Beginning of flashback
The royal city of the Naga lay hidden within a vast, misty valley, carved into towering cliffs of dark stone and lush jade. High above, waterfalls spilled over ancient rock faces, feeding a network of crystal-clear canals that threaded through the entire kingdom like glittering veins.
The architecture was a seamless blend of smooth, dark marble and intricate stonework, with archways carved to mimic rising serpent hoods. Flowers with glowing petals bloomed along every stone balcony, filling the warm air with a sweet, lotus-like perfume.
The Naga were a majestic, ancient people. Many of the adults moved about in their elegant human forms—though their true nature remained visible in the subtle, iridescent patches of scales shimmered along their jaws, collarbones, and wrists. The younglings, however, were still bound to their true naga forms. Unable to shift until maturity, the children slithered gracefully through the halls, their serpentine lower bodies carrying them with surprising speed while their human torsos remained lively and expressive.
Above all, the royal bloodline was instantly recognizable: they bore striking, iridescent blue-black scales that gleamed like a midnight sky beneath the light.
I held Eryn's hand firmly in mine as we passed beneath the grand jade gates of the palace. Cascades of water ran through channels cut into the white stone, catching the afternoon sun until the fortress seemed to shimmer.
"This," I said with a grin, "is my home."
Eryn tipped his head back, his dark eyes widening as he took in the towering pillars carved with coiling nagas. "It is beautiful," he said softly.
"It is." I looked at him instead of the palace, taking in his soft features against the backdrop of the grand citadel. "But not nearly as beautiful as my companion."
He laughed, a faint blush warming his cheeks as he lightly nudged my shoulder. "You become bolder every day."
"I have a handsome priest to impress."
"I am still only a priest in training."
"You are still handsome."
He rolled his eyes, though the bright smile on his face refused to fade. "I have created a monster."
"Not a monster, my love. Just a prince who is crazy about you."
I squeezed his hand and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before leading him through the tall archways.
As we walked through the wide corridors, royal guards and servants—their dark blue-black scales glistening in the sunlight—bowed deeply as we passed. Some offered polite smiles, but others stared openly at the human walking hand-in-hand with their prince. I ignored them. Their opinions didn't matter to me.
The Grand Audience Hall was already packed with courtiers and noble family members. Heavy velvet draperies hung from the ceiling, and the polished floor reflected the bright light streaming through the arched windows.
At the center of the hall, seated upon twin thrones carved from solid dark oak and gold, sat my parents in their human forms. My father was a towering, regal figure with sharp golden eyes and dark blue-black scales framing his jawline. Beside him sat my mother, her presence soft yet majestic, her own blue-black scales shimmering delicately along her throat and wrists. Her gentle smile faltered the moment her eyes landed on our joined hands.
Beside the throne was my little brother, Cassian. Still too young to take human form, his upper body rested against the dais while his long, glossy blue-black serpent tail coiled comfortably around the base of the throne. He watched us with wide, curious eyes.
My eldest sister, Lyra—tall, sharp-witted, and human-shaped, save for the dark blue-black scales decorating her neck and temples—was the first to step forward.
"So," she said, a teasing grin spreading across her face, "the mysterious reason our brother has been disappearing every few days finally has a face."
I laughed. "It does."
She walked straight up to Eryn, her dark eyes scanning him from head to toe. "So this is the human."
Eryn bowed respectfully, his voice steady despite the dozens of eyes on him. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
Lyra smiled. "Oh, he's polite."
"He has to put up with Kael," my younger sister, Mira, said as she stepped up beside Lyra. In her human form, her blue-black scales caught the light like polished indigo glass. "I'd pity anyone in that position."
"I heard that," I said.
"You were supposed to."
Laughter rippled through the hall.
Suddenly, little Cassian slithered over, his blue-black tail rustling softly against the polished stone floor. He pulled his small torso up straight, offering Eryn a bright, toothy smile and a small hand. "Hi, I'm Cassian."
"Eryn," he replied softly, kneeling slightly to shake his hand.
"You're prettier than Kael described," Cassian said innocently.
My ears burned hot. I quickly scooped my little brother up, untangling his tail from around my boots, and ruffled his hair. "I never said 'pretty'."
"You did, though!" he argued, wriggling out of my grip and slithering back to our mother's throne.
"I did not," I insisted, clearing my throat.
"You absolutely did," my cousin Rowan called out with a hearty laugh as he strolled over. As a cousin, his royal blue-black scales were splattered with brilliant flecks of emerald green, and his striking violet eyes gleamed with mischief. "Word travels fast in this palace."
Eryn covered his face with his hands for a brief second, his ears turning bright red.
"I fear I have embarrassed him," Rowan grinned.
"You have," I admitted.
"It was worth it."
Eryn peeked at me through his fingers, his voice shy. "You really said that about me?"
"I've said much more than that. Don't be shy now," I teased, making him blush even harder.
For a few precious moments, everything felt perfect. My sisters began asking Eryn about the human world, loudly insisting that he join them for tea later in the garden. Even my younger cousins—all still in their serpent forms, slithering over each other in a colorful knot of blue-black scales mixed with splashes of copper, silver, and gold—gathered around him, completely fascinated by the outsider who had won the prince's heart.
I smiled to myself. Perhaps I worried for nothing .
Then, my father's deep, resonant voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Enough."
The room fell instantly silent. The cheerful chatter vanished. The younglings froze, their tails stilling against the marble floor.
My father leaned forward on his throne, his sharp golden eyes locking directly onto Eryn.
"So. You are the priest."
Eryn stood tall, squaring his shoulders. "I am, Your Majesty."
"You are not yet ordained."
"No, Your Majesty."
"And yet my son wishes to marry you."
The words echoed off the tall marble walls.
I took a step forward, placing myself slightly in front of Eryn. "I do."
My father's cold gaze shifted slowly to me. "You speak as though this matter has already been decided."
"It has."
"It has not."
An uncomfortable stillness filled the vast hall. My mother rose gracefully from her throne, her silk robes flowing around her as she stepped down.
"Kael," she said softly, her voice filled with quiet concern. "Perhaps we should discuss this privately."
"There is nothing to discuss."
"There is everything to discuss," my eldest cousin, Adrian, chimed in. He stepped forward in his human form, his arms folded across his chest. His scales were mostly blue-black, but splattered with rich bronze across his jawline, and his piercing pale gray eyes gave me a stern look. "You hardly know him."
"I know enough."
"You have known him for a handful of months!"
"I have loved him from the day we met."
Silence stretched across the room again. Adrian exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Kael..."
"No," I said, shaking my head before anyone else could interject. "I know what you're all thinking."
"You don't," Adrian replied quietly.
"I do," I snapped back. "You think he isn't worthy because he's human."
"No," my father interrupted, his loud, authoritative voice cutting through mine as he stood up from his throne. His tall, broad frame towered over the room. "I think he is an 'unknown'."
His voice remained unnaturally calm and measured.
"You have brought a stranger into the very heart of our kingdom."
"He is not a stranger to me!"
"You are a prince!" my father barked, his voice echoing off the high ceilings.
"I know what I am!"
"Do you?" His words struck harder than he intended. "You do not stand alone, Kael. You are heir to this throne. Every decision you make affects this entire kingdom."
"I am choosing the man I love."
"And we are asking you to *think*."
My mother stepped down from the dais and walked over, offering a gentle, sad smile to Eryn. "This is not about disliking you, Eryn."
Eryn bowed his head respectfully. "I understand, Your Highness."
"No," I said firmly, grabbing Eryn's hand again. "You don't."
I pulled him closer to my side, lacing my fingers tightly through his. I swept my eyes across the room, looking at my family—at my parents, my siblings, and my uniquely scaled cousins.
"If anyone has a problem with Eryn, then they have a problem with me."
Several faces fell. But they didn't look angry. They looked disappointed. Worried. Deeply concerned.
In my defensiveness, I mistook their expressions for disapproval. I mistook it for prejudice against a human. I told myself they simply couldn't accept that I had chosen an outsider.
So I stood a little taller. I held Eryn's hand a little tighter.
And in my pride, I completely failed to notice the heavy, uneasy glances exchanged between my father, my mother, my siblings, and my cousins.
I thought I was being a hero. I thought I was protecting the man I loved.
I did not realize... they were only trying to protect me.
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