Rebuilding his Dragon Kingdom: The Dragon Kings of Fire and Ice, #3

Chapter One

CASS

I couldn’t believe this was now my life.

Stavrok and Lucy were out tonight, again, negotiating a new trade agreement near the border between our kingdom and the human world. They were always off doing important things. Things that would improve the lives of our people.

And I was left here, holding the babies. Literally.

I loved my nephew and his sisters more than anything in the world, but on days like this I longed to be somewhere else. Anywhere else.

The urge to explore new horizons was becoming almost overwhelming.

I clenched my jaw and tightened my hands into fists as I strode along the corridor, a walk I could do with my eyes shut. I knew every inch of this palace back to front. The castle had been my home since I was a little girl. When my parents died, my cousin Stavrok had taken me in and raised me like his own.

He’d been young then, barely a year on the throne, and yet he hadn’t turned me away when I needed him. He’d always treated me like the little sister he never had, far more than simply a cousin. He was part big brother, part father to me.

I was lucky to have Stavrok in my life, but lately the walls and ceilings of the castle had begun to press in on me from all sides. I felt like a prisoner in my own home. No matter how far I explored, or which paths I took, I always ended up exactly where I started.

That was probably because I wasn’t allowed outside the castle walls—had never been, really. At first, I’d been deemed too young to leave, but then Stavrok’s rule had become even tighter since that fateful day three years ago when Lucy had been kidnapped and I’d been hurt in the process. Stavrok had really locked things down after that.

I understood why he kept us close. He wanted to keep those he loved safe. But I was turning twenty-one tomorrow, for crying out loud! I was a woman now. My own person, with my own destiny.   

I wanted more. I wanted adventure. I needed to know what was out there, beyond our green fields and sleepy village.

Most of all, in the heart of my secret desires, I craved one thing. To go north. To visit the Kingdom of Winter.

Since Stavrok had visited the north and helped Erik save the North Kingdom, I’d wanted to go myself. See the town that no-one else had seen. Meet the people no-one had known about, until now.

I spent most days now, tucked away in the castle library trying to find out more about the town everyone had thought was just a myth. I read about ice storms and ravenous wolves, harsh winters that lasted for years on end. And huge, powerful dragons that breathed ice instead of fire.

I wanted to see everything I read about in the books... for myself.

I walked across the room to a large window and glared out. The view was beautiful, as always, but it was as familiar as the nose on my face. The snow-peaked mountains, the rolling hills... It seemed very tame, in comparison to the harsh wilds I’d been reading about.

An urge struck me: to fling open the windows and release my dragon. I wanted to stretch my wings and soar. My dragon stirred inside me, and the call for adventure sang through my veins.

I inhaled sharply, trying to push away the desire. Then I turned away from the view.

Stavrok forbade me from leaving the castle without an armed guard. As a princess of his realm, I could be a valuable hostage; journeying alone was risky. If somebody recognized me, I would make a worthy bride for any upstart warlord or ambitious noble who dared to challenge the king.

I hated being stuck here, no more than a pawn in the games played by dragon kings and their lords.

I wanted to carve out my own destiny. And yet, as Stavrok’s cousin, I wasn’t sure how I was ever going to do that.

THAT EVENING, STAVROK and Lucy returned to the castle.

I smiled with relief when they walked into the dining room, still shaking the last of the snow from their hair. The table was already laid with silver candlesticks and the maids had decorated the white cloth with sweet floral arrangements. Platters of meat and warm, soft bread were waiting for them.

I stood up from the chair where I rested by the fire and rushed toward them. Lucy greeted me with a hug. She was still cold from being outside, and I shivered in my light evening clothes, pressing my hands to her pink cheeks.

You’re so cold, I said, trying to warm her. As a human, Lucy wasn’t as adaptable to our climate as dragon shifters.

How were my little ones? Lucy clasped my hands, still shivering as she held my warm palms to her cheeks a moment longer.

I laughed. They were good as gold...Well, the girls were!

Stavrok let out a booming laugh as he took his seat at the head of the table. My son has a strong will, even now. He will make a fine dragon king one day.

Lucy chuckled and moved from the fireplace to take a seat beside her husband. I did the same, and Lucy reached out to brush her hand over mine as we all sat down to dinner. Thanks for watching them, Cass. I know I can always count on you. You’re an angel.  

I forced out a laugh. Any time, Lucy.

What else did I have to do?

I fiddled with my fork. You know I’ll always be here.

Always and forever. Until I die of old age, in my library tower, surrounded by my books. Dreaming of adventures, I never undertook.

There were worse fates, and yet I couldn’t help but want more.

Some note of frustration must have come through in my voice, because when I looked up, Stavrok had set down the turkey leg he’d been gnawing on and was watching me with a contemplative expression.

I tilted my head. What’s up, cuz?

A grin slid over his face, and his eyes twinkled. Cass. Dear Cass.

Uh oh. What have I done now?

It’s your twenty-first birthday tomorrow, Stavrok continued, and my stomach, which had lurched at his initial words, relaxed.

A matching grin sparked over Lucy’s face, and the two of them turned to me. My heart started to race.

You’re not the child I met anymore, all those years ago. He reached out and took my hand. You’ve grown into a smart, strong and beautiful woman. I’m proud of you.

My eyes widened in alarm. Don’t go getting all emotional on me, Stavrok!

Still, I couldn’t help but be a tiny bit pleased. If Stavrok finally saw me as an adult, then that could mean...

I think what my husband is trying to say, Lucy interjected, is that you deserve a treat. A birthday present that will let you... spread your wings, so to speak.

Spread my wings? Like, actually spread my wings? Excitement burst through me, but I tried to hold it in. What if I had misinterpreted what Lucy meant? What if...

I’m taking you with me to the north, Stavrok said.

I gasped, both hands lifting to cover my mouth.

Stavrok grinned, obviously relishing the look of total shock on my face. To meet the Dragon of Winter himself.

My hands dropped down and my mouth gaped open. The two of them sat there looking pleased as they watched me process the news.

Oh. My. God! I squealed, launching myself out of my chair and forward to throw my arms around my cousin’s neck.

As Stavrok spluttered, struggling to free himself from the embrace, Lucy sat back and laughed.

Stavrok patted me a few too many times, and I dragged myself back to my seat, barely able to sit still. Finally, I was getting out of this kingdom! And not just going anywhere. He was going to take me to the one place I wanted to see most!

I take it this means you’re on board with your present? Lucy said, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.

Of course, I am! I can’t believe it! I leant back in my seat. A thousand questions sprang to mind; I didn’t know where to begin. You’re being serious, right? You wouldn’t trick me with something like this?

I glanced between my cousin and his wife, both of whom just laughed and shook their heads.

I clapped, too excited to eat anymore. When do we leave? What do I pack—is it really as cold as they say? Will there be wolves? Will—

Whoa! Stavrok reached out and put a cautionary hand on my shoulder, but his eyes expressed fondness. How about we finish this meal first? Then we can talk about the rest.

Of course. Thank you, guys! This is seriously... I couldn’t settle on the right word. Eventually, I just went with, Amazing.

Stavrok and Lucy turned back to their meals. The conversation shifted to their three kids, so I drifted off.

I ate mechanically, without tasting another bite. I wanted to race off to the library at once and bury myself in the old books I had loved since I was little—the tales of the northern explorers, battling against icy storms and fearsome beasts.

I wanted to reacquaint myself with all the stories so I could prepare for actually going there in person.

I’d never met Damon, the King of Winter, despite the few times he’d come to the castle for royal errands. Stavrok had always kept him, and many of the other kings, away from me for some reason I hadn’t yet worked out. I’d only heard stories about Damon, and they were enough to pique my interest to a mountainous level.

The servants passed rumors and I’d gotten snatches of tales traded from person to person, third-or-fourth hand, from Stavrok’s expeditions and hunting parties.

Everyone knew that the north was a wild place, inhabited by unruly people. Things were different there... survival was harsher. People fought tooth and nail for everything they had.

Their king, according to the rumors, was the wildest one of all. He was said to be a ferocious fighter with piercing eyes and a cold, stoic demeanor. A lifetime spent in the frozen wilderness had rendered him more dragon than man. 

An image formed in my mind: a dark, shadowy figure at the center of a snowstorm.

I shivered, and not just from the imagined cold.

When do we leave? I managed, at last.

Stavrok looked up from his plate of food. Tomorrow.

We would leave tomorrow? On my actual birthday? I breathed deeply, trying to contain the excited squeal that wanted to rise. Best birthday present ever!

My fate was in the north, that much I knew.

The why? That was still a mystery.

Chapter Two

CASS

When I woke the next day—the day we were set to travel—sunlight was already filtering through the curtains and warming my