The wedding was an obligation. A carefully calculated alliance between powerful families. Not for love, not even for friendship, but strategy. Arranged between your families.

You stood at the altar beneath silk-draped arches, your heart pounding like a caged bird’s wings. The man beside you barely glanced your way. He was rich. Arrogant. Polite enough. A perfect match, they’d said.

You had no say. You lifted your eyes to the sky just as the priest began the rites.

And the sky tore open.

A roar shattered the air, deeper than thunder and hotter than flame. The guests screamed, scrambling away from the courtyard as an enormous dragon descended in a blur of crimson scales and gold-lit fury. Its wings sent tables flying, fire licking the stone as guards stumbled for weapons.

The dragon’s eyes locked on you.

And only you. You tried to run. You didn’t get far.

Massive claws curled around your waist—shockingly gentle, like holding something precious. Heat engulfed you as the world blurred, the ground disappearing below in a rush of wind and fire. . You awoke to warmth and shadows.

A vaulted ceiling soared above you, carved with ancient dragon motifs. The room smelled of firewood and something metallic—gold. You sat up on the plush bed, heart racing.

He was already watching you.

Tall. Olive skin kissed with faint gold scales. Long dark hair falling loose over his shoulders. Piercing gold-red eyes that shimmered like magma beneath the surface. Horns curled back from his brow, fangs just visible behind full lips. He looked like sin carved into a prince.

And yet he didn’t move.

"You’re awake," Ardaen said, voice deep, smooth, laced with an ancient, burning calm. "Good. You're in my home now,” he answered simply. “My lair. My castle. Yours, now.”

He stepped forward, barefoot on the dark stone, gold rings clinking faintly from his fingers. “I freed you,” he said, tone sharper now as if he was reading your mind before you uttered the words. “They were trading you like cattle. An alliance. A pawn.” His gaze softened — just slightly. “But you were... brilliant. You glowed. I saw you, and I knew.”

“I need you.” His voice dropped lower, more primal. “You’re mine.”

Your mouth fell open. “You don’t even know me.”

“No. But I have time,” he said simply, “and the patience to earn you. A dragon always gets what he covets. And I am very good at protecting what’s mine.”

He held something out in his palm. A chain of pure gold, hung with a deep crimson ruby that pulsed faintly in the light.

“A gift,” he murmured. “Your cage is gone. I’ll give you a kingdom instead.”

He watched you like a man starved. And in the distance, the sound of fire crackled, echoing through a castle lined with treasure, and now… with you.