For almost an hour, the young dragon and I danced without a break. I stumbled a few times and even managed to step on his feet more than once. Thanks to my long skirt, no one noticed—except for my irritated partner, who hissed angrily under his breath.

  “Frosty, you’ve stomped on both my feet. If you’re tired, go chat with your friend. Sky and I will take a walk over to our parents,” Maximilian growled in frustration.

  After another clumsy misstep, I managed to tread on his foot again.

  Snorting, I tugged him toward the edge of the dance floor. I wasn’t *that* bad at dancing; it was just that his movements were sometimes so sharp that instead of being led, I felt like I was chasing him, trying to keep up.

  “Don’t be mad, Frosty,” he suddenly whispered, pulling me closer and pressing a kiss to my temple.

  A shiver ran down my spine at the unexpected gesture. The feeling was both new and strangely familiar, and his closeness no longer felt overwhelming — it was… pleasant, stirring a warmth deep inside.

  “I’m not mad, but sometimes it feels like you’re doing it on purpose — leading so sharply and carelessly that I can’t help but step on you,” I muttered in response.

  Without pulling away, Maximilian chuckled softly.

  “Well, I guess you’re the first to say so. No one’s ever complained before. They just kept quiet and pretended it was fine,” he said, grinning.

  I stared at him in surprise, meeting his bold, grey eyes.

  “Some steps don’t come naturally to me, Aurora. But no one before you dared to call me out on it,” he explained.

  “Really? And yet you blamed me for messing up, even though you knew it was your fault?” I blinked a few times, still not quite understanding what game he was playing.

  His grin turned mischievous, and for a brief moment, his eyes flashed with a different hue.

  “I like it when you grumble. You pout those painted lips in such an adorable way that I can’t help wanting to kiss them again. We only have this one evening, little Frosty, and I don’t want to let go of this strange feeling I get when I’m around you,” he murmured, lowering his head closer to mine, his gaze dropping to my lips.

  My heart pounded loudly in my ears. I remembered our kiss on the balcony all too well and the emotions it had stirred in me.

  Without trying to stop him or pull away, I closed my eyes, letting him draw me even closer.

  “Maximilian, darling! I’ve been looking for you all evening,” called a bright, feminine voice nearby.

  Startled, I jumped back, shaking off the spell that had almost taken hold of me.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Max growled softly but quickly pulled himself together, forcing a polite smile onto his face.

  “Mother, you look wonderful this evening,” he said in a tone so calm it almost sounded rehearsed.

  Walking toward us briskly was a still youthful dragoness. Her light hair framed a sharp face, accentuating her large, jet-black eyes. But her smile resembled more of a predator’s snarl than any genuine kindness.

  “Your father told me about your companion. You’re not planning to do anything foolish, are you, my boy? Sereya is fiercely possessive, and Vir Ventus is watching you closely. A few dances with this little mage should suffice. Now, come along; I’ll introduce you to some of the Virs,” she said quietly, narrowing her eyes at me with barely concealed disdain.

  “I am not Vir Ventus’s lackey, dona!” Maximilian suddenly roared, and for the first time, I saw him truly angry.

  His eyes turned completely black, save for a red pinpoint at the center, like a smoldering ember.

  He stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body, and leaned toward the woman he’d just called Mother.

  “Remember your place, Flavia. I call you Mother in public out of courtesy, but you are nothing more than a barren woman standing at my father’s side. And tell Sereya that if she tries to chain me down, I will wrap her shackles around her delicate neck and hang her from the central square of Dracania. If I decide to mark someone, that choice is mine alone!”

  He inhaled deeply, straightening himself as his eyes returned to their usual form, and the anger vanished from his face as quickly as it had appeared.

  Dona Flavia blinked in shock, her red lips pursed in an offended pout as she stormed off toward the ice statue of Terragon, where the advisors and professors were gathered.

  “Let’s go, Aurora. I’ll take you to Camille. I need to speak with Skylar,” Max growled, holding out his hand.

  I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should take it. My hand trembled slightly after witnessing that tense exchange.

  “Sorry if I scared you,” he said softly. “That woman is one of the few who makes me lose control over the beast within. My dragon cannot stand her.”

  He reached out and gently took my hand, brushing it against his lips.

  “Don’t be afraid of me, Frosty. My dragon is not a threat to you. From the moment he sensed your magic, he chose you. Even without a mark, he sees you as his and will never harm you.”

  His words only unsettled me further. What did he mean by “sees you as his”?

  I was relieved to know I had nothing to fear from the black dragon, one of the strongest in all of Arcanea, but his declaration left me with an uneasy question. What consequences might this bring?

  Following Max along the edge of the ballroom, I decided I needed answers. The last thing I wanted was a surprise on my coming-of-age day in the form of a dragon showing up to place a mark.

  “What do you mean by ‘sees me as his,’ Max? I’m not going to become an Amatrix, even if the portal keeper plan fails. That kind of life isn’t for me. I don’t know how your mother endured it, knowing your father had a wife you call Mother. I could never do that—not now, not ever.”

  “She didn’t endure it, Aurora. She didn’t survive it,” Max said, his face briefly shadowed by grief before returning to its usual air of arrogance.

  “My father’s Amatrix died in childbirth, as did my grandfather’s, and his father’s before him. It’s the curse of ancient power: to give one life, it must take another. That’s why you will never be my Amatrix. You’re worth more than dying to give the House of Terragon another heir,” he said coldly, his steps never faltering.

  I stopped, forcing him to turn and meet my gaze.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. They don’t teach us anything like that about dragons in school.”

  Max’s expression softened as he ran a hand down my face. Leaning closer, he whispered:

  “Now you know the dark secret of my lineage, Frosty.”

  He brushed his lips lightly against mine, a fleeting touch, and then stepped back.

  Taking my hand firmly, he continued walking toward some unknown destination. I followed him without a word, still feeling the heat of his breath lingering on my lips.