1. Abraxas

The mist I conjured had worked beautifully, not that we really needed the advantage against Niata. They had been caught completely unaware. TheLongPeace made them compliant—Fools.But perhaps it was a blessing. It would allow us to hit their primary defenses with minimal casualties.

Ishouted at CommanderAvlyn, but it was unnecessary. Avlyn had been running the army for decades while I sat on the throne and strategized. I trusted them implicitly.

Thelast of the troops departed the boat, and I followed. I stepped off the gangplank to the rocky shore, and it was as if the world had tilted on its axis, the sky becoming the sea. The moment I touched the land of the PearlKingdom, a substantial force wrapped itself around my heart, around my very soul. I could feel it sinking through me, like a golden tidal wave that removed everything that I was and replaced it with something else. Someone else. Her.

Isaw her in flashes. A hand gripping the cliffs around the beach, pulling herself up. A scroll full of scribbles and doodles, a tutor looking on in disappointment. A pair of swords dancing against an opponent who was quickly disarmed. Human children ran around her skirts as a soft laugh echoed from her lips.

Iclutched my chest and fell to my knees. My breath caught, and I coughed, trying to force air into my lungs. "Abraxas, what's wrong?" Avlyn ran to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. I let them help me up before pushing them off.

"Nothing. I need you to lead the army today."

Theirface still held concern, but they rolled their eyes. "Wasn't that already the plan?"

"Yes, but I will rejoin you later." Their face showed confusion, but they nodded and returned to the front of the ranks.

Ididn't know where I was going, but my body did. It was as if she were a siren luring me in. I ran to her. My mind kept showing me more images. Younglings running through the rainforest, chasing after each other with sticks. She sneaked through the kitchens at night, gathering up sweet rolls. A book opened before her, illuminated by the moon through a window.

Ipassed through the main gates of the castle complex, which weren't even closed before my troops blew through them. I turned my back to a secluded alcove to get my bearings, but my mind had caught up with me. This can't be happening.

Centuriesago, I had given up the hope that I could have a mate. There were no dragons left; I would have felt them. No clutches of eggs were hidden anywhere, and even if there had been, no one was left to care for them. Any that would have been hidden away would have perished by now. And certainly, my mind wasn't showing me images of a dragon but of what appeared to be a fae female.

Fromthe sea, a great volley of EmperorHadeon's lightning projectiles fired at the castle. With a crash that shook the very earth, one of the castle's main towers was struck. Another image came to me, but this one felt more vivid. She was being pulled away from a window that overlooked the collapsed tower that I was now viewing from outside. There you are.

Imoved. But the images were coming faster now, uncontrolled. It was as if the magic that connected us had been pent up for too long. Some were indecipherable, while others were manageable. Dancing feet swept across a floor. She hugged her knees and cried in a dark room. A handsome half-fae male was laughing. A moment later, that same man was grinning as he gripped her breast, and she rode him into oblivion.

Myfeet stopped as rage burned me from the inside out. Centuries had passed since I had allowed the beast inside me to awaken, but now he threatened to overpower me completely. I gripped the wall, trying to regain control, my fingers piercing the stone. An unsuspecting group of Niatan soldiers appeared before me. How unfortunate for them.

EvenI could barely keep up with my movements. In under a breath, half of them were already dead on the floor. The rest struggled to draw their swords and fall into defensive positions, but they were already far too late. Two more breaths and they were all dead.

Bloodran down the edge of my sword, dripping like the ticking of a clock. The beast inside me was satiated, at least for the moment. I had to keep moving. Another vision came. A room overturned, and a voice whispering, "The tunnel in the kitchens."

Avlynsurprised me by placing their hand on my shoulder again. "YourHighness, there has been little resistance. We have favored capture over bloodshed." They looked over my shoulder at the very dead cohort at my feet but kept a stony face. "We have located the prince. I'm sure the king and queen won't be far behind. We haven't yet found the princess. What are our next steps?"

"The kitchens. Bring your cohort and meet me there." The confusion showed on their face, but again, they did not question me. They raised their hand and waved the cohort forward.

Itwas simple to find the kitchens. The floorplan of the building had seared itself into my mind. Half of the entryway had already collapsed, and we filed in. The building was quiet, as if holding its breath, waiting for the next move. We made our way to the back when a unit of soldiers clad in silver mail charged us from a side hall.

Ididn't have time for this. I needed to find her. Now. I cut through the men in front of me, clearing a path when I felt her. That golden thread pulled taut, and my head snapped up. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Her magenta robes were incredibly fine, embroidered with the white peacock of the royal family. They were covered in dust and disheveled, revealing the warm skin of her shoulder. I followed the perfect line of her long neck to slate eyes that blazed with rage. For a moment, she held my gaze, and I swear the entire world stood still. But then she ran away, and the beast inside me yearned to give chase.

Iwas lost to him, my sword cleaving through every man in my way; my feet moved of their own accord. I could feel it, her fear; it would be delicious on her skin. How satisfying would it feel to sink my talons and fangs into her, claiming her over and over again until the only sound from her lips was my own name. She was mine.

Iwhipped around a corner and saw her duck behind a hidden wall panel. I approached, ready to rip it straight off the wall, when that golden thread around my heart pulsed. It wasn't gentle either. It gripped so hard I fell to my knees again; my body froze.

Itried to catch my breath and get my heart beating again when I heard a voice through the panel. "PrincessTori, what are you—"

Mysuspicions were confirmed, and it wasn't good news. She was the very princess I had been sent here to capture. My mate, whom I had waited centuries for and given up hope for, was the very person my greatest adversary wished to sink his claws into.

Avlynand the cohort rounded the corner. "YourMajesty, why have you come back this way?"

"Commander, take the troops and find the king and queen. I'll finish up here."

Avlyncouldn't hold themselves back anymore. "Abraxas, what's going on? This erratic behavior isn't like you. What about the princess?"

Myteeth ground together at the very mention of her. "I'll take care of her. You follow my orders, Commander."

Theynodded and led the rest out. I circled around the hallways, listening, when a loud crash came from behind a door. I listened, and I could hear her directing the human servants. But then the roof shook violently, and I threw open the door and reached out with my magic. It wasn't elegant, but I pulled her from under the collapsing rubble at the last moment. She pushed herself up, and I couldn't resist her any longer.

"There you are, Princess. I've been waiting for you." Waiting lifetimes, waiting even when I had given up all hope. My soul, which I had thought long gone, had just been in a deep slumber, dreaming of this moment when it would finally be completed.

Hereyes filled with unmitigated hatred as she beheld me. The anger she held found a focal point, and I knew that if I gave her half a chance, she would destroy me. But the ceiling snapped again, and the entire building came down. I threw my magic out like a net, trying to stop her from being crushed. It half worked, and after the rubble had settled, she lay unconscious but alive.

Ipulled the bricks and beams away and gathered her up in my arms. Her breathing was steady, even as blood dripped from her head and her body was bruised. She seemed so breakable like this, almost calm and serene. But as I held her, listening to the beautiful sound of her strong heart, I knew mine wouldn't survive it.

Noneof this made any sense. She was fae, and while I had pretended to be one for so long, I had almost forgotten that's not what I was. Fae didn't have mates; only dragons did, and she was no dragon. I pulled out my dagger and held it to her throat. She was breakable and weak. IfI let her live, that's what I would become as well. I could end this all here. Just remember it as a cruel dream, fate laughing at me one more time.

Fatehad taken my mother and father along with every other dragon in this world. It has taken my people and, in the process, my soul. It had taken my magic, the only thing I still had that reminded me of what I once was, and with that, it had taken the sky from me. Now, it dangled this last piece of hope in front of me, distracting me from the revenge I had let shape me for these last centuries. I tensed my muscles to pull that blade through her skin and feel her warm blood as the life left her. ButI recalled that fire in her eyes, her fearlessness, and I knew I was only fooling myself.

"You will be my undoing, won't you, Princess?"