The Dragon King's Unruly Bride

The night the Dragon King fell in love, someone threw a grape at his head. Not just any king. Kael Drakthar, immortal ruler of the Seven Dragon Realms, terror of a thousand kingdoms, and the creature whose fury had once turned an entire battlefield into ashes. It struck his forehead, bounced off his crown, and landed in his wineglass. The grand ballroom fell silent. Hundreds of nobles froze, musicians stopped playing, and even the emperor looked as though he had witnessed the end of the world. Kael slowly lowered his glass. His golden eyes turned toward the girl standing on the marble staircase. She held a plate of grapes and wore the expression of someone deeply offended by his existence. "That," she announced, pointing at him, "is what you get for frightening innocent creatures!" Kael stared at her. She stared back, then turned and hurried away. For the first time in four thousand years, the Dragon King had absolutely no idea what to say. And that was how Elowen Fae ruined his peaceful evening. Three hours earlier, Elowen had promised her elder brother she would behave herself at the imperial ball. She had crossed her heart, kissed the family crest, and sworn upon their great-grandmother's grave. Now, beneath a chandelier worth more than their entire estate, she was wondering whether she could survive throwing herself out of a window. "Smile," her brother hissed. Elowen smiled. "Not like that! You look as though you're planning a murder." "I am planning one." "Elowen!" "Not yours. Yet." Lord Evander Fae closed his eyes and took a long, suffering breath. His younger sister was twenty, unmarried, and a walking catastrophe. She had chased away seven prospective husbands in two years. One had fled after finding a snake in his bed. Another had sworn never to return after a flock of geese attacked him during his proposal. A third had been discovered hanging upside down from an apple tree, insisting the trees themselves were cursed. "You will not embarrass me tonight," he warned. "Then don't introduce me to anyone." "I am introducing you to the crown prince." Her smile vanished. "Absolutely not." "The prince is handsome, wealthy, and unmarried." "He also has the personality of a wet sock." "He is the future emperor!" "And I am the future owner of a comfortable cottage in the woods. We all have dreams." Evander caught her wrist before she could escape. "Listen carefully. If you ruin this evening, I will personally lock every window in your bedroom." Elowen gasped. "You wouldn't dare." "Try me." She leaned closer. "Your left boot is full of ants." His expression changed. Slowly, he looked down. A tiny black ant crawled over the polished leather. "Elowen." She patted his shoulder. "They say hello." Then she disappeared into the crowd. Elowen Fae had a secret. Actually, she had several. She couldn't stand the nobility. She had no intention of marrying a man chosen by her brother. And she could understand animals. She couldn't understand them in the way people claimed to understand their pets. Elowen heard their thoughts as clearly as human speech. A beetle beneath a potted plant complained about the music. A sparrow near the windows gossiped about a duchess's enormous wig. Somewhere beneath the floorboards, mice argued over a stolen piece of cheese. "Lady Elowen!" She groaned. The crown prince was approaching. Prince Adrian was tall, handsome, and dressed in enough gold embroidery to blind someone from across the ballroom. His smile was charming, his posture perfect, and his reputation terrible. "Your Highness," she said, curtsying. "I have been looking for you." "How unfortunate." His smile faltered. "What?" "I mean, how fortunate. What can I do for you?" He studied her with amused interest. "I hear you have an unusual personality." "People say that about anyone who refuses to flatter them." "Would you care to dance?" "No." "You're refusing the crown prince?" "I'm refusing to dance." "With me?" "Especially with you." Before he could respond, Elowen spotted a golden butterfly fluttering near the ceiling. Her face brightened. "Oh, look at you!" She abandoned the prince and hurried toward the staircase. "Lady Elowen!" Adrian called. "Tell your shoes I said goodbye!" At the top of the marble staircase, Elowen found the butterfly struggling against a golden curtain. She gently lifted it onto her finger. "What happened, sweetheart?" The butterfly's thoughts fluttered through her mind. Big black wings. Angry man. Cold room. Help. Elowen frowned. "What angry man?" Big. Black. Wings. She looked toward the ballroom. At that moment, the enormous doors opened. The music stopped, and every noble bowed their head. Then he entered. Kael Drakthar. Four guards followed in black armor. They made no sound. Their faces were hidden behind dark masks, and their weapons emitted an unnatural glow. The Shadow Guard, the Dragon King's personal protectors, were rumored to cross kingdoms in a blink, walk through locked doors, and kill before a victim realized danger had arrived. Elowen stared at Kael, then at the butterfly. "Oh. You meant him." The butterfly fluttered frantically. Angry. Scary. Help. Elowen frowned at the approaching king. "Well, he certainly looks like he needs a nap." Unfortunately, she spoke louder than intended. Kael's golden eyes shifted toward the staircase. For one brief moment, their gazes met. She turned away. Kael watched her. He had attended the imperial ball for political reasons, intending to stay twenty minutes before returning to his realm. He had already endured seven marriage proposals, three requests for military assistance, and a duke boasting about his family's bloodline. Kael had been considering burning the ballroom down. Then he saw her. A girl on the staircase, holding a butterfly and looking at him as though he were an inconvenience. Interesting. He had not seen that expression directed at him in centuries. People trembled, bowed, or begged for his favor. This girl seemed to be deciding whether he was worth acknowledging. Elowen's new problem was a gray mouse trapped beneath a nobleman's robe. Help! Big foot! Big foot! "Hold still, little one," she whispered, crouching to lift the fabric. The nobleman turned. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" "Saving your life." "Excuse me?" "You're standing on a mouse." He looked down, saw the creature, and shrieked, jumping backward. The mouse escaped straight toward the Dragon King's boots. Elowen's eyes widened. "No, no, no! Not that way!" "Don't you dare!" Elowen shouted as a guard reached for his sword. The guard froze. Kael looked down. The tiny creature trembled. Monster. Monster. Monster. "You," he said, his voice deep and dangerously quiet. "Me?" "Come here." She glanced behind herself. Perhaps he meant someone else. "Girl, I am not accustomed to repeating myself." "Then you should practice." A glass shattered somewhere in the ballroom. "Your Majesty," she said sweetly, "with all due respect, I have absolutely no desire to come anywhere near you." Kael stopped before her. "Do you know who I am?" he asked. "Unfortunately I do." His eyebrow lifted. "Unfortunately?" "I was having a perfectly pleasant evening before you arrived." Kael glanced around at the frozen nobles, silent musicians, and sweating emperor. Then he looked back at her. "And you were having a pleasant evening?" "Yes." "Interesting." He leaned closer. Elowen's heart hammered. "If you intend to eat me, Your Majesty, I should warn you that I have a very unpleasant personality. I may cause indigestion and severe stooling." Kael straightened, golden eyes fixed on her. "What is your name?" "Why?" "Because I asked." "That isn't a very good reason." His smile widened. "Elowen Fae," her brother's horrified voice interrupted. "Your Majesty, forgive my sister. She is young, foolish, and unaware of the consequences of her actions." Elowen glared at him. "Speak for yourself." "Be quiet!" Kael ignored them both. "Elowen Fae," he repeated, testing the sound of her name. He looked at Elowen and made a decision. "Tomorrow, I shall visit your family estate." Evander's head snapped up. "Your Majesty?" "I wish to speak with your brother." Elowen's face fell. "No." Kael looked at her. "No?" "You cannot visit my home." "I can." "You shouldn't." "I shall." "You are the most irritating man I have ever met!" His lips curved. "And yet, you have known me for only five minutes." "I have suffered enough." Kael leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "Then prepare yourself, little Fae. I have a feeling you and I shall become very well acquainted." Elowen stared at him in horror. The Dragon King turned and strode away, his black cloak sweeping behind him as his guards followed. Evander slowly turned toward his sister. "What," he asked faintly, "have you done?" Elowen watched the doors. "I think I have made a terrible mistake." Far beyond the imperial palace, beneath the dark mountains of the Dragon Realm, something ancient opened its eyes. A colossal black dragon stirred in a cavern of molten gold. Its enormous wings unfolded, shaking dust from the ceiling. It lifted its head and released a low, rumbling growl. A girl. A girl who smelled of wildflowers, old magic, and something that should no longer exist. The dragon's golden eyes narrowed. After thousands of years, the forgotten power had returned. And Kael Drakthar had just brought it into his world.