[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
[Carnelia] Our wedding will be at sunset but our final preparations began at dawn. These are done separately, surrounded by family, who will tell us all we need to know before entering this new stage in our relationship. I have no family, so I will have to borrow another. Primus will be spending the evening with Tritus and Ona. I will be spending the evening with Queen Cressida. My mind keeps wandering to the dream from the night before. As the dream faded further and further from my mind, the idea that it could be a memory becam
[Primus] I cannot wait to devour my bride. I want to watch as she moves underneath me as I search for where on her body she has hidden her tattoo. It’ll be a treasure hunt, her body a map with mountains and valleys for me to explore and conquer, staking my claim on every delicious inch, and I… “Primus, are you listening?” My brother, Tritus, is trying to get my attention as he wraps my arms in the ceremonial ribbons. "I'm sorry, brother, were you trying to say something?" "I was trying to ask what your plans are after tonight?" he repeats. "Are you really leaving your new bride so soon? I
[Carnelia] I have felt sick with nerves all evening. The elegant food and drink of the evening threatens to make a reappearance. I have never felt so sick with worry. Even with Primus at my side, smiling at me like he is the luckiest drake in the universe, there is something at the edge of my mind that is making me think of darker things, things that haunt me, fears that may or may not come. I don't know what it is that I have to be afraid of, at least not more than I had the day before. The only thing different from today and yesterday is that now I am his wife. Our life together has always been a bit dangerous even before he put a crown on my head. A crown. He crowned me. He made me his princess. Is that my worry? Why did he do that when he knew that he was risking so much by marr
[Primus] We fly to the remote side of the island. I don’t want anyone to hear us, although they probably will. Carnelia and I have never been quiet lovers. Setting her down on the sand, I step back and begin unpinning my tunic. Carnelia simply moves the shoulders of her gown and it falls away. I stop moving, stunned as I find myself silently thanking Ona’s ingenuity for giving my wife such a garment. Had I known it could shrug off in a single move, this night might have started a bit sooner with a much larger audience. Because standing in a pool of moonlight with nothing on but a crown and a smile my w