The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 2

The stories said that the Dragon King had fallen into a deep sleep, and in the years since, the regent of the empire had been bringing in human girls to find a true queen. It was dumb. I had always thought it was just a scare tactic. It wasn't like they demanded girls from the upper class for the trial.

I closed my eyes, remembering a cousin who had been brought back. There was no way even to tell it was actually her. I shuddered, knowing that I would end up the same way. I sighed, trying to push that thought away, watching the mountains come closer. They towered over the forest, casting a shadow over the forest. When the caravan stopped, I slipped out of the caravan and straightened my spine. There was nothing there but the opening of a cave. My heart hammered against my ribs like a hummingbird. Lightning cut through the sky, and the air shook with thunder. The rain hadn't stopped since the funeral began.

Other caravans pulled away. There were at least fifty young women gathered at the top of a hill. My caravan was the last one to arrive. A unit of stoic people in armor with eyes like embers were there. We walked to join the procession down the stairs toward the large entryway on top of a stone platform. It was gilded and pouring out heat and light. The chamber was carved of stone that gleamed with veins of gold and bronze. As we reached the platform, it was clear that the light inside the passageway was pure fire. The closer we drew, the more the fire started to turn bright blue.

Panic clawed at my throat, and I watched the two flanking the passageway of fire drag a young woman forward and drag her to the passageway. She shrieked. The scent of burning flesh filled the air.

Everyone ahead of me screamed and scattered. I didn't move. I didn't even react to the feeling of one of the armored attendants grabbing my arm. It was chaos. I couldn't breathe from the scent of the burning flesh. The charred bodies were pushed aside as everyone in front of me was forced to the passageway. They dragged the bodies aside, and my stomach turned. I felt sick. The attendant holding me pulled me closer to the stairs.

The screaming stopped as the last girl fell to the ground in a burst of flame. Every step brought the fire closer. I was pulled up to the entryway. I looked at the attendants on either side of the entryway. The scales on their necks glistened in the light, and the swords gleamed.

"Walk forward, or you will be forced."

The attendant shoved me forward a step. I closed my eyes. The heat passed me. For a few moments, my eyes were filled with light. I heard the thunder rumbling in my mind. A beast rose over me. It was covered in golden and jade scales. It was beautiful. Then, it vanished. I opened my eyes to a beautiful foyer covered in gold and jade scales, just like the dragon. Every part of it was bathed in an ethereal, otherworldly glow. Moments later, a pair of armored attendants appeared. Their jaws dropped seeing me. Then, a flute and harp started to play like something out of the stories my dad told her about the Dragon King's palace back when the realms were still connected.

They stammered before bowing slightly.

"Your Majesty, please allow us to show you the way."

People poured out of the rooms, all of them dressed like the attendants but unarmored. They stared at me. They whispered, but I couldn't make out any of the words. Someone grabbed me from behind and marched me forward.

do now? I tried to pull free

taken to His

"No, Your Majesty."

"Don't call me that-"

visiting him. For now, we will show you to

have

the Trial," he looked at

shuddered at the thought. I tried to dig in my heels, but they kept pulling me along. The attendants hauled me

East Wing is the Queen's wing," the attendant said. "Currently, there is only one maid, but that

short, curly hair looked up. She jumped up and looked tense. She was bronze-toned and clearly nervous. "This is Maya," one of the attendants

and

to be

head. The attendants

know if there's a

"Your Majesty, you really--"

"It's Morgan."

Majesty. Let's.... find you something appropriate to

don't plan on staying,"

have a way around

"Not yet."