Born to Rule: The Dragon Queen

Alexander's POVFor a moment, I forgot why I had come.And I had come for a reason — one I would never speak aloud in this gilded hall. My father was dying, and the old prophecy named a daughter of this dragon line as the only cure. Find her, the seers had said. Bring her north. What became of her once she had served her purpose was no concern of theirs, and I had taught myself it would be none of mine. I had crossed a continent with a courtier’s smile fixed in place, ready to charm a princess out of her home. Yet the moment the great doors closed behind me, even that smile faltered.I was raised in the North Kingdom, amid stone towers built to overawe visiting rulers, and I had always thought our halls the height of grandeur. Eradrakor made them look like a garrison. Here, gold wasn’t a color but a presence — the walls glowed as though the stone had been soaked in the fire of a thousand dragons, and overhead, gilded dragons spiraled across a domed ceiling so high it seemed to scrape t

Alexander's POVThe fake smile vanished from my face like a mask I had grown weary of wearing after escorting Princess Mira to her chambers. My jaw clenched, and I turned sharply on my heel and bounded down the hallway. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't get rid of the tension that accompanied every step. My thoughts were racing. I didn't want or ask for the mate bond, and it burned under my skin. The idea made my blood boil.I was on the verge of making a hole in the wall when I finally pushed open the door to my own chambers. My gaze instead fell on my two closest advisors, who were waiting as though they could sense the storm building inside of me.James stood by the window, the soft moonlight glinting off his dark skin and sharp grin. His arms were casually crossed over his chest, that mischievous spark in his green eyes daring me to do something dramatic.Liora, in contrast, looked like trouble wrapped in silk. She leaned against the table, violet eyes calm and calculating, watchin

Mira's POVI stood before my wardrobe for the first time in a while, carefully selecting my dress. Probably for the first time, I truly cared about how I looked. I wanted to be beautiful for my mate. I checked many outfits and all looked not good enough. I finally settled on a baby pink gown. The bodice hugged me perfectly, while the layered tulle skirt fell in airy waves that brushed the floor.I didn’t call for the maids this time. Instead, I arranged my hair in a slightly messy bun myself, decorating it with a few clips adorned with tiny pearls. I applied just a touch of mascara to make my lashes stand out and a soft pink gloss that shimmered faintly when it caught the light.“You look gorgeous,” Asfar purred in my mind. “He’ll be speechless when he sees you.”I blushed looking to my reflection in the mirror hoping he will really like how I look. I always felt little bit insecure about my appearance, especially having a beauty goddess as a sister.As I made my way through the corrid

Alexander’s POVI was the last to enter the dining hall.The room glowed under the soft shimmer of golden chandeliers, the walls draped with delicate floral garlands that filled the air with a faint, sweet fragrance. At the head of the long table sat King Cassius and Queen Veronica, with Prince Valen and his wife Elena beside them. My seat was between Mira and my Beta, James. Across from us, Dorrin leaned close to Marina, their loud laughter echoing through the hall.And then there was Liora.Dressed in deep plum that clung to every curve, she sat a few places away. Her violet eyes were unreadable,shining bright in the candlelight, while her long black hair shimmered like silk with every tilt of her head. She looked dangerously alluring, and she knew it.The Queen’s voice cut through the chatter about Mira’s upcoming birthday ball.“Tonight’s dinner”, she ex

Dorrin's POVMy mood wasn’t great as I headed toward the meeting point. I’d woken up restless, the weight of too many thoughts pressing on my mind—Alexander, his smooth words, and that unsettling way he looked at Mira. Storm had growled at me earlier, sensing my frustration. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right, and it had me on edge.I was heading toward the meeting point when I saw her.Mira.She moved quickly, her dark cloak trailing behind her, the simple black pants and shirt doing nothing to hide the grace in her steps. My heart did a foolish thing—it skipped, then hammered against my ribs, as if it remembered every reason I had once fallen for her.“Princess!” I called out before I could stop myself.She turned, her amber eyes catching the soft light, and I jogged to close the distance between us.“How are you this fine morning?” I asked, trying to