Carnelia Majere, the dragon queen who was once a nameless human, has never faced a challenge half as dangerous or cruel as this one. When her children become ill, she begs aid from her enemies only to discover that her dead husband, Primus Majere, Dragon King of Luxandra, is alive and imprisoned. Determined to do whatever it takes to free him, she will forge unlikely alliances and battle new monsters as she fights to reclaim her dragon prince. BOOK 2 in the DRAGON PRINCE SAGA.
[Carnelia]
My husband, Primus. Is dead.
My mate gave his life because he loved his wife and children so much that he was willing to die for them to have a chance at life.
Primus was the very best of mates. He taught me how to love.
I would gladly die a million deaths to have him by my side again.
But he died at his own brother's hands, another victim of the Starfell War.
Or at least, that is what I need to tell myself, because to admit the truth would be madness.
My wings, as black as night, float around me as they transform, and I fall into my preferred form, one more human than dragon. Now they are the gossamer sleeves of an elegant silk gown, my scales are gold sequins that make up the bodice and skirt. My hair, braided in hundreds of golden tendrils, is piled upon my head, the crown gifted to me on my wedding day woven between the strands.
On my wrist, a black bangle connects me to the Celestial Realm. On my hand, the ring that once connected me to my love.
I never thought I'd return to this place. But here I am, begging for aid.
Not for myself, but for what is left of my husband.
As I enter the breezeway, I am announced. Finely clad bodies swivel in my direction as elegantly adorned dragons and other creatures from all the many nations on our planet turn to see the infamous queen of the heavens--the queen who was a human until she married a prince and became a dragon herself.
"Queen Carnelia, welcome," Eleanora's smile falters as she takes in my elegant appearance. I think she was expecting me to be more human. "We weren't expecting you."
As she says these words, she motions to the throne on her left.
I turn my head to follow her hand and all time stops as my eyes adjust to what I am seeing.
Sitting in front of me on a high throne carved from stone is a drake who looks just like my husband. Except that I know it can't be him, because if Primus was alive and well enough to receive guests, he would be at my side, with our children.
"I require your assistance as Queen of Luxandra" I bow graciously, tipping my head at an appropriate level as I complete a high court curtsy. I rise to see startled faces throughout the crowd, not the least of all is the queen herself.
"I see," she replies simply. "And how can us lowly Terrans help someone as powerful as yourself?" Some of the lords and ladies in the audience chuckle.
"My children are sick," I explain. "And the cure is here, in Luxandra."
"My condolences," she replies with a small, pitying smile. "I do not see ..."
"We need your help," I try to explain again, even though I realize my words are falling on deaf ears. I turn my body towards the corpse of my husband and beg. "Please, Primus, your children need you. I need you."
A guard steps between me and the throne. I had taken several steps forward without realizing it. Eleanora's eyes are wide with shock.
"We heard your plea, Queen Carnelia," Queen Eleanora speaks, her voice as clear and calm as water despite the terrified gleam to her eye. "But I don't see how that is a concern of Luxandra. The health of a Celestial Dragon is a matter for the Celestial kingdom, is it not?"
"My children are dying, Queen Eleanora," I try to keep my own tone calm even though my heart is raging. "If it were your children in pain, would you stop fighting for them?"
She sits there, observant, her hand on her perfectly formed chin. She inclines her golden head towards Primus, who does nothing but sit there, looking straight ahead.
"We can be merciful," she smiles benevolently as if bestowing a great gift. "Bring your children to us. Luxandra will gladly provide the care they need in exchange for new trade routes and the reopening of the Eastern Gate..."
This petty, vengeful drakaina is using my children as leverage to get what she has wanted all along. I want to curse her name and set her throne on fire, but that won't get us what we need. My children need me to come back to them with a solution.
"Alone?" if they weren't in so much pain, I wouldn't be considering this farce of a negotiation. She's been trying to get me to give up one of my children in exchange for renegotiating our treaty, and now she is using my children's illness to force my hand.
"Of course not," her smile brightens. "Each child would be allowed one servant each."
"I would need to stay with them myself as well," I insist, my back straight as I look her directly in the eye. "For safety, of course."
"Of course," she inclines her head in agreement. Her eyes are kind, but her smile is poisonous, with just a touch of fang and no trace of the false kindness from before.
"The gate doesn't open until they are all cured," I declare. There is no way I intend to open a pathway into my country putting everyone at risk when she may very well be lying about extending her help or having the skills to help in the first place.
"Until they have all RECEIVED the cure," she clarifies. "I cannot guarantee that it will work equally well on all of them. I want to make sure there is no misunderstanding between us if we intend to proceed in this... arrangement."
There is so much to consider. So many risks.
But my children. I would risk anything to save them.
I give the other throne one more look. He doesn't move. He is no more my husband than a stone or a stick or any other inanimate object. My Primus would never sit still and expressionless while standing before him, begging for the lives of our children.
My Primus would destroy the world to keep us safe.
So this cannot be Primus.
This stranger is merely a ghost of him.
A body without a soul.
And yet, I cannot take my eyes off of him.
Primus.
I feel a small flutter of something like fear vibrate into my body from the ring on my hand.
Could it be...?
Looking over, Primus is still the same.
"Queen Carnellia...?" Eleanora's voice is strained as she attempts to regain my attention. I pull my eyes away from the throne next to her to meet her gaze. Her eyes are cold and hard, although her tone is gentle. "Do we have a deal?"
"Yes," I respond. "We have a deal."
Rosalynd Reid was just an ordinary young woman from LA. Or at least she thought she was, until one fateful day when, forced from her home by her mother's betrayal, she leaves LA, heading north to the refuge of California's redwood coast. During her journey she encounters surprises she never expects and potential love in the arms of a young alpha. Things get even more complicated when, on her 23rd birthday, a birthday blessing turns surprisingly magical. She is a real witch with real powers that had been waiting for the right time to awaken. In her great need, the universe sends her a new home and companion, a secret billionaire leprechaun hiding in the woods of Arcata. And if that wasn't enough, her arrogant but alluring literature professor turns out to be the leader of the local coven. This man who irritates her in all the wrong ways brings her into the world of witchcraft where she soon learns she is the focal piece in a long brewing war between the three factions--wolf, witch, and fae. Because lurking in the shadows is another secret, one that spans generations... Will Rosalynd find true happiness in the arms of one of her lovers, or will the past come back to haunt her and destroy everything she has created?
This is the story of Millicent Walker, a mysterious orphan who arrived in the small coastal town of Crimson mute, nameless, and with no memory of her life before. Hired out by the orphanage to pay for her room and board, her strange appearance and mannerisms lead her to be seen as a freak. To many, she was seen as having less value than the rags she used to clean the floors. When a blight comes to Crimson, the dragon demands a virgin "of marriageable age" as a sacrifice in exchange for his assistance. Seen as strange, even cursed, Millicent was an easy choice for the sacrifice. Loved and wanted by no one, there was nobody to fight for her when they chained her to the cart and left her at the base of the hill to be defiled or devoured. Little did they know, her sacrifice would be their biggest mistake.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Drugged and deceived, she bore a child amidst tragedy-her son, falsely declared dead at birth. Fueled by the agony, she disappeared, only to return years later with both her daughter and an adopted son, driven by an unyielding desire for revenge against those who had wronged her and her late mother. The plot takes an unexpected twist when the haunting truth surfaces: her son is alive, and his father is a powerful CEO.