Tharaxis was quiet for a moment, his countless arms shifting. "I can smell Drakon on you."
The statement caught Jack off guard, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What?"
"Drakon," Tharaxis repeated. "Ancient dragon. One of the oldest living creatures in this world." Lightning crackled along the dragon's scales. "His scent clings to you like morning fog. Faint, but unmistakable to someone who knows what to sense."
Jack's mind raced. He'd only seen Drakon once. A glimpse during his fight with Slyph, when his father's contracted beast had manifested for seconds. How could Tharaxis smell that brief encounter?
"Drakon is my father's contractee," Jack said carefully. "I've barely interacted with him directly."
"Doesn't matter," Tharaxis replied. "Contract bonds leave marks. Your father shares Drakon's power, which means you've been exposed to that power through blood connection. Weak exposure, yes, but present."
