Chapter 1

"Absolutely not, Evelyn!" My father strode over and took me by the shoulders. "The north is much too far away. And you're my youngest daughter. If your mother knew I'd married you off so far away, she'd—"

"Mother would understand."

He stared at me, his eyes reddening. "Your mother came from the north. She told me it snows ten months a year there. They barely see the sun. You're already frail. How could you survive up there?"

I looked down, my chest tightening.

He patted my shoulder. "Evelyn, tell me. Have those three been mistreating you?"

I started to answer.

But I didn't know what to say.

Mistreating me? No.

They'd simply changed. I was no longer the person they cherished most.

I couldn't tell my father that. If I told him about each incident on its own, I'd sound like I was overreacting.

Lucas used to wait outside my chambers the day before my dragon breath became unstable. Now he hadn't visited in about two weeks.

Darian always said I was too delicate, but he'd stay with me all night when my dragon breath was unsettled. Three days ago, he hadn't shown up either.

As for Silas, the dragon crystal bracelet he'd made for me was now Kassan's.

I touched the pendant resting against my chest. The three of them had given it to me at my coming-of-age celebration.

Among dragons, offering someone a scale was a declaration of love.

Three scales hung from the pendant: red as fire, purple as lightning, and blue as ice.

Now their light seemed so dim.

When I didn't answer, my father sighed. "Evelyn, whatever they've done, you grew up together. Give them a little time. Besides, I don't want you so far away. I wouldn't be able to protect you."

I stayed silent.

"Evelyn?" he asked, worried.

"It's nothing," I said. "I'm just tired."

I got up to leave. The treatment a few days earlier hadn't fully settled my dragon breath.

Silas had arrived too late. He'd done everything he could, but the power inside me was still churning, leaving me dazed and exhausted.

In the corridor, I bumped into someone.

Darian.

I hadn't seen him in several days.

He was on duty as my father's personal guard.

For once, he didn't greet me with a cutting remark. He frowned and looked me over. "You look awful."

"Oh." I walked around him.

He followed me for a few steps.

Clearly, he didn't appreciate being brushed off.

"I'm trying to show you I care, Evelyn." He caught my wrist. "Could you be a little more mature? Look at Kassan. She's raising a child alone, but she never makes trouble for anyone."

I stopped and looked up at him. "It was your turn to help me last time, Darian. You didn't come."

He looked taken aback for a moment. Then he said awkwardly, "Kassan was having some trouble that day. I went to deal with it."

"Right. And that's why I look awful." I lifted my chin, my voice tight.

His frown deepened. "You only need one of us there, don't you? Kassan just arrived. She has no husband and no one to back her up. She needs me more than you do."

I stared into his eyes.

He seemed to have forgotten what he'd told me when Lucas failed to come about two weeks ago. "Who could possibly matter more than you?"

Now Darian looked perfectly at ease, as if he'd done nothing wrong.

My chest tightened painfully. "Then don't bother coming again," I said coldly. "There'll always be someone else."

His expression changed, but I'd already turned and walked away.

Darian called my name. I pretended not to hear.

I went to the apothecary for medicine.

The elderly apothecary pressed a bottle into my hand with a sigh. "Princess, this will only ease the pain for a little while. It won't treat your condition. You still need someone to help you."

"Yes," I said quietly. "I know."

I just couldn't shake my unease.

On the day of my next treatment, I waited for Silas in my chambers.

Night fell, and he still hadn't come.

Only last week, he'd promised he would always be there for me.

I ran out of my chambers.

My unstable dragon breath made me dizzy. Every barefoot step felt like walking on broken glass.

Bracing myself against the wall, I stumbled to the priest's hall on the eastern side of the court.

I was about to knock when I heard his voice, low and gentle, through the door.

He was telling Morrie Blackthorn, Kassan's young son, a story.

I froze with my hand raised. After a long pause, I knocked anyway.

Silas opened the door. He blinked at me. "Evelyn?"

"Silas." My voice was hoarse. "Why didn't you come to my chambers?"

He met my eyes, then quickly looked away. "Kassan's son just arrived. He's having trouble settling in. I'm keeping him company."

"But you promised—"

"I know," he interrupted, meeting my eyes again. "But I heard you picked up some medicine."

After a pause, he added, "I'm happy for you, Evelyn. You're finally growing up. You're finding ways to control your dragon breath yourself. You don't need to rely on us anymore."

I froze, my hand still outstretched, unable to take another step.

Behind Silas, the little black dragon peeked around his leg and made a face at me.

Morrie tugged on his pant leg. "Silas, I'm sleepy."

Silas answered him tenderly, then gave me a polite bow. "Go back and get some rest, Evelyn."

The door slammed shut.

For the first time, he'd shut me out.