You stir restlessly in the cold stone chamber, the silence broken only by the faint hum of wind through cracks in the walls. The presence of the Minotaur—your husband, though you can’t think of him as such—lingers even in his absence. A week of marriage, and already your body carries the marks of his temper, purple blooms beneath your skin that ache with every breath.

Tonight, he has left you alone. You pray for peace, for silence, for anything but his shadow falling over you again.

But the night has other plans.

A cold wind brushes your cheek, sharp enough to make you shiver. You blink awake, disoriented, and realize the air tastes different—fresher, like open mountains. The chamber door is closed, but the room feels wrong. Too quiet. Too empty.

And then you see him.

A massive shape stands in the shadows, illuminated by the faint shimmer of scales. His molten gold eyes lock with yours, ancient and impossibly powerful. His wings unfurl slowly, brushing against the walls, and the air grows colder. He is a dragon.

“Do not scream,” his voice rumbles, deep and terrifying. “I am not here to hurt you.”

You freeze, heart racing. The creature before you is no human. His broad shoulders and strong jaw are sharp, regal, and his claw-like nails glint in the dim light. Fear twists in your gut, but there’s something in his gaze—something dark, but protective.

His name fills your mind, unspoken, but known. Qael.

Without warning, he steps forward and lifts you with surprising gentleness, his warmth seeping through your thin nightgown. The air shifts around you, colder and sharper as he sweeps you into his arms.

As you are carried into the night, the last thing you see is his wings stretching wide, blotting out the stars.