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S even nights to get my affairs in order. And just like he said, on that seventh night, they arrived. Employed to the crown, workers who shut my shop down, packed my things from my home, and carried me away. And I let them. It made no sense to fight them.

I didn’t want to make a big scene in my small town. Stories of the prince kidnapping a woman would travel far and wide. If it did, the wrong person might hear it and come to investigate. So, I said my uneasy goodbyes to those I’d become accustomed to and left it all behind. Mesi came to clean out everything she could before they ushered me away. Once again, there was something in the way she looked at me that made me feel unsettled, but I filed it away with all the things that no longer mattered.

I sat uncomfortably in the seat atop the dragon carrying me from my peaceful home to the center of Starwell. Before I climbed into the carrier on its back, I said a quick apology to the dragon and hoped it would forgive me. Even so, I wished they hadn’t made me ride. Minutes into the flight, I realized I’d seen very little of the side of the island claimed by the fire dragons.

When I ran from my home, I wasn’t much interested in sightseeing, but in the hope of choice. And because I wanted to stay hidden, I'd never allowed my wings to carry me across the land. It was too risky. So, I’d gone without shifting, which meant no flights and minimum traveling. Although I was being carried away against my will, I was able to appreciate what felt like a new world to me.

Starwell was a mirrored version of Frostspire. Full of flush valleys, mountains, rivers, and fertile earth. Birds followed our path, separating and rejoining as they rode the current the larger beasts created. I closed my eyes and savored the ride. I imagined diving off the side of the dragon, unleashing my own wings, and joining the birds.

Just a few hours after leaving, we landed in the center of the royal grounds. And everywhere around us there were preparations happening. It took a moment for me to remember, but this was the time of the festival. Joyous occasions when people came together from all corners of the world. In addition to the festival, there was also a wedding approaching. The rumors of it had spread quickly through Clayhorn. A royal wedding that might reshape the political landscapes. If I had been back home in Saldann, I would have been an expected part of the celebrations. And odd things since the dragons never attended the actual celebration. Still, we loved a party, so we would simply do our own thing in Saldann. I guess the fire dragons felt the same way.

It would be exhausting and overwhelming and my mother would constantly fret about my hair, my skin, and my outfits for the weekend. Not anymore. It didn't matter. What did matter was surviving whatever the hell the prince had in mind for me.

“You're here.” The annoying voice of a little man with too much power at his disposal reached my ear.

“It's not as if I had a choice.” I turned to find Domin standing with a smug look on his face.

“Indeed.” He sighed, almost rolling his eyes at me. “The prince was adamant about you coming to work here, so I guess I should welcome you.”

When he said nothing else, I shrugged and looked around the open courtyard. “Am I just supposed to stand here or is there something for me to do?”

“Uradis will take you to your room.” He pointed at a tall, dark-skinned woman with soft eyes and long brown hair who appeared beside him. “You will remain there until further word.”

“Thanks.” I said simply and turned to the woman.

“Follow me.” She spoke with a deep voice that made me imagine a powerful dragon living inside of her.

“I’m Kiala, it's nice to me you…”

“Uradis.” She nodded tightly only glancing back over her shoulder for a moment.

“Uradis, that’s a pretty name.” I tried to make small talk, hoping the woman was softer than she appeared.

She smiled. “Thank you.”

We headed inside the palace, which was a blend of gothic and modern touches, the result of meshing generational shifts in taste. Some parts of the palace were dark, untouched, and covered in cobwebs. Yet others were bright, open, and full of greenery. It reminded me of my own home. Passed down through our family for so long that every person left their own unique touches.

As much as I hated to admit it, the prince’s home was beautiful. I could feel the love that someone had poured into every carving, every structure, every pillar we passed. But then there was this other air of sadness. An invisible blanket that covered the halls, the furniture and the people I saw passing by, and I knew what it was.

This place and these people were mourning.

Uradis spoke as she led me to my quarters, but I became distracted by the murmurs around us. They talked about the prince as if he was a mythical creature. I chewed my lip as a short woman referred to a prince who refused his duties and made his mother, the Queen, upset. The loudest voices came from ahead of us as we neared the doors to the room Uradis said belonged to me.

“I just don't understand how he could do this right now. There's only one thing she wants from him, and all he wants to do is sit out there and train those dragons for a competition they won’t win,” the voice of an older woman spoke.

“Well, the convergence games are important to him. You know that it's what his brother would have wanted,” another younger voice whispered.

“Are you saying his brother’s wants are more important than his mother’s?” The woman sounded personally offended by the concept.

“I don't think either one is,” the younger voice defended. “I think what matters is what he wants. But again, I wasn't born of royalty, so choices like that are up to me to make.”

“I guess it is a double-edged sword, isn't it?” the older woman spoke as we stopped outside the door.

Uradis looked at me and winked, letting the conversation continue. Her willingness to do so secretly pleased me. I wanted to know what the women truly thought.

“Indeed, it is.” The younger woman sounded like someone ready to end their day but forced to do more work. I was sure the old woman’s fussing made it worse for her.

“And now this woman from Clayhorn is coming.” The older woman continued to complain, now referring to me. “We're meant to prepare for her. We have no idea who she is, but she's taking up one of the best spots in the place.”

“Maybe the Queen will get what she wants after all.”

“I doubt it.” The older voice scoffed. “From what I've heard, this woman doesn't even want to be here. She's the one who makes those delicious treats. But since our chefs haven’t been able to replicate them, she's supposed to be here to do it herself”

“He complains of not having the ability to choose for himself. And now he's doing the same to her.” The younger voice scoffed.

“While that may be a valid sentiment, it’s best you not let anyone else hear you speak on it.” The older voice gave the stern warning.

Uradis had heard enough of the conversation and chose that moment to push the cracked door open. The tired, rusted hinges sang their woes and announced our arrival. She cleared her voice and eyed the women who held onto their whispered conversation. The woman with gray hair and green eyes nearly jumped out of her skin and dropped the folded blankets she carried.

The younger woman covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hold back laughter. She was embarrassed but had clearly been careful in the way she spoke in case someone overheard them. The older woman was not as smart.

“I thought this chore was done already,” Uradis addressed them.

“Oh, yes.” The older woman nodded. “We’re done, just adding some final touches. I'm sorry. We'll go now.”

“Gossiping wenches,” Uradis muttered after the two left the room.

“Excuse me?” I acted shocked to hear her say that, but after she let me overhear what they were saying, how could I be? I stepped quietly into the room and glanced around at my new “home”.

“My apologies. I just hate to hear people talking about things they know nothing about. They should be smart enough to understand how complicated all of this is. For the queen, the prince, and now for you. It's easy to stand aside and make such judgments when your life isn’t being upturned.”

“It’s okay.” I looked around the room before turning back to her. “You know they're not all that wrong, anyway. At least about me.”

“You didn't volunteer to be here?” She chuckled. “You mean to tell me this wasn’t your dream?”

“No, not at all.” I shrugged. “But what the prince wants, the prince gets, right?”

“I'm sorry to hear that, but I must admit that the way you get under Domin’s skin gives me such joy.” She winked. “He is a pain. He takes his job far too seriously. It’s as if he thinks something or someone will kick him out of the picture.”

“Is that what it is?” I pursed my lips. “That honestly makes sense when I think about how he responds to me. He’s overprotective of his position.”

I thought Domin was just a jerk. But maybe he was a jerk who was afraid of losing his job. A prince finding a bride could do that. Often when royals married, there were staff changes to accommodate the couples’ new needs.

“I used to think he was just being overprotective. Just trying to make sure his role was secure. But now I'm not so sure. All I do know is he gets on my nerves and seeing someone get under his skin the way you do, makes me so very happy. So, thank you.”

“Well, I’m glad to know something good has come from all this.”

“I'll let you get settled in. The others will bring your things in a few moments. We like to let the Stagnants rest before unloading. They’re a lot less agitated that way. Let me know if there's anything you need.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

Uradis walked out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Because I didn’t want anyone peaking in on me, I headed over to close it. Then I heard it, whispers of a passing pair of men. I held the door as still as possible, hoping they would pass quickly. I wondered if every court had this many gossips.

“The trolls have made another approach.”

“Do you think she will let him go?”

“After losing his brother like that, I doubt it. The queen wants the prince to focus on what’s important.”

“A wife and child.” The shorter guy scoffed. “Prince Asante wants no wife and child. The sooner his mother accepts it, the better. He enjoys coaching those dragons for the games. Maybe she should let him get it out of his system.”

“She will never accept his refusal to continue their bloodline. Who would rule if that happened?”

I waited until I could no longer hear them before finally closing the door. And once again, the hinges sang like birds in the morning as I pushed it closed.

With my back to the door, I sighed. “What the hell did I get myself into?”

The knock on the door startled me. It must have been the aides dropping off my items. I straightened and opened the door. But it wasn’t the women I’d left my items with. It was the prince.

“You’re here.” He smiled as if I would be happy to see him.

“As if I had a choice in the matter.” I rolled my eyes and stepped back from the door to let him enter the room. “Come in.”

“You did have a choice.” He stepped inside. “But you chose wrong.”

“According to you.”

“I need you here. It’s important to me.” He looked around the room. “I even gave you one of the best spots in the place.”

“There are plenty of people here who can make you those sweets.” I lied. “And I liked my own home a lot better than this.”

“I don’t want anyone else to make them. I want you to make them. Must you be so difficult? I pulled you out of there, wasting away. Now you can live here.”

“Trapped in these gray walls instead of free to roam in nature like I love? Oh yeah, you’ve done me a great favor here.”

Asante frowned at me. “You do know who you’re talking to, right?”

“Yeah, I do.” I tapped my chin with my finger. “The prince running from his responsibilities to play coach.”

“Who are you to talk about my responsibilities?”

“I’m no one. That is what your people say.” I reported part of what I heard rumored in the hall, leaving out the troll attack.

“My people.” He narrowed his eyes. “What people have you heard say that?”

“Oh, I don’t know their names. I just got here.” It would be foolish to tell him about the passing men. He might find out who they were and then retaliate against them. And that might stop people from gossiping, and I needed the intel if I was going to figure out how to get away.

“Well, forget what you heard.” He ordered as another knock sounded on the door.

This time it was the aides with my things. The prince excused himself as they brought in my items. As soon as they were done, they left me alone. I spent the rest of the day organizing my things and trying to think of a way out. The idea I came up with was to just walk out the door. Why make things complicated when they didn’t have to be?

There was no security detail. After my dinner had been served, a meaty stew that was too hot for the season, they left me alone entirely. So, after peeking out my door several times and finding no one monitoring me, I grabbed the few items I cared about, stuffed them into a woven bag, and tossed it over my shoulder. With my face hooded by the cloak I threw on, I was off to make my escape.

I thought I remembered the path Uradis took as she led me through the massive halls, but apparently, I was too busy eavesdropping on the passing gossip. After several wrong turns, I landed exactly where I didn’t want to be. I stood outside a cracked door. The smell of food came from within, the same hot stew I’d eaten earlier. And with the delicious smell came the sounds of two people arguing.

“Don’t you dare stand there and disrespect me like this!” one woman spoke in hushed anger.

“Disrespect you? How am I doing that?” I recognized Asante’s voice instantly.

I held my breath and tiptoed closer to the door.

“Lower your tone.” She fussed. “You’re ignoring what matters.”

“This is what matters to me, mother!”

My heart ached as his voice cracked.

The pain I heard.

It was the same way I felt. Trapped in a family who thought they knew what was best for me. Every life choice felt predetermined; a path laid out before I even understood I had a say. It was the reason I left home.

A beat of silence, the weight of the prince's frustration heavy on me, derailed my escape route.

I jumped when I heard footsteps moving down the hall toward me. I stumbled backward, hoping to find a place to hide, but bumped right into a guard. He narrowed his gaze at me, glanced at the cracked door, and shook his head. Then, against my will, he ushered me right back to my room.