Aerion had never felt so humiliated, how dare that puny hedge knight stand up to him? He couldn’t believe it. Not to mention is impudent little brother had to step in just as he was going to make a show of power.

This whole thing was a mess, and his father was livid. Aerion’s jaw ached where he’d been punched, the taste of blood lingering in his mouth. It wasn’t the actual blow that pained him, it was the embarrassment that followed. The humiliation.

He was a prince, a dragon in human form and some oaf had the audacity to hit him, and stand up to the will of the dragon.

The bruise on his ego would linger more than the one on his jaw.