney. His tail coiled to the right side, across my abdomen and the tip was hidden under my jeans as it rested next to my hipbone.

“Holy shit!” Preston said as he grabbed my shoulders and looked into my eyes.

“Your dragon is grey,” Jax said looking confused.

“What the hell does that mean?” Chris asked.

“No clue but the Elders all had wide eyes when I emerged,” I said to them.

“We’ll have to ask my dad later,” Jax said.

“Beautiful,” Rev said and I suddenly realized that everyone was wearing pajamas.

“Hannah!” I yelled as everyone looked at me with my backpack slung over one shoulder.

“Did you think we had school today?” Preston asked as they all started laughing at me.

“It was Rev’s idea!” Hannah yelled as she ran up the stairs and Rev made a growling sound in the back of this throat and started chasing her.

“Guess you’ll want breakfast now,” Martha said as she entered the living room.