My hand trembled as I reached out to cup his face. Every instinct screamed that this was wrong—this wasn’t how it should be. I wasn’t supposed to kiss him.
Icouldn’t.
His stubble scraped against my damp palms. A rush of shame crawled up my neck—he’d sense how nervous I was.
My gaze dropped to the king’s lips, pressed into a tight line, and a knot of panic twisted my stomach. My heart slammed against my ribs, each beat a thud of protest.
I drew a shaky breath, and rose onto my toes, fingers trembling as they cradled his head. Gently, I tugged him lower, the heat of my touch seeping into him. My body trembled as I leaned in, eyes closing, then pressed my lips to his forehead, the embrace soft and hesitant, as if the very act might tear me apart.
Gyrak’s magic exploded from me in a firestorm. Flares shot into the sky, spiraled our bodies, a twisting pillar of fire. The heat seared, blistering as real crackling flames flickered into the shapes of dragons, their ember wings brushing against my flesh.
The Dragon’s Kiss was the seal of Draconia—binding—a mark of engagement, a pledge of peace. It was the promise of shared days, a lifetime entwined with another.
It was my first kiss.
And I had given it to the wrong man.
Chapter Two
Nienna
“That flaming prick!” Ronan seethed. “When he gets here, I’m going to skewer him!”
Gyrak rumbled in agreement, a low vibration that seemed to resonate through the courtyard. His ember-bright eyes drifted shut as my fingers stroked his scaled muzzle. I’d miss the dragon—far more than my brother—though I’d never tell him as much.
“He’s expected tonight, then?” I asked, pressing my temple to the dragon’s heated jaw. For a beast larger than any house, he handled me with care, each touch soft as a wingtip. The dragons all treated me as if I were one of their own—a delicate hatchling, fragile yet beloved.
“Kallias only said ‘soon.’ Blast it! What does ‘soon’ mean? I know Tallon detests court, but sea beneath, you’d think he’d possess enough sense to receive his betrothed!”
He resumed his pacing, boots scuffing the courtyard’s sun-warmed stone. This was the one place big enough for Gyrak, allowing me to bask in his comforting presence. The dragon’s slow breath, steady as a heartbeat, grounded me in a way no words could.
“If this marriage matters so much to Kallias, he should keep a tighter rein on his son!”
“The prince is nineteen.” I laughed, casting a bewildered look over my shoulder. “If Father demanded something you didn’t want, would you follow his orders?”
“I’m a Dragon Rider—it’s different.”
The title gave my brother too much freedom. Not only would he inherit Draconia’s crown, but his bond with a dragon granted him a commanding presence few dared to question.
“He’s still a prince.” I stepped away from Gyrak, who chuffed at the break in contact, lifting his head. “Perhaps he doesn’t wish to be tied down.”
My brother shoved his blond hair off his eyes, the sharp blue orbs sparking with irritation. “See? You can’t compare me,” he snapped. “If it were for Draconia, I would do anything!”
I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Eighteen and willing to marry yourself off?”
Ronan’s temper flared, then fizzled, as always. In a debate with me, he never stood a chance. Not because of my age—two years gave me a little more wisdom—but because he wielded his dragon’s strength as much as his own. With Gyrak at his side, he never had to rely on words when he could simply call on fire and fury to incinerate anyone in his way.
“For king and kingdom!” He laughed, raising a hand in a mock salute, his grin as fierce as ever.
No, I couldn’t imagine my bold, headstrong brother tying himself down anytime soon.
I saw the same flash of surprise in the eyes of every ambassador who came to Draconia’s shores. Ronan and I were our parents’ only children, yet to most, my worth lay solely in my womb. Which kingdom would my father trade me to? Whose heir would I be expected to bring into the world? Even at the tender age of twenty, nobles made it clear they saw my childbearing years slipping away.
“You’ll do well here, sister.”
Ronan’s sigh carried a hint of pride as he stepped forward and clapped a hand on my shoulder. I laughed, shrugging him off as my brave smile faltered, if only for a moment. These times with him would be confined to his visits from our distant island. I’d miss him. The thought left a dull ache.
“I intend to.” I flashed him my brightest grin. “This is home now.”
