The Dragon Thief

**A special thank you to my Delta, Angela, for writing the poem that you'll see throughout this novel.

Let this be read in whispered halls,

Where shadows linger and embers call.

A tale of fire, of sky, of strife,

Of stolen eggs and secret life.

Skylar

I look at myself in the mirror as my maids put the finishing touches on my hair while adding the royal jewels to my neck, wrists, and ears. Being a princess has its privileges.

It also has its struggles.

My father, King Augustus, is returning home tonight. He's been away for a week, so the entire kingdom will be celebrating his return. Since I am an only child and my mother died when I was very young, I was in charge of making sure that everything was ready for this evening.

My father was out hunting dragon eggs again. I hope, like the last three times he went out, that he comes home without an egg.

There are six colors of dragons – the rarest are the golden queens. They are the most powerful of all dragons. Their mates are primarily the formidable silver dragons, known for their speed, agility, and power. But there are also bronze dragons, always males, who, in rare instances, are strong enough to mate with a queen. Then there are green dragons who are also male and red and blue dragons, which are always females, and usually mate with green or bronze dragons.

I hate the practice of hunting dragon eggs. Dragon riders are rare, exceptionally rare. However, those who become dragon riders have the power and strength of the dragon in their control. Every king in every kingdom wants that kind of power, and my father is no exception.

Being a royal, I understand the safety that a dragon provides to your kingdom. What kingdom would attack yours if you had a dragon? Since no kingdom currently has a dragon or rider, the answer is none. But that doesn't mean that I agree with hunting the nesting dragons and stealing their eggs.

The royals also have to be very careful when they steal an egg. You certainly wouldn't want just anyone bonding with a dragon. It would mean that person would become  the strongest in the land and they could very easily overtake the king, usurping his power and taking over his kingdom. So, in the past, when my father found a dragon egg, it was kept in a very hidden and well-guarded location.

I hear the trumpets outside, just as a maid comes rushing in.

"Princess Skylar, Prince Kenneth has arrived."

"Excellent. Show him to his room. I'll greet him shortly."

Kenneth and I have been betrothed since we were children. It was a calculated move by our parents to solidify the alliance between our kingdoms. It's very common for royals to have arranged marriages and I've always accepted that this was my path in life. Thankfully, Kenneth is a good prince and a good man. If