The dragon and shape-shifter returned to a small house situated on the grassy plains Tennan rarely used. Ryrth made himself comfortable on the daybed as Tennan prepared food. The aroma of roasted venison and fresh vegetables on the large plate Tennan served tempted Ryrth. He leaned forward, grabbing a large chunk of meat with fingers and devoured it. Tennan gathered up a handful of vegetables and sat down beside Ryrth.

“It was an interesting meeting today?” Tennan said.

“I was surprised the see the elf with the vampire,” Ryrth replied.

“It would make sense, don’t you think?”

“Why?”

“It’s like they said in the first meeting; vampires lose control during sex and elves are immune to their venom.”

“I guess, but if shape-shifters can take on any form, why not one of them instead?”

Tennan signed. “It’s not that easy.”

“Why?” Ryrth reached for more of the meat.

“What do you know about shape-shifters?” Tennan asked.

“Nothing. I have no interest in knowing anything about the other species.”

Tennan laughed. “You’re not alone. Most species are not interested in the others.”

“Why would we be interested?” Ryrth lick his fingers, and Tennan smiled as he watched.

The temptation to consume the dragon was overwhelming and when Ryrth noticed the look on Tennan’s face he leaned forward and captured his mouth in a seething kiss. Tennan wrapped his arms around Ryrth’s waist and held tight. When Tennan pulled back, Ryrth lay back against the pillows and tugged Tennan over with him. Tennan lay across Ryrth’s chest and ran his hand over the silk fabric of his shirt, feeling the toned fleshed beneath. After a moment, Tennan told Ryrth about his species. The need for him to understand was strong.

“We are born with no specific gender, and unlike most babies dependent on their parents for their survival, it is not so for us. Our rapid growth over the first few weeks of our lives allows us to become independent at a much younger age than any of the other species.

“We spend the first year of our lives with the one who created us, learning from them the skills required to shift our appearance. As soon as we mastered this skill, we leave our creator and begin our search for our true form.”

“Wait, so you form no attachment with your parents?” Ryrth asked as he ran his fingers through Tennan’s magenta hair.

“We do not consider them our parents. From the time we are born, we are driven to find our true form. We do this alone and will not interact with any of our kind unless to become creators ourselves.”

“That’s rather cold, don’t you think?”

“It is the way of our lives, and I do not expect you to understand.”

They sat quietly for a moment before Tennan felt compelled to go on. “When we create another shape-shifter, it is always before we find our true form. To nurture and raise a child while we seek our true form does not allow us to be a parent in the manner to which you are accustomed.”

“Then why not wait until you have your true form?”

“Because any children born, once in our true form, will be of that species. We cannot bear shape-shifter offspring in our true form.”

“So you will have no shape-shifter offspring then?”

Tennan knew telling Ryrth about his life would mean telling him everything. “Ryrth, I have been looking for my true form for a long time and already borne several offspring.”

“Wait. What? You have had children? Who was the father... or mother?”

Tennan gave a soft chuckle. “We’re hermaphrodite, we don’t need another partner.”

All was quiet for a moment; then Ryrth replied, “You create a child by yourself?”

“Yes. We don’t choose to, our bodies become fertile and produce an offspring. This can cause many problems for us as once we are fertile we cannot maintain the form we have created. Often we are found out within the communities we are living in and forced to leave. After the child is born we teach it the skills it needs to survive, and then once it leaves we are free to return to our own search.”

“You know that’s...”

“Different,” Tennan finished. “It has always been the way of a shifter, you should not pity us. We are driven to find our true form. It consumes us to where we become oblivious to everything and everyone else around us.”

“How long have you been looking for your true form?”

“Over a hundred years. Not as long as many. It can often take anything from three to five hundred years. There are some who may never find their true form.”

“What becomes of the ones who don’t?”

“They will die alone. It is the one thing we never want, hence our determination to find our true form.”

“You mentioned you lived with a dragon for some time.”

“Yes. When I became the companion to an aging dragon, he knew I was a shape-shifter. I was fertile at the time, and he graciously allowed me to live with him while I raised my offspring. In return, I stayed by his side until his death. My offspring was not there when the dragon died though they were fortunate to be skilled in shape-shifting to dragon prior to leaving. I would not be surprised if I were to meet them again as a dragon.

“Yes, well, there have been many fights over that. No wonder the species get angry, being deceived.”

“It is not our intention to deceive anyone. The fact is no one cares to understand.”

“I guess not. I would kill you if I found out that way.”

“Exactly, which is why we do not spend as much time with dragons. Your kind is unforgiving and will not listen to reason once the deception is discovered. With Dargor, the dragon I lived with, I could shape-shift to a dragon. He was willing to overlook my species, so he would not be alone. We came to a mutual understanding that worked well for both of us.

“It was the first and last time I shifted to dragon form, and I did not think I would be given the opportunity to do so again. Perhaps this is the reason I received the summons to attend the meeting. Although I never had a relationship with Dargor, my fascination with your species often left me wondering what it would be like.”

“You still haven’t gotten to the part about how you find your true form.”

Tennan laughed. “Sorry, I find it nice to talk like this.”

“About yourself.”

“Are you disappointed we’re not talking about you?”

“No, not at all. I want to get to the part where we have sex and this is taking too long.”

Tennan bit Ryrth’s neck, and the dragon pulled hard on Tennan’s hair. “Very well, not much longer,” Tennan told him as Ryrth released his grip.

“There comes a time when we form desires linked to our purpose. When we were in the first meeting, I told you it was too easy. I wanted to be dominated. These desires have been forming over many decades until I could not find contentment amongst most of the other species. When the invitation came, I put serious thought into it and realised I would never get what I wanted with the opposite sex. If I truly wanted domination, I had to give myself over to someone who was stronger and superior. That was why I was there.

“When I saw you, a dragon, sitting there, I wanted you. When you took me to your sanctuary, when you dominated me, you gave me everything I ever desired. I did not know what would happen after, but shifting to dragon form again felt right. When you bound me to you the first time, I didn’t realise what would come from it.

“I thought because you knew I was a shifter you would not have feelings towards me. Yet your determination to dominate and possess me created a bond between us. Neither of us will let the other go, and because of this my body accepted dragon as my true form. When this happens I am marked with a tattoo and thus ends my search. Once I take my true form my life as a shifter is over, and nothing ever need be said.”

“So anyone with a tattoo on their ankle was once a shifter?”

“Yes, but it is only visible in our human form. When we are dressed, the tattoo is concealed. If we’re with our partners, we are more than likely in our true form. If the tattoo is questioned, we might say it is our way of celebrating our love. Often the partner will get a matching tattoo without realising its purpose.”

“What if I were to reject you?”

Tennan sighed. “Had you not returned my feelings we would not be bonded. However, sometimes things can go bad and the relationship between the two involved can go wrong. Perhaps the one we have formed the bond with is promised to another due to their species laws. We can live without the one we are bonded too, but we do not take another to replace them. We will instead become part of the community and help raise the young. The same if our partner dies.”

They both fell silent, and Tennan hoped in his heart Ryrth never left him.

Ryrth yanked hard on the magenta hair in his hand and tilted Tennan’s head back, savagely kissing him. He broke the kiss and said, “Are you done talking now?”

Tennan clawed his fingernails against Ryrth’s skin at the pain being inflicted on his scalp and snarled, “What if I’m not?”

Ryrth leaned forward and took Tennan’s bottom lip between his teeth, biting down. Tennan gouged his nails into Ryrth’s skin, breaking flesh.

Ryrth growled and licked the wound. “Your past means nothing understand? You’re a dragon now, and if you ever mention being a shape-shifter again, I’ll kill you.”

“Why.” Tennan bunched Ryrth’s shirt in his hands, ready to force the dragon from him.

“Because they would kill you if they knew. It will be hard enough being accepted because we are both men. I do not want to fight for your life if the truth is discovered because I will not survive.”

Tennan stared at Ryrth as the bond between them deepened within his body. “I promise,” he whispered.

Ryrth released Tennan and lowered his arm around his shoulders. “I want us to return to my sanctuary. I want us to bond as dragons. When this is done, no one can take you from me. No matter what happens from here on in, you are mine for life, and I will fight any who deny our right to be together.”

Tennan nuzzled Ryrth’s neck. “I love you.”

Ryrth pulled Tennan closer and kissed the top of his head without replying; then teleported them to his mountain.