CHAPTER 3
Time seems to slow as Hunter picks me up off the horse and drops me at his side in the courtyard of the looming castle. I’ve only seen the modern-built castles of the Moon and Sun Dynasty, and drawings of what they used to be... this is more like the past. The build is classic and elegant in places, but it’s falling apart. Deep cracks crawl up the walls of the castle, and there are enough piles of purple stone to tell me some of the tower has fallen off at some point. Damn. I sense eyes peeking out at me from the many windows and doors that face the courtyard, but just like when Hunter rode us through the huts and fields of strange fruit and vegetables, no one stared for more than a minute. I still saw them... and they don’t look well. Everyone is thin and in worn-down clothes, their skin as tanned as Hunter’s, but they are clearly not thriving. I focus forward as Hunter places a warm hand on the middle of my back and nudges me forward. There’s one single dragon standing proudly at the back of the courtyard. I feel like a tiny dot next to it and I focus on making my feet move. Hunter is firm at my side, and when we are close, he lowers his head and bows deeply to the dragon.
“Bow, daughter of the moon.”
I lift my chin at the sound of its voice in my head. It sounds female and old, but cruel. Pride is the sole thing I have to hold on to here, and my father taught me one lesson from infancy. We do not bow to any man, woman, or dragon. We are royals, born to be bowed to, and that fact will never change. My father’s pride swims through my blood as I meet the dragon’s gaze. “I will not bow and have my final moments on my knees for a dragon I do not know.”
Hunter pushes me to the ground and covers me as I yelp. Fire scorches across us, purple fire licking the air, and my heart races. When the fire is gone, Hunter drags me to my feet. “Fucking bow before we both die.”
“No.” I snap back, and I face the dragon who nearly burnt me to a crisp.
Three more dragons land, thumping onto the ground in front of us. Each of them breathes hot purple fire across the air above our heads, but much higher than the middle one, who I can feel is angry with me. Eventually, when the fire stops, Hunter bows again to them. Each one of them is purple, but all of them are slightly different shades, some lighter and some darker. The one in the middle is the darkest purple, almost black. It’s bigger than the others and still angry. It growls low at me, and the ground shakes as it stomps. I wince as the sound cuts through my ears. It looks at the lightest dragon, and they share a communication we can’t hear.
The light purple dragon, the smallest of them all, walks to me. It only stops a hair’s breadth away and locks its eyes with mine. Hunter’s hand slips into mine and he squeezes once. “This may hurt.” The light purple dragon whispers into my mind, its voice male and kinder. One second I’m standing, the next the world goes fuzzy as pain cuts through my head like a knife. I scream, collapsing to my knees. I vaguely register Hunter grabbing me, holding me up against his side as it feels like thedragon fills my mind, ripping through it like it is pages of a book. Memory after memory flashes in my mind, from the moment I was born to my powers and marks on my chest, to every moment in my life. Every mention of dragons from my parents and tutors — it focuses on them for a long time before it slows down. It fixes on the beach; the moment I pull the dragon egg out of the water and smile and look after it. The memory fades quickly and it’s done. I collapse against Hunter, barely able to get my legs to work. The light purple dragon stomps away.
“Are you okay? They were looking through your memories. It’s the only way to be absolutely sure of what you did with the egg. They don’t have names, well not ones they tell us.” Hunter murmurs an explanation, but a forewarning might have been better. I don’t have the energy to snap at him yet.
The light purple dragon’s voice fills my mind, but it’s clear he is speaking to everyone here. “The fae did not steal the egg; she only saved it from the depths of the ocean and your egg is returned.”
One of the dragons hums and nods, stepping back. The light purple one continues. “There is no evidence of the fae who stole the egg in her memories. I searched her world in her mind, and it is full of fae and vampyres who rule... but no dragons.” My mouth drops open. He is lying, but why? He saw the stories of dragons in my memories. He must know my world has them. “She also has no magic, and neither does her family. She will be of no use to breed.” What the fuck? Hunter grips my waist tightly. “As we are in her debt for saving our egg and caring for it, she must be given a chance to survive the games. Returning her to her world can be her prize if she manages to win.”
“Very well, if you wish it. This is a gift, to be able to play in our games in payment for the egg’s safety.” The dark purple dragon’s eyes fix on me, her voice sharp. “Hunter, take her away. The first game begins tomorrow.”
He bows his head. I’ve never been so glad not to do the same. The sight of these huge dragons — I’ve dreamed of dragons my whole life — is overwhelming and not in a good way. I’ve wished to see them up close, but right now, I can’t even fathom how my parents managed to ride these beasts. How they managed to be friends with them, how they treat them like family. It’s insane to me. These dragons are terrifying. Hunter stays by my side, holding me up with his hand tight around my waist as he leads me to the side of the courtyard. All the dragons leave, except for the light purple one who stares at me for a long second. “Free us, as is your destiny. The others will kill you once they know who you are. Hide the marks and your power until the time is right, Queen Wrenley.”
He flies away, leaving me confused and full of questions. I barely focus on the fact that Hunter is speaking to me. “The games... it’s complicated, but they’re essentially trials to show your worth. There are a few of them. The amount is decided by the dragons. All fae that break rules, wish to leave the castle, or cross the dragons end up in the games.”
“Can I return to my world if I win them?” I whisper, my voice cracked from screaming.
“Yes, I’ll take you back myself.” He looks down, and his eyes are full of pity. “But you won’t win them.”
“Why do you think that?” I want to shout, but I’m so tired. I can’t focus on the corridor of the castle he is dragging me down.
“Because most don’t. Most die. This is a world that is ruled by dragons. They don’t want fae here that are not theirs to rule, and they don’t like anyone to leave.” He touches my arm. “But you won’t die. I will not allow that, not when I’ve finally met you, Wren.”
“Did you survive the games?” I ask, having the feeling he is only here because of it. I try to ignore the possessive tone of his voice, the way he is looking at me, and I fail. Somethingmakes me want to look back and face him, to meet his eyes and challenge his every word. I’ve never been as interested in a male as I am until this moment and I just know, the second I let him in, he is going to ruin me for anyone else.
He looks down at me, stopping for a second. Something flickers in those haunting purple eyes of his. Grief. Longing... pain. “Yes, a long time ago.”
“And how did you turn into this cold bastard who serves them?” I mutter under my breath. His lips tip up in amusement.Don’t look at his lips, Wren.“You must have once opposed them enough to enter the games.”
“Because I lost everybody else when I won and now I’m alone. Well, until you.” He pushes open the door to a room. “This is your room and the door will lock once you’re inside. There will be food and some water. Don’t die, thief. I’ll be back in the morning.”
I watch him walk away, feeling the sadness in his voice. I want to ask him — who did he lose, and why does he plan on keeping me alive when he clearly hates me?
CHAPTER 4
Idon’t sleep well... not that anyone in my situation would. I dream of my parents crying, of my little brother looking for me and never finding me. Of the Dawn Dynasty dying with me, never to be anything but ruins. I dream of him... Hunter. Sweat trickles down my forehead as I push my bedsheet off me and stare up at the crusty brick ceiling. I should not be dreaming of Hunter. Or thinking of him at all. No, no... just no. I should be focused on the game I have to win and live through to get back to my world. I sit up, thankful I managed to rip myself out of the ruined ball gown, which sits in a pile in the corner now. I found several pairs of tatty clothes in the chest of drawers and made do with what I had. I climb out of the bed, quickly use the very questionable bathroom before coming back out and standing in front of a small, cracked mirror drilled into the wall by the door. There isn’t much else in here, just the chest of drawers, the double bed with a rock-hard mattress, and cracks in every wall that make me wonder how long it is before this castle falls on my head.
The clothes I have are a shade of dark cream I’ve never worn. The shirt is only slightly lighter than my trousers, and it only covers my chest and waist. I’ve tucked it into high-rise khaki-type trousers, a style I’ve never really worn before, but I actually really like it now. It pinches at the waist and around my ankles, and it is breezy. I figure it will be good for easy movement and probably good for keeping cool in this hot place. I don’t think a hundred years here will get me used to the heat. I tear a strip of satin off my dress and make a makeshift hairband, tying my hair up off my neck and into a messy bun on my head, tying it all as securely as I can with no real bands. I sigh. “I don’t look like a queen right now.” And I don’t. I smile, touching my sun-kissed skin from the ride in the desert and the lack of makeup. I look a mess and I strangely love it.
I touch my dry lips and wish I could use my powers without fear of what the dragon said. I have decided to heed the dragon’s warning, even if all I want is some water. The water I was given was nothing more than half a cup, and I drank it within minutes of getting into this room. I massively regret drinking it so fast. The food wasn’t anything to write home about either. But beggars can’t be choosers, as my father would say. I cover my hand over my heart, rubbing my chest, thinking of my parents, my brother. I wonder what Hettie’s going to think when she gets a letter about what’s happened. I just need to get back. I need to get home to them because I know they’re going to be worried sick by now.
I’m pacing up and down my room when the door finally opens and the Game Hunter himself walks in. He’s changed today and I’m not sure there is a single thing he could wear that would make him look bad. He looks incredible; his clothes fit tightly to him, and even though the material is worn and older, it suits him. He’s in a brown shirt and dark brown trousers that make his dark hair and tanned skin more vibrant. His purple cloak is gone, and his hair is swept to the side as he leans a shoulder against the door, crossing his thick arms.“Good morning. Those clothes definitely suit you more than ball gowns.”
“Truthfully, that was one of the few ball gowns I have. I’m not a fan of them either, despite my mother desperately trying to encourage me to wear them.” I admit, facing him. “I like these. Thank you.”
“Tell me about your family.” He enquires and waits.
