Page 69 of Dragon King’s Duty Bride

He led her to a small area that was mostly surrounded by thick bushes and trees. He pulled her close and kissed her. “Are you sure you want me to do this?”

In answer, she stepped back and waved her hands. “Go for it. I want to see the other half of the man I married.”

The shift was heat and light and bone-deep stretching. Wings unfurled with a low rush of moving air. Within moments, his scales caught the moonlight and reflected it like stars.

Then Sia stepped closer. Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t scream. She walked toward him, slow and sure, her face tipped upward.

Awe bloomed in her eyes, bright and unguarded. “You are magnificent,” she breathed.

The word hit him harder than any rejection would have. Her acceptance, and compliment, were more than he ever could have hoped for. He lowered his head carefully until his great golden eye was level with her. In its reflection, she looked small but unafraid.

She reached out and her fingers brushed the edge of his jaw. It was warm against his cool scales and Lucas felt it everywhere.

When she smiled, it wasn’t tentative. It was amazement and pride, and something deeper that made his heart steady itself.

The fear he’d braced for dissolved like mist.

In its place stood a woman looking at his secret form and choosing him anyway.

Chapter 24

Sia

Sia hadn’t realized how heavy the secret had been until it was gone.

It hadn’t really been a huge secret, but enough of one that it created an invisible barrier that stood between her and Lucas, only because he hadn’t told her and she hadn’t admitted she knew. But now that he knew she knew about his dragon side, and she knew he knew she wasn’t afraid… the air felt different.

Lighter. Because now there was nothing between them that the other didn’t know.

That morning, as sunlight spilled across the castle balcony, Sia caught sight of Lucas in the gardens below with his sleeves rolled up while he spoke with one of the groundskeepers.

Her dragon. Her king. She really wanted to fly with him, but today, they had something far more important to focus on.

Celeste was turning eleven.

At Sia’s insistence, Lucas carefully stole away Luna and Stella under the guise of helping him build Spirit a bed of her own. It didn’t take long for Celeste to figure out why she had not been invited.

“Just us?” Celeste asked, wide-eyed, as Sia took her hand at the castle gates.

“Just us,” Sia confirmed with a conspiratorial smile. “Your father has been banned from all shopping trips, and he has to keep your sisters busy.”

Celeste giggled. “He’ll hate that he’s not invited.”

“He’ll survive,” Sia said solemnly.

They headed into town and Sia could almost feel Celeste’s excitement. Their first stop was breakfast.

The café owner nearly fainted when they walked in. “Your Majesty, Princess, please, we have the window table open, and we’ll bring out complimentary sweets, and…”

Celeste automatically straightened her shoulders and slipped into polished royal habits. “Thank you for accommodating us,” she said in a tone that sounded eerily like something said during court.

Sia gently lifted a hand. “We’re just here for a light breakfast,” she said warmly. “And we’d love to order like everyone else from the menu.”

The woman blinked. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

“And,” Sia added kindly but firmly, “Sia is fine.”

She leaned closer once they sat down. “You don’t have to perform for every room you enter.”