Chapter 2

Mother froze, then reached out and stroked my head.

"Why would you say that? You’re our child too. If Morpheus treats you badly, we’ve got your back."

Feeling mother’s big hand on my head, a happiness I’d never known rushed through me.

They’d never shown me this much care, not since I was tiny.

Just because we hatched at the same time. Aithne couldn’t bond with the elements while I was blessed by ice, they decided I’d stolen the power that was hers by right.

So from the moment we hatched, I owed her.

Every birthday when I was growing up, I just stood off to the side, watching.

Parents would crowd round her, singing, baking her special cakes, buying her gifts, making her birthday wishes come true.

I got nothing.

Once, Aithne’s birthday wish was: I wish someone else could do the drug tests for me.

They shot me those accusing looks, like I’d done something unforgivable.

I felt like an outsider, only ever allowed to watch their perfect little family of three.

I often thought, if only I were the crippled dragon.

No elemental blessing, a frail body—but at least I’d have parents’s love.

Even so, Aithne was never satisfied.

When I got betrothed to Morpheus, the first time we met he’d prepared a beautiful bouquet of ice blue roses.

It was the first time anyone had ever given me a gift.

I cradled it in my arms, took it all in, then carried it home as if it were made of glass.

The moment I stepped through the door, Aithne saw it and threw an almighty fit, wailing that ice blue was mocking her for being useless.

Parents, hearts bleeding for her, soothed her and destroyed my gift with single dragon’s breath.

The first time Morpheus laid eyes on Aithne. He gave her the ice?crystal necklace he’d originally had made for me.

After that, Aithne constantly demanded his company. I realised she meant to steal him from me.

I wept, I raged—but nobody gave a damn. In the end, I just became an annoyance.

Everything I did was wrong.

Seeing I’d fallen silent, mother ignored me and simply left.

I picked up the strengthening tonic. The moment I took a sip, a searing, spicy fire flooded my mouth and tore through my gut.

The brew had been laced with pepper juice.

I choked and coughed, my face burning crimson, when a soft giggle drifted from beyond the door.

I looked up.

Aithne.

She was watching me, smug as a cat, savouring my misery.

This sort of thing was nothing new.

Once, I’d have marched straight to our parents and told on her.

But this time I said nothing. I just swallowed every last drop of that drug in silence.

I won’t argue anymore. After all these years, I’m just bone tired.

They’ll never care about me.

Once it was settled that Aithne wouldn’t have to test drug any more, she whined about wanting to go to school.

The very next day, parents had me take her.

They prepared her school things themselves. Checked them five times over, terrified they might’ve missed something.

In the classroom, Morpheus kept her tucked right under his wing, scared anyone might offend her.

He’d even brought little homemade cakes, crouching down to feed her.

Our classmates looked from them to me, their eyes bright with mockery.

Feeling the scorn pressing in from all sides, I could only manage a bitter smile.

Suddenly, with an ear-splitting crash, the Fire Dragon Princess smashed the desk in front of Aithne.

“You little bitch, give me back my ruby jewels.”

I spun round. Jessica had snatched Aithne by the scruff and hurled her against the wall.

Morpheus didn’t even have time to blink.

When the dust cleared, Aithne’s face was a mask of blood, and she was howling.

Fire Dragons outnumbered Ice Dragons by a mile, and their clan was far stronger.

Aithne never set foot inside, so she hadn’t a clue.

I moved to step in, but it was already too late.

Sure enough, the ruby earrings were fished right out of Aithne’s clothes. The whole place erupted.

Parents rushed to the school and begged the Fire Dragon chieftain for mercy.

But the chieftain wasn’t having any of it. She demanded Aithne come in person to the Fire Dragon territory and apologise, or the Ice Dragon clan would be in a world of trouble.

Parents couldn't ever bear to send Aithne. A non-elemental dragon like her, going out there, was far too dangerous.

The three of them were fussing over her wounds, heartsick, fretting over what to do.

I tried to make myself as small as possible and edged silently toward my room.

“Noxivira.”

Morpheus suddenly called my name.

“You go in the Fire Dragon territory.”

My parents’ faces lit up like they’d just found a lifeline. They crowded round me, saying,

“It’s just an apology.”

“Take plenty of gifts. You’ll be fine.”

Bitterness flooded my heart. No one knew what might happen out there, but they’d chosen to shove me forward, to shield Aithne.

Parents were thrilled, praising Morpheus for being so clever.

“Noxivira, stay safe on the road, and watch the time.”

“Come back early. You’ve got your drug test the day after tomorrow—exhaustion will mess with the results.”

Listening to their seemingly caring words, I forced a smile and nodded.

“Alright. I’ll come back early and get some rest.”

I watched Aithne’s gloating smirk and couldn’t help but wonder—

Once I’m dead, and there’s no one left to take the fall for her, what’ll become of her?

Right in front of me, Morpheus and my parents were inspecting Aithne with painstaking care, terrified she might have a scratch anywhere.

Now that someone was going to the Fire Dragon territory in her stead, relieved smiles broke out on all their faces.

I trudged back to my chamber, my heart full of nothing but sadness.

On the desk, I saw the family portrait of the four of us. I was the only one scrunched up at the back, face blurred.

The other three were wrapped in each other’s arms, laughing—smiles so bright they stabbed.

I tore the photo to pieces and tossed it into the trash.

I shredded the iceroot Morpheus had sent me and threw that in the bin too.

I was almost dead anyway. My things would only be an eyesore to them.

Last was a picture of just Morpheus and me. I stared at it, blank, and then, without a second thought, binned it as well.

After all that, it was as if every drop of strength had drained from my body. I collapsed onto the nest.

A savage pain ripped through my belly. The coppery taste of blood rose in my throat.

I coughed violently, spraying blood across the sheets in a great dark bloom.

Just then, Morpheus knocked on my door.

I instinctively tried to cover the stain, but there was no hiding it.

At least he didn’t come in. he only called from outside,

“Time to go.”