[Primus]
“I’m sorry, Ona, but did you suggest we get married?”
Ona grins. “Yes,” she replies evenly. “In secret, of course, but in a way that would be legally binding. It will make it impossible for Father to force you to marry someone since you’ll already be married.”
“But is that even legal,” I inquired, “I’m Crown Prince. I cannot get married without royal permission.”
“I’m about 99% sure we can get our mother to approve. And if we get Tritius involved, we’ll have at least 3 royals connected to the throne in attendance. Father would have a hard time convincing the council and the rest of the court to disavo
[Carnelia] “I’m sure you know the official story, the one that the Imperium and our Father have been promoting. Ignore it. None of it is true, except for their attempt at complete genocide for no good reason other than their own greed.” She brings over a small globe, a representation of our planet, and sets it down in front of us. “This is our world,” she gently spins the globe. “So large, so gloriously diverse. Like so many of us elemental masters, not just the dragons, but the Fae, the ogres…have you ever wondered why we are so different from all the other creatures on this planet? We share almost nothing with them, not in our true forms. Dragons are no more giant lizards than a dragon prince is a human man. We are completely alien.
[Ona] Primus and Carnelia both look stunned and I haven’t even told them the extent of what I know…and what I think I know. I wish I could tell Primus everything now, but it is too much of a risk. He is after all the next Dragon King of Luxandra. It’s not that I don’t trust my little brother, I don’t trust those who will be around him at court, those who could torture the secrets out of him, or even worse, use Carnelia to do so. The less he knows, the safer they both are. “Do you remember, 40 years ago, when Segundus and I were sent on I was sent on a diplomatic mission to Obaaran to arrange an alliance with the sand dragons of Kana?” “I remember hea
[Carnelia] “I’m getting married….to Primus!” “If we are going to do this,” Primus stands up straight, adjusting his clothing, and looks directly at Ona. “We’re going to do it properly without shortcuts. But we need to start immediately. We have just under 4 days until Segundus comes looking to see what we are up to. That isn’t a lot of time. I’m assuming you have a way to contact Mother,” “Several,” Ona confirms. “She can be here by tonight.” “Perfect,” they continue talking around me. I fe
[Carnelia] What does one say when they are in the presence of someone who is practically a deity? I don’t know what I was expecting when I met Primus’ mother. I knew she was a Star Fire Dragon, a Celestial Star Fire Dragon to be precise, but I didn’t know what that meant. Celestial dragons are as different from terran dragons as light is to mud. They live on a separate plane, not just in the sky, but somewhere above and beyond. They leave their home so rarely that sightings of them flying by are exceptionally rare. And yet here I am, standing in front of one of them, about to marry her son. A bright white refl
[Ona] “So,” Orion raises one eyebrow, his expression so much like his father’s that it pierces me in the heart. “You are our mother?” We are sequestered in my private rooms, the rest of the family giving us space and time to “bond.” I’m not really comfortable around dragons this age, I never have been. I never expected to be a mother. And in many ways, I guess I’m not. What kind of mother abandons her clutch and doesn’t even return to name them? “Yes, biologically. I did lay you,” I admit. “I’m not sure if I deserve the title of ‘mother,’ that is for you to decide.” “Why did you leave us?” Ursa’s golden eyes glow brightly. “Didn’t you want us?” “I’ll be honest,” I look them both in the eyes. “I did not expect you. Once I learned I was carrying a clutch, I went to the celestial kingdom before your grandfather could catch a whiff of you. I knew that if he found out you existed, he would have had you killed as soon as you hatched.” I take a deep breath before continuing. “I am not sa
[Primus] Ona has secluded herself in her rooms with her two children. I think she might also be hiding from the rest of us. Mother is furious, Carnelia is nervous, and I am anxious, fearful that tomorrow cannot come soon enough. I want nothing more than for Carnelia to be safe, truly safe, from my father. She is my entire heart. Looking over at Ona's closed door I can't help but scowl. How did I not notice that my sister had been so broken for so long? Forty years is a long time to mourn alone. She has always seemed so upbeat, the person I go to when my world is falling apart. How did I not notice that she needed support as well? I know that Ona has been neglecting her royal duties for some time
[Segundus] The room is dark, cold, and smelling faintly of blood. The early morning chill has yet to burn away as the sun begins to crest over the horizon, turning dew into frost. The cold gray stone of the high dragon court speaks to an older time when drakes didn’t feel such a human need for finery and light. This is a cavern of a room, more like a cave than a palace, dripping and moist, the only truly elegant thing is the throne of solid platinum and the bold dragon who sits upon it. Maximus, the Dragon King, Master of the 7 kingdoms of Luxandra, and Champion of the Sun Wars. My father. I have been waitin
[Carnelia] With all of our preparations ready for tomorrow, Primus and I retired to our rooms, leaving the Sea Kingdom to their own devices as they continued to drink and gamble. Both Primus and I are so exhausted that we barely have enough energy to peel out of our clothing and climb into bed. Tomorrow is going to be another long day. So tonight hold on to one another, enjoying this moment of calm before the chaos of the morning. Lying on top of Primus' chest, he tells me about the wedding day There are so many steps involved in marrying royalty it is a wonder that anyone would choose this route, especially since it isn't required for the legitimacy of one's offspring. But as I see his eyes sparkle and glow as he goes over the details, I can see that this is somet