Wolf Princess Sold to the Dragon King novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Lunaris Falls Tonight

"Take me instead."

Three words. The fastest decision Guinevere had ever made in her life. No regrets.

Heads turned.

"I am Guinevere Lunaris. King Lunaris’s favorite daughter and crown princess. My value is higher."

A ripple moved through the three hundred women and children chained behind her.

Alpha Stonehowl’s eyes snapped to Guinevere. He let go of Maria’s neck, sending her to the stone floor coughing.

"You would die for this lot?"

"Yes."

He stared in disbelief. Guinevere didn’t flinch or look away.

"That takes some balls. I’ll give you that," he said after a moment. "Let’s see how brave he taught you to be when I open you on his floor."

Heat drained from her face, but she held his gaze.

Warriors seized her arms and shoved her forward to her knees in front of their Alpha.

The Alpha grabbed her jaw, tilting it up. Then he went very still.

"So you’re the secret Lunaris princess Renwick locks away. All that effort, and here you are on your knees." He crouched to her eye level, his fingers still clamped under her jaw. "Daddy’s a liar, sweetheart."

He shoved her face aside and straightened.

"You," he barked to the nearest chained woman. "Is she untouched?"

The woman’s voice was thin enough to snap. "Yes, Alpha Stonehowl."

"Has she had her first heat?"

"No, Alpha."

"Has she shifted?"

There was a pause, because the woman knew what this might mean.

"No. She is a runt."

Guinevere didn’t let a muscle twitch. Her wolf stayed coiled and quiet somewhere deep in her chest. A secret no one in the room knew.

Stonehowl studied her for a long, silent moment.

"Change of plans. My son has a temper. You might actually last." He jerked his chin. "Cuff her. We’re done."

Warriors pulled her to a stand and escorted her out of the throne room with the kind of grip on her arms that said ’try it.’

Degrading. Humiliating. She kept her shoulders back and eyes lifted. No one was in the streets. But she knew at least two hundred were there, all hidden. And they would not see the woman who just shielded them break. She refused.

A little wolf pup peered out of a barrel. She was careful not to turn her head, but her eyes met his. One look and he understood. He lowered himself back down.

They marched her past the courtyard to the south gate, and her stomach lurched. Impaled on silver spears along the wall were the heads of the old guards.

Old Bren, who had let her win at dice. Calder, who had taught her how to fight with a blade.

On the wall above, letters dripped in fresh blood:

LUNARIS FALLS TONIGHT

Stonehowl watched her take it in and smiled.

Her eyes burned and overflowed before she could stop them, two hot lines down a face she was trying to keep blank.

They stopped in front of horses outside the castle walls.

A guard knotted a cloth around her mouth. Unnecessary. But okay. She wasn’t planning on making conversation.

The same hands bound her ankles. Then, with one arm hooked around her waist, he mounted his horse, hoisting her up with him like she weighed nothing.

Cuffed. Gagged. And now side-saddle. Lovely. Like a regency painting titled ’Girl Being Trafficked.’

The horses broke into a dead gallop as if they were racing the clock. Stonehowl clearly had an inkling that Lunaris’s army would be back tonight.

Whether her father would actually send for her was the question. Even if he did, he’d still be a day behind. The math looked grim.

Her eyes closed from exhaustion and the inability to accept this as her new reality.

What woke her was the sound of a roar from above. She blinked a few times, and her vision groggily came into focus. Tight chains bound her back against a tree, where she had been for hours, judging by the snow dusting her dress and the violent shivers racking her body.

She glanced up. A dragon silhouetted the moon, then disappeared into the clouds.

Voices carried from the fire fifteen yards away.

Mother, I am about to break my promise to you. I’m sorry.

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