"Mother!" Renko barely breathed the word.

"These are the dual-natured friends your father spoke of?" The Dragon Queen's huge head turned to look as she drew out the word "friends" menacingly. She hovered, a skill Azuki coveted, while they had to circle. The Dragon Queen's gaze scraped over them like knives. She was huge. She was willful. According to Renko, she didn't like dual-natured beings. Azuki was nearly paralyzed from fear. Only her need to fly or fall sustained ...