40.1. Restless - Part 1

I'm studying that young man's features, trying to guess his age. Erik isn't even trying, he gave up guessing ages of Draconians weeks ago. Generally, I can roughly tell that the boy Bauerova brought with her can't be more than twenty-five but it's tricky even for me because he's a Clawfang. A wolfish Clawfang to be precise, with snow-white fur and blue eyes. That's pretty rare.

He's not looking at us, he's literally staring. Then he looks at his aunt—a little bit too sheepishly for such an impressive appearance. He's still wearing human clothes and I have to admit that it just looks weird on a Draconian. My perception of fashion has changed a lot over the last few weeks. I'd never go back to human clothes even if I was struggling with robes in the beginning, calling them cosplays.

"That's David, my nephew," Bauerova introduces him plainly but her voice is warm and proud.

"It's Rien now, auntie," the boy finally shows some defiance. He's really anxious so he sounds more frustrated about it than he intended.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to misname you," the Prime Minister apologises quickly. "But you've been David for twenty-two years so, please, bear with me until I break that habit."

So he's twenty-two, I was pretty close. I feel Erik sighing in his mind. For him Rien could be twenty-two as well as forty-two and he wouldn't know the difference.

"Nice to meet you, Rien," Liana assertively puts her hand forward. Rien hesitantly takes it.

"No reason to be nervous around us," Fefnir shakes his hand so enthusiastically that poor Rien almost bounces.

"He didn't meet many Draconians so far," Bauerova coughs nervously. "Please, be gentle with him."

"Sorry for that brute, I'm Ingri," Ingri introduces herself to the newcomer and manages a very sincere smile. Rien relaxes a bit but then he inevitably faces me.

Should I shake his hand? I don't feel like connecting to him right away but I don't want to seem rude so I put my hand forward. Rien, however, widens his wolfish eyes and hastily bows instead of a handshake. Should I be relieved or worried that I'm apparently that scary?

"Rien," Bauerova says, careful to get his gaming name right this time, "is studying economy, second year. It might not seem that impressive but he's been around all major political events since he was a teenager and knows a lot. He should be useful to you."

"I'm sorry, Katerina, but why are you giving him to us now?" Liana asks bluntly. "Isn't his family supportive? You certainly are."

"Well," Bauerova bites her lip. "He can't go back to school. He's been home since his transformation and he was starting to go a bit crazy there, to be frank."

"Naturally, Clawfangs are pack creatures," Fefnir shrugs and pats Rien on his back. Rien flinches, obviously afraid of the huge Dragonkin. Fefnir is extremely friendly with basically everybody but his attempts of friendliness can be easily misunderstood considering his formidable appearance.

"And we can't let him out freely, everyone knows whose nephew he is," Bauerova adds. "He made his avatar too recognisable."

"Paid ingame modifications, huh?" Fefnir ponders. "That snow-white fur must have cost a fortune."

"He spent all his savings on it some years ago, his parents were furious when they found out," Bauerova rolls her eyes. "I still remember it vividly. My dear brother was really angry when he found out that Rien was playing some VR game instead of studying."

"Was he angry when Rien started transforming?" Liana asks.

"Shocked, not angry," Bauerova assures her. "It's not like it's Rien's fault weird shit happened to Draconia."

"Weird shit," Erik taps his chin. "We still don't know anything, do we? Any progress on those missing Draconia's developers?"

"None," Bauerova has to disappoint us. "Still investigating."

I study Rien again, trying to decode his feelings. Bauerova claims that he hasn't met many Draconians so far but it seems to me he didn't meet any at all. He's staring at all of us and it's obvious it's his first time meeting fellow Draconians face-to-face. Did his parents lock him up at home? I don't catch any bad feelings from him so they must have done it out of fear, desperate to protect him. Unlike Emi's parents who did it out of hate.

"Rien, you don't have to be so wary, we're not that scary," I try smiling at him and instinctively stretch my left wing and pat his arm.

It's a totally Celestial way of comforting someone so I'm surprised when Rien doesn't jerk away. Instead, he curiously caresses my feathers with his fingers. I didn't expect our bare bodies to touch so I can't help it and connect to him. Rien is so hungry to touch another Draconian that it's almost painful to watch.

His thoughts and emotions hit me but not in a bad way. He's a Draconian so his mind doesn't overwhelm me. I discover that however supportive his parents were during his transformation, they completely isolated him. And when he became too restless and it was no longer possible to keep him contained, Bauerova stepped in. We really are the first Draconians he's meeting.

"Ehm," Erik clears his throat because Rien's innocent petting transforms into cuddling my feathers.

"S-sorry," he finally lets go of my wing and he's probably blushing under that fur. "Celestial feathers are so pleasant to touch."

Erik keeps frowning at the boy so I have to poke him.

Rien is just curious, stupid, I say to him, amused by his illogical jealousy. There was nothing erotic about it. Besides, the boy is straight.

And you're androgynous, Erik isn't convinced. Unless one looks under your robe, they can be enchanted by your pretty face nonetheless.

"Anyway," Liana narrows her eyes because she can usually tell when we're talking telepathically. She's developed a strange sensitivity to it even if we're extremely careful not to let anything show on our faces. "You want Rien to live here? Commuting is also an option."

"Please, Your Excellency," Bauerova pleads. "He can't stay at home and he can't go out freely either. I'm not saying he's in danger because he isn't a race ruler but the paparazzi wouldn't let him be."

"Just Liana is enough, Katerina," my Viceroy says, cringing when the Prime Minister pronounces her title. "We're former classmates after all."

"I'm a bit disappointed that you don't consider me your friend," Bauerova says sadly and does look genuinely disappointed. I resist grinning. Liana considers her more like a frenemy, really.

"I'm taking your nephew in, am I not?" Liana says quickly and tries to hide her blushing. "I wouldn't do it just for anybody, you know."

Bauerova beams at her, knowing perfectly well that Liana isn't good at expressing her emotions in front of people. Again, I realise how lucky I am to know the real Liana.

"He might be young but Da... Rien I mean... is an aspiring economist," the Prime Minister boasts. "He should be useful to you once he gains some hands-on experience. He was regularly attending his parents' business meetings since he was seventeen so he isn't a complete newbie."

"By which you're trying to suggest I shouldn't employ him in the kitchens. Got it," Liana smirks.

"I'd really appreciate if you kept a close eye on him," Bauerova urges but not because she only means to plant him as her spy close to us. She's really concerned for her beloved nephew. And should he become an influential Draconian in future, that's simply a plus for her government and Rien's family.

"Me? I'm giving him to Emi as soon as she returns," Liana raises her eyebrows. "She can make him part of her pack to better protect him."

The Prime Minister chews her lip. She was evidently hoping Rien would be protected by Liana herself.

"He wouldn't feel comfortable among Celestials anyway, Katerina," Liana says. "Trust me on this, Draconian races are mentally very different from each other."

"Why don't we ask Rien what he wants?" I speak up, irritated that Rien doesn't get to say anything in the matter. Do I feel especially touched by it because that's how my subjects are treating me sometimes? Deciding things for me because they think it's for their Emperor's protection and well-being.

Rien looks at me with such gratitude that I feel sorry for him again. Is he used to his parents arranging things for him? I guess it often happens in rich families in which parents have a certain career in mind for their heir.

"I want to be with my Supreme Alpha," Rien blurts out and his tail start to tremble when his aunt gives him a disapproving stare.

"It's decided then," my Viceroy claps her hands and concludes the matter.