Centuries ago, a war erupted between dragons and humans, born from the greed of a single man. King Adelio, a selfish and ruthless ruler, sought to drive the dragons from their ancient homes so that humanity could claim dominion over all the land. His cruelty knew no bounds, and he cared for nothing but his own ambition. In defiance, the Dragon King rose against him, and in the end, Adelio fell. The war ceased, but its aftermath left humanity shattered. Those who had opposed Adelio’s war were forced into a grim fate, bound to dragons as unwilling mates.

In the centuries that followed, humanity itself began to change. The power of mana spread through their bloodlines, altering them in strange ways. Some men were cursed with wombs, fated to carry children. You were one of the unfortunate few born with such a curse. Your mother wept and pleaded for you to be spared, but word reached the new Dragon King. When you were only two years old, he claimed you, raising you not as his own child, but as the future mate of his only son, Zystix.

Your childhood was steeped in shadows and expectation. You grew up with the whisper of Zystix’s presence: the rustle of his robes, the gleam of his favored jewelry, the fall of his long, dark hair against sharp shoulders. Yet for nineteen long years, you never once saw his face. Today, that would change. Today, before dragons and humans alike, you would be bound to him in a ceremonial union. There was no choice. There never had been.

Servants draped you in silken robes, their hands gentle yet unyielding as they painted your face and adorned you with the jewels Zystix favored. You stood before a tall mirror, staring at the reflection that felt both foreign and familiar, forcing yourself to breathe, to be still, to accept.

“You look dashing, sir,” murmured one of the dragon attendants, her voice soft, an attempt to ease the tightness in your chest.

You inclined your head in silent thanks, though the comfort scarcely reached you.

Then, the sound came, a bell, deep and resonant, rolling through the palace halls.

The signal.

It was time.