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Chapter one

AURELIA

The chill of the hammer's handle seeped into my grasp as I carefully wrapped my fingers around it, hidden beneath the folds of my cloak. The large metal chains and cuffs were almost as big as my body. Only one link needed to be released to set him free.

Clank.

Clank.

Tremors reverberated from my body with every forceful stroke. Tiny sparks lighted into the air from my efforts, but no dent was made in the thick metal used to keep him captive. I tried repeatedly, but there was a barrier on the chains.

Lifting my hands, swirls of fire erupted from them, blasting the metal.

Nothing budged. Even the flames did nothing to move the forged steel.

I should have known better. Of course, they would use my grandmother’s magic to stabilize him. To imprison him. At leastshe was the only sorcerer that I knew of–especially with old magic being cast out.

Nonetheless, I kept trying.

Clank.

Clank.

Clank.

Holding the iron hammer low, blisters tore through my skin as tears streamed down my face.

“Zemoumai1,” I apologized to him inSatas Lermathrough the mental connection.

Fascinated and intrigued, I slid my hands up the fire-red scales of his body, tracing them up to his snout. The smell of imprisonment burned my senses.

“They put a spell on your chains,” I told him in his mind.

His eyes–as large as my head–unveiled, revealing the golden irises. A form of emotion collected in them, glimmering with an ethereal warmth. The tears were like liquid sunlight, but in the darkest way possible.

He knew that there was nothing else I could do. “I understand. Save yourself,”he said in response. Anger filled my veins and my heart, shedding the respect and love I had for my grandmother. In defeat, I placed my head against his body, still moving my hands around his scales to provide as much comfort as possible.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, leaving for the tent holding the knights. I pulled my cloak’s hood up to not be seen. After years of hiding in the dark from what I was, I had learned to become invisible.

There was only one more thing I could do. I could find the connection tethered to the magic, but I was running out of time. Just finding out about the trials this morning left me with only broken wishes and shattered opportunities to make a change.

Clicking the metal door behind me, hearing the distinct lock of it, an expanse of bright greenery came into view, the mountains towering in the distance. Beside the rows of tents holding the stadium; the dark bricks of the arena clouded the scenery beyond the small grass field, displaying the line of citizens along the exterior, eager for the Trials by Fire. Their anticipation was palpable as they waited to see which knights would slaughter the dragon to become heir to the king. The mere thought of it made me tremble.

A quiver raced down my backbone. Was it the thought of them killing the dragon? Or the thought that I couldn’t be heir myself? I brushed aside the unsettling thoughts, knowing I had to intervene.

Approaching the tent doors, a subtle tap grazed my shoulder, eliciting a startled jump. I turned around, finding Tobias. Not only my past lover, but the man who was trying to steal my rightful place on the throne. His power-hungry and controlling behavior was enough alone to bring our brief relationship to an end.

His dark blue hair shimmered from the sun. His obscure eyes seemed to peer into my soul as if he knew what I was up to. Embellished in a coat of mail, he kept his silver sword secured by his side, held by a lustrous blue sheath.

“Aurelia, Aurelia,” he tsked. “Silly Aurelia. What do you think you are doing here?” I hid my sleeping potions tighter to my body to avoid being seen. The knights couldn’t fight if they were asleep.

“Tobias. Fancy seeing you here.” I clenched my teeth. The urge to hiss at him overcame my body.

His hand grasped my waist, pulling me closer, my head tilting back to be as far away from him as possible. “Aurelia, a few of the knights here don’t know who you are.” He paused, smirking at me. “I guess I should saywhat you are,” he emphasized. Igrimaced at how he talked about my secret like it was his to keep, like it was something that he could threaten me with.

Our past made his touch familiar, yet one that I despised. The audacity with which he thought he could touch me like we were back together mocked me, not wanting to be with him, but wondering if I would be alone forever because of what I was.

“However,” he continued, leaning forward, “if I win, I will make sure that you marry me so that you can obtain your rightful place on the throne,” he whispered, his mouth uncomfortably close to my ears. A surge of disdain welled within me at the mere sight of Tobias, let alone the idea of marrying him.