The Dragon Princess: Sleeping Beauty Reimagined (The Forgotten Kingdom Book 1)

by Lichelle Slater

  I didn’t miss my father’s look of skepticism.

  “I know it’s a long shot,” I said before he could. “I’m still going to try. And then I can threaten him with attacking if I need to.”

  My father nodded. “I can speak with the dragons and see what they feel. You go speak with Dormir and his people. I know you two have grown close.”

  I didn’t hide my smile or blush this time. I liked Dormir, and I wasn’t going to be ashamed of that. He wasn’t Gerard. He wasn’t going to twist a dagger in my back and leave me for dead.

  I spoke with Dormir and his mother.

  She wasn’t confident at all in the plan. “We are already so few in number and have children to protect,” she said, glancing at Dormir.

  He scowled. “Mother, I’m not a child anymore. I’m the future king, and … if this is the act that proves it, then please let me step up.”

  “But, your head—”

  He tilted his chin down. “Mother.” He gestured with both hands toward me. “I went out on my own and found the lost dragon.”

  “Accidentally,” I interjected.

  “Still found you!” He grinned.

  I chuckled and shook my head.

  “In all seriousness, though,” Dormir added, “I know the risk. Elisa knows the risk.”

  “I just don’t think I can give you an entire army.”

  I stepped up. “I’m not expecting an army. I’m expecting however many men and women are willing to volunteer. If it’s only five, so be it. We will figure things out.”

  We had to or all could be lost.

  Twenty-Two

  The day we left, we had about fifty faeries, including Dormir, and four dragons: Nicholia, my parents, and myself. Everyone else stayed behind, protected in the mountaintop. I didn’t know what to expect. I’d never been in battle, and reading about battles never gave anyone experience either.

  Dormir rode on my back as we descended into the valley below and headed for the rightful land of the faeries. “You’re quiet,” he called over the wind, his cheek pressed to my neck.

  “I don’t know what to say. I’m practicing the conversation I might have with Gerard.”

  “Hm … I can’t imagine one can adequately prepare for that conversation.”

  I coasted on a wind current. “I completely misread him. I believed he was different. And now the entire kingdom is paying the price.”

  “Not yet. He hasn’t won yet, Elisa.”

  The forest below grew sparse as roads came into view, and small villages and towns dotted the landscape. We began our descent, and my stomach rose into my throat. Talking about being brave is one thing. Actually being brave is another.

  When the castle came into view, I actually turned away until Dormir asked me where I was going. “I can’t do this!” I gulped for breath.

  How can I possibly face a man daring enough to leave a princess behind to burn? A man willing to hurt my family? No, he’d never said he’d hurt them. He said he’d lie to them. But how else would he pry the throne from my supposed mother?

  Dormir rubbed his hand up my neck. “Breathe. You can do this. Remember how excited you were to show Gerard how strong you are?”

  “But he could be stronger than we know! Maybe he could actually kill a dragon! He left me for dead once, remember?”

  “Then what about your sisters?”

  I peeked over my shoulder at Dormir.

  “How do you think they feel right now? They think you’re dead. If Gerard really did take the throne already, that means he’s betrayed their trust too. If you aren’t here to exact revenge on him, do it for your sisters.”

  “You’re right.” I redirected my attention forward. “If I don’t do this for anyone else, I have to at least do it for them.”

  Even saying that aloud didn’t appease my nerves.

  We landed far enough away that no scouts from the castle could have spotted us and reported us to Gerard. The dragons with us transformed and the group continued the rest of the way on foot, dispersing into the trees as to not draw any more attention to us than necessary. Nicholia took a group toward the north end of the castle, my mother took a group eastward, my father took a group toward the western walls, and I walked beside Dormir as we approached the southern side, the entrance of the castle.

  “This feels surreal,” Dormir said. “My whole life I’ve wondered what it would take to reclaim our land. It’s not that I wanted the throne,” he added.

  I smiled reassuringly. “I never wanted the throne either. I prepared because it was my duty. It’s a lot of pressure I don’t want. In case you didn’t notice by now, I don’t exactly handle pressure very well. I’m afraid I’ll fail.”

  He shrugged. “Failure is inevitable. Just dust yourself off and try again.”

  “Yes, but this failure could cause the lives of—”

  “People who stepped up knowing that was a possibility.” Dormir caught my fingers. “How many times do you need me to tell you we all know the risks?”

  I stopped and faced him. “That’s the last time. I know it does me no good to worry, and yet I do. Thank you for being patient.”

  He grinned. “Always. Remember, this is for your sisters. Even if you can only get them to safety, we will all understand.”

  I kissed his lips and we were on our way. Barely two weeks ago I had started my transformation into a dragon, and here I was storming the castle!

  The familiar sounds of the guards calling to each other as they switched their posts made my heart relax. I took a deep breath and smelled the hint of peaches in the air and knew the cook must be making some of her amazing peach jam. The castle came into view, and I recalled how Marigold and Dahlia had run with me to the wizard to have my dress changed for my birthday celebration.

  My heart swelled. Dormir was right. If I did anything, I needed to do it for them.

  “I can do this,” I said out loud.

  Dormir pulled me close and pressed his lips to my forehead. “Yes, you can. Go on.” He winked. “I’ll wait for your signal.”

  I straightened, lifted my chin, and stepped into the road. Each step I made brought me closer to the castle and to an unknown future. I studied the guards on the battlements of the castle walls. They wore our colors, but something was … off. They stood rigid, heads visible between the parapets.

  I also realized I couldn’t see their faces. Our guards wore helmets with their eyes and face exposed. But these helmets were different. They weren’t decorated with any symbols or styles, just plain metal with narrow slits where the eyes should be, and their mouths were covered with a metal grate.

  The tiny hint of comfort I’d felt was now gone. These men might have been wearing our colors, but they weren’t our soldiers. I was grateful I hadn’t announced my presence yet.

  However, when I drew nearer the gates, one of the soldiers called down in a dull voice, “Name and purpose!”

  “My name is … Aura, and I am here to speak with the queen!” I called back at the voice.

  A soldier appeared around the edge of the wall beside the gate and peered at me. He wore one of our helmets, and I recognized him from being around the castle. His eyes widened when our gazes met, and he headed for me in a brisk walk. “I’ll speak with her!” he called. He came to a stop two feet a way and leaned in close before he glanced over his shoulder. “Princess, you should go. Get to safety. Prince Gerard—”

  “Took the throne?” I asked in an equally low voice. “Why do you think I didn’t use my name?”

  He eyed me. “He’s imprisoned your sisters and your parents.”

  “Did he say why?”

  He shook his head. “Only that he was going to rule the kingdom now.”

  I arched my brow. “And none of the soldiers tried to stop him?”

  Again, the soldier glanced over
his shoulder. “He … has magic. Not like the wizard Jarrett. Not like anything I’ve ever seen.” He faced me again. “He’s dangerous, Elisa. He’s turned the lowest of the guards into … into … monsters.” He shook his head. “You should go while you have the chance.”

  I patted his arm reassuringly. “I know what I’m doing.” I grinned. “I’m the dragon princess, remember?”

  He didn’t smile back.

  “Where is he keeping my family?”

  “Your parents are in the dungeons. Your sisters are in their room.”

  “Did you send her away?” the soldier above the gates called down.

  “I want to speak with Gerard,” I said as evenly as possible. “We have help. Faeries and dragons.”

  “Captain?” the voice hollered.

  “She wishes a conference with Prince Gerard.” He finally tore his gaze away from mine. I knew he didn’t understand and that he was nervous for my safety, but I had to try. He motioned for me to follow, and I fell into step at his side. “You’re risking a lot,” he whispered.

  “I know. But what kind of princess would I be if I ran away?”

  He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes.

  The soldiers at the doors pushed one open for me, and I stepped into the home I’d grown in. Being back was bittersweet, especially given the circumstances. The polished wood gleamed like it always had, but the wood had taken on a dark tone.

  I turned to my right and stepped into the throne room.

  Gerard sat upon my mother’s throne, and on his head sat a silver crown with four spires and grand designs. In one of those spires sat the spring stone. “Elisa. You’re alive! What a relief!” He leapt to his feet, as if he were genuinely excited to see I hadn’t burned to a crisp after all, and rushed toward me.

  I put my hand out, stopping him from getting any closer. “I’ve come to talk with you and make a proposition.”

  “Oh?” He arched his brow.

  I’d forgotten how attractive he was, how his smirk came so easily to his lips, how his brows shadowed his eyes. I wasn’t falling for his looks or flattery this time. “You return the throne to my family, and I let you live.”

  Gerard blurted a laugh. “You’re hardly a threat to me, dear girl.”

  “I am curious how you usurped the throne.” I folded my arms.

  He waved his hand dismissively before placing it behind his back. He walked a circle around me. “It doesn’t matter. Minor details. What I do want to bring up, though, is that you and I are still engaged …”

  I watched him walk but didn’t move my feet. “Not anymore. You sort of broke off our engagement when you tried to kill me.”

  He stopped on my opposite side and pouted. “Me? Leave you to die? I would never!”

  “Gerard, I’m not playing this game,” I said firmly. “Release my family. Now.”

  “Or what?”

  “You forget I’m a dragon,” I replied. I held out my arms so he could see the scales had disappeared.

  His eyes moved to my face, and I knew he was looking for the horns that were also no longer there. Gerard’s grin slowly faded. “So that’s how you survived, hm? I imagine in your brave moment you saved the faeries as well? That’s rather unfortunate.” He tapped his finger to his lip and paced.

  “I never said I saved them,” I muttered, adverting my eyes to the floor in an attempt to lie to Gerard and appear sad they’d died. “The fire had already spread.”

  “Am I to believe you didn’t save a single fae? Not even the boy who guided us to his home?” He arched a brow, his look full of distrust.

  “This isn’t your castle, Gerard,” I said firmly. “You aren’t the king.”

  He heaved a sigh and withdrew a parchment from a pocket inside his jacket. “I have a document here that says otherwise. Written in your mother’s hand and signed with her seal.” He held it out.

  I snatched it from his fingers and read it over. Indeed, it was my mother’s script. Indeed, it was her signature and seal. I scoffed and raised my brow. “You want me to believe my stubborn mother would sign over the throne? What did you do to force her to do it?”

  Gerard shrugged his shoulders and slid his hands into the pockets of his pants. “I may have persuaded her, but only a little. It turns out she adores your sister, Marigold. Dotes on her like she’s glass. Have you ever noticed that?”

  He had seen the way my mother treated me the night of my birthday. Gerard had seen how she talked to me, and he knew those words would sting.

  I tightened my hand into a fist, crumpling the side of the document. “What did you do to Marigold?”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not that cruel.” He rolled his eyes. “I’d never torture a child.” He swung his feet out as he walked back to the throne. “I merely gave her some nightmares.” He raised his right hand and moved his fingers. Black smoke gathered around them, dancing like the smoke above a candle.

  The hair on the back of my neck prickled. Dark magic. It had to be. Quist had said Gerard was raised in darkness. “Allow me to take Marigold and Dahlia. And then … and then you and I can talk.”

  “What in the forest would we possibly have to talk about?” He sat down. “You aren’t exactly in a position to make demands, sweet Elisa. I have your family. You have an empty and unspecific threat.” Gerard held his hand out. “The document.”

  “Oh, you mean this?” I narrowed my eyes at him. Ferocity trickled from my chest to my fingertips, and the document burst into flame. Had I been in another situation, it might have surprised me, but I didn’t have time for that now. I dropped the burning paper to the floor, allowing it to burn to a crisp.

  Gerard lowered his hand and narrowed his eyes into a glare. This was the real Gerard. The side he’d kept hidden from me. “I don’t need a document. Your people don’t care, and I’m already on the throne. I now run your kingdom whether you like it or not. It’s best if you allow this to happen.” He pressed his fingertips together.

  I wanted to claw that stupid smirk off his face. “I could burn this castle to the ground with you inside of it,” I sneered.

  “And your family.” He shrugged. “Go on.” His sneer curled. “Let’s see what the big scary dragon has got.”

  Apparently, I wasn’t great at talking my way out of things. I didn’t have anyone to ask or anyone to lean on for support. This was all me. The choice Quist said was mine. Whatever I did in this room would decide the future of my kingdom, the faeries, and the dragons.

  He leaned forward as I weighed my options.

  I knew in a foot battle, he’d win in two blows. In spite of my meager training, he was a prince, and by the way he wore himself, he knew how to handle a sword much better than I did. I’d already tried asking, and that hadn’t worked.

  I shook my head. “The throne isn’t even Queen Rachel’s to give,” I said. “The throne belongs to the faeries.”

  Gerard pointed to the purple stone in his gaudy crown. “Why do you think I obtained the stone first? Unlike your ancestors, I didn’t need to start a war to get the throne. The stone has always been a symbol of royalty. I got what I came for.” He leaned back, his smug look accentuated by the stubble along his jaw. “What are you going to do about it, my beauty?”

  “Your beauty?” I stretched my fingers and extended my claws.

  “Admit it, Elisa, you’re not too bright,” Gerard chided. “You didn’t know the truth about anything in your kingdom or about yourself, until I revealed it to you. You put your trust in me and gave up everything. Love at first sight, you called it. Of course, I’ll still keep you as my wife. You’re pretty.” He motioned to one of the guards standing at the door. “Take her to my new bedroom.”

  I’d felt anger several times in my life.

  I thought the most intense moment had been when I thought the last of the faeries had been killed, when my mo
ther announced my engagement, or when I felt defeated in the woods. I’d felt so much anger my dragon side had tried to wake. Had I known then what I knew now, I wouldn’t have held back the anger. I would have torn him apart that night.

  This anger was far more intense.

  The heat started in my chest, searing and aching like when your fingers get too cold and you hold them by the fire to thaw them. The heat rapidly flooded into my extremities.

  One of the men grabbed my left elbow. I looked down when I realized there was no warmth to his touch. He wore no gloves, and I saw the bones of fingers holding on to me. I turned and slammed my right hand into his chest. A crackling explosion of ice radiated from the center of his chest and wrapped around him as he stumbled backward.

  “Elisa, don’t fight,” Gerard warned.

  I turned and found him standing with dark smoke swirling around both of his hands. “I will never be your wife. I’m not going to lie on a bed and let you take me. I’m not afraid of you. You will set my family free. You will return the spring stone to the faeries. And you will leave my kingdom.”

  Gerard shot his hand out, palm extended toward the floor. His eyes glowed orange, and the shadows in the corners of the room began to move as he whispered an incantation in a language I didn’t know.

  “No you don’t!” I growled.

  With my claws extended, I released a roar with everything I had inside of me. The same burning sensation exploded from my chest, through my throat, and out my mouth, and fire engulfed the throne room. The sound of the roar broke Gerard’s concentration, and he had to clamp his hands over his ears while the chandeliers overhead trembled.

  Before I was a dragon, I would have frozen in horror.

  I would have stood in shock, apologized, tried to fix what I’d done.

  But I had to save my kingdom from this monster of darkness.

  Twenty-Three

  While Gerard recovered, I ran from the room, slamming the door shut behind me. I knew Dormir had heard my roar, and he wouldn’t have spared any time sending his men and women toward the castle.