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Chapter One

In the palace’s royal gift room, watery winter sunlight streams through tall windows, creating tiny stars out of the dust motes that dance between Sterling and me. His bronze, battle-scarred hand rests on my hip, warm and steady, like it’s meant to be there.

And it is.

Dark brown eyes flecked with gold—so expressive I could drown in their depths—smile down at me. Add in the high cheekbones, square jaw, and confident swagger, and Knox Sterling Barda becomes too damn attractive for his own good. The fact that he’s Tirene’s crown prince does nothing to deflate his ego.

Though he rubbed me the wrong way when we first met, I’ve grown to love this man’s enduring confidence.

It’s still hard to believe he’s all mine.

I lean into him, reveling in his hard, military-trained body as we weave around gift-laden tables, the weight of his touch anchoring me to this rare moment of peace after months of chaos.

My stomach flutters, not from nerves, but from the simple pleasure of being alone with him. From this brief respite from my responsibility as Tirene’s only dragoncaller in generations…and the savior of the kingdoms…and the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy.

For the afternoon, I don’t have to be Lark Axton, born Ella Leona Hendrix, now Queen of Tirene.

I can simply be myself.

A young woman deeply in love, opening engagement presents with her betrothed during a desperately needed moment of normalcy in a world gone mad.

“Another golden goblet set.” Sterling’s voice rumbles through his chest. “That makes five.”

I don’t bother to hide my snicker. We could get through this pile faster if we separated, but where’s the fun in that? “Now our company can get tipsy out of fancy drinkware too.”

“By company, I’m guessing you mean Agnar, Leesa, and Bastian.” Sterling’s lips quirk up at the corners. His glossy black hair shines in the light, beckoning my fingers to stroke its silkiness.

An answering grin spreads across my face. “Exactly.”

The gift room stretches before us, tables arranged in neat rows, each stacked with offerings sent to the palace in Windmyre, Tirene’s capital city, from neighboring nations, noble houses, and dignitaries who want to curry favor with the kingdom’s queen and soon-to-be-crowned king.

This small, out-of-the-way space is just one of many empty chambers that populate the palace. I’m pretty sure I never noticed it until we christened the place as the perfect spot to store our engagement and wedding gifts.

Many of the palace’s extra rooms currently function as overflow housing for those who lost their homes before we finally destroyed the drachen. Though we’ve managed to repair some of the damage inside the palace walls in the last four months, parts of the capital city outside the barrier still resemble a war zone.

Rebuilding will take time.

Sterling’s fingers trace lazy patterns against my side as we meander through the rows of packages. “Two months. Two months until you’re officially mine.”

“I’ve been yours since that first kiss in the stable at Flighthaven.”

Heat rises to my cheeks at the memory of his hands on me, his lips. The taste of whiskey and danger. He served as my flight instructor, and students and instructors weren’t supposed to fraternize. The first time we met, he struck me as arrogant as he was beautiful.

He gradually managed to lower my defenses. Little did I know he was only posing as an instructor at Flighthaven Academy. In reality, he was a soldier and Tirene’s prince. He infiltrated the campus to verify the existence of the kidnapped dragoncaller raised in Aclaris and then win her trust so he could steal her back to Tirene.

He smirks as if he can read my thoughts. “And I’ve been yours. Soon the whole world will know.”

Despite a rocky beginning, our story will finally culminate in a happy ending. The celebrations are set to last a full week. Sterling’s coronation will follow our nuptials, with feasts and hunts and a masquerade ball sandwiched between jousts and tournaments and magical games.

Royals and nobles from the closest kingdoms have already confirmed their attendance, along with visitors from more distant lands who will cross seas and snowcapped mountains just to witness our union.

And we must host them all.

Considering the turmoil other kingdoms have experienced recently, I suppose I shouldn’t complain.

“Do you think they’re coming to see us get married, or to see the woman who burned Narc’s bones?” I try to keep my voice light.

Sterling’s hand tightens on my hip. “Both. But mostly, they want to ensure Tirene’s favor. Thanks to you, we’re the strongest kingdom in the region.”