ust die before she discover

words echoed th

at him, her h

fa

rely remembered their faces, and whenever she asked Margaret about

g that the truth about her father wa

ed toward

e mean? Who

ned her grip on

n to him. We

anger l

er from the truth

rever it touched the ground, the grass wi

raised h

hind me,

g the stranger's chest. He staggered backward, but th

a ga

s that

r bloodline!" th

nger str

ten, princess. Your mother made

quickly turne

er? Tell me what

ger tilte

ing a secret. Would you l

ll

s never suppos

truck Elena

his voice cold

r possessed a power that even the Dragon King feared. Their union

hook he

's a

s palace. Ask him why he recognizes your mot

k her staff aga

oug

ound the stranger's legs. For a moment,

lames erupte

s crumbl

ifted his hand

ce pulled h

as her feet le

the witch

exploded from

hattered, throwing the

lms, but she barely noticed it. Golden scales spread acr

ger stare

time, his conf

gon blood h

rose s

away f

gathered aroun

tched her with

idea what you

won't let you h

beneath

e will be yo

d into a cloud of black smoke. The darkness swept

turned to

knees

h caught

you h

e where the stranger had disappear

ed to th

out my fath

a long moment before lowerin

ancient royal dragon bloodline, a family entrusted w

at oppo

in the portrait a

h's eyes

seen her

When I touched the frame, I heard

h looked

e awakening more qui

hy

ther's blood rec

n at the golden s

my fa

itch

was hidden because the people who hunted you

a drag

exa

eaned f

what w

answer, a distant howl

immediat

he stranger may r

anywhere unti

truths that can save you, and truths that can destroy you if

filled with

says it. Now you say it. How am I supposed to become st

s expressi

ght to dema

ll silver pendant. A golden dragon was engraved

zed the symbo

entical to the m

people who would raise you," the witch explained. "She believ

he pendant with

ave it when I w

f the wrong person had discovered it, th

ook it

tch he

elieved they w

her hand arou

t Marg

d not answer

nough to make Elen

er knew abou

ew. But Margaret was connected to th

felt

l those times Margaret had called

wn she was the daughte

berately kep

e do that?" E

e cruel. And greed c

ked toward th

Kingdom. Lucien needs to know t

ing the pendant be

m about my f

from the Dragon King. He c

d to the palace, the sky

d toward her at

Where hav

wer, Lucien appeared a

s colder than she

ide.

e palace, refusing to look aw

ion," he said once they r

asking p

s flash

d have be

't. I found

went

d she te

to an ancient dragon bloodline. That someone

face ti

tepped

t you have been hidi

u meet in t

said my father was so powerf

econds, Lucie

to the pendant ar

ion changed

id you g

o me. She said my mo

the pendant but stop

dropped to

s impo

s hear

at

d into h

peared the night yo

ipped it

truth, Lucien. W

r, a deafening explos

uted from t

e northern tower

diately dre

rd the door, but h

y he

N

is is not

e chamber. Golden flames fl

palace, carrying a message tha

THE PRINCESS, OR THE E