"Worse, her father," Jeera said. "Wives take their husband's name when they change ownership."

"Then just your first name," Boris told me. "And from now on, you will be known as Ayla the Phoenix."

Bending over, I wrote my name proudly in the space he indicated. When that was done, I passed the pen back to him and stood up.

"And now," Boris said, closing the book so I could see the cover. "You are officially a Dragon."

There, carved into the leather and painted with gold, were the words:

Registry of Lorsa Citizenship

Dragons

"I'm..." My eyes jumped over to the old man. "That's it? I'm really a Dragon now?"

"Yes, you are," he promised. "Now, it'll take me a day or so to make the sign die for you, but putting your name in here makes it real. You are a Dragon. The Phoenix is your sign. No one can change that now."

"Oh..." I was smiling. I was smiling so wide my cheeks were going to hurt!

"What do I owe you?" Jeera asked.

Boris just waved her off. "No, I think this is going to be Ayla's debt to pay."

"She doesn't exactly have a job yet," Kanik told him.

"But she does," Boris said. "She's going to rise from the ashes. That's my payment for this sign." Then he chuckled. "And maybe you can mark it on some Moles like Zasen did."

"I will," I promised. "I swear! Oh, thank you, Mr. Boris!"

"Just Boris," he assured me.

But none of this felt like enough. I needed to show him how much this meant to me, so I leaned in, wrapped my arms around his neck, and hugged him hard. That had worked with Zasen. It showed how I felt. It was also the biggest thing I could think of doing for someone.

And the man gently patted my back, but he softened against me. "And now, I think that debt might be paid in full."

SeventyRymar

When Ayla got back from the market, she hadn't bought a single thing. Instead, she burst through the door like a golden whirlwind with the biggest smile on her face. Zasen almost choked on his beer at the sudden entrance. I just froze, my eyes locked on Ayla.

"I'm a Dragon!" she squealed, all of her proper and demure attitude gone.

"What?" Zasen asked, looking back at Kanik who followed her in and closed the door.

"How?" I asked next.

"Boris," Kanik explained. "I told Jeera what had happened, she talked to Ayla, and somehow that ended up with us visiting Boris."

"And he agreed?" I asked, unable to believe this.

Kanik just nodded slowly. "Yeah, he also wouldn't let Jeera pay. He said the debt is Ayla's, and to pay it off she must rise from her ashes."

So Zasen jerked his chin at Ayla. "What's your sign then?"

"The Phoenix!" she squealed, almost bouncing in place. "And it's perfect. I mean, I thought I should've been gold, because that's what people say about me, but Boris didn't like it. He asked me questions and made me answer, then he drew up a flaming bird!"

"Do you know what a phoenix is?" I asked her.

"Rymar, I read books," she told me, but her smile was stuck on her face. "And the phoenix heals too! It is immortal and strong. It's everything I want to be, so I love it. This means I can't be sent back, right?"

"Exactly," Kanik said, giving me and Zasen warning looks.

Which meant things had been interesting while they were out, and not in the way I'd expected. But Ayla was more than willing to forget all about sex hurting and how embarrassed she'd been earlier. All that seemed to matter to her now was that she'd been made a real Dragon. She'd signed her name and everything.

I'd never seen her like this. Giddy was the best word I had for it. Overjoyed, exuberant, and every other happy word I could think of. She was like a cross between a little kid who'd just gotten a present and a woman who had just gotten engaged.

So many times, she clutched her hands to her chest. Often, she giggled just thinking about it. The girl didn't even have her sign die yet, but that didn't seem to matter. She'd signed the book. She was a real Dragon. She was one of us, and to her it was a dream come true.

Which meant I had to break this to the Mayor. The next morning, I slipped out of the house right after Ayla took her dose of venom. It barely even bothered her anymore, and we were putting three drops in the water. She should be immune. She had to be close. We wouldn't be sure until we saw how she reacted to four drops, but none of us were rushing that.

The walk across town was nice. People called out, waving to me as I passed. My skin was vivid enough and unique enough that even at a distance they recognized me. But I didn't stop until I made it to City Hall.

"Hey, Jerlis," I said as I stepped into his office.

His pen paused, then the man slowly looked up at me. "Seeing you usually means there's a problem. I got the reports back. The work orders are all filed. So what is the problem, Rymar?"

"May I?" I gestured at the chair before his desk.

The massive man growled under his breath, put the cap back on his pen, and leaned back. "So it's bad, hm?"

Well, if he wasn't going to be polite and let me sit, then I'd do it anyway. Easing myself down into the chair, I tried to act like this was no big deal. It was. We all knew it was, but Jerlis would not be pleased with my news.

"So, Ayla met Boris yesterday."

Jerlis's eyes narrowed.

"He is designing the Phoenix for her."

The man's tail lashed so hard it slapped against the floor.

"He says she's already a Dragon - she just needs help hatching - so he had her sign the book."

"That fucking imbecile!" Jerlis roared as he surged to his feet, swiping at his desk. "Does he not realize what a threat she is to Lorsa? Can he not see how dangerous it is to coddle her? If she betrays us, then what? The Moles will finally win! They'll overrun the entire town and no Dragon will ever be safe again!"

Papers slid to the floor. A cup of tea splashed across the top of his desk. Ink ran and items were scattered, but I simply tilted my head. This was why he'd picked me to run for office with him. This was where I excelled and he did not.

"Sit. Down." I lifted a brow. "It's done, Jerlis. You can't change it."

"She's dangerous," he growled, pressing both hands to his messy desk and leaning towards me. "She's a fucking Mole!"