The Dragon's Bride Novels & Stories

Lyra "Lyra Walker." The herald's voice cut across the square like a blade, and my own name turned my legs to water. He was reading from a long roll of parchment. The tribute list. The names of the girls the Dragon King would take this year. I knew what that list meant. Every five years, the Dragon Court chose unmarried girls from the human towns. They were called brides. They were called offerings. They were called many gentle things. But none of them ever came home.

I tried to imagine what that meant, seeing as he said it so expectantly, but I could not imagine a wife and children that would result. “You said the dragon wanted a brethren wife. Why not another dragon?” “There are very few dragons left. There is no choice but to take mates from outside the species.” “They can do that?” That sent another baffling array of imaged through my mind. How was that possible? A dragon was a dragon… Most of the brethren were more similar to mankind than to dragons. Maybe an ogre… but still, my mind recoiled from the thought. He raised his eyebrows at me. “Have you never heard of halflings?”

"I hope I am not too early." "Not at all," I said. "Please, sit." She set the box on the dining table and untied the string with slow fingers. Inside was dark, dried leaves and small pieces of orange peel. The smell was strong, sweet and spicy. "A peace gift," she said. "For yesterday. The courtyard custom was old, and I was too strict. I felt bad after. This is mountain honey tea, very rare. Only noble houses drink it. It helps with cold lungs." Finn made a small noise behind me. I did not look at him.

I nodded and he said. "This is the list for gifts we are giving to Ibrahim on his wedding. I am just checking if we are not missing anything." "What are we giving to him?" I asked. "Us, we are gifting him 10,000 soldiers, 5000 horses, 3000 camels, 1000 elephants, 1500 buffaloes and chickens, one chariot made of gold, 500 kg of gold jewelry, 200 set of other ornaments, 400 set of clothes for bride and a some sweets."

he says. “It doesn't matter. You would have come ten years later, and it would still be this way, Dante. My heart, it’s solely yours.” He smiles and leans in again, and our lips press together, moving as one. Once, I was the bride he bought , a woman trapped in a bargain made out of power and pride, just so we could save our parents. Now, I’m the woman he chose. And this time, it isn’t a transaction, neither is it because of anyone else.

She paused out of sight when Alexei halted, taking both of Katrina's hands tenderly. "My princess, you have awakened my spirit as brilliantly as the sunrise. Say you will do me the honor of one day being crowned my queen?" Alexei sank genteelly to one knee, proffering a glittering betrothal band. Katrina raised a trembling hand to her mouth, eyes shimmering. "My beloved prince! My heart is already yours eternally!" Kneeling to embrace Alexei joyously, the couple seemed lit from within by love's glow. Amy retreated quietly, loathe to intrude further on the private magical moment. Her own girlish memories of Viktor's proposal under the full moon flooding back bittersweet and nostalgic.

Mireth kisses my forehead, pats Draven’s cheek hard enough to make him snarl, and vanishes in a crackle of storm-light. Silence. Draven glares at the spot where his mother was, then at me. Lyriel speaks softly. “Your Highness ordered the bride prepared for court presentation this afternoon.” I stand. “Tell your prince,” I say clearly, “that if he wants a performance, he’ll have to drag me there in chains again. I’m done playing dressed-up corpse.” Draven’s eyes flare molten. “Try not to embarrass me,” he says through his teeth. I smile, slow and sharp.

He even looked up to point at the ceiling, making Lyra follow with her eyes. Chills went down Lyra's spine. Even though she's literally with the creatures from down under, she won't be able to disrespect the Man that she has literally looked up to for so long. "A wedding won't be necessary," Derrick stated. "We can comply with how they do it here, and I know that Dame can help with that. A marriage contract is fine, right, Zin?" "Yup! That's what I saw online," the boy responded. "Marriage on paper, that's easy," Dame added. "This mortal body knows a lot about that."

The only other option right now is one of my two stepsisters. Bells chime somewhere in the temple and horns are blown to announce the arrival of my bride. Magnus is suddenly overly interested in his blue tunic. Although he is looking down at the hem near his rust-colored pants, I can still see his smirk. The priestess reappears just before the doors at the far end of the inner temple. The family enters first and is shown where to stand. Five temple attendants walk out next and stand behind the priestess. Magnus and I both turn towards each other when the bride walks in. Although she's wearing the traditional Dragon Bridal Dress, she has a full length, long sleeve dress underneath. I shrug as

"What else can I do? If I don't finish the dare, I have to take the punishment." The whistles grew louder. Lucas watched her for a few seconds, then lifted her chin. "No one but me?" "No one." Vivian grabbed his collar and rose on her toes to kiss him. This time, Lucas did not push her away. He even caught her by the waist, turning a dare that should have stopped at a joke into something everyone in the room understood. "That's our DeLuca heir!" "Now that's a bet." The screen filled with laughter and the clink of glasses. My heart felt dropped into boiling oil.