No mantle. Only rough-spun trousers and a tunic. This trial wasn’t for kingship—I already earned her hand in that. This was to prove my worth as a man.
Tsunami launched skyward, her shrill cry slicing through the quiet. Unlike the others, who spoke in snarls and grunts, she trilled and clicked. Loud. Expressive. Infuriating.
She flew overhead, banking in tight loops as she led me through the winding streets.
I sprinted after her, frustration boiling in my chest. The challenge? Find Nienna somewhere in the city, among homes, shops, alleys. No clues. No hints. Just this dragon nicknamed for her nuisance behavior.
She passed again, shadow sweeping over the road with her giant eye fixed on me. She veered right, and I scanned the narrow lanes until I spotted one leading that way, then bolted down it, boots still dangling from my hand.
No time for footwear. If I paused, she’d fly off, and I’d lose her. I’d never find Nienna.
The ground stayed mercifully clean. No sharp rocks or shards of glass. Just sun-warmed, sandy stone underfoot and perspiration dripping from my brow. My heart pounded a wild rhythm. Every breath tore through my chest.
She circled back again with a fierce huff. I gritted my teeth and turned down another street.
On and on it went. An endless chase. Sweat stung my eyes. My grip slipped on the spear’s damp shaft. One boot clipped a corner, yanking me sideways. I caught myself against rough brick, palms scraping across the wall.
Then—finally—a triumphant roar.
I stumbled to a halt, head snapping up. Tsunami dove, wings tucked tight. She hurtled toward the rooftops, claws dragging along the tiles of a rooftop as she pulled up at the last second.
I gasped for air, blinking salt and sweat from my eyes.
Before me stood a simple structure. Same crimson brick as the rest. One door.
This had to be it?
Hoping I wasn’t about to wake a stranger from peaceful sleep, I entered.
Darkness swallowed the space. No furniture. No light except what bled through a smallwindow.
Grinding my teeth together, I strode into the room, hoping the dragon was correct and she hadn’t just played me for a fool.
I crept further, eyes straining for movement. Empty. Nothing but dust and grime caked along the floor.
Stairs curved upward.
Spear held low, I climbed. Slow. Careful. The second level was no different. Shadows, dust, stale air. No footprints. No sign of life.
One level remained.
I ascended. The third story swallowed me whole—black as pitch. No windows. No light. Strange. There should’ve been one. I crept forward, fingers sweeping the dark.
A breath broke the silence.
Quick. Uneven.
I whipped around, weapon raised.
A body struck me hard. My muscles seized, thoughts spiraling.
And then—her lips crashed against mine, hot and demanding.
My boots and spear hit the ground with a thud. Waterlilies and salt clung to the air, flooding my lungs with the scent of her. My hand caught her neck, fingers tangling in hair I knew better than my own. The other slid along her side, snagging on the heavy belt of metal before sweeping over curves I dreamed of far more than I ever cared to admit.
Her tongue teased the seam of my lips. I shoved her back until brick stopped us, rough and cold. Our mouths battled, all clash and pressure, scraping teeth and swelling heat. The beast in me tore free, ravenous. She whimpered as I pinned her, that plated belt grinding into my hips. I growled, grazing her with the edge of my bite. My hips rocked forward, pressing through steel and cloth, hunting her fire.
The dark fed the animal inside me—made it brutal. Wordless. Nameless. But I knew her.
