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“Yes…I think so.” I swallowed, unable to believe I’d made a deal with Wrath, God of the Underworld.

His eyes found mine again. “This deal is binding and can’t be undone.”

“It can, because you said I could end it when I want.”

“You have to bed me at least once. That’s my final term—and it can’t be negotiated.”

It was the one loophole I’d found, but he closed it before I could exploit it.

He stared at me for a while, his fair skin untainted by battle or physical hardship, his complexion pristine. He had intention in his gaze, an implied acceptance.

I was as stubborn as a dragon and I should venomously oppose his invitation, but it seemed like a small price to release the invisible shackles on my father’s wrists. But if he knew I bedded a monster for his freedom, he would travel to the underworld just to kill him. “Fine.”

“Then we’re in agreement.” He was on his feet instantly and advanced toward me. His leg pressed against the coffee table, and he nudged it across the rug to the side so he had better access to me on the couch.

I was in shock.

He grabbed the blanket and yanked it off, exposing my legs to the cold air. I was in nothing but a long, baggy shirt and knee-high gray socks.

“You want to do this now?” I yanked the blanket back to cover myself.

His chin was already tilted down, catching a glimpse of my bare legs and my exposed underwear. He seemed to like what he saw because his eyes suddenly had a glaze to them, like sugar sprinkled on a warm cookie. “Yes.”

“Well, I’m not ready.” He’d just sprung this on me, appearing out of thin air on a cold night in my home. I’d signed the contract with my word, and now my predicament was ironclad. But I wasn’t ready to jump in headfirst just yet. “I just need some time.”

He continued to stand before me, not acting on the disappointment he wore on his sleeve. “I’ll come for you tomorrow night.”

“Whoa, that’s still too quick?—”

He was already gone, disappearing quicker than I could blink.

I stared at the place where he’d been and felt his absence as potently as I’d felt his presence. I pulled the blanket tighter around me as my heart raced in a quiet panic. The fire cracked and popped, and I suddenly felt alone.

I left my villa at first light and followed the trail down the cliff that hugged the kingdom. The sun slowly rose and brought heat to the world, and I enjoyed the long shadows that grew shorter as time passed.

I made it to the wildlands outside the kingdom, where several farmers had relocated to till the fresh soil. It was sparse, without any real protection, but they felt safe in the presence of the dragons that frequently flew overhead.

I reached Poppy Meadow, tall grass mixed with orange poppy flowers in the sunlight. They swayed in the gusts of breeze before they straightened again, the sunshine reflecting off their green stalks.

He was impossible to miss, a black rock in the middle of the bright field.

Like a dog that had found the perfect sun spot, Zehemoth slept quietly on the grass, curled up with his snout near his tail, his wings folded into his body.

When I reached out my mind to feel his, I felt his dullness and knew he was napping. Since this was his favorite spot to soak up the sunshine on his black scales, I knew where to find him.

I joined him on the grass and used my pack as a pillow.

I lay beside the large black dragon and listened to him breathe quietly and occasionally snore.

My body was warmed in the sunshine, and I felt my mind grow fuzzy in the soft grass.

I watched the blue sky and the white clouds, seeing the little birds cross overhead as they sang their song.

And then I felt myself drift away, the calm sunshine gone and the storm wild.

Water splashed over the edge and struck me in the face.

I saw Wrath there and heard his voice in my mind. Because you were worth saving.

I felt scales gently prod my body. Sunieth .

My mind gently came to the surface, the storm quickly replaced by peace. “This spot really is comfy.” I moved my arms over my head and stretched my body, elongating my spine and pointing my toes.

His snout covered my view of the sky, and he rubbed my entire body gently, his mouth big enough to snatch me up into a single bite. This place is a secret—do not share it.

“You told me, so it’s not much of a secret.”

But I tell you everything, Sunieth .

I slid my hands over his smooth scales, slicker than rain-soaked cobblestone. “Alright, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

There are many grizzlies here. Great for hunting. He withdrew his head and stepped aside so I could have my space to sit up.

“All of you will drive the bears into extinction if you keep this up. How about elk or cows?” I sat up and crossed my legs, feeling the sunshine burn down on me like gentle fire. I squinted whenever I lifted my chin.

The antlers always get in the way. And cows are chewy because they’re lazy.

“More than a bear?”

Bears climb mountains and trees. They hunt for their own food. Cows just stand there and graze.

“All good points.”

He scooted back then lay on his belly, bringing his chin to the ground so our eyes were level.

His were pitch black, and the details were hard to see, except on days like this, when the sunshine brought out the nuances of his eyes, the flecks of gray in the middle, along with the hint of gold right in the center.

His eyes had been orange when he was born, but they’d darkened as he’d aged. How are you?

“I’m okay. Getting used to being home.”

Home is the one place you should never have to get used to.

“I know, but I was gone for so long. And it’s weird to be here, knowing the rest of my crew will never have that privilege. I would join them at the pub and we’d swap stories, but I’m the only one who made it back. Hank had a family…Davin had a fiancée…they all had people they left behind.”

Now I understand. Survivor’s guilt is what you feel.

“I guess.”

My father told me he felt the same way when he escaped the Southern Isles. His mind was stronger than the others, able to eject the mental attack from the enemy. Constantine, the strongest of our kind, succumbed to their forces. My father never understood why he was lucky and his king was not.

“I guess we’ll never know.”

I’ve wanted to visit you, but my father said you needed space to grieve.

“You know you’re always welcome to visit me, Zehemoth.

” We’d been inseparable since he was born.

I was young when he hatched, but I could recall the hazy memory.

He grew much quicker than I did, and even when he couldn’t speak my language, we still played together.

When he tried to blow out fire and it was just smoke, I would laugh for minutes.

He grew bigger, and once he could speak, our friendship was forged like steel. “You’re my best friend.”

His eyes were terrifying to most, but whenever he looked at me, it was with such gentleness. I missed you, Sunieth .

“I missed you too.”

I hope you don’t leave again.

“I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere for a while.”

Because you’re afraid or because you don’t want to?

“I guess both? But I’m not sure what my purpose is now.”

You’re a daughter. A sister. A friend. You have a great purpose.

My eyes softened as I listened to him shower me with love. “I know, Zehemoth. But now, I’m not sure what to do with my life. I thought sailing the seas would be a great adventure, and it was. But because of the way it ended…I’m not sure I could ever go back.”

His dark eyes watched me without blinking, somewhat reminding me of Wrath in that sense. Trees stay in place when they have roots. Seeds spread because they have nothing to keep them in place. You act like a seed, when you’re a mighty oak with roots that go back generations.

“What does that mean?”

You have family and friends who love you, so I’m not sure what you’re looking for.

“I’m not looking for anything, Zehemoth.”

Then perhaps you’re running from something.

“What could I be running from?” I asked, trying to keep the offense out of my voice.

He stared at me for a while. Yourself .

“Myself?”

Your father didn’t expect you to rule because you’re the firstborn. He expected it because you’ve shown tremendous potential, ever since you were a child. The weight of that responsibility has suffocated you, so you decided to run from it.

My eyes dropped as I swallowed. “And why would I be suffocated by that?”

Because you fear you’ll never live up to your father’s legacy—the greatest king who’s ever ruled the Southern Isles.

I bowed my head because his words stung like salt in an open wound.

You survived the open sea when all others perished. Your strength and resilience go without question.

“That’s not the whole story…”

Then what is?

The God of the Underworld presented himself to me, haunted me, and then spared me rape and servitude. But I couldn’t tell anyone that, not even Zehemoth, not when it could get back to my father. “There was just a lot of luck involved.”

He blinked. You need a purpose. Let your destiny be your purpose. To be Queen of the Southern Isles, the Dragon Queen, the mightiest and fairest of them all.

“My mother is pretty mighty and fair.”

But she’s not the queen by blood. Only you have the blood of the Rothschilds in your veins.

“I told my father I wasn’t interested, and he accepted that. It’s done.”

Yes, he accepted it. But that doesn’t mean he wanted to.

“Hawk is an adult now. He’d be a great king.”

But you would be an exceptional queen ? —

“ Zehemoth .”

He stiffened at my change in tone.

“Did my father put you up to this?”

He raised his head slightly. No.

“Then why are you pushing this so hard?”

Because I’m your best friend. And as your best friend, it’s my job to say the things you don’t want to hear. I meant what I said—that you would be a great queen. And I would be honored to serve as your companion as you defend the Southern Isles and protect my kin as your own people.