T.L. Christianson - Sunny Side Up

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Copyright 2022 by T.L. Christianson

Edited by Kjirsten Territ

Cover by Raquel Lyon At Crooked Sixpence

Abraxas:

Largest and most powerful Kingdom on Rytys, also known as the dragon realm.

Almondberry:

A small yellow sour fruit that resembles a cherry tomato and has thorns.

Awakening Ceremony:

A ritual performed on Earth to pull and bind a dragon to a person.

Balaur Academy:

A private boarding school for the Dragonborn on Earth for students between elementary school and college.

Bondmate:

A person with whom one has an intimate emotional or spiritual bond.

Briony:

1. The Dragonborn of Earth.

2. The private security firm run by the Dragonborn of Earth.

3. The military base of the Dragonborn of Earth in Colorado.

Choosing Ceremony:

A ritual performed on Rytys to bond a dragon to an adult.

Conditioned:

A form of telepathic mind control used by a High Prime to indoctrinate an individual in the attitudes and beliefs of a group, usually to ensure loyalty.

Dragonborn:

1. Humans with the ability to either hear dragons' mind speak or bonded to a wyvern or dragon.

2. Not a mundane.

Dragons:

A large serpentine beast with four legs, capable of breathing fire and emotionally bonding to a human.

Dragons types:

Dragons come in different colors with differing attributes. The main colors and attributes are listed here:

Drake The most common kind among Dragonborn of Earth. They are blue or green or a combination thereof.

Harrow Black or yellow or a variation. These dragons usually have spikes down there back and around their head.

Eton From the darkest of red to full white, these dragons are the most common type of dragon in Abraxas. They usually have spikes, but are not as common as they are on Harrow dragons.

Fire Rock:

A block of flammable material used for igniting dragons breath.

Hatching Ceremony:

A ritual performed on Rytys to bond a newly hatched dragon to a child.

High Prime:

A Prime who has formed a Tetrad bond with another person and two dragons.

Kortrik:

The capital city of the Abraxas Empire on Rytys.

Mundane:

A non-Dragonborn person on Earth and Rytys.

Portal:

A connection or gateway between widely separated regions enabling travel through space.

Prime:

A person who has formed a bond with a dragon (not a wyvern.) Primes can communicate with dragons and wyverns, using their dragon to pull memories or truth from people. The bond also enables them to live longer.

Rytys:

1. Known as the dragon realm to people of Earth.

2. Home of dragons and the Abraxas Empire.

Star touched:

A Prime with Tetrad powers without a bondmate.

Stygian Ritual:

A punishment ritual that when performed breaks the bond between a human and dragon. The human is no longer considered Dragonborn and is excluded from participation within the Dragonborn community.

Tetrad:

A quadruple bond between two Primes and their dragons.

Virago:

A strongly brewed tea similar to coffee.

Wyverns:

A smaller, faster two-legged dragon with a barbed tail that can spit an acid substance.

Prologue Sydney

I gazed around at my surroundings blurrily, blinking to clear my vision. The ceiling above me was a perfect dirty white square, surrounded by faded mint green walls. The color was pretty and reminded me of Easter in London with George and the plastic hay he'd put in my basket every year.

I struggled to my elbows, causing ripples along the still water of my mind.

This wasn't London, and George wasn't here. But, it wasn't George that my heart called out for it was someone elsea man with crystal blue eyes and dark hair that fell into them. In my thoughts, this dream guy pushed the wayward lock back with a swipe of his hand.

He meant something to me more than George. Who could mean more than George?

"You" I breathed, trying to fill in the missing pieces like a puzzle.

My memories felt far away, and when I reached for them, they seemed to move beyond my reach.

This guy, in my mind was important. I loved him.

I knew him, but how?

Dream guy's full lips curved into a smile.

"What's your name?" I whispered hoarsely, my voice sounding like gravel through my parched lips.

Elle se rveille, a muffled voice came from outside the room.

She's waking up, he'd said in French.

How did I know what he said? How did I know French?

Clearing my throat, I struggled to sit, but only managed to roll to my side. The small room was empty except for a metal toilet and sink combo that jutted from the wall. Industrial tile made up of swirling shades of tan and white lined the floor. It was cracked and dirty.

Sucking in a deep breath to fortify myself, I struggled into a sitting position, only to fall back down onto the bed.

Another voice drew my attention to the wall behind me. An industrial metal door with a small window near the top was about a meter away. Even though I could hear the voices outside, I couldn't quite distinguish who stood there.

Blinking, I swallowed and steadied myself. I had to sit up.

Sit up, damnit! I shouted to myself.

With a groan, I managed to pull myself upright, my legs falling like dead weight off the bed.

I was in a jail cell.

I was in a freaking jail cell. This should bother me. I knew it should bother me, but for some reason I couldn't muster up the correct fear or anxiety over my situation.

When the door burst open, I just lay there staring at the two men who entered the room. They wore dark blue scrubs, and as they neared me, I didn't move.

Grabbing my arms, they hauled me up to sit against the wall.

After one of them shoved a pillow behind my back, he smiled, the gesture not reaching his eyes. Nous vous avons apport quelque chose manger. Avez-vous faim?"

We brought you something to eat. Are you hungry?

"Idiot! She can't understand you," the other spat in French.

I could only blink as I watched their interactions.

Then, speaking in a French accent, Idiot turned back to me. "You are hungry, yes?"

I blinked again, too weak to reply.

"Julien?" He motioned to his partner, who pushed a hospital tray into the room.