Elara POV
They came for me at dawn.
I hadn't slept. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the Dragon King's face. Heard his words: I'm going to decide whether to keep you... or return you to your land in pieces.
The door crashed open. Six guards entered, all with scales and bright eyes.
"Get up," one ordered. "The ceremony begins in one hour."
"What ceremony?" My voice cracked.
"Your wedding, Princess."
My heart stopped. "What? No! He said he was deciding—"
"The king has chosen. You will marry him today. Now move."
They dragged me from the room before I could complain. Through halls that twisted like a maze. Past animals that watched with hungry eyes.
We entered a room where women waited—not human women. These had shiny skin, pointed ears, wings like birds. Fae, I understood. Like in Mama's stories.
They stripped off my dress and put me in something else. White cloth that felt like water against my skin. They combed my hair until it shone. Painted my lips red. Hung gems around my neck that were cold and heavy.
"Please," I begged. "Please, I can't do this. He knows I'm not really a princess. He'll kill me!"
They ignored me.
When they finished, one of the fae women looked at me with sad purple eyes. "For what it's worth," she whispered, "I hope you survive this."
Then they led me out.
The throne room had changed. Candles floated in the air without anything holding them. Flowers bloomed from the walls—real flowers made of fire that didn't burn. And dragons filled every space, watching me with sparkling eyes.
At the end of the aisle stood the Dragon King.
He wore black, and he looked like death and beauty mixed together. His eyes locked onto mine—amber fire that made my knees weak.
"Walk," a guard whispered, pushing me forward.
I walked. Each step felt like walking to my death.
When I reached him, he didn't smile. Didn't speak. Just stared at me like I was a problem he couldn't solve.
An old woman stepped between us. Her skin was covered in golden scales, and her eyes were solid white.
"We gather to bind two souls," she said in a voice that echoed. "Dragon and person. Fire and skin. United by contract, sealed by blood."
She spoke in a language I didn't understand. The dragons around us chanted replies. I stood frozen, understanding nothing.
The priestess held up a ritual knife. It gleamed silver in the firelight.
"Your hand, bride," she ordered.
I extended my shaking hand. The Dragon King did the same.
The knife sliced across my palm. Sharp pain made me gasp. Blood welled up, bright red against my skin.
The priestess held a golden bowl beneath my hand. "Let your blood fall and bind the magic."
My blood dripped into the bowl.
And then everything went wrong.
The blood hit the golden surface and burst with light. Violet light. Bright as the sun. It filled the entire throne room, making everything purple.
I screamed. The light was coming from MY BLOOD.
Every single dragon in the room dropped to their knees. Even the Dragon King's eyes went wide with shock.
"Impossible," someone whispered.
The priestess stared at my hand like it was cursed. "Ancient blood," she breathed. "The old magic. She carries fae royal blood!"
"What?" I looked at my hand. The blood still glowing violet. "No! That's impossible! I'm just a servant's daughter! I'm nobody!"
The Dragon King grabbed my wrist, pulling my bleeding hand toward him. His eyes blazed gold.
"What are you?" he asked.
"I don't know!" Tears poured down my face. "I swear, I don't know! My blood has never done this before!"
He studied my face like he was looking for lies. But I had none to give. I was just as confused as everyone else.
The priestess moved quickly. She took the Dragon King's hand, sliced his palm, and let his blood fall into the bowl with mine.
When they mixed, the light grew even brighter.
The priestess muttered words in the old language. The light spiraled up from the bowl, wrapped around both our wrists like glowing rope.
It burned. I tried to pull away, but the Dragon King held me tight.
"Don't fight it," he said through tight teeth. "It's the binding magic."
The light sank into our skin, leaving marks—silver images that looked like dragon wings around both our wrists.
The priestess raised her arms. "By blood and magic, by fire and flesh, I declare you bound! One year from this day, the link may be broken. Until then, you are joined. What magic has united, only magic can separate."
The room erupted in cheers and roars. Dragons changed into their beast forms, breathing fire at the ceiling in celebration.
I stared at the silver mark on my wrist. At the matched one on the Dragon King's.
"I'm married," I whispered. "I'm married to a dragon."
The Dragon King leaned close. His breath was hot against my ear.
"We need to talk. Now. Privately."
Before I could reply, the doors burst open.
A guard rushed in, his face pale with fear.
"Your Majesty! Forgive the delay, but we have a problem! A woman arrived at the gates demanding entry. She claims to be the REAL Princess Seraphina Blackwell, and she has proof!"
The throne room went quiet.
My blood turned to ice.
No. No, no, no— The Dragon King's hand tightened around mine. His voice was deadly calm.
"Bring her in."
Footsteps echoed. The crowd parted.
And there she was.
Golden hair. Blue eyes. Perfect smile.
Princess Seraphina walked into the throne room wearing a traveling cloak, surrounded by southern guards.
Her eyes found mine, and she smiled like a cat who'd caught a mouse.
"Hello, little sister," she said sweetly. "Did you really think you could steal my life?"
She turned to the Dragon King.
"Your Majesty, I apologize for the delay. There was a terrible mistake. This girl—" she pointed at me "—is a fake. A bastard servant who claimed to be me. I am the real Princess Seraphina Blackwell, and I have come to take my rightful place as your bride."
The Dragon King looked between us. His face was unreadable.
Then he looked down at the silver bond mark on his wrist. At the matched one on mine.
And he started to laugh.
It wasn't a happy laugh. It was dark and scary and full of fury.
"How interesting," he said softly. "Because I just married her."