Rain lashed against the broken stones of Blackfang Pass. The battlefield still smoked from fire and blood, corpses scattered like discarded dolls.
Aric staggered forward, gripping the hilt of his chipped sword. His armor hung in pieces, dented and scorched, but he had survived. Barely.
"Damn mercenary life…" he muttered, spitting out blood. His comrades had all fled or died when the dragon descended, leaving him alone in the carnage.
Yet the skies were silent now. The dragon that had destroyed armies… was gone. Or so he thought.
A low, ragged growl echoed from the shadows of a shattered cliff. Aric froze. Slowly, his eyes adjusted — and there she was.
A massive dragon, scales like obsidian, wings torn and dripping with blood. One golden eye glared at him with primal fury. The beast's chest heaved, each breath rattling like thunder.
Aric's heart hammered. Every instinct screamed run. But something pinned his feet to the ground — not fear… fascination.
Then the dragon shuddered, collapsing forward. In a burst of flames and smoke, her colossal form shrank, twisting, folding, reshaping… until what lay before him was no beast.
It was a woman.
A woman with long black hair, torn silver armor clinging to her bloodied body, and those same golden eyes that glowed like suns. Even on the brink of death, her beauty was terrifying.
Aric stumbled back. "A… a dragonkin?"
Her lips curled, exposing sharp canines. "Human…" she hissed, her voice hoarse but commanding. "Come closer."
"Not a chance." He tightened his grip on his sword.
She smirked weakly. "You think you can kill me like this? Fool. If I die here… so do you."
Aric's eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you talking about—"
Before he could finish, she raised her hand. Ancient runes flared in the air, glowing crimson. A wave of burning energy surged toward him, slamming into his chest.
Pain exploded through his body, his vision swimming with fire and light. His veins burned as if molten lava replaced his blood. He collapsed to his knees, choking.
Then—he felt her.
Her heartbeat thundered in his ears. Her fear. Her rage. Her soul. It was inside him, entwined with his own.
"No… no, what have you done to me?!" Aric gasped.
The dragon princess's golden eyes locked onto his. Her bloody smile was both cruel and strangely tender.
"I have bound you, human. From this moment on…"
She leaned closer, her breath hot against his ear.
"…you are mine."