001: Three Months Later

My husband, Primus. Is dead.

My mate gave his life because he loved his wife and children so much that he was willing to die for them to have a chance at life.

Primus was the very best of mates. He taught me how to love.

I would gladly die a million deaths to have him by my side again.

But he died at his own brother's hands, another victim of the Starfell War.

Or at least, that is what I need to tell myself, because to admit the truth would be madness.

My wings, as black as night, float around me as they transform, and I fall into my preferred form, one more human than dragon. Now they are the gossamer sleeves of an elegant silk gown, my scales are gold sequins that make up the bodice and skirt. My hair, braided in hundreds of golden tendrils, is piled upon my head, the crown gifted to me on my wedding day woven between the strands.

On my wrist, a black bangle connects me to the Celestial Realm. On my hand, the ring that once connected me to my love.

I never thought I'd return to this place. But here I am, begging for aid.

Not for myself, but for what is left of my husband.

As I enter the breezeway, I am announced. Finely clad bodies swivel in my direction as elegantly adorned dragons and other creatures from all the many nations on our planet turn to see the infamous queen of the heavens--the queen who was a human until she married a prince and became a dragon herself.

"Queen Carnelia, welcome," Eleanora's smile falters as she takes in my elegant appearance. I think she was expecting me to be more human. "We weren't expecting you."

As she says these words, she motions to the throne on her left.

I turn my head to follow her hand and all time stops as my eyes adjust to what I am seeing.

Sitting in front of me on a high throne carved from stone is a drake who looks just like my husband. Except that I know it can't be him, because if Primus was alive and well enough to receive guests, he would be at my side, with our children.

"I require your assistance as Queen of Luxandra" I bow graciously, tipping my head at an appropriate level as I complete a high court curtsy. I rise to see startled faces throughout the crowd, not the least of all is the queen herself.

"I see," she replies simply. "And how can us lowly Terrans help someone as powerful as yourself?" Some of the lords and ladies in the audience chuckle.

"My children are sick," I explain. "And the cure is here, in Luxandra."

"My condolences," she replies with a small, pitying smile. "I do not see ..."

“We need your help,” I try to explain again, even though I realize my words are falling on deaf ears. I turn my body towards the corpse of my husband and beg. “Please, Primus, your children need you. I need you.”

A guard steps between me and the throne. I had taken several steps forward without realizing it. Eleanora's eyes are wide with shock.

“We heard your plea, Queen Carnelia,” Queen Eleanora speaks, her voice as clear and calm as water despite the terrified gleam to her eye. “But I don’t see how that is a concern of Luxandra. The health of a Celestial Dragon is a matter for the Celestial kingdom, is it not?”

“My children are dying, Queen Eleanora,” I try to keep my own tone calm even though my heart is raging. “If it were your children in pain, would you stop fighting for them?”

She sits there, observant, her hand on her perfectly formed chin. She inclines her golden head towards Primus, who does nothing but sit there, looking straight ahead.

“We can be merciful,” she smiles benevolently as if bestowing a great gift. “Bring your children to us. Luxandra will gladly provide the care they need in exchange for new trade routes and the reopening of the Eastern Gate...”

This petty, vengeful drakaina is using my children as leverage to get what she has wanted all along. I want to curse her name and set her throne on fire, but that won't get us what we need. My children need me to come back to them with a solution.

“Alone?” if they weren’t in so much pain, I wouldn’t be considering this farce of a negotiation. She's been trying to get me to give up one of my children in exchange for renegotiating our treaty, and now she is using my children’s illness to force my hand.

“Of course not,” her smile brightens. “Each child would be allowed one servant each.”

“I would need to stay with them myself as well,” I insist, my back straight as I look her directly in the eye. “For safety, of course.”

“Of course,” she inclines her head in agreement. Her eyes are kind, but her smile is poisonous, with just a touch of fang and no trace of the false kindness from before.

“The gate doesn’t open until they are all cured,” I declare. There is no way I intend to open a pathway into my country putting everyone at risk when she may very well be lying about extending her help or having the skills to help in the first place.

“Until they have all RECEIVED the cure,” she clarifies. “I cannot guarantee that it will work equally well on all of them. I want to make sure there is no misunderstanding between us if we intend to proceed in this... arrangement.”

There is so much to consider. So many risks.

But my children. I would risk anything to save them.

I give the other throne one more look. He doesn't move. He is no more my husband than a stone or a stick or any other inanimate object. My Primus would never sit still and expressionless while standing before him, begging for the lives of our children.

My Primus would destroy the world to keep us safe.

So this cannot be Primus.

This stranger is merely a ghost of him.

A body without a soul.

And yet, I cannot take my eyes off of him.

Primus.

I feel a small flutter of something like fear vibrate into my body from the ring on my hand.

Could it be...?

Looking over, Primus is still the same.

"Queen Carnellia...?" Eleanora's voice is strained as she attempts to regain my attention. I pull my eyes away from the throne next to her to meet her gaze. Her eyes are cold and hard, although her tone is gentle. "Do we have a deal?"

"Yes," I respond. "We have a deal."