Every Miraculous Moment (Hyena Heat #6)(2)

“They’d be super weak and easily killed in their shifted forms.”

“Yeah, but maybe their cuteness is their weapon. Like, a wolf shifter comes up to eat them, and they turn on the cute and he’s putty in their little paws.”

“Wolves don’t ask questions first; they just eat their prey.”

“Says you. I bet wolves do ask questions, and I bet that bunny shifters do exist. With little fluffy butts and everything.”

“You’re insane.”

“I’m in good company.”

Tonya stood and joined her. “The council has to let you free of the mating. You did your twenty. You’re like a human cop; twenty and done. You didn’t want the mating, but you did it anyway. He’s never been faithful or a good mate, even though you’re amazing. So what that you can’t have kids? And so f*cking what if you have awesome eyes and cool scales?”

Tonya had never had children either, but that was because her mate had died before they’d conceived. She had never remated, even though she’d been pursued by a few of the unmated males.

There was a little-known clan law that stated a dragon could leave their mating after twenty years. It was meant as a safeguard in the event of an arranged mating that didn’t work out, but twenty years was still a super-long time. Maybe the writers of the law hoped that the couple would work things out if they had to wait that long. All that twenty years had done for her was cement in her mind how unfair the clan laws were. They gave with one hand and took with the other.

She’d petitioned the council to let her out of her mating a half dozen times over the years, but now the law was on her side. Her twenty years had been over a month ago, and they were now deliberating her freedom. Turning her attention to her friend, she said, “What are you sketching?”

“Topic-changer,” Tonya accused.

“I’m genuinely curious.”

Tonya turned the book that she’d been hugging to her chest to face Miracle. It was a sketch of a beautiful phoenix, wings spread high.

“Oh, that’s so lovely,” she said.

“Thanks. It’s for you.”

“You haven’t made me a picture in years.” When they were younger, Tonya used to give sketches to Miracle often.

“It’s for your tattoo.”

“I don’t have one.”

“You will. This one.”

“Um, no. Dragons can’t be tattooed. When we shift, the scales somehow dissolve the ink.”

“You can absolutely be tattooed if you mix a special ingredient with the ink.”

“That sound ominous.”

“Your tears.” Before Miracle could say anything, Tonya continued, “Specifically your dragon’s tears. You shift and ask your amazing best friend to collect your tears. Then you take the vial to the tattooer and he’ll mix it in. It’ll make the tattoo permanent.”

“How do you know?”

“My dad had a tattoo and he told me about it. Humans used to think that dragon tears were magical, remedies for different ailments, but all they’re really good for is spell-casting and permanent tattoos.”

Miracle looked at the sketch and then at Tonya. Her mind flipped to Tais, who had spent so much time making her feel worthless. A phoenix was exactly the sort of image that fit with her new life, after she’d stripped herself of the shackles that bound her.

“You’ll go with me?”

“As if I’d let you go without me.”

Miracle hugged Tonya and closed up her little studio. It sat at the back of the property, two hundred blissful feet away from the house that had always felt like a prison to her. She glanced up at the sky as they walked from the studio toward the house. It was late afternoon, and the council would bring their decision to her at nightfall. In a few hours, she could honestly and truly be free.

“If they dissolve my mating, I’ll get the tattoo.”

Tonya cheered. “They will, I can feel it. Good things are going to happen for you.”





*





A week later, newly single and ready to grab life by the horns and live, Miracle sat in the lobby of a tattoo shop in the next town. The place smelled of blood, cleanser, and ink, and the whir of the tattoo machines made her dragon pace.

“You Miracle?” a tall, lanky male with a long blond ponytail asked as he walked past the reception desk. He was tattooed on every visible patch of skin, from his cheeks to his fingertips.

“Yes,” she said, standing to shake his hand.

“Come on back, I’ve got your drawing ready to go.”

Tonya had made the arrangements with the tattooist via e-mail, sending him a photo of the image. Miracle had opted to have it placed on her right shoulder blade. She’d worn a strapless top that bared her upper back so she wouldn’t have to strip. After discussing the placement, he prepped her skin and then transferred the image onto it. As Miracle turned to look at the image in the mirror, Tonya said, “This goes in the ink.”

“What is it?” he asked, eyeing the vial skeptically.

“A special chemical that will allow the tattoo to become permanent.”

He looked at Miracle. “What are you?”

She looked at Tonya, who shrugged. Miracle answered, “I’m a dragon.”