"The vampire princess is mated to a dragon ."
Lunara's horror was nothing compared to what was happening miles away in the dragon kingdom.
Inside the war room of Emberpeak Citadel, King Pyraxis slammed his fist on the table.
"The vampires are getting bolder."
The maps jumped.Half the council flinched.
Draeven stood at his father's right,arms crossed, the markings of his dragon scales shimmering in the firelight.
"How many villages did they hit this month?"General Thane asked.
"Three."Pyraxis's voice was rough as stone. "Three of our border villages. Burned. Everyone is dead."
"We need to hit them back,"another council member said.
"Hit them back?"Pyraxis laughed. It was a dark, ugly sound. "No. We need to send a message they will feel in their bones."
All eyes turned to Draeven.
He didn't blink."I'll lead the attack myself."
"When?"Seraphyx leaned forward, her fiery hair catching the light. Her yellow eyes shone.
"Within the week,"Draeven said. His voice was flat. Dead. "We'll hit their northern settlements. Burn everything. Leave nothing but ash."
"Good."Pyraxis nodded. "Show them what happens when they test us."
Seraphyx placed her hand on Draeven's arm.She held on tight, like she owned him. "When we're married, I'll fight beside you, my prince. Together we'll wipe every vampire from the earth."
Draeven barely looked at her."We'll talk war after the wedding."
"Actually,"Pyraxis said, leaning back on his throne. A mean little smile played on his lips. "I've made a decision about the wedding."
Draeven's eyes snapped to his father.A cold knot formed in his gut. "What decision?"
"I'm moving the date up."
Silence crashed through the room like a dropped plate.
"Up?"Draeven's voice came out sharper than he meant. "How far up?"
"Two weeks."
"Two weeks?"Seraphyx's face lit up with a greedy joy. "My king, that's—that's perfect!"
"Father,we said we would—"
"I know what we said."Pyraxis cut him off, his eyes hard. "But we need to show strength. Now. A royal wedding between two pure dragon families will send the right message."
"But the plans aren't—"
"The plans will be ready,"Seraphyx broke in, squeezing Draeven's arm so hard it hurt. "I'll make sure of it. Two weeks is a dream."
Draeven felt the trap closing around his neck.Every dragon in the room was watching. Waiting for him to obey.
He couldn't say no. Not here. Not in front of everyone.
"As you command, Father."
The words tasted like dirt in his mouth.
"Excellent."Pyraxis stood. "Now, the blood moon ceremony is about to start. Everyone to the temple."
Dragons filed out toward the temple.Seraphyx hooked onto Draeven's arm like a barnacle on a ship.
"Can you believe it?Two weeks!" She was almost jumping. "I need to finish the dress, the flowers, the—"
"Seraphyx."
"Oh,and the guests! We should ask—"
"Seraphyx."
She finally looked at him,her eyes too bright. "Yes, my prince?"
"I need to think about the raid.Can wedding talk wait?"
Her smile slipped.Just for a heartbeat. "Of course. War first. I get it."
She didn't get it.She never did.
Zyreth appeared beside them,his bronze hair glowing in the torchlight. "Brother, can we talk?"
"We're going to the ceremony,"Seraphyx said before Draeven could open his mouth.
"It'll just take a second," Zyreth said, his voice firm.
Draeven pulled his arm free from Seraphyx's grip.A small rush of relief. "Go on. I'll catch up."
She looked like she wanted to fight but nodded. "Don't be late."
When she was gone, Zyreth grabbed Draeven's shoulder. "Are you alright with this? Two weeks?"
"Does it matter if I'm alright with it?"
"You're my brother. It matters to me."
Draeven's jaw got so tight it ached."It's duty. That's all marriage is for people like us."
"That's a lie and you know it."
"Watch your mouth."
"Or what?You'll tell Father?" Zyreth's eyes burned. "When did you get so... hard?"
"When Mother died."The words came out cold and final. "When I watched vampires drink her dry while I was too small and weak to help. That's when."
Zyreth's face fell."Drae—"
"The ceremony's starting.We should go."
He walked away before his brother could see the pain in his eyes.
Inside the temple, hundreds of dragons crowded together. The glass ceiling showed the blood moon rising. Already turning a sick pink.
King Pyraxis stood at the front,huge and scary.
"Children of fire and sky,"his voice thundered. "We gather under the blood moon as our fathers and mothers did for ages."
The crowd chanted back in the old language."Fire and sky. Blood and bone."
Draeven stood with the royal family,going through the moves. He'd done this a hundred times. Empty words. Empty magic.
Seraphyx pushed close to his side."Isn't it pretty?"
"Yes."
"In two weeks,we'll stand here again. As husband and wife."
"Yes."
"Are you even hearing me?"
He glanced at her.Her hope felt like a weight on his chest. "Yes."
She frowned but the ceremony was starting.bShe was stuck.
The moon turned blood red outside.
Pyraxis raised his arms."We honor the old magic. We feed our dragon fire. We remember who we are."
Dragons began to chant.Low voices. Old words.
Dragon fire flickered between them.Answering the call.
Draeven felt it building.Stronger than ever before. Pushing on his ribs.
"Do you feel that?"Zyreth whispered beside him.
"Feel what?"
"The magic.It's not right tonight."
"It's the same as always."
But it wasn't.
The magic changed.It sharpened. It pointed.
And then it hit Draeven like a falling cliff.
His heart stopped.
His dragon roared inside him.So loud. So angry.
His heart kicked back to life.Pounding.
Fire exploded under his skin.Hotter than any fever.
"Draeven?"Zyreth grabbed his arm. "What's wrong?"
He couldn't answer.Couldn't pull air into his lungs.
The mate bond.
No. It couldn't be.
"Draeven,talk to me." Zyreth's voice was scared.
The bond pulled.It demanded. It was as real as his own hand.
Find her. Go to her. Now.
"Brother,you're frightening me. What's happening?"
Draeven tried to speak.Tried to make a sound.
"No."
One word. Rough. Wild.
"No, what?" Zyreth's eyes got big. "Draeven—"
"Not a vampire."The words tore from his throat. A raw, animal sound. "NOT A VAMPIRE!"
But his dragon didn't care.
Mate. Claim. Mine.
"What are you saying?"Seraphyx turned, her smile dying. "Draeven, what—"
His eyes began to glow.Brighter. White-hot like a forge.
"Something's wrong with the prince!"someone yelled.
His body began to change.Scales rippling. Bones popping.
"Draeven!"Pyraxis's voice boomed. "What are you doing? Stop this!"
"I can't."The words were choked. "I can't stop it."
"Stop what?"Seraphyx grabbed his arm, her nails digging in. "Draeven, you're changing! Control it!"
"Let go of me."His voice was more growl than words now.
"No!I won't let you—"
He pushed her away.Not to hurt her. Just to be free.
"Zyreth,do something!" Pyraxis yelled.
Zyreth stepped in front of Draeven."Brother, look at me. Whatever this is, fight it. You're the strongest person I know."
"I'm not."Draeven's voice broke with a shame he couldn't hide. "I can't fight it."
"What can't you fight?"
"The bond."
Zyreth's face went ghost-white."What bond?"
"The mate bond."
Silence.
Then noise everywhere.
"That's a lie!"Seraphyx screamed, her pretty face twisting into something ugly. "You don't have a mate! You're marrying ME!"
"Who is it?"Pyraxis demanded, his rage filling the room. "Who is your mate?"
Draeven's body was losing. His dragon was winning.
"Tell me!"Pyraxis roared. "Who is she?"
"A vampire."
The words fell like stones into still water.
"WHAT?"Seraphyx's scream was like broken glass.
"You're lying,"Pyraxis said, but his voice trembled. "You're lying to run from your wedding."
"I wish I was lying."Draeven's bones began to break and remake themselves. The pain was blinding. "I wish to every god I was lying."
"No."Seraphyx stumbled back. "No no no. You're mine. You're MINE!"
"I'm sorry."And he meant it. A deep, hurting sorrow. He didn't love her, but he never wanted to wreck her like this.
His body exploded into his dragon form.
Massive.Black scales lined with crimson. Wings so big they filled the temple.
Dragons screamed.Scrambled. Ran for cover.
The temple shook.
"STOP HIM!" Pyraxis bellowed, spit flying from his mouth. "DON'T LET HIM LEAVE!"
But Draeven's dragon was done listening.
He crashed through the glass ceiling.Shattered it. Glass fell like sharp rain.
"DRAEVEN,NO!" Zyreth's voice cried out below.
Draeven threw himself into the night sky.Wings beating hard. Fast.
The bond pulled him like a hook in his heart.
Toward the vampire kingdom.
Toward her.
Zyreth changed.His bronze dragon form launched after him.
"Draeven,wait!"
But Draeven didn't wait.
He couldn't.
"Think about what you're doing!"Zyreth flew faster, trying to reach him. "This is death! They'll kill you!"
Draeven knew.
He knew flying into vampire lands meant his end.
He knew taking a vampire as his mate meant a war that would burn the world.
He knew every single thing he believed was about to break.
But the bond didn't care about right or wrong.
And neither did his dragon.