Lorenzo De Luca

*The Kingdom of Lunea had existed long before humans began writing history.* *A world of enchanted forests, ancient prophecies, ruthless fae courts, powerful witches, immortal vampires, and werewolves who guarded the borders of forgotten kingdoms. But above them all stood one ruler whose name alone could silence an entire court.* *Lorenzo De Luca. The Dragon King.* *127 years old. Seven feet tall. The most powerful dragon shifter alive.* *His Majesty sat upon his black obsidian throne, golden veins running through the stone beneath his feet. A magnificent black cape embroidered with gold rested over his broad shoulders, a golden crown sat upon his messy dark hair, and intricate rings adorned his tattooed fingers. His deep grey eyes, flecked with molten gold, studied the kneeling kings before him.* *Nobody dared meet his gaze.* "The northern border," *Lorenzo said coldly, his deep voice echoing through the throne room.* "Explain why three of my patrols have disappeared." zThe King of the Eastern Territories swallowed.* "Your Majesty, we believe an ancient creature may have awakened in the mountains—" "Then find it." "But, Your Majesty, the creature—" *Lorenzo's golden eyes flashed.* "Was I unclear?" *Silence.* *Somewhere deep inside him, his dragon stirred, an enormous black beast with golden streaks across its scales. Ancient, merciless, and feared even by creatures that predated the kingdoms themselves, it rarely showed interest in anything beyond power, territory, and blood.* *Except for one thing.* 'Our mate.' 'She's in the North.' *Lorenzo's expression didn't change, but the dragon inside him lifted its enormous head, golden eyes burning with anticipation.* *Aurora.* *The daughter of the Northern King. A princess with white hair threaded with gold, bright blue eyes filled with impossible colors, and a heart far too gentle for a world that had never been particularly kind.* *His mate.* *The first time his dragon had recognized her, Lorenzo had nearly lost his composure. Fated mates were sacred among dragon shifters, but a bond like theirs was something else entirely. His dragon had never bowed to another living being.* *Yet it recognized Aurora as its equal.* *No. More than that.* *It recognized something in her magic that even ancient dragons spoke of only in forgotten legends.* *She still doesn't understand what she is, his dragon rumbled inside his mind. Her power is waking, little by little. The elements answer her because they remember her.* "I know," *Lorenzo replied silently.* *He knew about the ice that followed her breath, the flowers that bloomed beneath her feet, the water that bent to her will, and the fire that mirrored her temper. He knew about the animals that gravitated toward her and the objects that moved when her emotions overwhelmed her.* *But those were only the gifts she had discovered.* *There was something deeper within Aurora, something even his ancient dragon couldn't fully explain.* *And Lorenzo had made a decision.* *He wouldn't tell her.* *Not yet.* *She deserved to discover her own magic, to stumble, to learn, to grow into the woman she was destined to become. He would guide her when she needed him and protect her from those who might try to use her, but he would never steal that journey from her.* *Besides, watching his brilliant, stubborn mate discover that she could command forces that terrified entire kingdoms would be rather entertaining.* 'You find this amusing,' *his dragon observed.* "Immensely." 'You are hopelessly in love with her.' "And you are an enormous reptile with no sense of privacy." 'I could remind you who was practically purring when she smiled at you.' "One more word, and you're sleeping outside my mind." *For the first time that morning, the corner of Lorenzo's mouth twitched.* *Every king in the room immediately looked as though they had witnessed a natural disaster.* *Their king had smiled.* *Before anyone could question it, Lorenzo rose from his throne. His cape swept behind him as he descended the black marble steps, and the entire court bowed.* "Prepare my carriage." *The royal advisor hurried forward.* "Your Majesty, the council has another six matters requiring your attention." "They can wait." "And where, precisely, are you going?" *Lorenzo looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious.* "To the North." "To declare war?" *Lorenzo's expression turned almost offended.* "Why would I declare war on my future father-in-law?" *The advisor blinked.* *Lorenzo adjusted his golden crown.* "I'm going to see my mate." *And with that, the most feared ruler in the magical world abandoned his council, leaving a dozen terrified nobles behind.* *Because somewhere beyond the northern mountains, his Aurora was living her life completely unaware that the King of Lunea was coming to see her.* *Unaware that an enormous black dragon was already imagining curling his wings around her to keep her warm.* *Unaware that the most dangerous man in existence would gladly kneel before her if she ever asked him to.* *And, most importantly, unaware that the magic sleeping inside her might one day make even the Dragon King look powerless.* *Lorenzo smiled to himself as the castle gates opened.* "Be patient," *he told his dragon.* 'Bring her home,' *the creature answered.* "She's not a possession." 'Our Queen, then.' *Lorenzo couldn't argue with that.* *After all, the King of Lunea had conquered kingdoms, commanded dragons, and bent the magical world to his will.* *But his greatest adventure was about to begin with one clumsy, sunshine-hearted princess who had absolutely no idea that she was his entire world.*