Chapter 1

DIANA

“I have never been so insulted in my life.” Mother’s voice cut through the room.

She had been pacing for over an hour, her eyes blazing and her patience gone.

The Dragon palace was cold and it was not the kind of cold that came from winter. This one settled deep under my skin.

I stood by the tall window, staring out at the unfamiliar lands.

It had been like this since we arrived yesterday. I had asked about it. Mother said it was the weather. Father smiled and told me I would get used to it, but I knew winter and this didn't feel like winter.

“They summoned us here,” she continued. “Summoned us, Reginald. And yet, since yesterday, not a single royal has seen us? Not one?”

Her steps echoed on the floor. “Royal guards opened the gates. Servants welcomed us in. Servants attend to us. Are we guests or prisoners?”

“Olivia, calm down." Father said.

“Don't tell me calm down,” she snapped. “This is disrespect. Open disrespect.”

"Olivia, the Dragons are... different. They're the sovereign rulers, they don't follow our rules."

"They are arrogant lizards, Reginald! Rude lizards with scales!" Mother snapped. "The servants won't even look us in the eye. It’s an insult. They are treating us like we are nothing!"

I finally turned, leaning back against the window.

Father stood near the table at the center of the room, composed as always, though I could see the tension in his shoulders. “They are proud people and we are in their kingdom.”

“We are still royalty,” she shot back.

“This is ridiculous.” Lisa’s said as she dropped on a chair. She crossed her arms, frowning. “We’ve been here since yesterday and no one has even told us who Diana is supposed to marry."

“How does that make any sense?” She sat upright, clearly annoyed. “How are they planning a binding ceremony when the bride doesn’t even know the groom? It has to be the fourth prince. It has to be. He’s the only one left. Anyone... please, anyone but him."

I looked back at my reflection in the dark glass of the window. My long, red hair fell in waves all the way to my waist. My blue eyes looked tired and the tiny freckles on my nose seemed to stand out more because I was so pale.

Lisa looked at me. “Diana?”

I looked at her.

“Doesn’t this bother you?” she asked.

"What difference does it make, Lisa?" I muttered.

“What do you mean?” She asked, her irritation clear in her tone.

I pushed myself off the window slowly. “It doesn’t matter who they choose. We didn’t come here to choose.”

My gaze moved between them, mother was angry and tense, father, quiet but worried and Lisa, frustrated and confused.

“This is hell already.” I murmured.

"Diana! Don't say that," Mother said, stepping closer to me. "It will be the fourth prince. I am sure of it. He is the only reasonable Dragon prince and he's single. He is the only choice."

The door suddenly flew open and one of my handmaidens rushed in, breathless.

"Sarah!" Mother shouted, turning to scold our handmaiden for running in without knocking. "What has come upon-"

Mother stopped because the girl wasn’t just nervous. She was shaking. Her hands trembled, her breathing was uneven and her face had lost all color.

"Sarah?" I ran to her, my heart hammering in my chest. "What happened? What’s wrong?"

She dropped to her knees so suddenly it startled me. “My Queen, my King." she tried to speak, but her voice broke.

Mother’s anger faded into concern. “What is it?” she demanded. “What has happened?”

"The... the choice..." Sarah gasped, her voice breaking. "I heard them. The guards... they just got the news from the King’s council. They’ve picked the prince for the union."

"Is it the fourth prince?" Father asked, his voice full of hope.

Sarah opened her mouth to speak, but a loud voice from the hallway drowned her out.

"THE ROYAL MESSENGER!"

Two guards in black armor pushed the doors all the way open and a man stepped in.

My heart skipped.

The royal messenger held out a sealed scroll, not bothering to bow in respect to my parents.

“King Reginald. The supreme king’s edict. The groom has been chosen for your daughter, princess Diana."

Father took it and the messenger didn’t even wait. He turned, leaving the room just as quickly as he came.

The door closed and I could almost hear my own heartbeat.

Mother and Lisa moved closer as father broke the seal. I didn’t move, watching them instead from where I stood.

Father’s eyes scanned the words, then he stopped. I felt my heart drop immediately. That wasn't a good sign.

“Reginald?” Mother murmured.

Lisa leaned closer. “Father?”

Slowly, he lowered the scroll. His face had changed, it had gone completely pale.

Mother quickly took it from him. Her hands weren’t steady as she uncurled the scroll.

I watched her eyes move across the page, and then she stumbled.

Lisa grabbed her. “Mother?”

Mother didn’t answer. She kept staring at the scroll. A cold feeling spread through me, worse than before.

“Who is it?” Lisa asked, her voice tight.

Mother looked up at me and for the first time since we arrived, I saw real fear in her eyes.

I looked at the table next to me. The water in my glass began to turn into ice right before my eyes.

Crack! The glass broke.

"No," Mother whispered. She stumbled back, her hand flying to her mouth. "No, no, no... this can't be right!"

Lisa took the scroll from her and read it. She let out a jagged sob and fell against the wall. "It’s a death sentence! Father, they can't do this!"

My father looked up at me. His eyes were red, filled with tears he was trying to hide.

"Diana." he rasped.

I felt the air in my lungs turn to frost. I didn't need to see the paper to know who it was. Their reactions could only mean it was him.

"It’s Prince Draven, isn't it?" I asked. My voice sounded small and far away.

My father slowly nodded his head.

It was official. I wasn't marrying the nice prince. I was being handed over to the Dark Prince. The man with white eyes and the man that no woman has ever survived.