Page 59 of The Forbidden Dragon King (Shadow Kings #1)

Aurelius once stood in this exact spot and had to watch as one by one his fellow students found their mates. Yet because he was marked out as dangerous and wicked , he was rejected from finding a dragon rider.

No wonder he’s as touch starved and lonely as he is, even if he pretends that he isn’t.

Who would have thought that the powerful, golden king was raised as an outcast like me ?

When an instructor, a small mousy Alpha with thinning hair and beard steps forward, my breath quickens.

Here we go.

Sacrifice or mate. I’m not ready for either.

When Daire folds his wings behind his back, the rain hits me hard again. I struggle to blink it out of my eyes.

The instructor looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here. Aurelius has put the fear of the Shadow Gods into these men. Maybe fear is a good motivator sometimes.

“You will each step forward, when I point at you,” the instructor calls, barely loud enough to be heard over the rain.

“You will then walk down the line of Alphas. When you feel the strongest telepathic connection and decide to accept the bond of dragon rider, walk to the dragon and climb on their back.”

The Omegas whisper between themselves excitedly.

I pull a face.

The instructor points at a tall, broad chested male Omega, Aquila.

Aquila is a quiet student, who has kept himself to himself over the last few weeks. He is powerful with a focused intensity.

I haven’t been able to work him out. He is mysterious, keeping his distance from everyone.

Aquila has a strong jaw, steel gray eyes, and snow white long hair pulled back in the standard dragon clip.

He marches forward without any hesitation down the line of dragons, as if he’s the one picking his mate, rather than fate.

I watch in interest .

Aquila doesn’t even need to walk past the rank of dragons more than once. The moment that he passes Ignatius, he falters.

Then Aquila’s eyes narrow. His nose wrinkles.

He rests his hand on the glimmering scales of Ignatius’ neck for the briefest moment like a claiming. Ignatius attempts to push into his touch, but Aquila immediately pulls back haughtily, turning away and standing in parade rest in front of him, instead of climbing onto him.

“Poor bugger,” Daire murmurs. “Livelong companionship and forever love…? This kingdom is fed on lies and propaganda. When are they going to wake up to the fact that sweet as they taste, they’re going to poison them?”

I stare at Aquila’s icy expression and the way that Ignatius is attempting to nudge him with his wing, while being ignored.

“You,” the instructor barks, pointing at me.

My pulse is throbbing fast in my neck.

I reach to entwine my fingers with Daire’s.

I walk forward through the puddles, pulling Daire along with me. “We’re soulmates. We ride together or we’re sacrificed together.”

Daire squeezes my hand. “I’d fly to heaven or hell with you, love.”

That shouldn’t be as reassuring as it is.

The instructor looks like he wants to stop us but doesn’t know how to, now that Aurelius has banned anyone from harming his pets.

I’m vibrating with anticipation as I pass the first ruby dragon, straining to listen .

What will it be like to hear someone inside my mind?

Nothing.

I keep my chin up.

Second dragon.

Nothing.

I wipe my tangled hair out of my eyes, wracked with tremors from the cold. Then I cast a hurried glance at Aquila, who is still standing at stiff attention in front of Ignatius.

Aquila is managing to look both bored and furious at his choice of matching.

If he hurts Ignatius, and I know deep down that he already is planning to, I will put Omega solidarity aside to kick Aquila’s ass.

Fourth dragon…fifth…

Nothing but the sound of the rain pelting against the floor, my feet dragging through puddles, and my blood roaring in my ears.

Silence inside my own head, apart from my own whirlwind of thoughts.

We’ll be thrown to the Shadow Gods…devoured…and I won’t even be able to spend all my lovely coins in that silk purse Aurelius gave me.

Daire drags me to stand in front of the sixth and final dragon, the largest of them all. He stares him defiantly in the eyes, as if daring him to not talk telepathically.

The dragon swings his tail, staring back lazily.

Nothing.

“Think louder,” I say, desperately.

The dragon turns away his head .

“It was worth a try.” Daire is glancing around the enclosed training ground, as if there’s any way out of here.

There’s no escape.

To my shock, Ignatius makes a sharp move out of his position. He lowers his head, and suddenly, I don’t need to read his mind to realize that he intends to either attack the instructors or else, allow us to fly out of here with him.

It would be treason.

It would mean a death sentence for him, and even if we weren’t caught, a life on the run for all of us.

Surely, we can think of a better plan.

“No,” I yell, startling everyone.

Unexpectedly, a shadow swallows the sun.

I tip back my head, shielding my eyes. A giant Golden Dragon is circling the training ground.

“Aurelius,” Daire breathes like he can’t hold the one, reverent word behind his teeth.

My breath catches.

Aurelius’ wings glitter with molten gold scales. He is the dying sun, and his light on my face is the warmth that I have been missing for weeks.

Aurelius’ piercing eyes fix on me and then he dives.

“Fuck.” Daire and I stumble back frantically, as the fearsome dragon lands, shaking the ground.

Aurelius spreads his wings and stalks towards us like we’re prey.

My heartbeat kicks up.

Ignatius roars a greeting that Aurelius returns .

I enjoy the fact that it makes that Alphahole Aquila jump.

I will never grow tired of seeing Aurelius like this with his horns curving from his head and his sinuous neck weaving intimidatingly. Shadows coil around his back and disintegrate from the tips of his wings like ash.

Daire appears frozen, staring wide-eyed up at the dragon who is towering over us with his wings outstretched.

They’re beautiful together, like fire and frost , Aurelius’ voice drifts like smoke into my mind, much softer and more loving than I’ve heard it before.

Daire startles at the same time as I do.

“You heard that, aye?” Daire says out of the corner of his mouth. “Because otherwise I’m going crazy, and we’re about to be dragged off for some sacrificial bondage.”

Do you have to make your ritual death sound like an orgy? Aurelius demands with a cool amusement.

I don’t have to. This time, Daire’s reply sounds in my mind by telepathy.

I can hear you! I jump up and down in excitement. I can hear you both.

Daire chuckles. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before the great King Aurelius found a way to even invade my mind.

Only, it doesn’t feel like an invasion or a violation.

This three way telepathy creates a depth of connection that’s even greater than sharing pheromones with Aurelius in his study or emotions through the snowflake with Daire .

We’re truly in each other’s minds. No one else can communicate with each other like we can or know what we’re talking about.

We’ve created a secret world between just the three of us.

Can we always talk like this? Daire’s expression becomes calculating. It’d be useful.

Only when I’m in dragon form. Aurelius cocks his head, lashing his tail. How is he managing to look cute, when I know that he’s the deadliest creature in the realms? You do know that this is me publicly claiming you? Am I making that clear enough? It was meant to be romantic.

Butterflies swarm in my stomach. It is romantic. Perfect. But also, you can’t do this. No one else knows what has happened yet. Why don’t we pretend that we can’t hear each other and that we just really like to stare deeply into each other’s eyes? Bonding you is forbidden.

I’m not bonding you , Aurelius corrects. I’m claiming you as my dragon riders and mates. I’m courting you.

Daire winks. I’ve always wanted to ride a dragon. And if this is you actually acknowledging your Omega, as you always should have done, then you need to do it bloody right.

How?

Daire smirks. Gifts are always a good start. These last few weeks have been hell. Why don’t you take our Spark out somewhere to celebrate?

Aurelius huffs smoke. I’ll take you both out this weekend to the Carnival of Shadows.

You’d take us out into Bael? Daire reaches up to push a wet curl behind his ear, nervously.

Have you forgotten a triumphal parade? A certain impossibly handsome fae being dragged in a cage, while your citizens hurled insults and rotten fruit at him?

Now, you want to take me out into the same city not in chains but on a date?

I’m the King . Aurelius leans back, his reptilian eyes becoming dangerous. I’ve never been to the carnival either. If I want to take out my dragon riders, treat my Omega, or indulge a fae king as my mate, rather than as a prisoner pet, who dares stop me?

“What is going on?” The instructor storms through the rain, casting nervous glances at Aurelius.

I twirl to the instructor with a grin. “Daire and I are King Aurelius’ dragon riders.”

The instructor sucks in a horrified breath.

Before he can protest, however, shadows weave out of Aurelius’ wings, winding rapidly around Daire and my middles. They drag both of us up into the air.

Somehow, being held in Aurelius’ shadows is like coming home.

The shadows place Daire roughly onto Aurelius’ back and then me behind him much more gently. I loop my arms around Daire’s waist. The shadows wind around us both like a thousand scorched threads, holding us safely in place.

Daire leans forward, gripping onto Aurelius’ spines.

I let out of a whoop of joy, as Aurelius flaps his wings and rises into the air.

I can hardly catch my breath.

Is this what it feels like to fly to meet your ancestors in the moon after death ?

What my parents experienced?

It’s exhilarating.

Hold on, my beautiful mates, Aurelius warns.

Then he swoops up into the storm, and I swear that the clouds break and reform just for him because he’s golden lightning and roaring thunder, and I’m the Omega who is just holding on for the fucking thrill of the ride.