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Prologue

Ozyn

T he Darkglade castle loomed ahead as my companions and I neared. The sky above us was overcast, with ominous gray clouds clinging to the towers. Down below, barren fields waited for us to land.

Sire, are you sure you want to do this? Surely there has—

I loved my brother, Miraghan. He was the best advisor I could ask for, but we had been over this too many times now. I had made my decision. There was no one else to go in my place. No one I could have asked to take on this task.

If what I suspected King Glorin Darkglade wanted was true, there was no other substitute for me. He wanted a dragon king. He’d get a dragon king, even if he had to bring my people to the brink of extinction to do it.

No. We have exhausted all other avenues for peace. Signing a treaty with the fae is necessary for our survival.

This close, it was easy to see his deep blue wings twitch in frustration. Even the wind could not hide his rumbling growl. I knew my words had hurt him. I knew I sounded too resigned to my situation. We were going into this in a weaker position than any of us would have liked.

We should sign the treaty in neutral territory, not at the fae king’s stronghold. The elves should have been present as witnesses when I knew they were not. The flavor of their magic was not hanging in the air. Unlike the fae, they did not mask themselves. If they were there, they would allow themselves to be scented.

I could not help but feel anger towards the elves. They had forsaken their dragon allies in recent years, too afraid of losing their tenuous hold on their lands. The fae had grown too strong for them to stand with us.

Now we had run out of time, options, allies, to do anything but bargain with the fae.

The castle drew ever closer as my heart sank. When would I be free to fly again? My thoughts returned to my beloved sons and the last flight I’d had with them before I left. We had played hide and go seek like we used to when they were much younger. The worst part of this was being away from them. At least I had two of my brothers with me for comfort.

Signaling we had been spotted, horns blared, announcing our arrival. Between them, the fae warriors in their finest regalia, and the cheerful banners posted all around the castle, one would almost assume this was a joyous event.

Too late now , Valethar said, using our connection and echoing my thoughts. He and I were always close. The closest of my clutch mates. We were so accustomed to using our mental connection that even in human form, we rarely spoke aloud. His mental voice was as familiar to me as my own. When would I get the chance to hear it again?

Landing in the courtyard, I quickly shifted, clothing myself once more in the rich fabrics which suited my station as the king of the dragons. I was grateful our clothing shifted with us, unlike with our shifter cousins. Dragons naturally carried more magic than shifters did, allowing us to do more than take our Draconic forms, or perform magic. I would have hated to be vulnerable under the lecherous eyes of King Glorin.

“Welcome,” a fae male said. “Please follow me. His Majesty has been expecting you for some time.”

Oh, no! We’re late! Vale sniped. How dare we make His Majesty wait for us!

Mira had to work to hide his smirk in response to our brother’s mental words.

“Our apologies. The wind was not in our favor.” Mira spoke aloud, his words polite but cold.

I glanced at my brother in approval of his pointed reply to the barb. My heart felt much too heavy to joke with my beloved brothers. It was still recovering from leaving our first hatched clutch mate behind to protect my boys.

Laeros had a much more important job than this visit. He was to guide my heir, Rezoth, and his four brothers to lead our people. Fresh from his leadership challenge, Rezoth was acting as regent in my absence. I had taught him for over half a century how to rule over our people with compassion. Working with his brothers and his court, he had successfully soared through the challenge, completing the tasks. His fight with our best fighters left scars on his golden scales to prove he was a worthy dragon to lead our people while I was gone.

We did not know how long that would be. If my worst fears came true, I might never be free of Glorin Darkglade.

The throne room was elaborate and vast. Our footsteps echoed on the marble as we marched to my doom, following our companion. The fae did not speak or even deign to look at us, believing he was far superior.

Barely into the room, Glorin’s voice booming out a welcome made my steps pause. He was confirming the secret worries of my heart. He was much too smug.

“King Ozyn! Miraghan. Valethar. Good to see you. Where, may I ask, is Laeros?”

As a group, we halted at the foot of the dais.

I sketched a bow before answering the question. “My brother sends his apologies. He is needed at home.”

Glorin was a cold, if not beautiful man. He had blue-black hair worn straight and hanging around his shoulders. Atop his head, he wore a circlet of gold leaves with gems for flowers. The crown was stunning. A true work of art, yet it did not distract from Glorin’s form. He was taller than me, most were. Fae, like the elves, were tall people. Unlike the elves, he was not lean; he had wide shoulders and thick, muscular arms. His wings were massive things, black, like his heart, and looked like they were made of raven feathers. He had delicately tapered ears. His scorpion-like tail twitched, the wicked sharp barb tipped with metal. His eyes were ice blue and fixed on me.

I was not ashamed to admit the fae king scared me since I knew in the depths of my heart what lay ahead for me.

“Of course! Rezoth will have his first heat soon, will he not?”

The mere mention of my omega child, my heir, was a bolt of ice to my chest. My lungs seized for the briefest of moments. I recovered quickly, hopefully giving no outer sign of my distress.

Why is he asking about Rezoth? Vale demanded. With his purer soul, I knew he had not guessed what I had come to this castle to do.

I did not answer my brother, wanting to end the talk of my child as soon as it was possible. With our weakened bargaining position, I could ill afford to hand more power to Glorin.

“That is correct, Your Majesty. However, he is many years from being able to carry a clutch.”

“Of course he is. Have you named him as regent?”

“I have.” I kept my words clipped.

“So you know why I summoned you here today?”

“I have my suspicions.”

His grin was victorious. I had known, yet I had still come. He knew he held all the power and would make me pay for it dearly.

He called out for the fae to return with the document, though I was not listening properly. My blood was roaring in my ears, telling me to flee this cursed place.

The fae handed it to Mira, who read it aloud. “This treaty proclaims the Darkglade Kingdom to be allies of the Drakon Kingdom upon the signature of both kings. As king of the dragons, King Ozyn agrees to a—“ His words came to a halt. He glanced at me. Surely this must be a mistake? His eyes begged me to tell him it was.

“A marriage pact? Is that correct?” I said, my voice calm.

“Yes.” Glorin’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “You are to stay here as my consort. Agree and your people will be our treasured allies. Deny me and I will kill your clutch. My people already surround your lands. With you here, they have very little chance of survival.”

He was right. We did not know how long they had been there. There was little chance we would arrive in time, the distance too great. Could they have poisoned our food, our water? They had done it before. We had lost many a young dragon to their magic and schemes. If they escaped, where would they go? We could not fly forever. Abrocaelum was only so large.

“So do you agree? Will you marry me and stay here as my consort?”

“I—“

Perhaps my brothers could see the resolution I had come to. This was necessary for my people’s survival.

“Hold on!” Vale interjected. “Do you vow for his safety? You promise not to harm him? If he becomes your consort, he and our people will be treated as allies?”

“I swear to treat King Ozyn as a beloved consort and the dragon people as allies as long as he fulfills the conditions of the bargain.”

My hands reached for the swath of silk onto which the words had been etched. In the rules of engagement, I was to stay at Darkglade castle. I was not to have any other lovers and would perform my duties as I should, as a consort. Glorin, for his part, was not to use force to gain my agreement, nor also bed another. My people were to live as they had always done, without the interference of the fae unless they wanted to trade.

My time was to be spent as a pretty jewel. A symbol of the strength of the fae’s trickery.

“I accept this bargain. I will become your consort.”

Glorin’s smile was full of teeth, sharp and deadly. “I look forward to calling you my husband, dear Ozyn. We will hold the ceremony today.”

I knew when I came to Darkglade castle I would not leave it for some time. I did not expect it to be for over a century, or the suffering I would endure within its walls.