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The casserole was wonderful and a nice change after the slightly thin meals of the last few days. However, they did not get to eat it in peace. When they were about half finished, there was a snapping noise from Sarah’s bag.

“Oh!” She bent down and pulled the egg out. There was a small but visible crack in the glassy shell and brown tinted light was glowing out of it. “He’s hatching!”

“He is,” Lyrrekka agreed. “I’ll get the baby things after dinner. It will take a few hours before he emerges.”

Sarah nodded, tucked the egg into the crook of one harm and went back to eating her casserole.

Andrew wished he could do that but now his stomach was churning and his appetite had completely died. He tried looking away from the egg but it didn’t help. He gave a sigh and put his spoon down. His mother gave him a concerned look and squeezed his hand gently.

“It’s okay, Drew,” she said. “He’ll be a baby and won’t even remember what happened. He won’t be able to hurt you.”

“I know,” Andrew said. “It’s still disturbing.”

“I understand.” She looked over at Matthias. “He needs a councillor. I think I’m going to take him to see Alex’s daughter after dinner.”

“Good call,” he said. “We’ll put yours n the fridge until you feel better, Drew.”

By the time the others finished eating there were several more cracks in the egg, all glowing with the same light. Andrew gave it one more unhappy look before his mother led him out of the dorm house and across the school campus to another almost identical house. He recognised the woman who answered the door; she was indeed one of Alexandra’s daughters.

“Thanks for agreeing to do this at such short notice, Melissa,” Sonia said.

“It’s fine,” Melissa said. “I’m helping Kayleigh and Robert already.” She beckoned them inside. “I really should have offered when you first told us what was done to him. Would the dragon girl, Naria, want my help?”

“I think Nari’s mother arranged something,” Andrew said. “Though she’s here so much I’m not sure how that works.”

“Naria has been talking to Kelaria when she needed to,” Sonia said. “And to be honest, she’s coping better than you.”

“That’s good then.” Melissa led them to a small study and gestured to a comfortable armchair. “Take a seat. Do you want your mother to stay?”

Andrew looked over at his mother, wondering if she would be be offended if he asked her to leave. He didn’t have to ask though because she laughed and headed for the door.

“Who wants to bear their soul in front of their parents, Melissa,” she said just before closing the door, leaving him alone with the other woman.

“Okay.” Melissa sat down opposite Andrew and gave a smile. “Now I take my councilling very seriously, so I promise you nothing you say here will leave this room. So what do you want to talk about?”

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