The Dragon's Kiss

Kel bit her lip.

The color of her hair wasn't the issue that had been plaguing her mind as she listened to Lila's story. After all, the real Princess Adriell also had golden hair and was actually of royal blood. Out of the two, she was far more likely to be the descendant of ancient kings.

Instead, the phrase that made Kel's breath catch in her throat and beads of sweat moisten her palms was the dragon's power. According to the tale, it was an unspeakably fierce ability, running through the very veins of Halrad and his posterity.

Dragons, the massive fearsome creatures they had always been depicted as, were only ever known for one supernatural ability.

Fire.

Coincidentally, Kel had been harboring the same odd ability her entire life.

This legend. Could it be a clue to her identity and the biological family she'd never known?

"What of the dragon's gift?" she asked Lila, patting her clammy hands against her dress. "What is it?"

Lila let out a sigh. "We don't know for sure. More specific accounts about the power have been lost to the pages of history."

Kel nodded, breathing softly in relief. Her abilities had been a secret her entire life. The idea of someone knowing about her powers, possibly more about them than she did, had given her an uneasy feeling.

The fact that the world didn't know what the dragon's gift was didn't mean Kel didn't have it. But it did mean there was a possibility her powers had nothing to do with dragons, that she wasn't connected to this underground cult, or this empire, at all.

"For centuries, the best historians have been looking into it, however," Lila went on. "We're nearly certain it relates to fire, especially given the accounts of Halrad burning his enemies to piles of ashes."

Kel froze.

"If it's fire.." she breathed to herself.

There were too many clues pointing to her. As much as she tried to deny it, there may be some connection between her and the rulers of old.

Glancing up at herself in the mirror, she wondered, could she really be someone like that?

"Yes? Do you have an affinity for fire?!" Lila asked excitedly, overhearing Kel's whispering.

Do I have an affinity for fire? Kel thought. Of course.

That's all she would have to say.

To tell these people that she had the gift of fire and show them a few tricks. Given their obsession with her hair, they may never even ask for proof.

Was she truly destined to be a great leader? To unite the continent just the way the Dragon Emperor was trying to? If she went along with The Yellow Marguerite, surely the dark-haired man would become her nemesis.

Did she want that?

On the other hand, she still wasn't certain she'd live much longer in the emperor's hands. Dash had never given her the exact timeframe, but she knew it was only a matter of time before news of the true princess's marriage reached Serin's ears. It could arrive any day now.

How would the emperor react when he found out? Would he look at her with a hurt expression? Would he accuse her of betraying him?

Would he want her to die?

She thought back to Lila's words in the library, how quickly the emperor had turned on his own when he was angry. Two men practically raised in servitude to the Dragon Emperor were slaughtered by his hand.

Surely Kel would face the same fate when the truth of her identity became known.

There was only one entity in the continent that had proved itself a formidable opponent for the emperor, and that was The Yellow Marguerite. When the day of reckoning came, the only place Kel would be safe was under these people's protection.

Was that a good enough reason to join them?

Given her lengthy conversation with Lila about the first emperor and The Yellow Marguerite's fixation of the great man's lineage, it was clear they wanted Kel to follow in Halrad's footsteps. They wanted her to be the new fearless ruler of the entire continent.

She had to admit, she'd never craved power. Taking Adriell's place regularly made her realize how deep and twisted the political world is. There are those who would trade their whole souls for a bit of authority. Then that small amount of prestige turned into a lifelong addiction, people slaving endlessly in the dark to climb the ladder of power.

Even the Dragon Emperor's throne was stained with the blood of his predecessors. The price to pay for dominance was always extreme.

What would Kel have to pay?

It would start with having to live out the revenge she'd once planned. Both the emperor of Serin and the king of Mevani would either surrender to her or paint the floor with their blood. The friends, those from Mevani and those she'd made in Serin, might all abandon her, or worse, run from her in fear.

Instead of genuine kindness like Lucy's and brusque honesty like Ira's, she'd be surrounded by snakes working to curry favor.

More concerning yet was the fact that she had no idea how to rule over a division of knights, much less an entire continent. She was only eighteen. The idea of anybody placing her on a pedestal with an empire at her feet was ridiculous.

When the cruel dust of war had finally settled, how could she possibly put the broken people back together again?

She'd almost forgotten. The war.

The only way to take over every kingdom was through battle, suffering and oppression. To unite the continent, she would have to burn her enemies to the ground just as Halrad did.

Then would she too be haunted by the memories of her deeds? Would the ghosts of those whose bodies could not even be distinguished from the dirt follow her for the rest of her life?

No. This isn't what she wanted.

She'd already glimpsed the destruction The Yellow Marguerite was capable of. When Soren proudly claimed that every injury and death of Serin's underworld was in Kel's name, she wanted to puke. How much more blood could he shed in her stead before she lost her mind?

"No," she declared firmly, locking her gaze with Lila's. "I don't have an affinity for fire. I'm not the person you're looking for."