The night didn’t go at all like I thought it would.

I changed into non-human clothes, and fixed my hair. I even ignored all of the homework I got from class. I’d do it later when he was asleep or busy. I was prepared to eat all dragon food instead of making something more human on the side to eat. But then Colin did something unexpected.

“I’m going out. Don’t wait up.” And then he was gone.

Going out? Don’t wait up? What was this, some vague attempt at making me feel bad? I made my way to the dinner table with Master Wei and Jac, even though there was no real reason to now. They pulled a dish from the oven that looked to be something magical. So far, eating unicorn meat was the absolute worst. It felt like I was eating a horse, which was wrong by itself, but then the meat felt so grainy and the texture was just so wrong.

I tried to ignore the fact that Colin wasn’t here. He’s never acted like this before. I guess I’ve never proclaimed that I’m going to a human school either. I didn’t know what to do about this. I wonder if Master Wei and Jac have noticed too.

“Have you n-”

“We have. It’s concerning. Colin and yourself will be entering the fourth month of your mating soon, but he’s pulling away. Did you do something to upset him?” Master Wei asked. What did the fourth month have to do with anything?

“Nothing more than the normal stuff. One moment he’s happy, and then the next…” I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘leaving me behind’. He was the one who begged me never to leave him behind. To never leave him behind like his family did.

“Something must be very wrong. Entering this stage of the mating should make you more happy, not more distant.” Jac explained. I didn’t know the stages of mating, and was going to add that to my never-ending list of things I wasn’t taught in Supernatural Studies.

Master Wei carved up the meat that sizzled in its pan. The meat was long and skinny, kind of like a fish. Please be fish. Please just be a fish.

Some of the things we ate were completely normal. Pancakes and eggs in the morning were entirely normal. But unicorn meat? Sea monster eyes? No thanks.

“I will speak with him when he returns home tonight. He must know that this is a vital time for bonding between the two of you.” Master Wei says in between bits of whatever it was on his plate. I hadn’t worked up the courage to try it yet. Usually, Colin is here to tell me exactly what it is that I’m eating before I take a bite of it. Clearly, that wasn’t happening this time.

“Be gentle, Uda.” Jac told Master Wei. He nods his agreement and passes a small portion of the meat onto Jac’s plate. Sometimes I forget that these two raised Colin alone. I forget that Colin has never had to work things out between siblings or friends because he doesn’t speak to any of them.

I thought about my brothers. Mike and Cal weren’t just my brothers. They were my best friends. But when they brought me here, they didn’t even stay to tell me goodbye. I don’t blame them though. My family didn’t have a good track record with supernaturals. It hurt to think about Mike and Cal though. It hurt to remember brothers and best friends that I wouldn’t ever get to see again.

“You haven’t touched your Leviathan meat at all. Don’t waste it, the stuff costs us a pretty penny.” Master Wei woke me from my thoughts. He stood up with his empty plate in hand, and carried Jac’s with him. Jac stared at me with concern in his eyes.

“You can feel his distance. I’m sorry he is doing this to you. It is selfish of him.” Jac said solemnly. It took everything I had at that moment not to be mad at Colin. Not to blame Colin. This wasn’t his fault. He didn’t want to put up boundaries between us. So then who’s fault is it then? Maybe it was mine.

I ate through the gross fishy Leviathan meat on my own. At least I was partly right. It was fish. Just not very good fish. I don’t know why we couldn’t stick to normal food groups. I wish Colin was here so that I could scoop my undesired food onto his plate like I did almost every night when Master Wei wasn’t looking.

“I’ve got some work to do, may I be excused?” I asked as politely as I could. Jac nodded with a knowing smile on his face. I picked up my half full plate and scraped it into the trash bin. Jac let it slide when he saw me giving my food to Colin, but Master Wei didn’t like it.

“Just get some rest for tomorrow. You and Colin are going to Undercity in the morning to deliver something to Dr. Maize for me. She needs to know that her help has not been forgotten.” Master Wei called from the kitchen. I told him we’d be up bright and early for it.

I stood in a room that wasn’t mine. It was Colin’s. I missed my old room, my old bed. I had glowing stars on my ceiling, and posters of my favorite movies hung everywhere. It was hard to distract myself from how much I missed home when Colin avoided me like this.

I was all alone and Colin wasn’t here to distract me from it.

***

“I don’t see why we have to deliver this.” Colin gestured to the bag of Ms. Agnes’s medications that we were supposed to deliver to Dr. Maize today. I took the bag from his hands so he’d stop complaining about it. My patience was running thin.

“Let’s just get this over with.” I walked ahead. The waterfall dropped us on the outside of Undercity, and we still had to make our way all the way across the town to Dr. Maize’s shop. I was starting to wonder if Master Wei sent us on this trip because he thought it would make things better between Colin and I. It won’t, I can assure you of that.

The night before, Colin came in around two in the morning. He smelled like cigarette smoke and cheap booze. I have never seen him smoke or drink before so I didn’t know what to think. Colin seemed okay in the morning but I didn’t ask.

If he didn’t want to tell me what he was doing out for so long last night, then fine. That was his business, I guess.

Colin followed behind me as I carried the bag of medications down the long step stone way. We hadn’t said much to each other all morning. Whenever he did say something, I tended to snap back at him unintentionally.

I wanted to say something to him. I wanted to ask how his night was, or what he did, but I couldn’t find the words. If I could just say something, I would feel better. But we walked into an awkward cloud of silence that neither of us were willing to break through. I thought maybe we could hold hands. My hand twitched at the idea.

Slowly, I brushed my hand against the back of Colin’s. I was trying to bait him into doing the hard part for me. I knew he wouldn’t bite though. If I wanted this, I was just going to have to suck it up, and do it. My cheeks reddened as I went for the kill.

I intertwined my fingers with his. I stared straight ahead as to avoid the awkwardness of looking over at him. And then, with no warning at all, he separated our hands, and used it to brush back his hair. Colin started walking faster to leave me in the dust.

I wasn’t sure what to do. My throat constricted and I tried to breathe over the panic that tried choking me. This was just a small hiccup, nothing more. Just because I made the first move doesn’t mean he had to reciprocate. But he’s actively pulling away. Had I done something to upset him? I don’t understand. I thought I knew what to do, but clearly I was wrong.

I clenched my fist and told myself to let it go. It didn’t mean anything.

What if this was because I didn’t tell him about the meeting yesterday? Usually Colin asks, but maybe he just wants me to take initiative. I can do that.

“So the meeting yesterday was a disaster.” I paused to check if he was even listening. His ears perked up a bit. “Yeah, nine people have gone missing. Only the dragon, mermaid, and werewolf haven’t been taken.” I told him. He nodded, but didn’t say anything. At least he was interested in what I was saying. I kept going.

“They think it might be warlocks… but Carmen thinks it’s the Draguls.” I told him. He looked over at me when I mentioned the Draguls. “I think she’s right.” I told him. Colin looked upset at the mention of the Draguls.

“It is probably just warlocks.” Colin deadpanned. Normally he would have entertained the idea, right? What was I supposed to say? I’ve tried everything that I can think of other than an apology. But what was I sorry for?

Maybe I should be sorry for going to a human college? But I already explained that I wasn’t trying to be a human. Maybe I should be sorry for dragging him to a human cafe with Carla? But he would have complained or said no if he really didn’t want to go. Maybe I should be sorry for being his mate. Maybe just apologize for everything that happened up until now. Maybe he regrets that it was me.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what for, but I’m sorry.” I tried.

He looked at me. Finally, he looked at me. Colin didn’t say anything as he reached out and took my hand.

“It’s not you.” He mumbled. If I wasn’t a dragon, I wouldn’t have heard him say it. If I hadn’t done anything, then who did? I’d take care of whatever was the problem, no matter who or what it was. All Colin needed to do was tell me what made him sad.

“We’re almost there.” He said in a louder voice. I looked at our surroundings. He was right. We were only two blocks away from Dr. Maize’s place. Her doctors office had saved our lives more than once.

Finally, our hands were intertwined, and I could relax. I wish he would tell me what the problem was, but if he couldn’t, then I would let it go. Because I was pretty sure I loved him. I hope he loved me too.

Dr. Maize’s store was the same clay formed building it had been before. Flowers were hung from strings above the large cut out window that Dr. Maize worked out of. When we approached, she was talking with a boy no older than Colin and I.

“I’m sure your sister is fine. She’s done this in the past. There’s no reason to panic, okay?” Dr. Maize was talking this boy down. The boy was clearly a witch. Just from looking at his choice of clothing I could tell.

The boy was dressed in a brown shirt and slacks that were held up by suspenders. I didn’t know that Dr. Maize treated other factions, but I guess it made sense.

“Dr. Maize, so good to see you. We came bearing gifts from Ms. Agnes.” I waved and came closer. I wasn’t trying to interrupt, but I also didn’t want to seem like I was eavesdropping. Dr. Maize smiled when she saw us and ushered us over. I guess this wasn’t a private conversation then.

“Hi guys! Good to see you too.” She accepted the gift from over the window sill and set it aside. Dr. Maize was about to say something else when the boy interrupted.

“Our house burned with blue flames the night she went missing. And now everything is cold to the touch. Something is wrong, Maize. Really, really wrong.” The boy’s voice was uneven and panicky. Blue flames? Cold to the touch?

“Your house is like that?” I asked. Colin grasped my hand tighter. It seemed he was telling me to be careful.

“Things happen like that all the time to witches. Annisa was always doing bad spells, so it wouldn’t surprise me that the magic finally got back at her.” Dr. Maize interrupted before the boy could answer. I shook my head. I recognize that name. 

“No, Annisa was on the list of people taken. She couldn’t have done any magic.” I told her. The list of names had burned itself into my memory. The third to go missing was a girl named Annisa Hopkins.

If the boy was panicking before, he was freaking out now. He gripped his suspenders tightly and looked to be internally screaming. I would be freaking out too if something happened to my family. My thoughts hovered hesitantly over those two words. My family. 

“Taken? Oh no, oh no… I knew something bad was going to happen. I knew it. She said she was going to a human party and I told her it was a bad idea. Why didn’t she believe me?” The boy rattles out. I nodded.

“You said your house went up in blue flames?” Colin spoke up.

The boy nodded. “Yeah, and now its freezing to the touch.”

Colin and I exchanged a glance. It was exactly like the tree we saw in the woods.