Chapter 1

I helped Cassian conquer the seven floating cities and claim the Dragon Throne.  

On the day he became king, he cast me aside for a lowborn dragon girl.  

I exposed her as an Abyss spy, and she killed herself before the court.  

Cassian thanked me in public, but he never forgave me for taking her away.  

Years later, he accused me of serving the Abyss, slaughtered my entire fire-wing clan, and burned me alive.  

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at his coronation.

The Sky Palace was packed with guests.

Rulers from all seven floating cities had come to celebrate Cassian's victory. Musicians played beneath the gold banners, servants carried endless trays of food, and every table overflowed with wine.

I stood beside the throne in my red battle coat.

For three hundred years, I had fought beside Cassian, the western dragon rider. My fire-wing clan had supplied soldiers, weapons, and healing flame. We had driven the Abyss dragons beyond the Black Ridge and forced every city to bow to his banner.

Everyone knew about our blood contract.

Everyone expected me to become his queen.

When the music stopped, Cassian lifted his cup.

"Today, I have another piece of good news," he announced. "After searching for a hundred years, I have finally found the woman I want to spend my life with. I hope you will all bless us."

The guests turned toward me.

The lord of Cloudmere raised his cup. "Congratulations, Lady Ayla. We always knew you would be our queen."

Several others joined him.

"Congratulations!"

"Lady Ayla, you and the new king make a perfect match."

For one brief moment, the hall felt warm.

Then Cassian cleared his throat.

"Seren," he called. "Come and meet everyone."

A young woman stepped from behind a silver screen.

She wore a simple white dress. Pale scales showed at her throat, and her silver hair fell loose over one shoulder. She looked fragile beside the armored guards.

Cassian looked at her with a tenderness he had never shown me.

"This is Seren," he said. "She saved my life during the Black Ridge campaign."

He took her hand and faced the court.

"I swear before the seven cities that Seren alone will be my queen."

The hall went silent.

Then the whispers began.

"What about Lady Ayla's blood contract?"

"Cassian reached the throne because of the fire-wing clan."

"He is throwing away the woman who fought beside him for three centuries?"

"I heard Ayla almost died saving him more than once."

Every word struck harder than an accusation.

Cassian's expression turned cold.

"Seren saved my life," he said. "If I refuse to marry her after that, I would be the one breaking faith."

He glanced at me.

"As for Ayla, I remember her service. I will give her half the treasures in my vault. She will have more than enough to live comfortably."

Half the treasures.

That was the price he had put on three hundred years of blood and fire.

Seren lowered her eyes.

"I never wanted to take anything from Lady Ayla," she said softly. "If my presence makes her unhappy, I can leave."

Cassian pulled her closer.

"No one will send you away."

His voice was gentle. His hand rested protectively over hers.

I saw a black mark flash beneath her sleeve.

An Abyss scale-burn.

In my first life, I had exposed that mark before the whole court. The crowd had demanded her death. Seren had swallowed poison before Cassian could stop her.

I thought he would thank me.

Instead, he spent years planning my ruin.

He had called my clan traitors, chained me beneath the palace, and made me watch as his soldiers butchered five thousand fire-wings. My father had begged for my life. Cassian had cut off his head.

I had already paid for saving him once.

I would not do it again.

Cassian looked at me. "Ayla, you have always been sensible. Accept the treasures and stay in the palace. If you insist on remaining by my side, you can serve Seren. Treat her well, and perhaps I will give you a title later."

A stunned murmur moved through the hall.

He wanted the fire-wing princess to serve the woman who had replaced her.

Seren finally looked up. The softness in her eyes was gone. She watched me as if she were waiting for me to kneel.

I laughed once.

"You want me to be her servant?"

Cassian's jaw tightened. "Do not make a scene."

"You made the scene when you announced her as your queen."

"I can give you anything except that position."

"I don't want anything from you."

I drew my dagger.

The blood-contract seal burned on my wrist. Breaking it would tear through my own magic, but I pressed the blade into the mark anyway.

Red light burst across the floor.

The ancient contract shattered.

Several guests stumbled back. Guards reached for their swords. My clan warriors stepped between them and me.

Cassian stared at the blood running down my hand.

"You will regret this," he said.

"I regret choosing you."

His face twisted with anger. "After everything I built?"

"You built nothing alone."

"I can take back every soldier your clan placed under my command."

"Then take them."

The western dragon riders drew their blades.

My warriors drew theirs.

For a breath, the coronation feast stood on the edge of war.

I turned away from Cassian and walked toward the palace doors. My clan followed me through the stunned crowd.

Behind me, Cassian shouted, "Ayla! Come back!"

I did not stop.

At the threshold, I looked over my shoulder.

"Our blood contract is void. We're done. Stay out of my life, and I'll stay out of yours."

I held up my bleeding wrist.

"Do not come looking for me again."