Cyrus's hand moved to Kane's head, fingers threading through his silver hair.
"Patience, little fox. This is a long story, and some parts are harder to tell than others."
"I can be patient. Sometimes."
A ghost of a smile crossed Cyrus's lips. "We'll see."
His fingers continued their soothing motion through Kane's hair as he resumed the tale.
"As with most things that are powerful and mythical, there had always been spirits who coveted the Hearts.
For millennia, various factions whispered about their locations, spun theories about their true capabilities, and harbored secret resentments about why the dragon clans were chosen as guardians."
Kane's tails curled tighter around them both, sensing the shift in Cyrus's tone.
"The Hearts were meant to be eternal safeguards, their power flowing subtly through the realm to maintain balance. But whispers have a way of growing into shouts, and envy has a way of festering into hatred."
Cyrus's hand stilled against Kane's scalp.
