E R I K

All my worst nightmares have come true. The Mad Prince has arrived, and I have no army to fight him. Outside, I hear the cries of men, women, and children, as the vampires attack the camp.

I stare down at Morgan and lightly run my thumb across her bottom lip.

"I would have liked to spend one last night in your embrace," I said.

Her eyebrows draw together in confusion. She looks so innocent and sweet in the candlelight. I shudder to think what the Mad Prince might do to her if she was captured.

I glance across at the General.

"Bring me a sword and armour," I ordered.

Morgan grabbed onto my arm. Her eyes were wide with panic.

"You promised that we would talk things through with the Mad Prince," she said.

"I will speak to the Mad Prince - but I'm not sure if he will listen," I replied. "He may try and take you from me. If that happens, I want you to take Poppy and Rupert, and run."

Morgan shook her head defiantly.

"We will make him listen," she said.

"Morgan, if the Mad Prince is not willing to listen, he will slaughter all the dragons in the camp - including me and Rupert. Poppy would be handed over to Henry, and you would forever be trapped in his court," I explained.

Tears burned in Morgan's eyes. She was frightened about what happened next. I pulled her tightly against my chest and closed my eyes.

"I wish we had met sooner. I wanted a whole lifetime with you," I said.

The General returned with weapons and armour. The armour was old and covered with dents and scratches. There was a spattering of dried blood from the previous owner. I put it on and hoped it would bring me better luck than its previous owner.

Morgan sat and watched me in the corner. Her face was ashen and etched with worry.

The General's wings twitched impatiently as he looked to me for orders. He was going to think I was mad when I told him my plans to try and make a peace deal between ourselves and the vampires.

"Come, Morgan. Let's go and see if the Mad Prince will hear us," I said, holding out my hand.

Morgan took it, and together, we walked towards the sound of battle.

We exited the building and saw the vampires tearing apart the camp. They were not killing dragons indiscriminately. Instead, they grabbed the dragon survivors and rounded them into the centre of the camp.

"Keep looking," a familiar voice boomed.

It was Henry, the King's assassin. He circled the dragon prisoners, checking each of their faces - he was looking at Morgan.

"Where is the she?" He yelled at the prisoners.

No one answered. Anger flashed across Henry's eyes, and he grabbed a young boy from his mother's arms. The boy screamed in fright, and his mother pleaded for Henry to give her son back.

Henry sneered at the woman and pressed a blade to the child's throat. The woman let out an ear-piercing scream.

"If none of you will speak, then I will have to start killing your young," Henry threatened.

Fury burned through me. What kind of low life threatened a child?

I tightened my grip upon my sword and fantasised about all the terrible ways I could make Henry suffer with my blade.

I took a deep breath and tried to keep my cool. Funnily, it was Morgan who lost her temper. She saw the child crying in Henry's arms and unleashed a volatile string of curses. Her pale, frightened face had suddenly turned dark and angry, like a winter's storm.

"Hey, asshole!" She yelled and raised her hand, now engulfed in bright blue flames, into the air. "Leave the kid alone, or I will burn your very soul out of existence."

Henry's scowl transformed into a wide smile the moment he saw Morgan.

He let go of the child and slowly walked towards her, arms opened.

"Morgan, how wonderful it is to see you," he said in a silky, smooth voice. "I've come to take you back home. Poppy is waiting for you in my carriage."

Morgan's eyes narrowed on Henry.

"I want to speak to the Mad Prince and his wife, Ebony," she said.

Henry winced slightly when Morgan referred to his Prince as 'mad' but pretended to ignore it.

"Prince Dante isn't here, I'm afraid. But I'll happily take you to his court," Henry offered his hand out to Morgan.

"She's not going anywhere without me," I growled.

Morgan nodded her head, "He's right. I'm not going anywhere with you unless Erik can come with me," she replied.

A flicker of annoyance danced across Henry's face. His hand slipped to the handle of the sword, and I reacted instantly, withdrawing my own sword and stepping protectively in front of Morgan.

I channelled my dragon fire through the sword and set the whole blade aflame. Henry eyed it warily, seething with anger.

"Don't even try it," I warned.

I kept my eyes focused on him - never once letting down my guard. This man had killed my kin. There was no way that I was going to let him take my mate as well.

Henry ignored me and focused on Morgan.

"Morgan, you are surrounded by five hundred soldiers. You are in no position to bargain," he said, exasperated.

Morgan stepped around me, cupping a ball of bright blue soul-scorching flame.

"I don't see five hundred soldiers here," Morgan replied.

"There are here, surrounding the camp, waiting for my next order," Henry smirked.

"But they are not here, standing between you, my flame," Morgan countered and playfully tossed her ball of blue flame from one hand to another. "All it would take to destroy you would be a single flick of the wrist."

The smirk disappeared from Henry's face, and for the first time, the King's assassin was left speechless. He quietly regarded the ball of blue flame in Morgan's hand. The fox flame was feared by vampires and dragons alike.

"I suppose I can allow Erik to accompany you - so long as he behaves himself," Henry said with a flourish of his hand. "But he must surrender all his weapons."

"That's fine with me," I said and tossed my sword to the ground.

Morgan glanced across to the group of dragons standing at the centre of the camp. They were watching us intently, probably wondering why their King was bargaining with a vampire.

Guilt clawed at my insides.

I was meant to protect them - but here I was, surrendering to a madman.

"I have further condition to add," I said, looking at the dragons. "I'd ask that you allow the remaining survivors of the camp to cross safely through the portal to Thorsbury Upon Wick."

Henry arched his eyebrows in surprise.

"Now, why would I do that?" He asked.

"I don't have the army to fight you - nor do I have the stomach to start another war. Why bother rusting good swords with the blood of innocent dragons. Let them go, and I will take them back to Thorsbury after all of this is done," I said.

Henry threw back his head and laughed.

"Are you mad? If I allow these dragons to live, then I will just end up fighting them again," he snapped.

"There would be no threat if the portals were sealed. The dragons would start a new life in the other world, while the vampires could stay here in the new one," I suggested.

Henry paused and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"If there were no dragons left to hunt in the mountains, then I would have no reason to leave the capital," Henry mused. "Fine, I'll keep the camp alive and see if Dante is willing to agree to your terms. If he agrees, then you can return back to Thorsbury Upon Wick. Otherwise.."

Henry dragged his finger across his throat.

I swallowed hard and glanced down at Morgan. I prayed that she knew what she was doing - we were gambling with these people's lives.

"You have a deal," I said.

"Then follow me; the carriage awaits," Henry said, turning his back and walking away.

Morgan slipped her hand into mine, and together, we followed him to the carriage. As we passed the group of survivors huddled in a circle, a few of them shook their heads disapprovingly at me.

"What would your father think?" One hissed at me.

The words hurt me. I felt myself freeze, and I wondered if I was doing the right thing - giving up on the mountains, my crown, and my kingdom.

Morgan sensed my unease and tightened her fingers around my hand. I looked down into her beautiful blue eyes and realised that she was my crown and my kingdom. I would do anything to keep her by my side - even face the wrath of my own people.

"We'll face this together, right?" I asked.

She flashed a smile at me.

"Of course. Now and forever," she replied.

My heart swelled.