The three children of Hephaestus had spent a decent amount of time walking him through the basics—how hard to strike, where to hold the steel, how to listen for the sound that meant it was ready. They were patient. All three brothers passed on the knowledge they had received from their father.
But the downside was that he needed them. He needed the hammer that was passed on to every child of Hephaestus to be able to forge divine weapons. Without it, it was nothing more than useless metal.
So Kael wouldn't let them touch the forge.
Not this one.
Not with his fire.
He knew the flames that danced at their fingertips were divine—refined, controlled, obedient. But the fire his dragon carried was the opposite.
It didn't obey.
It only devoured. The dragon of domination.
And he couldn't risk them getting too close. He couldn't afford to lose them—not now. They were the only children of Hephaestus, and he didn't have an unlimited supply of them.
It was about survival.
