As soon as Elodie walked into AP English, Mr. Hathaway beckoned her over to her desk.

"What's wrong?" Elodie asked. "Did my assignment have something wrong with it, because I checked the formatting and —"

"No, no, it's not about the essay assignment," Mr. Hathaway assured her. "The office called. A representative from a prestigious scholarship program is waiting for you. She also called for Aideen Wentworth, and I believe another girl I have later in the day. Good luck."

Elodie didn't even have the strength to fake a smile. "Thanks, Mr. Hathaway."

It was a short walk to the office, where she found Kira and Aideen standing with none other than Absinthe. She was not in the regal clothes that she'd worn in the Jade Palace, but rather a tasteful powder blue blazer and pencil skirt with a white ruffled blouse and golden jewelry that was more tasteful and subtle than what they'd seen before on their Regent.

"Hello, Elodie," she said, her shrewd eyes taking in the bags under Elodie's eyes, the slightly-mismatched blouse and skirt, because she had woken up so much later than usual, the way her socks were hanging loose around her ankles, rather than taut and halfway up her calves. 

She turned to the PTA lady who ran the office. "That should be everything. Thank you."

With that, she gestured for the dragon princesses to follow her into the parking lot. It being completely empty, she created a golden fire with her hands, shaping it to a wide circle and becoming a portal.

"After you."

Kira glanced over her shoulder before going, Aideen following in her perfect, poised strides. Elodie sighed and followed, even though she knew it couldn't help her status in Absinthe's eyes. 

Then again, what did she care what they thought? She hadn't wanted to be Pendragon.

But a part of her, she realized, was starting to figure out what good she could do with the position. With the power of an entire species behind her, who was to say what limits she would have or what rules she should obey?

She could make a fair society— and no one could tell her know. With the magic of a myth at her fingertips, it was the stuff of its own myth or fairytale. Of a dragon queen that brought about good for her kingdom.

This time it would be real.

Elodie held her head higher as she sauntered through the portal. Once again, she was in the Jade Palace. All of the members of the Council of Crowns surrounded a round table with various old-looking maps of the world. She wondered if they were the legendary maps in the story about Abraxas and his wife. 

Absinthe walked through, and closed the portal behind them.

"I call a meeting of the Council of Crowns because of a situation I think we are all aware of," Absinthe began. "The Paladins have discovered the heirs of the Ananta line, and have come to Goldwater Harbor to stop any of them from becoming the Pendragon and breaking the curse."

"Are they here to kill us?" Kira asked.

"That's a little unclear," Tiamat admitted with a frown. She looked to her other council members for assistance.

"We merely want to take precautions," Tarasque said, clasping his hands together. "They may only wish for you to take a potion of their concoctions that would render you completely powerless. They may sabotage the competition, or try to convince all three of you to fail the Trials by Fire so we are left without an Ananta on the throne."

"Or they might just kill you," Aurelius pointed out.

Absinthe and several other members of the Council of Crowns glared at him.

"That isn't helpful at this time," Melusina offered gently. "Ultimately, we're looking into relocating you. You would have more time to train, and would gain more specialized mentors. And we would try to place you in a location that doesn't have any Paladin scouts nearby."

Jinn still didn't know. None of her family knew. 

Elodie couldn't let them tear her from her family with no explanation. But she still wasn't ready to explain. There were so many secrets in her family, it seemed.

She didn't want the dragons to take everything from her. Not yet.

"That won't be necessary," Elodie decided.

Everyone stared at her. She slipped into her fierce persona, sophisticated and charismatic with passion simmering just beneath the surface. Her lacking clothing became a uniform of a military officer, brought to a higher standard by her mere conviction and presence. 

"We will always be in danger from these dragon-hunters, will we not?" Elodie arched an eyebrow. "They'll want us dead for certain if we do become Pendragons, any of us. I see this as a challenge from— from above, that is." She looked to Kira, knowing the difference in her friend's faith from her own. "It's in our best interests to deal with this threat now. If we are to become leaders, we need to learn how to negotiate with our enemies and make friends of them."

She could see the subtle changes in expressions in the Council members— and the awe and agreement in Kira and Aideen. They knew it was a good idea.

"It is a test outside of our sacred trials," Elodie added. "A way for the Council of Crowns to have a better idea of who may be the best-suited to the everyday tasks of leadership." 

"I'll agree to it," Absinthe said. "But it is clear that we will need to move a little faster during the education. I'll look into bringing in a tutor for magic— it will aid you if you need to defend yourself against the Paladins physically, or any other enemies that may arise."

Tarasque glared at Absinthe at the last phrase. 

But Elodie felt as if she were on fire— in the best way, of course. Not glowing, but brilliant, drawing the perfect audience and drawing eyes of awe and fear. 

The best part, however, was the knowledge that they would be staying in Goldwater Harbor. Elodie knew that for all the Paladins had frightened her, if she ever got her hands on a bow and arrow, they would be infinitely more afraid.

She would become a dragon. And she would never be a frightened little girl again. 

Because she would be the Pendragon.

Kira had wanted whatever security would have come with the relocation. She did have to admit that staying presented certain advantages as well. She didn't want to leave her fathers behind. They were the only family she had. And with her budding friendship— and hopefully, hopefully more— with Galileo, she didn't want that to just go away.

But when she saw the gray-eyed blonde with the sword sticking out of the back of her shirt, she wished more than ever that she could have gone away where she would have been safe.

About to dial Abner with shaking hands, Kira peered through the blinds. Blondie was alone.

She shoved the phone in her pocket. She wasn't going to let the Paladins drive her out of her home and mind. 

She was a dragon, for His sake! 

The Paladin should have been the one hiding in fear. 

She opened the door, and didn't even give the girl a chance to speak.

"What the Hell?" Kira growled. "You tracked me to my house! I was just a normal human girl before all of this, you know! My dads don't deserve this, and I don't! I'm not Abraxas, or whatever!"

The girl had the decency to wince. "I wish things could be different, Kira, but—"

"No, you—" Kira jabbed a finger in the Paladin's direction— "You are going to leave my family and friends alone. You're going to leave me alone!"

On the last word, Kira felt her anger surge to an energy level so high, she though it would cause her to break or die. But she didn't.

Instead, the Paladin leapt out of the path as Kira breathed fire.

Scorching the grass before sputtering out, there was a black mark in the center of the green. Kira reached her hands to her mouth. 

Her anger had flipped off like a switch.

"I'm so sorry!"

The girl with gray eyes shook her head. "I wanted to give you an out, Kira. I'm afraid I'll have to tell my advisors about this. I can't just leave an Ananta heir alone."

With that, she ran off, leaving Kira to stare at the result of her wild magic. What other dangers was she capable of?