Audria was always right. She had been Kerrigan’s closest friend as a child before she had disappeared in the House of Dragons—a feeder program for wayward youth to join a tribe. And while Darby may be Bryonican now, she had been Kerrigan’s roommate when they’d both been Dragon Blessed nobodys.

“We can get her out of here,” Darby argued.

“To what end?” Audria asked. She plucked at her navy blue sleeve—the color of the Bryonican tribe. “If she doesn’t show, the House of Medallion will crush the House of Cruse.”

Kerrigan winced. The House of Cruse were her people. She might have been thrown out like the trash, but the people had always hoped for her return. They were innocent in this.

Two weeks ago, she’d been kicked out of the Society, lost her dragon, and insighted a riot against the same organization. Then war had broken out. She’d been called to battlefield to fight the recently released House of Shadows. They’d succeeded in stopping their advance, and she had been given her much coveted spot as a dragon rider, but she had to release her affiliation to the traitorous court only to regain the mantle she had shed at five years old—a Bryonican princess. Felicity Kerrigan Argon, First of the House of Curse, of Bryonica.

Now, she was set to marry her enemy to save her people. And no pretty dress could make marrying Ashby March any better. He wanted to be king too much to not follow through on his threat to use his troops to destroy her house if she didn’t marry him. He might have changed his tune after the battle when he’d deigned to see her as an equal, but love wouldn’t stay his hand.

“But…” Darby argued.

“Stop,” Kerrigan said with a sigh. “I’ve already made my choice. I was betrothed to March at birth. The documents were signed long ago. Legally, I could snub him and walk away from this marriage before the king and queen. The consequences though…”

Her friends looked up at her in dismay. As much as they all wanted to find another option in this, there was no other choice.

A knock sounded at the door. Mistress Hellina, First of the House of Stoirm, her mentor and surrogate mother all those years she’d spent inside the mountain, peaked her head inside. “Are you ready?”

“Helly,” Kerrigan whispered.

She rushed forward and took Kerrigan’s hands. “Chin up, my dear. You can get through this.”

She nodded. Helly had her back. She would still live in the mountain after this. She would still be a Society member. March would get his throne, but he would never have her heart. Never.

“I’m ready.”