Chapter 10

TEN

T he twin suns of Nova Aurora painted the morning sky in brilliant shades of amber and gold, their combined light catching the crystalline spires of the ancient palace. Kai Dracos stood at the edge of his private terrace, watching his kingdom stir to life below. The larger sun cast long shadows across the ice fields while its smaller, blood-orange companion tinted the snow with a glow that set the entire landscape ablaze.

A tremor rippled through the ground—the seventh since dawn. Nearby rocks shifted with a soft scraping sound, and concentric rings spread across a decorative fountain’s surface, distorting his reflection. Each vibration sent a corresponding pulse through his ancestral magic, a discordant note in what should have been a harmonious connection between dragon king and land.

He closed his eyes, reaching out with senses honed over centuries to feel the pulse of his kingdom. The magic flowed like countless streams of energy, connecting every crystal, every stone, every living thing within his realm. But where those streams should merge into a symphony, they now clashed and tangled, creating ripples of instability that grew stronger with each passing day.

“The eastern settlement reported new fissures in their crystal mines.”

Kai didn’t turn at Darian’s voice. His closest friend and advisor moved with the silent grace all dragon shifters possessed, his dark braid swaying with each step as he approached. The early light caught the amber of his eyes, making them appear to glow.

“Three families evacuated during the night,” Darian continued, coming to stand beside him. “The miners speak of strange sounds from deep within the earth. Songs that shouldn’t exist.”

Kai’s fingers tightened on the crystalline railing. “Casualties?”

“None. This time.” Darian’s tone carried the weight of unspoken concern. “But the council grows restless. The tremors are evolving, becoming more... purposeful.”

“The council always grows restless.” But Kai couldn’t deny the truth in his friend’s words. His gaze drifted toward the guest wing of the palace where Samara—Dr. Quinn, he corrected himself—had spent her first night on Nova Aurora.

Even from this distance, his dragon senses could pick up traces of her unique scent: Earth minerals, determination, and something tantalizingly, frustratingly feminine that made his inner beast stir with interest.

A knowing smirk crossed Darian’s face. “The human scientist has you distracted.”

“She’s here to conduct a survey,” Kai replied, perhaps too quickly.

“She’s here because the universe has a sense of humor.” Darian’s chuckle held genuine amusement. “A thousand years we searched for your fated mate, only to find her in a stubborn Earth woman who scoffs at the very idea of magic. The ancestors must be laughing themselves sick.”

Before Kai could respond, another tremor shook the terrace—stronger than the last. Crystal chimes hanging from nearby archways tinkled ominously, their usual melodic sounds turning sharp and harsh. In the distance, a flock of ice wraiths took flight, their translucent wings catching the sunlight as they sought safer skies.

“The council awaits,” Kai said, straightening to his full height. The weight of his crown—metaphorical today, though the actual artifact sat heavily in his private chambers—seemed to press down with particular force this morning.

They walked in companionable silence through the palace corridors, though Kai found his attention repeatedly drawn toward the guest wing. Was Quinn awake yet? Had the tremors disturbed her sleep? The urge to check on her personally warred with his sense of duty. His dragon stirred restlessly beneath his skin, pushing him to seek out their mate, to ensure her safety and comfort.

He caught fragments of conversation from passing servants, all centered around the new arrival. “The Earth scientist,” they whispered, some with awe, others with skepticism. “Did you see how she spoke to His Majesty? Such boldness!” The memory of their first meeting brought an unbidden smile to his lips. Her sharp tongue and complete disregard for his status had caught him entirely off guard—a feat few had managed in his long life.

Twelve of his most trusted advisors rose as he entered the grand hall. Morning light streamed through tall crystal windows, casting rainbow patterns across ancient tapestries depicting the history of dragon shifters. The long table, carved from a single piece of enchanted ice that never melted, gleamed with internally captured starlight. Each chair bore the sigil of a noble dragon clan, their combined power representing the backbone of his kingdom’s political structure.

“Your Highness.” Malek, the eldest of his advisors, bowed his head respectfully. Age had turned his hair pure white, but his violet eyes remained sharp as ever. “The land cries out for balance.”

“The tremors grow worse,” Joran added, his wrinkled hands splaying across the ice table’s surface. Small fracture lines appeared where his fingers touched—a concerning sign as the enchanted ice had never shown such weakness before. “Without your fated mate?—”

A crash from the corridor interrupted him, followed by a familiar voice: “I said I can carry my own equipment!”

Kai bit back a smile as Quinn’s voice carried through the crystal walls. Her fierce independence both frustrated and captivated him. None of his subjects would dare speak with such defiance—yet somehow, her sharp tone sparked something primal in his dragon nature. The beast within him preened at her strength even as it urged him to protect and shelter her.

“The human scientist seems...” Joran paused diplomatically, “spirited.”

“Dr. Quinn,” Kai corrected automatically, earning another knowing look from Darian, “brings valuable expertise to our situation.” He moved to the large map spread across one end of the ice table, trying to focus on the glowing points that marked recent tremor activity. The pattern had shifted since yesterday, forming an almost perfect circle around...around Quinn’s quarters.

“And nothing else?” Malek’s penetrating gaze fixed on him. “We’ve sensed the change in the land’s song since her arrival. The tremors still come, yes, but their pattern shifts. The magic responds to her presence.”

Another crash echoed from the corridor, followed by a string of Earth expletives that had several council members raising their eyebrows. The creative combination of words involving dragons, geology, and questionable parentage made even Darian’s eyes widen with impressed surprise.

Without conscious thought, Kai found himself rising. His dragon pushed against his control, responding to both the frustration and underlying anxiety in Quinn’s voice. “If you’ll excuse me,” he managed with what he hoped was appropriate royal dignity, “I should ensure our guest has everything she needs.”

“Of course,” Malek said, his tone dry as ancient parchment. “We wouldn’t want Dr. Quinn to find our hospitality... lacking.”