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.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
Ethan always viewed Nyla as a compulsive liar, while she saw him as aloof and insensitive. Nyla had cherished the notion that she was dear to Ethan, yet she felt coldly rejected when she realized her place in his heart was insignificant. No longer trying to break through his coldness, she stepped back, only for him to alter his approach unexpectedly. She challenged him, "If you trust me so little, why keep me around?" Ethan, who had once carried himself with pride, now stood before her with a humble plea. "Nyla, I've made mistakes. Please don't walk away from me."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"