en

d Wing. This was my Dragon Nest, the only place within the sprawling Richmond ducal estate where I felt entire

of dust on the mahogany furniture. On the far wall, the portrait of my

up, I dug my fingers into the edge of my jaw and peeled away

d with a pure, molten gold light-the undeniable mark of Dragon-God blood. I was Ayden Richmond,

tunic of a Dragonless commoner and p

e traitors within the dragon army who had orchestrated my

easure of dark wine into a Dragon Crystal cup.

he burning heat in my chest. I sent a focused men

carried the shaky, overwhelming relief o

udy, I comman

soft, rhythmic knocks sound

r," I

The moment she saw me, tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickl

"Sit. Tell me what has happene

nd awkward. She hesitated before speaking. "Mast

iages. The endless games of the nobility. Faking my death was supp

oice tight. "The bride is Miss Cassie Stein. Sh

ken merchants in the tavern. The woman who chose to marr

red in my chest. "Kile's fiancé

fe. How he tried to force Cassie into a lesser role. And how Cassie stood in the middle of the

Fascinating. Truly fascinating. This Cassie Stein is

sacrificed by her fading family. I had not

er, the thing is... Miss Stein arrived today. She is currently slee

my bed? I raised an

e amusing it became. A nominal wife and

My return remains an absolute secret. No one is to kn

of hesitation. Her loyalty to my late mother an

s the courtyard toward the faint candlelight flickering in the master bedroo

ter than to question me. She bowed a

y chest rumbled, restless and territorial, wary of the st

an entire noble house and c

ou had better n