Serra

se a dark blue riding habit, practical for tra

d a glass of warm milk. To the arrogant dragon-born, this wa

ing alone?" Phoebe asked, h

I told her. "But we're not le

ould surely have me watched. I co

side door that opened into the garden, Brian's

od with her hands on her hips, questioning me ang

d awakened early, making her a favorite in the

o make our family a laughingstock, didn't you?"

ning my perfect composure. "For Brittaney Kirk to be the

rrying Brittaney for the honor of our family! You

, you'll soon find out what real honor is, and what it means to brin

ulling Phoebe past her and quick

crest. Instead, we walked a short distance and hired the most

the palace. It went first to a resid

ity manor. Now, it was empty, the gate lo

r to wait and got

s a Dragonless who could never awaken a Dragon Soul, my father and brothers had sent me there to master

er mouth agape.

quiet, then opened the side ga

te courtyard, where an oak tree my fa

l silk pouch. Inside was a handful of soil I

se of the tree, pressing my fo

oul. "In my last life, my foolish compromise led to our complete destruction. But not this time. Please watc

covering her mouth

ees. The sadness on my face was gone, re

family, I had no more at

and I gave the driver a new

ew mirror, surprised, but turned the h

he distance, the golden-roofed Dragon Palace look

Guards in golden armor stood at the entrance, their hel

was an ironclad rule: the Dragonless were forbidden from co

ait, and walked alone toward the massive gates,

captain of the guard the signet ring that had belonged to my fat

my voice steady and ringing with undeniable authori