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Chapter 1
ANTHONY
My biggest secret was kept by my mother and father. No-one else knew. Not even my older brother Carlak.
I had magic. And the gift of sight. Just like my mother, Marienne, Queen of the Black Mountains.
Mom always said that her gift created life and gave our kingdom, and those around us, many blessings. After all, it was because of her gift of sight that King Stavrok found Lucy, and years later, their son Anselm found his mate, a human named Kayla.
She was sweet, though not my type. I liked a woman with a little fire under her belt. Anselm, my best friend, had been ready to find his mate and had asked Mom for help. He could have asked me too, since I could see many of the same things my mom could, but no-one knew about my magic—not even Anselm—so I was never asked.
Mom was a sorceress, so her magic was an accepted part of her, but I was a dragon shifter like my dad, and everyone knew you couldn’t be a dragonandhave magic.
Except, apparently, when it came to me. A magical freak of nature.
Anselm and I had grown up together, more like cousins than friends, and the fact that he still didn’t know about my magical abilities was beginning to eat at me. The discomfort of lying to my friend—or at least, omitting part of the truth of who I was—had created a literal pain in my gut that wouldn’t go away.
I groaned as I reached over the dining table for the pitcher of water, pain tugging low in my belly.
“Your gut still giving you trouble?” Dad asked from the head of the table, where he was carving up his roast lamb pie with potatoes.
My father had spent all of his childhood and teenage years with not enough to eat, so now that he was king he made sure we all ate well. Including our people who lived within the grounds of the castle.
“Yeah,” I said, putting a hand to my stomach as I poured a glass of water.
Mom stared at me from her side of the table, her hands wrapped around her hot cup of tea.
“What?” I asked, glaring back at her.
“You know what I think it is.” She took a sip of tea. “You need to stop lying to everyone, Anthony.”
I stared down at my empty plate. “No. I’m just hungry.” I began piling food on to the porcelain. Potatoes and lamb and baked tomatoes.
“Son,” my dad said. “You’re my heir, and I’m proud of you, in every way. You’re a good man. I don’t know why you insist on hiding your magic from everyone other than the two of us.”
I wanted to roll my eyes at him, but had learnt that would only get me a slap to the back of the head at best, and a magical detention in my room at worst.
So, I didn’t.
I may have been twenty-six, but my parents were still my parents. “It’s no-one else’s business.”
And it wasn’t. I didn’t want to be judged by everyone and labeled a freak. Or worse, have people I knew want to use me and my magic the way my mother had been used before my father rescued her from her monstrous first husband.
Magic would not be considered a strength in our world, for a dragon shifter.
My gut clenched and pulled tight. I grabbed my fork and shoved food into my mouth. I was just hungry, I told myself. That was all it was.
“Well, I’m off to visit Lucy and my grand-daughters today,” Mom said, standing up. “Would you like to join me, Anthony?”
Carlak and his wife Jessa had twin daughters, born last year, and had spent the last month at Stavrok and Lucy’s castle.
I shook my head, part of me missing my brother, but the other part too jealous to consider visiting them right now. Carlak had been so happy since finding Jessa and becoming a husband and father and of course I was pleased for him. But I did wonder if I’d ever find that level of joy. If I’d ever find my mate. I shook off the negative thoughts. I’d enjoyed the peace and quiet since they’d left, so I had to focus on the positives.
“No. I have plans with Dad. Work in town.”
Dad nodded and Mom sighed. “All right. I’ll be home in a few days. But... may I speak to you, Anthony? Alone please?”
I glanced at my dad who had just finished his last mouthful of food.
