I laid on the ground listening to the screams coming from outside. The dragon was not happy about the governor trying to kill it. It was probably burning the town to the ground. I didn’t care if it did. All I wanted was to feel that warmth. This endless cold was going to ruin my sanity.

I sat up and touched the place where the man had warmed me with his touch. Pulling my knees to my chest, I took deep breaths to stop myself from crying. What was going on? My body was betraying me. That man had cursed me. He had to be a demon. No normal person could have that kind of control over a dragon, or another person.

The cold was something I was used to enduring, but my body was suffering from something else. During my school years, the other boys had talked about it, but I had never experienced it until that man filled me with such heat. I had felt such pleasure, and my body had reacted to it. As the cold set in, things returned to normal.

Wiping my face, I tried to think about what I was going to do. I couldn’t tell the governor I had been enjoying being engulfed in fire when a demon came by and assaulted me. But I could blame my failure on that man. I wrapped my arms around my knees. He shouldn’t have touched me like that. That wasn’t how a man should touch another man.

Slowly climbing to my feet, I walked over to the pile of clothes. I really hoped no one noticed they weren’t what I’d initially had on, but walking home naked after everything that had happened seemed like a worse alternative. I quickly pulled on the pants and tugged the shirt over my head. I was surprised the boots were my size, but then again, the man had known my name.

And I knew his.

I sat down on a rock just inside the cave. “Zoran,” I whispered. I had only heard it once in school. It was a name of a god of fire from stories no one really believed in, but when I’d met a man holding black fire as a child, I knew it had to be him. I started down the path towards town. The junction came into view. The tower was scorched, but the stone still held. I just hoped the dragon hadn’t flown into Gail.

By the time I reached the end of the mountain pass, men were starting to come out of hiding. They all stared. Most were covered in dirt and ash, but there wasn’t a mark on me.

“Fin!” Reese pushed his way through the gathering. “You’re alright.” He quickly hugged me.

I nodded.

“What happened up there?”

I shook my head. “A demon,” I breathed.

The governor made his way through the crowd. “A demon? Like the one you were supposed to blow up?!” He pointed to the burnt tower. “That creature could have destroyed the whole town. One shapeshifter, Fin. I thought you could handle it.”

“It wasn’t a shapeshifter,” I muttered, bowing my head. “It was a dragon.”

A whisper spread among those standing nearby.

“The boy is delusional,” announced the governor. “Dragons do not come this far north, we all know that. It’s too cold here. They wouldn’t survive.”

“The shifter was one of fire,” I stated. “The dragon belongs to him.” I motioned to the opposing path. “He was able to control it.”

“What are you talking about?” The governor shook his head, “Who is this shifter?”

“The man,” I stated. “The dragon belongs to him. He was a shifter of fire.”

“Lies,” Mr. Lockhart said, grabbing my arm. “Don’t listen. He’s fatigued, and the shapeshifter must have—”

“Why?” I interrupted, prying at his hand. “Why couldn’t he be one of fire?”

Lockhart swung me around. “Because fire is the weakness of all shapeshifters,” he stated. “So keep your mouth shut, boy.” He peered out over the crowd. “Do not worry. We will track down this beast and dispose of it along with any other shifter. To ensure our safety, we will send additional tribute, so our gods will bless us and help us get rid of the shapeshifters.” He looked at my adopted brother. “Reese, start the preparations. Give these people something else to think about.”

“Yes, sir.”

Holding tight to my arm, the governor led me through the gathering to the town.

“Sir?” I tried to pull my arm free. “Sir, you’re hurting me. Please let go.”

Stopping in the middle of the town square, he yanked me forward. “You and I are going to have a talk, and I’d advise you to say exactly what I want to hear if you don’t want to end up tied to that post.” He tilted his head toward the stake.

I nodded, feeling my chest tighten.

He pulled me along behind him into the government building and took me to his office in the back. Pushing me inside, Lockhart slammed the door. “Sit. Now.” He paced around the back of the room.

I took the chair adjacent to his desk and faced forward.

“What happened, Fin?”

“I-I did what you asked.” I bit my lip. “It was a dragon and another shifter.”

Lockhart slammed his fist on the desk. “Listen here, boy. Mythical creatures don’t come this far north. First off, they’d have to survive the ravine, which has plenty of beasts that aren’t in your textbooks.”

“Dragon can fly,” I whispered.

He shoved a pile of books onto the floor before gripping his hair and walking around to his chair. He sank down into his seat and leaned forward. “You listen to me. After we’re done, you’re to go home. Talk to no one. Come tomorrow, you are going to say it was shapeshifters.”

“But it wasn’t. It was a dragon, and who knows—maybe the other was the god.”

“Because that’s what I said, Fin.” He pointed his finger at me. “I don’t care what happened, but all this was caused by a shapeshifter. Not a dragon or whatever the hell else you thought you saw.” He shook his head at me. “A god,” he scoffed, “Coming to see a pathetic boy like you. If it were a god, you’d be dead.” The governor stood tall and looked down his nose at me. “Talking so lowly of a god will get this whole village cursed. You’re already the topic of rumors. I wouldn’t want any more to form. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” I said softly. “Shapeshifters, that’s all I saw.”

“You didn’t see a dragon or a demon. Just a shapeshifter that fouled your mind. You’re just an innocent boy that was tricked by a monster. Isn’t that right, Fin?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Because if you weren’t an innocent boy that was just unlucky to be the one chosen to go up there, I’m going to have to take action, Fin.”

My breath caught, and I quickly nodded. “No, sir. I was just there by chance. It was a shapeshifter now that I think about it. Two shapeshifters. I’d be dead if it was anything else.”

“That’s good to hear.” Mr. Lockhart leaned back in his chair. “You may go, Fin.”

“Yes, sir.” I stood. “Thank you, sir.” I hurried to the door.

“Oh, Fin.”

“Yes?” I glanced back over my shoulder.

“It wouldn’t be wise to cause any more problems. You have enough stories circulating about you, and you don’t need another.”

“What kind?” I sucked in my lips.

“One perhaps is what actually happened to your parents. A baby surviving a fire of that magnitude is a rare thing, and I’m really hoping it was just luck that you lived. For your sake, at least.”

I nodded. “I will, sir. No more problems.” Opening the door, I stepped outside and shut it. I felt sick.

I raced out of the building and headed toward the woods. I made it just into the nearest alleyway before I dropped to my knees and threw up. The tears started to fall. Resting my head on the bricks, I tried to get my breathing under control. They were going to kill me. Lockhart wanted me dead. I could feel it. Wrapping my arms around my stomach, I took deep breaths to calm down. My body didn’t feel like mine, and with the governor knowing something wasn’t right with me, I couldn’t even trust myself. Sooner or later, they’d find out, and I doubted they try to kill me with fire.