Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

**Draven**

| hurried back to the prom. The stupid Hags didn’t even notice | was gone. They were too busy showing off their

designer

dresses. | rake my eyes over them looking for any indication of blood. None was evident. | bet they used a spell

to mask

it. Well, I know how to rip that mask off, but | can’t. I need to do what The Ravens asked of me. If anyone can

control

death, it is them. They are the direct hands of The Goddess. When they were trapped, so many souls met an

untimely

end. Now they can make sure that the right souls are taken at the right times.

| put my hand in my pants’ pocket and roll the coins around. | can feel the magic pulse within them. | wonder

what fate will befall the Hags? | see Trisha looking around frantically. She must not know what is going on. I ask

the Hags if | could

get them another drink. Of course, they takeup on it just as | thought that they would. They're so simple.

They want a

man with status who will kneel to them by day and ravage them by night. It's pathetic really. Yes, | know so was

my

attempt at raising my status but at least | had my reasons. These women don’t have a righteous bone in their

bodies.

| pulled Trisha aside. | explained that Avery will be late but she would be here and would likely bring company. |

told her

to not be afraid. Avery is still Avery but she’s becoming so much more. Trisha was confused, but reassured me

that she

has loved Avery like a sister and that she would always be there for her. | nodded in agreement and thanked her

for being

such a good friend to Avery. Tears tinged her eyes when she toldthat she wished that she could have done

more but

the Hags targeted her too and anyone whoever attempted to show kindness to Avery. Rage bubbled within me

but

debated slightly when | assured her that soon the Hags would be no more. | gave her shoulder a quick squeeze

before |

grabbed three glasses and headed to the other side of the gym that had been converted into a huge ballroom.

There were areas for socialization, eating, lounging, and dancing. | had never been to a prom so | only had

movies to

base my opinions off of, but | think this one tops any I had seen. Too bad | can’t enjoy it as those kids in the

movies did,

but Avery said that | would find my mate and | believe her. | just hope that absorbing death doesn’t change her

because

it has many of us who have been touched by it.

| gave the Hags their drinks. “I will have one to toast whichever of you lovely ladies is crowned prom queen,” |

said with a

nod. | reached into my pocket and pulled out the coins. | held them up to make sure they glinted in the lights. “I

know

that only one of you can be crowned, so | would like to give each of you one of these. Make a wish and flip the

coin and |

will help make those wishes ctrue.” | made sure to say that with a naughty undertone. | don’t want to risk

these

“dates” of mine to suspect a thing. Thankfully, they didn’t even question my gesture. | was never a lady's man

but

pretending to be one when girls as are desperate as these are makes it easy. However, | am grateful that this

charade

ends tonight. Do | like how handsand regal this glamour makeslook? Yes, but | hate how artificial it

makes me

feel. | want to go back to being Draven, just Draven. | smile at that thought.

The staff gathered on stage. The principal, Mr. Gray, speaks, “I am very pleased by the turnout this year. We here

at

Salvation are saddened to see many of you graduate this year, but we are very excited to watch you all blossom

into

adults and the future of this tribe and others depends on you. Now for the moment you have been waiting for...

the

crowning of this year’s king and queen.” He takes an envelope from Mr. Chen and opens it. He raises his eyebrow

as he

says, “This is unconventional but | will allow it. We have a queen and three kings. Avery, would you and the

Draco

brothers please cto the stage?”

Spotlights scan the crowd as a hush falls over it. They aren't to be found. The staff called for them a few more

times

before Mr. Gray sighed. “Well, | would have loved to see them accept it but we have rules here. Anyone who was

voted as

king or Queen must be in attendance in order to be crowned. If they are absent, the crown goes to the runner-

up.” Mrs. Moore hands him another envelope which he opens, “The runners-up and thus this year’s prom king

and queen are

Jessica and our newest student from Talos. Would you both joinon stage, please?”

| extended my hand to Jessica as her friends clapped and sighed. We slowly made our way to the stage. Mr. Gray

had me

stand beside her in the center of the stage as the rest of the staff brought over our sashes and crowns. Disgust

washed

overas our sashes were put into place around our torsos. | had to fight back the bile that was rising until |

caught

that whiff of death. Avery and The Ravens are on their way.

Jessica started her acceptance speech, “Thank you to everyone who voted forand to those who didn’t, you

should

have because who you voted for couldn’t even be bothered to show up.”

“That's a lie!” Trisha yelled. | gave her a nod and a wink hoping that she wouldn't push the matter.