Chapter 2

The whispers started immediately. Shocked gasps. Confused murmurs.

I looked at Isadora. Her face drained, flushed, then drained again. Excited. Guilty. Thrilled. All at once.

My father's voice could have melted stone. "Explain yourself."

Damien turned to face me directly. Our eyes locked.

You bastard. What are you planning?

"Because," he said slowly, "Princess Seraphina is not what she claims to be. She has deceived us all." He paused for effect. "She is a Wingless."

The hall exploded.

"Wingless!"

"Impossible!"

My father's rage was literally breaking the room apart. His white-platinum wings spread fully, creating a magical storm that forced everyone to their knees.

"You dare accuse royal blood?" he roared.

But Damien just smiled. "I dare speak the truth, Your Majesty. If I'm wrong, let the princess prove it. Let her show her true form. Let her reveal her wings." His eyes found mine again. "If she dares."

Clever. So clever.

He knew I couldn't do it. In my last life, he'd forced my transformation after months of torture. He'd seen my wings, red and white, strange and beautiful and unknown. Not an amethyst dragon.

He didn't know what I was. But he knew I wasn't what everyone thought. And he was gambling that I wouldn't risk it. That I'd rather be called Wingless than show them something they didn't understand.

"Well?" Father turned to me, his eyes blazing. "Transform. Now. Prove this fool wrong."

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

The room was so quiet I could hear my own heartbeat.

"Father, I—" I swallowed hard. "I'm not... I'm not an amethyst dragon."

The silence was deafening.

Then Father roared. The sound shook the entire palace. Dragons covered their ears.

"You WHAT?"

"Father, please listen—"

"You deceived me?" His voice cracked with betrayal. "You deceived the entire dragon race?"

"I'm not Wingless!" I tried to shout over the chaos. "If you'll just let me—"

"ENOUGH!" The word was a physical force. I stumbled backward. "I don't want to hear another word from your lying mouth!"

Damien was trying not to laugh. I could see it in his eyes. He'd won. He'd made sure I couldn't explain. Made sure everyone would think the worst.

The crowd was chanting now. "Wingless! Fraud! Liar!"

I looked around at their faces. Disgust. Anger. Contempt. These people had celebrated me hours ago. Now they wanted me gone.

"I'll go to the Eternal Winter Tomb," I said loudly.

The chanting stopped.

"What?" Father's wings faltered.

I lifted my chin. "I volunteer to be this century's blood sacrifice. I'll go to the dragon god and beg forgiveness for... for bringing shame to the royal bloodline."

Someone gasped. Someone else whispered "She's insane."

The Eternal Winter Tomb wasn't just dangerous. It was a death sentence. For the past thousand years, every sacrifice sent there had disappeared forever. It was where you went to die.

But my mother's last words echoed in my mind: Your destiny lies in the eternal winter, my darling. The dragon god will recognize your true blood.

Father stared at me for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly. "Three days. You leave in three days."

He turned to Damien. "Your marriage to Isadora is approved."

Damien bowed. "You honor me, Your Majesty."

I didn't look at either of them. I just walked out of the hall, holding my head high while the crowd parted around me like I was diseased.

That night, Isadora slipped into my room.

I was packing the few things I'd need for the journey.

"Seraphina?" Her voice was small.

I didn't turn around. "What?"

"I... I didn't know this would happen. I just wanted..." She was crying. "I just wanted someone to choose me."

I looked at her then. She wasn't evil. Just sad. Just desperate to matter.

"I know," I said quietly.

"I'm sorry."

"I know that too."

She bit her lip, then pulled something from her pocket. A small crystal charm on a silver chain. "Take this. It's my protection charm. Please."

I took it. It was warm in my palm. "Thank you."

"Be careful with Damien," I told Isadora. "He's not what you think."

She looked confused. Hurt. But she nodded.

After she left, I stood at the window, watching the aurora lights dance across the sky. Somewhere far north, the Eternal Winter Tomb waited.

Everyone thought I was going there to die.

They were wrong.

This time, I won't be anyone's victim. I'm going to find that power Mother promised me. And when I come back...