CHAPTER 62: LIAM’S DISCOVERY

Liam’s excitement was palpable. Obviously, it was because there was a golden dragon at the head of the table and because he had been told that for a few days, he’d be skipping school.

Wasn’t that just the best combination of news?

However, the young boy’s attention was drawn to something else.

Something so interesting that he didn’t spend the entire hour just staring at his idol’s magnificence.

Liam always knew his brother had secrets.

Big ones.

After all, Riley was excellent—smart, quick, brave, and good at pretending he wasn’t those things. There was no way someone that great didn’t have hidden layers.

And now... proof.

It started small. Liam had been eating quietly, minding his own business and thinking about great things like golden hair and scales, when he noticed something strange. His brother—who normally ate like food was in danger of escaping—was suddenly... slow. Deliberate. Almost like he was rationing his bites.

Then Liam caught it.

The movement.

A piece of food going somewhere other than his mouth.

Liam’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

Interesting.

The adults were talking about something grown-up—The dragon was saying something about plans, their parents replying in that careful voice adults used when they were being polite but cautious. But Liam’s focus was locked on his big brother, Riley.

Every so often, his brother’s hand dipped down to the side. The bag under the table twitched faintly, almost like it had a heartbeat.

Fascinating.

Liam, of course, didn’t let anyone see him looking. He kept his face perfectly blank, just like when he spied on the disappearing garden gnomes back home. But inside, the mystery-loving part of him was buzzing.

What was in the bag?

A secret weapon? A stolen artifact? A... cat?

It was only when he subtly shifted in his seat and peered down that the truth hit him—his brother had gotten a pet.

A weird, bag-bound, fidgety pet that apparently required meat offerings every few minutes.

No wonder Riley was acting strange.

Then the conversation turned serious—something about future schooling—and Riley’s feeding hand stilled.

Liam frowned. The "pet" shifted restlessly inside the bag.

Oh no!

Well, that wouldn’t do.

If Riley couldn’t feed it, someone had to step in. And who better than Liam, who had discovered the secret in the first place?

Careful not to draw attention, he slid a small piece of grilled meat toward the bag’s slit. The movement was met with a tiny, lightning-fast snap and a muffled sound of satisfaction.

Liam almost grinned. Oh yes. This was going to be fun.

He was going to keep feeding the mystery creature until it liked him best.

Liam leaned back slightly, mind working at top speed.

Feeding the creature was good. Feeding it better than his brother did? That was the real challenge.

The problem was, he only had so much food on his own plate. And if he gave away too much, someone might notice.

That’s when the boy spotted it—the communal plate of meat just slightly closer to Riley’s side.

Perfect.

He waited. The adults were in deep conversation about servants and attendants, so the little boy hoped their attention would be focused elsewhere.

Then, with all the agility and finesse he could muster, Liam’s fork darted out, snagging a piece from the edge of the plate and slipping it under the table.

Snap! Gone.

The bag twitched in approval.

This was easy. Almost too easy.

But Liam wasn’t done. Oh no. If he was going to make this pet love him more than anyone else, he needed to go above and beyond.

So he started experimenting. Small pieces, big pieces, ones wrapped in lettuce leaves (the creature seemed confused by that), even dipping one in sauce before delivery.

Each time, the bag reacted differently. Something that seemed like a happy wiggle, a suspicious sniff, a "just give me the meat" lunge. Liam took notes. Mentally, of course.

Riley, still absorbed in the conversation about the different dragon factions, didn’t notice a thing.

By the time dessert came, Liam was convinced he was making progress. The bag twitched toward his side more often now. The mysterious creature had clearly recognized greatness when it saw it.

Yes. Soon, they’d be best friends.

And his brother?

Well... he’d just have to find another secret.

Not that Riley Hale needed any more secrets when he’d already been thrust into several he never signed up for and definitely didn’t like.

In fact, the aide would be glad if he didn’t have to deal with any of this. If life had any sense of fairness, he should be allowed at least one week of freedom from political minefields.

But no.

Instead of peace, he had a front-row seat to everything. So, without better and realistic options, he just decided to get as much information as possible.

It started when his father asked about his plans.

While the question looked simple, as he usually made it sound, he knew that Lawrence Hale was no simple man.

For one, he was likely wondering about how everyone would proceed.

Would they be permanent fixtures here? Would Liam return to school, and how?

Would Riley and Kael announce anything conclusive, and how would they face the next big issue: the other dragons?

Like a mind reader or a bona fide aide, Lawrence Hale managed to steer the conversation.

The initial discussion covered how they would wait and see first before acting. But while doing so, it would be best for the Hale family to stay in Kael’s estate indefinitely.

To make things easier, Kael was thinking of setting up a temporary gate to make traveling easier.

The aide who had been in an argument of sorts with him earlier blinked.

Riley didn’t expect such a concession and couldn’t react fast enough. Because didn’t that mean he could actually visit more often than before?

It was an unexpected boon, but then again, it was likely compensation for Liam’s impending schooling problem.

However, his mom said, "We can temporarily homeschool him. I think the school would be reasonable enough to understand that unless they wanted the media to mob the school, then it would be best to cooperate."

Riley honestly wasn’t that worried about the actual school. His worry was how Liam would miss his friends and the everyday fun that kids his age were supposed to have. Fun that didn’t yet involve magical politics or winged reptiles.

Well, and not to mention their usual comforts such as technology?

But then again, this was Liam. The child who usually dreamt of castles and dragons, and one who might find something that interests him here.

Though maybe, for the sake of a future, he should really stop jinxing himself.

Bah!

And just as he was about to mentally check out of the conversation, his father dropped a completely different bomb.

"Son," Lawrence said slowly, "you’re going to the Dragon Clan’s main estate tomorrow?"

"Huh? Uh... yes?"

"Then did you prepare a gift?"

Riley stared at him. "A... gift?"

"Yes."

"...And why would I need a gift, Dad?"

"Because the unexpected visitors might use that as a basis for incinerating you."

"???"

Riley blinked twice, unsure if his father was joking, exaggerating, or issuing a legitimate survival tip. And honestly, knowing his father and his one expression, it could be all three.