38

Behind him, Draunar was leaning against his desk again, a smug look on his face.

“This is my choice,” I said low. “Listen to me, Elias.”

He stepped closer, tipping his head down so his brow was nearly pressed to mine. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” I said. “I’m not going to risk wolves dying because you wanted to keep me as your own.”

His face crumpled. “Keep you? Reyna, that’s not—”

“It is, and you know it is,” I said. “Our marriage was never ours. It was always your decision. I was just a plaything in the contest.”

“Reyna,” he said again, his voice cracking with desperation.

I steeled myself. I wasn’t going to back down now—even as my wolf howled out her despair in my chest. She wanted me to wrap my arms around his neck and pull Elias into a kiss, soothe the pain so obvious on his face, but that wouldn’t solve anything. He’d always put Frasia first. He’d killed Griffin for that very reason. And yet now here he was, turning his back on his nation to preserve his ego.

“This was never a marriage based on love,” I said coolly. “It was always a practical arrangement. And this is the practical decision. Take Adora as queen in my stead; she’d be thrilled.”

“Reyna,” Elias said. “You can’t do this. I love you—you’re my queen. My mate. I can’t just—”

“You can, and you will,” I said. I pushed him away.

He stumbled back, eyes wide and disbelieving.

“This isn’t your choice,” I said. “It’s mine, and I made it. I will stay here in Shianga, as proof of Frasia’s continued good will toward Shianga. And this way we will ensure peace between the nations.”

“Excellent,” Draunar said. “I’m glad to know one of you has any sense.”

“Please,” Elias said, quiet and soft as a dusting of snow.

My heart cracked. My wolf howled. But I was more than a pawn in their game. If we returned to Frasia together only to find the city razed by dragons, I could never forgive myself, or him. It wasn’t a risk I was willing to take—even as tears prickled hot behind my eyes.

I’d been foolish to think we could be together. Could be happy. Our marriage was one of politics and convenience—not of love. Regardless of what he said now, and whatever bond had grown between us, it was still first and foremost a political agreement. As much as it hurt him, and myself, I owed it to the nation of Frasia to do this. I’d been raised for this role, primed for it—of course it would come to fruition this way.

Draunar swept forward and took me by the wrist, then tugged me close to his side, arm wrapped around my waist. His body was strangely cool to the touch, but his grip was strong where his fingers dug into my hips. I shoved down the instinct to squirm away. My wolf whined and wailed internally.

“How wonderful,” Draunar drawled. “I’m so grateful we could come to an agreement for this treaty. The bond between our nations will last for generations.”

Elias bared his teeth and growled, head tipped down and shoulders forward. I could feel his wolf just under the surface, but Draunar didn’t look concerned at all. If anything, he looked amused, grinning with amusement at Elias, while his thumb moved in circles on my hip.

“Don’t,” I whispered to Elias. “Don’t, it’s not worth it.”

The air crackled again, but this time, it was Elias who shifted.

12

E

lias’ wolf surged forth with a growl. His immense dark paws hit the polished hardwood floor of the study with a whump, and he bared his immense teeth. His eyes burned gold and his hackles lifted. A ceaseless growl rolled from his chest.

“Silly dog,” Draunar said. “She made her choice, and she chose me. You think this little show will change that?”

Elias lunged forward, mandibles parted to clamp down around Draunar’s neck. Draunar stepped to the side, pushing me out of Elias’ range, and lifted his arm. Elias’ immense jaws closed over his forearm, and I gasped, hands flying to cover my mouth. I expected a torrent of blood, a howl of pain, an enraged escalation of the fight—but Draunar only laughed.

How was that possible?

Then, Draunar shook his arm with ferocity, dislodging Elias. Where Elias had grasped him, his skin was covered in rich green scales like armor. He slapped Elias hard across the muzzle with a disrespectful backhand, the scales now over his knuckles, causing Elias to yelp and stagger to the side from the force of the blow.

Draunar scoffed. “Pathetic.”

He threw his head back, barked another cold laugh, then shifted himself. His wings exploded from his back first, then scales raced from his nape down his arms. He grew taller, his tail burst forth, and then he was in his full dragon shape, those draconic jaws parted into a reptilian grin.

Elias reared back to lunge again. Draunar stepped in front of me, shielding me behind his immense wings. Before I could fight to get out from behind him, desperate to see what was happening, his body surged with sudden heat and then the room did, too.

Heat and light.

Fire. He was breathing fire.

I gasped again and stumbled to the side. “Elias!” I shouted, the name escaping me as a cry.

Elias cowered away from the flame, his ears low and haunches pressed to the back wall as a narrow wall of flame separated us from him. The flames didn’t do any more than singe the desk, but they lingered as if enchanted, keeping a barrier between us. Draunar tipped his head up toward the skylight above and roared; the glass slid open under his command revealing the starry sky above.