Lila traced the edge of Gerri’s card with her fingertip, and heat sparked where her skin made contact. This wasn’t just about helping someone else—though the idea of a king suffering from mental anguish tugged at every healing instinct she possessed. This was about choosing something wild and impossible and completely outside the safe boundaries she’d constructed.
King Draven needs me specifically.
The thought sent unexpected warmth spiraling through her. Not because of romance—she’d sworn off that particular brand of heartbreak—but because Gerri believed she was the answer to an impossible problem.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Harper:Stop overthinking and call the matchmaker already.
Lila laughed despite herself. Her best friend knew her too well. She dialed before she could lose her nerve.
“Gerri Wilder speaking.” The voice carried that same electric confidence, as if she’d been waiting by the phone.
“It’s Dr. Lila Reyes. From the mental health clinic.” Her voice came out steadier than she felt.
“Oh darling, I was hoping you’d call tonight. Have you made your decision?”
Lila closed her eyes and let herself feel the pull of something greater than her careful existence. “I want to help him. King Draven. But I need to know more about what I’m walking into.”
“Smart girl. Your transportation leaves tomorrow at noon. Meet me at the downtown power plant on Fifth Street—I’ll text you the specifics. Bring enough clothes for two weeks. And Lila?”
“Yes?”
“Trust your instincts when you meet him. They’ll guide you better than any textbook ever could.”
The line went dead, leaving Lila staring at her phone with a mixture of terror and exhilaration coursing through her veins.
Tomorrow. Another planet. A dragon shifter king.
Her life was about to get interesting.
TWO
DRAVEN
The crisp white shirt felt suffocating against Draven’s neck as he settled into the high-backed chair at the head of the conference table. He’d abandoned suits weeks ago—the formal constraints made his skin crawl when the fire madness clawed at his control. Today’s business-casual attire offered little comfort as tension radiated through the expansive conference room.
The glass walls reflected the twin suns’ crimson light, casting everything in shades of amber and gold. The same light that once symbolized his kingdom’s strength now felt oppressive. Draven’s fingers drummed against the mahogany conference table as council members filtered in, their conversations a low murmur that scraped against his heightened senses.
Keep it together. Just another meeting. You’ve done this a thousand times.
But the voice in his head whispered darker truths.
Have you? When was the last time you made it through one without the fire madness trying to consume you from the inside?
His mother Queen Serenya took her seat to his right, her silver-streaked hair immaculate despite the early hour. Her golden-brown eyes—so similar to his own—assessed him withthe sharp intelligence that had guided the Dominion territory through his father’s death and his own ascension to the throne. Beside her, Jarek’s broader frame settled into his chair with easy confidence, though Draven caught the subtle tension in his best friend’s jaw.
They knew. They always knew when the fire madness episodes were coming.
“Your Majesty.” Councilor Veyra’s voice drifted across the table like silk over steel. She’d positioned herself directly in his line of sight, her golden hair catching the light as she arranged her papers with deliberate precision. “Shall we begin with the northern border disputes?”
Draven nodded, not trusting his voice. The words on the documents before him blurred slightly at the edges, and he blinked hard to clear his vision.
Focus. Dominion needs you focused.
“The mountain wolf packs are pushing south again,” Councilor Thomas reported, his weathered face grim. “They’re testing our patrols, looking for weaknesses in our defenses.”
“How many incursions this month?” Draven’s voice came out rougher than intended.
“Seven confirmed. Possibly more that went undetected.”
