Elara's POV
Flying is nothing like I imagined.
It's terrifying.
The Dragon King's claws grip me carefully, but we're moving so fast the wind steals my breath. The village shrinks below us tiny houses, tiny people, all of it disappearing into darkness.
Don't look down, his voice rumbles above me.
Too late. I already did.
My stomach lurches. I squeeze my eyes shut and grip his scaled leg with both hands.
Why did you jump? he asks as we soar higher. I told you not to volunteer.
They were going to execute me! I shout over the wind. Theron accused me of working with you!
A growl vibrates through his chest. Smart boy. Dangerous boy.
You knew he'd do that?
I suspected humans would find a way to complicate things. They always do.
We climb higher, into the storm clouds. Lightning flashes around us, so close I feel the heat. Rain pelts my face like tiny needles.
Your note said the brides were murdered, I yell. Is that true?
He doesn't answer right away. We break through the clouds into clear night sky, stars blazing overhead.
Yes, he finally says. All seven of them.
By who?
That's what you're going to help me find out.
My blood runs cold. What?
Hold tight. We're descending.
The world tilts. My stomach flips as we dive through the clouds. The mountain appears below volcanic rock, glowing lava streams, and a massive castle of black stone.
His castle.
We land hard. His claws release me, and I stumble onto solid ground, my legs shaking.
The Dragon King shifts. Bones crack and reshape. Scales melt into skin. Wings fold and disappear. In seconds, a man stands before me instead of a beast.
A devastatingly beautiful man with silver eyes and dark hair, wearing nothing but torn black pants.
I look away quickly, my face burning.
Welcome to your new home, he says, his voice now fully human. Try not to die.
That's not comforting!
It wasn't meant to be. He starts walking toward the castle. Come. We don't have much time.
I grab my bag and hurry after him. Time for what?
To get you hidden before they realize you're here.
Who's they?
He doesn't answer. Just keeps walking.
The castle doors open by themselves massive black iron gates that groan like dying animals. Inside, torches flare to life along the walls.
It's beautiful and terrifying. High ceilings disappear into shadow. Statues of dragons line the hallways. Everything is cold black stone and flickering firelight.
This way. Kaelen I should probably call him by name now leads me down a hallway that seems to go on forever.
You said I'd help you find the murderer, I say, almost running to keep up. How?
You're bait.
I stop walking. Excuse me?
He stops too, turns to face me. Every bride who came here was killed within a year. Someone in this castle doesn't want me to have a mate. They've been murdering the women before the bond can form.
And you want me to be the next target?
I want you to help me catch them before they kill you. His silver eyes bore into mine. You're smart. Observant. You notice things. I need someone who can help me figure out who's behind this.
Or you could just, I don't know, not take any more brides?
I don't have a choice. Something painful crosses his face. There's a binding spell on my bloodline. If I don't at least attempt to take a mate every year, my dragon form will consume me completely. I'll lose my humanity and become a monster.
Oh.
So you need a bride to stay human, I say slowly. But someone keeps killing them to make sure you turn into a monster.
Exactly. He starts walking again. Which means someone wants me dead. Or worse than dead.
We turn down another hallway. This one has portraits on the walls beautiful women in wedding dresses, all smiling.
The seven dead brides.
I shiver.
Why me? I ask. Why tell me the truth? Why not just... use me like you used them?
Kaelen stops at a door, his hand on the handle. Because when you looked at me in your room, you weren't afraid. You were angry. And I'm tired of watching frightened girls die for my curse. He opens the door. This is your room. Stay here tonight. Don't open the door for anyone except me or Sylas.
Who's Sylas?
My commander. Half-dragon, completely trustworthy. He's the only person in this castle I know isn't the murderer.
How do you know?
Because he's had a thousand chances to kill me himself, and he hasn't taken any of them. Kaelen gestures to the room. There's food on the table. Lock the door behind me. I'll come for you at dawn.
I step into the room. It's huge bigger than my entire attic back home. A massive bed with black silk sheets. A fireplace already burning. A table loaded with bread, cheese, fruit, and wine.
Kaelen? I turn back. What happens at dawn?
We start your training.
Training for what?
His smile is sharp and sad. Training to survive. Because whoever's been killing my brides will come for you soon. And when they do, I need you to be ready.
He closes the door before I can ask more questions.
I lock it with shaking hands, then lean against the wood.
This is insane. All of it. I jumped out a window. Got rescued by a dragon. Flew to a cursed castle. And now I'm supposed to help catch a murderer who's killed seven women.
I should be terrified.
Instead, I'm... excited?
For the first time in months, I have a purpose. Something that matters. Something more than scrubbing floors and being invisible.
I'm going to catch a killer.
I eat some bread and cheese, too hungry to care if it's poisoned. Then I explore the room. There's a bathroom with a huge tub. A closet full of beautiful dresses that definitely aren't mine.
Were they the other brides'?
A chill runs down my spine.
I'm about to try on one of the dresses when I hear ita soft scratching at my door.
I freeze.
Elara? A woman's voice, sweet and gentle. Are you awake, dear?
I don't answer.
I brought you some tea, the voice continues. I'm Mora, the housekeeper. I take care of all the king's brides.
All the king's dead brides, I think.
The king said not to open the door, I call out.
Oh, he's just being protective. A soft laugh. I've been here for thirty years, dear. I'm hardly dangerous. Just an old woman trying to help.
She sounds so kind. So harmless.
But Kaelen's words echo in my head: Don't open the door for anyone except me or Sylas.
Thank you, but I'm very tired, I say. I'll meet you in the morning.
Silence.
Then: Of course, dear. Sleep well.
Footsteps retreat down the hallway.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
My hands won't stop shaking as I change into one of the nightgowns from the closet. Climb into the huge bed. Pull the covers up to my chin.
I should sleep. I need sleep.
But every sound makes me jump. Every shadow looks like it's moving.
I'm just starting to drift off when I hear it a sound that makes my blood freeze.
A woman's scream, echoing through the castle.
Then silence.
I sit up, heart pounding.
Should I investigate? Stay here? Call for help?
Before I can decide, something slides under my door.
A piece of paper.
I scramble out of bed, grab it with shaking hands.
The message is written in dark red ink. Or maybe blood.
You have seven days to leave or you'll die like the others. This is your only warning. - A Friend
I drop the paper like it burned me.
Seven days.
The same timeline the Dragon King gave the village.
Someone in this castle knows I'm here. Knows I'm in this room. And they're already threatening me.
I'm about to run to the door, to scream for Kaelen, when I notice something else.
There's writing on the back of the paper.
I flip it over, my hands shaking so hard I can barely read it.
Don't trust the king. He killed them all himself. Run while you still can.
My heart stops.
No. That can't be true.
Kaelen saved me. Warned me. He's trying to protect me.
Isn't he?
But a tiny voice in my head whispers: What if he's lying? What if he's the murderer, and this is all a trap?
I stand there in my borrowed nightgown, holding a threatening note, in a castle full of strangers.
And I realize I don't know who to trust.
Not Kaelen, who might be a killer.
Not the sweet-voiced housekeeper who might be a murderer.
Not even myself, because I chose to come here.
I chose this.
A knock on my door makes me jump so hard I nearly scream.
Elara? Kaelen's voice. Open the door. Now.
How do I know it's really you?
Because if it wasn't, I'd have broken the door down already. A pause. I felt your fear through the bond. What happened?
Bond? What bond?
But I'm too scared to argue. I unlock the door.
Kaelen stands there, fully dressed now, his silver eyes blazing. What's wrong?
I hand him the note.
He reads it once. Twice. His face goes completely expressionless.
Pack your things, he says quietly. You're moving to my chambers.
What? Why?
Because someone just declared war. He looks at me, and for the first time, I see real fear in his eyes. And they've already made their first move faster than any of the others.
What do you mean?
He hands the note back to me. Points to the red ink.
That's not ink, Elara. It's blood. His jaw clenches. Fresh blood. Which means someone was just killed.
Who?
I don't know yet. But whoever wrote this wants you terrified enough to run. He grabs my bag, starts throwing clothes into it. Which means you're important. More important than the others. And that makes you more dangerous to them.
I'm just a servant girl!
No. Kaelen turns to me, his silver eyes glowing. You're something else entirely. I knew it the moment I saw you. That's why I tried to stop you from coming.
What am I?
He opens his mouth to answer
Then the castle alarm sounds. A deafening bell that makes the walls shake.
No, Kaelen breathes. No, not already.
What's happening?
He grabs my hand, pulls me toward the door. The barrier's been breached. Someone's coming for you.
Who?
We run into the hallway. Guards in black armor rush past. Someone's shouting orders.
Elara! A different voice. I turn and see a large man with dragon scales covering half his face. Get her to the safe room!
That's Sylas, Kaelen says. Go with him. I'll handle this.
Handle what?
He doesn't answer. Just shifts mid-stride, bones cracking, scales erupting. In seconds, the Dragon King launches down the hallway toward whatever's attacking.
Sylas grabs my arm. Come on. We don't have much time.
Time for what?
He looks at me with ancient, tired eyes.
The Shadow Court found out you're here, he says. And they've sent assassins to kill you before the week is up.