Stress. Right. Not the way your dragon just stopped thrashing at the sound of her name.
“She can come tomorrow to assess you,” Queen Serenya continued, watching him with sharp eyes. “Gerri is arranging everything.”
The practical part of Draven’s mind rebelled. Letting a stranger—a human stranger—witness his deteriorating control went against every instinct. But the alternative was losing himself completely to the madness, and with it, Dominion.
“Fine.” The word came out rough. “What other choice do I have?”
Relief flooded his mother’s features. “Thank you for considering this option. We feel hopeful, Draven.”
“Hopeful.” He turned back to the window, watching lava flows carve bright paths through the darkness. “I can’t remember the last time I felt that.”
Jarek stood, clapping a hand on Draven’s shoulder. “Maybe this Dr. Reyes has some trick our healers missed. Earth medicine is different—more focused on the mind than just the body.”
Or maybe she’ll take one look at me and run screaming back to whatever safe little life she left behind.
“We’ll leave you to rest,” Queen Serenya said softly. “Tomorrow will be... significant.”
After they left, Draven found himself alone with nothing but the crackling fire and his churning thoughts. The silence felt oppressive, filled with the whispered doubts that always surfaced when the madness crept closer.
Eighteen years of controlling this curse, and now you’re desperate enough to trust some human woman you’ve never met.
He moved to the sidebar and poured three fingers of Sidaii whiskey, the amber liquid burning down his throat without providing any real relief. The fire madness wasn’t something that could be drowned in alcohol—he’d learned that painful lesson years ago.
Dr. Lila Reyes.
Again, that strange stillness in his chest. His dragon had been a constant presence since birth, but lately it felt more like a wildanimal clawing at his ribs. Now, for the first time in months, it seemed... curious rather than destructive.
What if she can’t help? What if the madness is too far advanced?
The alternative loomed like a specter. Veyra’s offer hung in the air during every council meeting, her pale blue eyes promising salvation if he’d just surrender to her version of partnership. But the thought of binding himself to anyone other than his true mate felt like a betrayal of everything his father had taught him.
Father found his peace with Mother. Found his permanent control through their mate bond.
But his father was dead, and Draven was running out of time.
He poured another drink, settling deeper into his chair as the twin suns began their descent. Tomorrow, this Dr. Lila Reyes would arrive, and he’d have to expose the worst parts of himself to a complete stranger.
Gerri Wilder doesn’t make moves without purpose. If she found this woman...
The matchmaker’s reputation was legendary, but her methods remained mysterious. Was this truly about healing, or did Gerri have ulterior motives? The woman specialized in bringing together fated mates, and his situation felt too ideal for her not to do some meddling.
Is she up to something, or is the madness playing tricks again?
The questions circled like vultures as darkness claimed the sky, leaving Draven alone with his doubts and the strange, persistent hope that maybe—just maybe—salvation was on the way to Nova Aurora.
THREE
LILA
The first golden rays of dawn peeked through Lila’s bedroom curtains, finding her already awake and staring at the ceiling. Sleep had been futile—every time she’d closed her eyes and drifted into a deep sleep, vivid dreams of dragons and fire had yanked her back to consciousness.
What am I even doing?
She sat up, running her hands through her tangled dark hair. Later today, she’d be on another planet trying to treat a dragon king’s psychological breakdown. The rational part of her—the part that had guided her through five years of trauma cases—whispered that she was making a colossal mistake.
The adventurous part, the one that had been dormant since Trevor’s betrayal, practically vibrated with anticipation.
Her laptop sat open on the nightstand, the cursor blinking accusingly in the empty email draft. Lila pulled it closer, her fingers hovering over the keys.
