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My stomach sinks as I read the note a second time. It’s the day after our wedding and he’s leaving me here with no warning. Is this going to be my life now? Him, gone all the time, and me, waiting dutifully at home?
Forget that. I’m not going to stay in this sitting room all day. I’m going to enjoy this gift that I’ve been given.
All my life, all I’ve ever wanted is freedom. I didn’t want this marriage any more than Stellan did. And I refuse to feel disappointed over the fact that he’s left me here, all by myself. Instead, I will enjoy this time. I’ll do all the things I never had time for back home.
With no real direction, I head out of the sitting room and into the long hallway. I have no idea where it leads, but I start walking aimlessly. Hopefully somebody can direct me to the kitchen because I could use some breakfast. Then, maybe I’ll go to the beach.
Yes, this is fine. I don’t need my new husband to entertain me. And I refuse to be sad just because my husband ditched me when we haven’t even been married twenty four hours yet.
When I find the kitchen, there are staff inside whoseem very anxious at my arrival. When I tell them I just want to grab a bite to eat, they insist that they’ll bring me something. I tell them that I’ll eat by the pool and head outside to wait for food.
I sigh as I slip past a maid, who curtsies.
At least they only refer to me as ‘Princess.’ I can handle being the dragon’s princess. What I can’t handle is being the only hope of overcoming fae’s failing magic.
When I get outside, I spot Stellan’s younger brother walking with a surfboard in hand. He gazes curiously at me as he walks past, but he doesn’t say a word.
Evander, Ithink, is his name. He’s a quiet boy who has never spoken a word to me. I’d say he’s about the same age as Cypress, maybe a little older. I can feel a difference between him and all the other dragons, which I think means he must have never shifted. Dragon shifters shift for the first time when they’re eighteen.
A few moments later, a woman carrying a tray comes rushing out of the back of the house. She sits down the food and curtsies to me.
“If you need anything, Princess, please let me know.” She keeps her head down, like she’s afraid to look at me.
“Thank you.”
Her entire body stiffens, then she rushes off, leaving me alone. I wonder what has her, and all the other staff, so on edge. What do they think of the fae that they have reason to fear me?
After eating some food, I make my way down the same path that Stellan took me on the day I met him, the one that leads to the beach.
The sky is bright blue today, without a cloud in sight. The temperature is perfect, though maybe a little cool for swimming. I think back to Evander, who was only wearing swimming shorts and no shirt. He was sopping wet anddidn’t look cold. Then again, shifters don’t get cold like fae do.
I stare out at the ocean for a long time, just watching the waves crash onto the shore. Birds fly over the water and occasionally I’ll see a boat on the horizon. Otherwise, it’s really peaceful. This beach must be a private one, for the royal family only.
After a while, I sit down on the sand. As the tiny grains stick to my feet and legs, I make a mental note to bring a blanket next time I come down here. Which will likely be tomorrow, because now that I’ve seen beauty like this, I plan to experience it daily.
The sound of feet shuffling in the sand has me turning my head. I spot Natalia making her way onto the beach with her son, Jason, in her arms.
I’m not sure how old Jason is, but judging by his size I’d guess he’s around a year old. He’s got a head full of dark hair, a similar color to his mother’s. Natalia doesn’t glance my way as she sits up a lawn chair. She plunks Jason down onto the sand, scattering toys out in front of him. But Jason doesn’t even look at his toys. Instead, his focus is on me.
I haven’t officially met him. I suppose he is my nephew. He stands up on wobbly legs and begins to tot over to me. Natalia watches him carefully, her eyebrow furrowed.
“Jason,” she calls.
But he ignores her and walks right over to me. I wonder what he’s doing when he plops down in my lap.
Is thisnormal? Do children typically walk up to strangers and sit on their lap? Judging by Natalia’s agape jaw, I wouldn’t think so. I open my mouth, to attempt to make small talk, when a large shadow passes over the top of me. I look up in time to see a dragon swooping toward me. I have just enough time to throw up a shield before fire shoots out of its mouth.
All I can hear is the whooshing sound of fire and possibly the sound of Natalia screaming. Everything is too bright for me to see anything past the fire. Jason is completely unaffected by what’s going on around us, he just looks wide eyed at the bright flame. A large bubble of my magic protects us from the force of the flames.
The flames suddenly vanish. I keep my shield going as I look up and see that another dragon is fighting the first dragon. It nearly knocks the dragon from the sky. I look around, desperate to make sure Natalia is all right, but she’s gone. I look up again and realize the smaller dragon must be her.
Didn’t they say female dragons are weaker? Sure enough, the first dragon bats the smaller one away, turning its attention to Jason and me once more.
Am I the target or Jason? Does it matter? This dragon is dead set on attacking, possibly killing, both of us. And I’m not going to let anybody hurt me or my nephew. I just met him and I’m already too attached to the little guy.
I strengthen my shield as I shift through my magic. Natalia starts to fly toward the dragon again, but I know she isn’t strong enough to fight this guy off. Surely help is coming, but will they get here in time before the dragon hurts Natalia—or worse.
I gather my magic tightly around me, making sure to keep the shield in place, and then I direct it at the attacking dragon. I’m careful to keep it tight so I don’t accidentally hit Natalia with it. As my magic is unleashed, the entire beach lights up so bright that I can hardly see anything. The next moment, I hear a loud splash in the water as a large wave comes around Jason and me. The only thing that keeps us dry is the shield around us.
