(Firstly, this chapter is dedicated to shadowfax_riders for the amazing artwork of Eulay. I cannot thank you enough.)

I turned my head and looked behind me, expecting to see some grand King walking up, his personality permeating authority. Yet, there was no one there. Who was this King she was speaking to? I turned my head back to the beautiful woman sitting on the throne in front of me.

Her green eyes piercing into my soul, my heart raced as my eyes took her in, she was incredibly beautiful, like no one I had ever seen. As my eyes met hers she just nodded her head, smiling a big smile to reveal pearl white teeth.

"Oh no", I said as I stood abruptly and took a couple steps backwards, running into Dree's side and stopping my withdrawal.

"I did just call you King. You're not actually King yet of course, but your bloodline and mine had an arranged marriage for the two of us many years ago, that was before you disappeared of course."

Disappeared? Well good thing I have never disappeared. I have pretty much known where I am my entire life. Relief washed through me, she thought I was someone else. I chuckled and rested my back against Dree's stomach, sliding to the floor as little beads of sweat that had formed at my hairline began to cool under the winds breath.

"You gave me quite the scare there lady. I regret to inform you that I am not who you think I am. I am an orphan. I grew up in an entirely different part of the world. Thankfully and most importantly, I have never been lost, so clearly this is some strange misunderstanding... Now if you would allow us safe passage out of here, we will be on our way."

Draioct craned his head around until we were eye level.

"You ARE who she is thinking of but that isn't the best part."

A draconic smile crept itself across his face as anticipation shone in his eyes over the next piece of information.

"You're going to be married..."

I wasn't awake long enough to hear him finish. I passed out for the second time in this strange tree people's Kingdom and along with my consciousness... left my dignity.

*****

I awoke in the same hut as last time, for a moment I was completely okay in lying to myself. This was all a bad dream. I didn't get told I am going to be a King, and I didn't get told I was going to marry that gorgeous girl, and lastly but most important, I did not already embarrass myself in front of her by passing out...twice.

Just then Draioct pushed himself to the forefront of my mind, enjoying his newfound ability to make me pass out.

"Hey there lover boy, when is the marriage?"

He poked his head in my hut through the curtain door, flapping his wings to keep himself level with the opening. It wasn't a dream. Thinking quickly I pushed into his mind and forcefully closed one of his wings, causing him to drop a good thirty feet, smacking his chin on the door frame as he fell, before opening his wing again and steadying. Dragons are such tough creatures, the pain involved would be similar to a human falling into bed at night.

We met eyes and bust into laugher simultaneously, the spark I remembered back into his eyes.

"Alright let's quit goofing around. Fill me in on what is going on. Also to set things straight, I will not be getting married today, or tomorrow, or for a very long time."

I peered over to him as he nodded his head.

"Let's go for a ride so we can talk."

I walked to the balcony and jumped off it onto Dree's back. He smoothly caught me and began flying off into the forest. The leaves atop the trees were so thick that they formed a ceiling of vegetation. This created a truly beautiful seclusion from the sky, it was like a new world. Enough light made it though that the area was well lit, with beams of pure daylight pushing through holes in the roof, creating beautiful pillars of light that looked almost magical in nature. We soared around trees, dodging them this way and that, banking and turning like we were lazily floating down a churning river. I closed my eyes for a moment and felt the cool breeze rustle past, blowing my hair and clothes in random directions and cooling me to the perfect temperature. We rode silently for a minute while Draioct let me regain my composure. I soaked in the peace radiating from this place. For a moment to problems of the world left my shoulders.

It had to end at some point.

"Alright brother, what are the two of you talking about with this whole marriage thing? I can reach into your mind and pluck it out, but I would much rather have you explain it."

You see the connection between our brains shared information perfectly, but there would be a difference in understanding between their two personalities. I needed to understand it how he understood it right now.

He glided for a second before flapping his wings again to keep us afloat in the air, calmly thinking of the best way to present his information to me.

"I guess the best place to start is with some background. This Kingdom is called Billadaire (Billa- Dare). Its an ancient oak forest kingdom, that has been the home to these people for much longer than our Kingdom. They are some of the first people on Earth, one of the four original bloodlines. The people themselves are called The Nadar, meaning nature. The Queen you met is Queen Eulay, she is the current ruler of the Nadar and has been for a hundred years."

Wait. A hundred years? She doesn't look older than twenty? I couldn't wrap my brain around this. My mind was drawing blanks.

"I know it's a lot to take in, let me finish so everything makes sense."

"Your true father came here to live in Billadaire in an attempt to make a lasting peace between the Nadar and the Humans. He married a woman of high status as a formality and a few years later you were born. You and the old ruler's daughter, Eulay, were to have an arranged marriage cementing the alliance."

I sat there in wonder as he was explaining parts of my life I never knew. My father was at the time some much respected noble in an old Kings Court, and part of a lineage that was completely wiped out by the Queen. Some say he was second to the King alone, trusted more than the King's wife. This alliance was to guarantee lasting peace, and the uniting of two kingdoms... until the Vadoris showed up.

"The Nadar are much more potent in magic than regular humans. When you were born they immediately knew that you were to be the next Alpha Dragon rider. When Queen Vadoris began rising to power and cutting down the riders a small group within the Nadar formed with concern over her coming here. They opted to give you up to the Queen in exchange for leaving their Kingdom out of the war. Half the Nadar did not agree with this and it led to a civil war for the first time in their written history. The civil war ended with your mother fleeing to the next Kingdom and neither of you were heard or seen from again, until now. Unfortunately your true father was killed defending you and your mother while you escaped."

I sat there in shock, the realization of everything that had just been told to me weighing heavy on my mind. I had this whole other life, some proper life, where I probably wouldn't have had to work hard every day. I wouldn't have had to go days without eating at points, as my stomach burned and growled with hunger. My mouth watering at the slightest smell of something edible.

It was another thing stolen from me by the Queen. I would never get to know my true mother or father.

Draioct landed in a clearing of the trees and let me get down so I could walk around. I needed a little time to think.

"Adam. Jack is still your father. I am still your brother, and we will always be here for you."

I stood there form a moment and thought over what he had said.

He was right. This new information was terrible, but it didn't change who I really was. There were times that things were terrible, but Jack raised me to be the man I am today. The trials made me stronger.

"I know this is a lot at one time but I must remind you, The Queen will probably still want to talk about the arranged marriage when we get back. I am sorry but have to remind you it is especially important now that you plan to fight Queen Vadoris, and you have a large Army. This may be the extra help we need to win the war. There is something special about her I just can't put my paw on."

Marriage. I did not see this coming this morning while I was eating breakfast. Could I marry a women I had never met? I had always dreamed of the type of marriage you hear about in old tales. I wanted a woman who was my better half, and we grew old till we sat in chairs on the porch and yelled at children. I knew this was something common among nobles, but I haven't been a noble very long. I am still getting adjusted to it.

I closed my eyes and was running through the information in my head. I was going to have to do this. It was the right thing to do. For my people. For the war. To honor an agreement my father had made.

The rest of the short flight back to the throne area kept my heart in my throat and butterflies bouncing around my stomach in anxiety. I do not know how to start this conversation.

We flew back into the kingdom center where the throne was located, Queen Eulay still sitting upon it, patiently waiting, almost as if in understanding of this new situation I was presented with. At the sight of her I got a strange feeling. It was something I hadn't noticed in the brief time I was in her presence before, she had a power of some sort. I could almost feel it radiate as we got closer to her.

"Draioct. Did we learn anything else about Queen Eulay, anything other than her past with my family?"

I could feel him searching within his mind, checking to see what he knew. He could feel what I was feeling but neither of us had an explanation.

"Actually Adam, that was the only thing we talked about really. I found this place and flew in without knowledge someone lived here, I just followed the pull of my instincts. After getting through that clearing they found me, and explained everything. I guess they knew it was you because of me and my uniqueness."

I took in the lack of knowledge and pondered a second.

"So you feel strange energy as well, what is that? I think she may be hiding something from us, and we need to find carefully find out. Maybe they want to trade me again."

Draioct shook his head in confirmation as we finally landed a small distance away from the throne. I tried to act calm and cool but I was ready to retreat if needed.

Queen Eulay was waiting for us with that smile I had now come to associate with her. She truly was one of the most beautiful women I had ever met whatever her intentions were. Under normal circumstances I would consider myself incredibly lucky for her to even talk to me.

I began to walk closer to her and she got up from her throne and met me half way. It was very humble of her and put me off guard for a moment. Even in my lacking knowledge of noble customs, I knew this was her showing everyone watching, that her and I were equals.

Upon reaching me she reached out and embraced me in a hug so quickly I hadn't been ready if it was an attack. The second our skin touched she placed her forehead gently against mine and the raw power at the center of me flashed and grew. I felt its strength increase in a way much different than when we added those first dragons to our pack. It was as if she doubled my power by unlocking something. Time slowed and I felt my skin almost harden. My surroundings heightened in definition and color and I sensed Draioct having the same affect.

She leaned back while keeping my body wrapped in an embrace, our faces within inches of one another.

"You're welcome." She said with a smile...and I melted. All guards I had for keeping a clear head left. The smell of her perfume lingered gently in the air, and our eyes connected. If she was a bad guy I was in trouble because I trusted her completely.

Her soft voice began speaking again, drawing me out of my stupor to pay attention.

"I have lots to show you, and tell you, but first I need your answer... I know that there is no love within the union, but I hope that feelings will develop with time. I can promise you that there are no tricks involved, but I will need an answer before anything is explained. Times are incredibly tough for the world and I have to be certain."

This is ridiculous, why is she testing us? What is it that she could be hiding, that would require our marriage to find out? The biggest question is what was with the power thing?

I stood there thinking my options over for a second, she continued to hold me in her grasp, her eyes watching me as I thought through the decision in my head. It was only a moment but it felt like forever.

"Alright. I will honor the arrangements that have been made for us. It would be my extreme honor to be your husband." I said, as I got on one knee for a moment and she nodded her head smiling.

The words surprising me as they came out of my mouth. I had actually decided I was going to take my chances and just go back to retribution, but when I opened my mouth my gut spoke and my body followed.

Draioct was watching intently from a few feet away and laughed out loud in excitement. His deep belly laughter making me feel confident in my abrupt decision.

Eulay embraced me again but tighter and giggled herself, her eyes sparkled it clear excitement at my acceptance. I felt some happiness seep into me as well, to my surprise. Unfortunately, the whole time I couldn't push the thoughts out of my mind.

What was she hiding?

She finally let go of me and smiled.

"Well its time I explain some finer details to you. We will go out on Draioct if you don't mind. I know a safe place for us to get to know one another."

I looked back at Draioct and he shrugged with his giant shoulders. We've come this far.

I went to help Eulay onto Draioct's back, only to have her agilely climb up on her own, each foot stepping in a similar manner to how I would have. I guess these forest kingdom people knew their way around dragons. After all they did all seem to move much more gracefully than anyone I knew. It seemed as if each motion she made was deliberate. She was delicate, yet unnervingly confident and carefree.

Draioct took off and began making his way to the Queen's location, she sat there and pointed out the directions as we flew farther from the Kingdom's heart. When we were cruising flat she leaned back against me in the saddle, I was surprised at how quickly she seemed comfortable with me and giddy. I suppose she grew up knowing about this and waiting in excitement. Girly fairytale things.

I however, felt uncomfortable the entire time. I was nervous and my hands were sweating like I just washed them. She turned her head and spoke as if she had read my mind.

"I hope I am not making you uncomfortable, I realize that this may be new to you but I have been waiting almost twenty years hoping you would come back."

I knew it.

I thought about that as she turned back and pointed to a spot for Draioct to land. I decided that it didn't really make me feel any better, if anything it made me feel worse, I was only twenty years old. It really put her age back into perspective in my mind. I felt myself ease a little, I guess compared to how long she will live, it is as if she is actually twenty, similar to dragons. I will be long dead before she gets too old. I am probably one of many husbands she will have.

We landed in the clearing and she jumped down from Draioct's back. I had gasped and reached for her, expecting her to be harmed from falling the distance, however she landed without so much as a scratch. I was amazed. These people were much different than us indeed.

I looked around our new location and began taking everything in. It was very secluded, with walls of brush and vegetation blocking everything off. It was truly a perfect place to tell secrets. Me and Draioct were busy studying the area when Eulay began to speak up, we turned around to find her standing on a mound of dirt a few feet away.

"I wanted to thank you for accepting our proposal for marriage, it was important for you to accept before I told you my secret...I am an Alpha Rider as well."

As she finished her sentence a large white blur swept down from some unknown location and landed next to Eulay smoothly and quietly. Her dragon was the purest white I had ever seen, its lines were smooth and elegant. The dragon's size was larger than most normal dragons, but still smaller than Draioct. She looked to be the exact opposite to Draioct in appearance, in every aspect he was tough and strong, she was smooth and elegant.

"I want you two to meet Aisling." She and Aisling bowed deep and elegantly. "We are going to help you win the war...Husband."