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  “That is one hell of a kill, Katie.”

  “So, what are you going to pay for him?”

  “Ten for the fur and three for the meat.” It was seven coins less than what I’d hoped for.

  “Marco, you know this fur is worth five more, and the meat, look at it.”

  “I know Katie, but the taxman came yesterday and you know what they are like.”

  “They raised the taxes again?” Mom hadn’t said anything about that.

  “Aye, and it’s all I have to offer you at the moment.”

  My heart dropped into my stomach. We would not survive this month if the taxmen raised their taxes again. “Fine, it’s better than nothing.” I gave Marco a smile. I knew he wouldn’t do me in if he had the money. This was just another thousand points down for the royals. If it went on like this, I might even consider shooting an arrow straight through their heads.

  Get that out of your head, Katherine Squire, mother’s voice sniped inside my head. No daughter of mine is a killer.

  Yes Mom, I replied. Sorry.

  I took the money from Marco and walked back the way I’d come in. “So have you spoken to Seth yet?”

  “No, Marco. I’m busy.” I smiled back at him and the bells chimed in my ears again.

  “Aye, lass, you are almost sixteen, your time to find a husband is running out.”

  “I don’t have time for stupid husbands,” I mumbled back so that Marco couldn’t hear and made my way back to home again so I could put on a dress and help mother at the store.

  * * *

  ALBERT

  I stared at her big brown eyes as her lips searched hungrily for the truth of what was between us. I never got how people could kiss one another with their eyes closed. It was one of the first things father taught me. When you bed a woman, be careful not to bed the devil, always have your eyes open.

  But Emily wasn’t like that. She was the daughter of one of the small town’s governors. She was gorgeous with her long blonde curls and fair skin.

  She was softening the ache.

  I never felt more than aroused for her and I need to make it clear that I could never marry her. I was destined for someone else.

  If mother knew that father allowed women, in secret, up into my chambers she would skin him alive.

  He felt that it was important, just like his father before him, that I knew how to be a great lover.

  I pounded her hard, and her teeth fitted perfectly around the curve of my shoulder.

  She was a biter and a bit of a squealer too.

  “Oh Albert, harder,” she said through breathes and I did what she said.

  I could feel the ache, it grew bigger and bigger and then it was time to release.

  I pulled out.

  She wasn’t satisfied yet, but that wasn’t why she was here. She was only here for my needs.

  I didn’t love her enough to return the favor.

  I climbed out of my bed. “You should go,” I said coldly. “If the queen finds you here, I’m afraid she would send you to the gallows.”

  She pushed herself up.

  The satin linen fell softly over her bare chest and beautiful perky breasts tried to soften me again.

  “I mean it, Em. I’ll see you again in two days.”

  “What am I to you Albert?”

  “Let’s just say you are more to me than Grizelda.”

  She smiled. Got up and put her clothes back on.

  I needed to wash and my thinking post jumped into view.

  It was part of royal land. Had a clear blue pond caused by forensic stones that was settled deep into the rocks. They were worthless but they did lighten up the pond and the waterfall that was closeby.

  When Em left, I sneaked out and went to the stables.

  I grabbed one of the horses and made a run for the pond.

  It was late, but fear wasn’t a factor for me.

  Not with what I had to do in a couple of months.

  I doubt that it would be hard on my father, but he refused to hear me out about the Chromatic species.

  He only cared for his beloved Metallics.

  I undressed and walked into the pond.

  The water was cold but it was refreshing to my skin.

  I dived down, wet my hair, and came up for air again.

  I could live right here and forget completely about my princely duties.

  A pair of arms wrapped around me.

  She startled me.

  Two in one night, how lucky could a man be.

  Her scent told me who she was, she was a friend that could be more. Father loved a Swallow Annex before mother and I.

  I turned around. Her silver grey eyes and shiny blond silver hair made my heart skip a few beats.

  Dragons were the most beautiful creatures in their human forms.

  Without saying a word, my lips found hers.

  Her warm body heated up the water as she straddled me with her long legs and in less than a few seconds, she took my shaft into her hands and buried it inside of her.

  A grown left my mouth as she started to move slowly with my body.

  She was riling me up again, slowly.

  “You missed me,” she whispered into my ear.

  “More than you know.” I said back and she smiled sweetly.

  She was really such a beautiful creature.

  I walked with her out of the pond and led her to the soft patches of grass then I gave her exactly what she wanted.

  Having sex with a human was completely different than having sex with a dragon.

  You needed a tonic to keep up with them.

  They could last for hours and Constance wasn’t the type of dragon that would just roll off when you are done.

  She had the ability to heal humans, and whenever I felt exhausted, well, she short of did this weird thing that powered me back on.

  It went on for what felt like an eternity.

  It felt as if I was chucked into a world where orgasms and sex were the air.

  My body ached and then it would just disappear again, giving me more energy to last another few minutes.

  I released like five times when she was finally done.

  “The sun is about to come up.” She whispered against my mouth.

  “I need to get back, you think you can spare me another dose of supersize strength.”

  She laughed. “How can I say no to the Prince of Paegeia.”

  I laughed as she placed her hands on my temples.

  I started to lose myself as her ability weakens my fatigue and energize my entire being.

  I wondered how long I could go without any sleep if she were at my side, but I never asked.

  Then she stopped.

  “That should last you till tonight.”

  I laughed.

  It felt as if I woke up from a good rest.

  “See you soon.”

  “I can’t. My sister is getting suspicious and she would really lay your law of the gallows on me if she found out what we were doing.”

  “Then let her. I need you Connie.”

  “Sweet talk isn’t going to get you anywhere, Albert.”

  I smiled. “Fine.”

  She tied her robe and was ready to walk away.

  I pulled her back and she slammed into my body.

  My lips touched hers again. “I could always summon you to the castle.”

  “Your father might just love that.” She giggled. “I really have to go Albert. See you soon.” She pulled away, “promise.”

  She disappeared into the woods and in a few minutes the trees rumbled and she flew above the tree tops in her dragon form.

  I took the horse back and sighed knowing what was waiting for me back at the castle. More of mother’s nagging.

  Can I please be spared from this ball just once. Please.

  Chapter 2

  KATIE

  * * *

  The door chimed with bells as Maggy came strolling into the store. The smile on her beautiful round face a
nd dark red hair made my heart dropped to my stomach. “Oh for crying out loud, what did you get us into now” I scolded, “You never think about things.”

  She pulled her mouth downward. “You are such a party pooper. Just imagine, the royal ball, all those masks and gowns.”

  “Gowns we don’t have.”

  “And dancing,” Maggy ignored my comment.

  “You should snap out of it, it won’t happen to any of us, that’s just how things are.”

  She slapped me, “Oh Katie, you are such a grumpy pot today. Where is your sense of adventure, your love for life. If I win, I’ll take you with me, and if you win, you’ll take me with you. It’s going to be so much fun.”

  “And what are we gonna go as, Cinder one and Cinder two. We don’t have fairy godmothers Maggy.”

  “We have potions,” She said.

  “Potions cost money, money we will never have because the ball you want to go to, is one of the reasons we are so damn poor.”

  “Then we can ask our mothers to sew us dresses, yours used to be quite a good dressmaker in her younger years.”

  “A dress like that takes months, sweetheart, besides, my mom doesn’t have time to even cut us one, not to mention sewing it together.”

  “We’ll find a way, just smile for crying out loud.”

  I shook my head but gave my extravagant friend a smile. She always did things like this, but I have to admit, my life would be boring without Maggy’s schemes of going to the palace or meeting her prince for real.

  She wanted to live a fairytale. If only Helmut wasn’t such a pig and was actually a kind person who would do anything for his beloved low class girl. Yep that was Maggy.

  “I should go now, I told mother, I would only be out for a second. The tavern is very busy today.”

  “Good luck with the grabby young men.”

  Maggy turned around and rested her hand on her hips. “Oh, honey. I know how to use these,” she wiggled her four fingers in the air which made me laugh.

  The bell chimed again as my best friend exited. I watched through the window while Maggy spoke to one of the bystanders as if they were old friends. That was one of her gifts, her words made you feel as if you were someone important.

  “Was that Marguerite?” Mama came from the back.

  I chuckled. “Yes, with one of her crazy schemes.”

  Mama giggled too. “What is it this time.”

  “She’s entered us into another masked ball they are throwing again” I looked at my mother who had a serious look on her face. “I won’t go, Mom. I told her we don’t have the money or anything to wear.”

  Mama smiled and looked at the counter. “On the contrary, I think it’s one of her better ideas. You should go if one of you wins it.”

  “As what?”

  “We can come up with a plan Katherine Squires. You are always so serious.” Mama said in a mysterious tone and I shook my head. She must have taken some sort of calming tonic, as mama had never approved of one of Maggy’s schemes before.

  Me going to the ball. I sighed. “Fate would never be so kind to either of us, or so cruel. No, but if I ever had the chance I’d march right up to Albert and tell him exactly what I thought of him.”

  Mama chuckled.

  The bell chimed again which broke the thoughts of my scolding dialogue in my mind. It was replaced with a couple of other thoughts as a young girl, a couple of years older than me, in a wide puffy dress, entered with her snobbish mother in tow. She was the king’s general’s daughter that lived in Eikenborough and a constant pain in my buttocks.

  “What is she doing here?” I mumbled and mother bumped me softly to warn me to hold my tongue.

  “Lady Ambers and Drizelda,” My mother curtseyed to them both. The older replica of her daughter just looked at mama with a fake smile and a raised eyebrow as she wielded her fan like crazy.

  “What can I help you with today,” mama asked as I tried to make myself taller than five foot two.

  “Lavender sweetwater,” Drizelda answered. “For some reason this is the only store that sells it.” She spoke down to us as her eyes scrolled all over the shop and landed right on my frame.

  She smiled with a twisted smirk and glided over to the register.

  She picked up the lottery ticket from the ball that Maggy had dropped off a couple of minutes ago and stared at it. She started to laugh and looked at me. “And what would you be going as, if you got chosen. Cinder soot.”

  I just stared at her and mother walked behind me giving me the eye that today was the day I should bite my tongue. I looked back down at the counter.

  “Cat got your tongue?” Drizelda asked.

  “I’m going to wait outside, dear,” Drizelda’s mom said and did a funny thing with her finger in front of her nose. I knew what it was, the spices and sweet smells didn’t mix so well together and it left quite a strong odor in the store, but mother and I were used to it.

  “Fine, I’ll be out in a second.” She said to her mother.

  “Will that be all, lady Drizelda?” mother asked.

  “Yes, I don’t want anything else from this disgusting smelly shop. Thank you,” she buffed her eyes.

  I bit hard and watched Drizelda tear my ticket slightly. “Oops, my bad.”

  “Not to worry, accidents happen.” Mother said and handed her the lavender sweetwater. “Put it on my bill, I’ll pay next time,” she told mom and left.

  I watched mother’s face as Drizelda left.

  “You know she is never going to pay that, don’t you?”

  “Katie, that’s enough.”

  “Mom, we are hardly getting by. She never pays her bills, you should’ve just told her we don’t do credit.”

  “And then what, she is betrothed to Prince Albert, and will be our queen one day.”

  “They are not even engaged yet.”

  “It doesn’t matter, everyone knows who she is. And you should start being nicer to her. I’m not going to lose this store because you can’t smile at her.”

  “She doesn’t deserve anything,” I said through clenched teeth. “Certainly not our lavender sweetwater.” I turned around and stormed to the back.

  I plunged down on a crate and the anger and humiliation of that cow crept up my throat.

  Don’t cry, Katie. It’s not worth it. She doesn’t deserve your tears. I couldn’t wait for Drizelda to leave Eikenborough and move into her palace. They deserved each other, but what would happen to all the other people then. They were already struggling so much and if those two were married, it would mean the end of civilization as we know it.

  * * *

  ALBERT

  * * *

  “Father, I don’t want to go to this time wasting ball,” I said. “This is mother’s affair, not mine.” I sighed. “Just let me be. I’m twenty years old, and soon, I’ll be marrying Drizelda. So I don’t see why I need to attend them anymore.”

  “Albert, we do things as a family. Without you there….”

  “You have to be there,” mother said. “Drizelda will be there too.”

  “Hiding behind a mask. What, you want me to find her now, and then what, Mother? We will be soul mates forever?” I snickered.

  “Don’t make fun of your mother’s beliefs, Albert.”

  “It’s silly Father. Seriously, what if I find another, then the lass will become my soul mate, right?” I humored her. “You will still make me marry Drizelda?”

  “Yes, but you will be attending my silly ball and you will wear a silly mask,” she said back as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

  “Fine, I’ll be there.” I threw the napkin on the table and stood up from breakfast.

  “And you’ll wear the mask?”

  Now she asked? “Yes, I’ll wear a mask.”

  I could feel her grin as her eyes bored into my back. For the past twenty years I’d said ‘no’ to many things. It was the easiest word to say. ‘No,’ not so difficult, but for some reason I couldn’t say it to the queen
. My sweet loving mother who had stood up for me so many times, protecting me from my father’s wrath. That was the only time her sweet loving side showed.

  I was their only son, but I knew my father had loved another. She’d died a long time ago, which was so wrong. To think if my grandfather had spared the love of my father’s life, my mother could’ve been a dragon.

  I’d grown up with the Metallic dragons. It was one of the things King Louie decreed when grandfather Alexander died. He signed a treaty with the Metallics as he knew they were not a danger to humans. My father had loved a Metallic.

  My tutor and nanny were both Metallics, and so were most of the high staff in the Royal Council. It was clear to everyone where my father’s love lay—with a dragon—but for me, his son from the womb of another he’d had to marry, he had little. He only showed love now and then, and it had started only recently.

  I was sure if I were the spawn of his dragon love, it would’ve been another story, but mother told me so many times not to take it personally.

  I would love my children, no matter who their mother was, even if it was Drizelda Longbottom. I loathed that woman on so many levels, she was a cousin of Caleb’s bloodline. Her father was married to King Normand’s sister and was a general in King Louis’ army. His sister was one of the most sophisticated women I knew and ran a finishing school in Etan. She’d opened a second one in Tith and rumor had it that she was doing quite well for herself and the Longbottom family. The end result was Drizelda: a very well educated young lady with a cruelty for the poor. Not that I had any love for the poor either. They had so many children and yet they had no money or intelligence whatsoever to raise them. If I were poor… no, I couldn’t even imagine it.

  I jumped at a sullen cry from down in the dungeons. It was the second time this month, and what I couldn’t understand was why on earth father did it.

  He loved dragons so much but he had no love for Chromatics.

  They were slightly different than his beloved Metallics. They didn’t like their human forms and they were not as gentle as Metallics.

  The Chromatics were fierce, they all had extra abilities and for some reason, people thought that they couldn’t be tamed. But they were wrong. I’d tamed a Night Villain, a name I’d come up with as this dragon was the color of the night and his demeanor that of a villain.