Page 1 of Bound by Fire and Scales (The Dragons of Earis #1)

I stood on the ridge overlooking the training grounds, arms crossed as I watched my clan members engaged in hand-to-hand combat below. The thuds of fists against flesh and the grunts of effort filled the air, and while they trained hard, my mind wasn’t focused on their progress. Leadership weighed heavier than usual today, thoughts of the clan’s future haunting me.

The Firescales were smaller now, not nearly as strong as we had been before the war. Every punch, every block, every grapple felt like a desperate attempt to rebuild what had been lost. I could see the fire in their eyes, the determination driving their moves, but that didn’t change the fact that we were only a fraction of what we used to be. It was hard not to feel the pressure, knowing that every decision I made could either save or doom us.

I saw Enrik stop the two sparring fighters. “Enough,” he called, his voice firm. The fighters stopped instantly, looking up at him. “Dorian, you’re relying on brute force. Use your head, control your power. Alia, you need to anticipate his movements. Don’t let him back you into a corner.”

They both nodded, but I could see the frustration in their eyes. We weren’t there yet. The clan wasn’t ready.

Enrik was in charge of training the youngest members of our clan, and I felt a deep sense of pride in how he had transformed his reputation over the years, moving from being seen as suspicious to earning respect. After the war, he chose to join the Firescale Clan. “The survivors need to stick together,” he had said.

We were all just children then, grappling with the horrors of the war. Enrik had been caught in the heart of the turmoil, the last thunder dragon and the sole survival of his clan. The Thunderwing Clan—those who had betrayed my people and started the war. He had turned against his own people, switching allegiances to help us bring the war to an end.

I was about to head down to help with the training when I heard footsteps approaching. The scent reached me before the voice did—Kislav. Unlike the others, his approach didn’t immediately set me on edge. Kislav wasn’t just my second-in-command; he was my equal in many ways, someone who had been by my side since the start. Though he was born an Ice Dragon, his family joined the Firescale Clan when he was still young, and he was raised as one of our own. We’d grown up and fought together in the war, and now we were trying to rebuild our clan together.

“Zephyr,” he called out, his voice carrying a serious tone. I turned to face him, catching the look in his eyes. It was the same look he got when the council was involved.

“What is it?” I asked, though I had a feeling I already knew.

“The council wants to see you,” Kislav said, keeping his voice low. I clenched my jaw, already feeling the irritation bubbling up .

“What now?” I muttered, though I could already guess. It was always about the same thing.

“They didn’t say explicitly, but I’m guessing it’s about the usual,” Kislav continued, confirming my thoughts. He ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression reflecting the same frustration I felt.

Of course, it was about that. The council’s obsession with me finding a mate and securing the future of the clan had become relentless. As if that alone would solve all of our problems.

“Can’t they give it a break?”

“They’re worried, Zephyr. And I get it—our numbers are dwindling. Without an heir, without a stable future…” Kislav’s voice trailed off, but I knew exactly what he was thinking.

“I’m the leader,” I said sharply. “I’ve kept this clan together through worse. A mate and an heir aren’t going to magically fix everything.”

Kislav sighed, his eyes meeting mine. “I know that. But the council is stuck in their ways, and they’re not going to let this go. They think stability means following the old traditions, and right now, they’re pushing harder than ever.”

I let out a heavy breath, my fists clenching at my sides. I knew he was right, but that didn’t make it any less frustrating. The council wanted me to fall in line, to find a mate and produce an heir as if it were a simple task, like checking off a list.

“Fine,” I muttered, turning back to look at the fighters below. “I’ll meet with them.”

Kislav nodded, though I could see the tension easing slightly from his shoulders. He didn’t like dealing with the council any more than I did, but as my second-in-command, he had no choice but to relay their demands.

As he turned to leave, I watched the fighters below resume their sparring. The younger members of the clan were improving, but we still had a long way to go. We were rebuilding, step by step, but the council’s constant pressure wasn’t helping.

I took a final glance at the training grounds before heading toward the inevitable meeting. Leadership wasn’t just about strength or power. It was about navigating the politics, the traditions, and the expectations that came with it. And even though Kislav stood by me, the burden of being the last alpha of my bloodline still weighed heavily on my shoulders.

But I wasn’t about to let that break me.

Kislav walked beside me as we made our way toward the council chambers. His expression was unreadable, but I knew him well enough to sense the tension beneath his calm facade. This wasn’t just another meeting—they were going to push hard this time. I could feel it.

The corridors were quiet, the air heavy with the weight of the conversation I knew was coming. I had been summoned more times than I could count since the war ended, and it was always the same: find a mate and rebuild the clan. It was as if they couldn’t see the bigger picture, couldn’t understand that stabilizing the clan required more than just a family.

As we approached the heavy doors of the council chamber, Kislav slowed, casting a sidelong glance at me. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“As ready as the first time they brought it up,” I muttered. “But that doesn’t make it any easier.”

With a nod, Kislav pushed open the door, revealing the council members seated at the long stone table. The five of them looked up as we entered, each representing different aspects of our clan’s leadership, but the one who led them—Loryr, the eldest member—spoke first.

“Zephyr,” she said, her voice soft but commanding. “Thank you for coming.”

I inclined my head slightly in acknowledgment, stepping forward with Kislav at my side. The air in the room was thick with formality, and I could already feel their judging eyes on me.

“We’ve called you here to discuss the future of the clan,” Loryr continued, though I could tell by her tone that she was leading into the same conversation we’d had countless times before.

“Let me guess,” I said, cutting her off before she could go further. “This is about me finding a mate. Again.”

Loryr’s expression didn’t waver, though a few of the others exchanged uneasy glances. “It’s more than that, Zephyr. The stability of our clan depends on you securing an heir. You’re the last alpha of your bloodline. A royal, ancient one. Without a successor, the Firescales have no future. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of that.”

“And you think that finding a mate and having a child is the answer to everything.” My voice was laced with frustration. “We’ve been through this before. The clan needs strength. We need to rebuild from the ground up, not just through bloodlines.”

“You misunderstand,” one of the other council members, Voran, interjected. His voice was sharp, his eyes narrowed. “An heir is about more than blood. It’s about securing the clan’s trust, ensuring continuity. You may be strong—stronger than your father was, but without an heir, the clan will fracture when you’re gone.”

The mention of my late father, the former leader of the Firescales, silenced the sharp retort that had been on the tip of my tongue. His memory weighed heavily on me, and I couldn’t help but wonder how he would have handled the situation if he stood in my place. Would he have been as uncertain as I was, or would his strength and wisdom have cut through the chaos with ease?

I knew they weren’t entirely wrong, but their narrow view of leadership frustrated me to no end. They couldn’t see that rebuilding wasn’t just about tradition—it was about survival.

Loryr leaned forward, her eyes locking onto mine. “We're not asking this of you lightly, Zephyr. We understand the burden, but we must think of the future.”

I felt Kislav’s gaze on me, but I didn’t look at him. Instead, I met Loryr’s eyes directly. They wanted a mate? Fine. They wanted an heir? I’d give them what they wanted.

“I understand your concerns, and that’s why I’ve already found someone.”

The words left my mouth before I could second-guess myself. The council members blinked in surprise, their eyes widening slightly. Even Kislav, who had remained silent beside me, turned his head toward me, clearly caught off guard.

Loryr was the first to recover. “You… you’ve found a mate?”

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “Yes. I’ve found someone who’s willing to help me rebuild the clan.”

The room fell silent, the council exchanging glances. For a moment, I almost believed they would question me further, press for details, but then Loryr spoke again.

“That is… unexpected,” she admitted, leaning back in her chair. “May we ask who this person is?”

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, but quickly recovered. “She’s not from the clan. She’s… different. But she’s strong, young and will make us proud.”

Another pause. Voran’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, but Loryr seemed more contemplative. “She’s not one of us, you say. And yet, she’s agreed to join the clan?”

I nodded again. “Yes. We’ve reached an understanding.”

The council members exchanged more glances, and I could feel the tension in the room shift. They weren’t fully convinced, but they didn’t have anything concrete to challenge me on.

“I see,” Loryr finally said, her expression softening ever so slightly. “If that is the case, then we'll expect to meet her soon. The council will need to ensure that she understands the importance of her role.”

I stiffened slightly at that, but I couldn’t let my hesitation show. “Of course,” I said, forcing a calm smile. “When the time is right.”

Loryr gave me a long, measuring look before nodding. “Very well. For now, we'll take your word. But remember, Zephyr, the future of the clan; of the Fire Dragons rests on your decisions. We won’t wait forever.”

I gave a short nod, not trusting myself to say more. The council had bought the lie—for now—but I knew this was only a temporary reprieve. They would want proof soon, and I didn’t have a plan in place yet.

As Kislav and I turned to leave the council chamber, I could feel his eyes burning into the back of my head. Once we were out of earshot, he finally spoke.

“Who, pray tell, are you talking about?” he asked, his voice low but laced with curiosity.

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. “I don’t know yet.”

Kislav raised an eyebrow, amused despite the situation. “You’re going to have to figure that out. Soon.”

I nodded, my mind racing as we walked back toward the training grounds. I had no idea who this mate was supposed to be, but one thing was clear—I was running out of time to figure it out.