Shadowborn Queen - G. Bailey Page 0,11

runs away to meet her. They both seize each other into their arms and embrace for a long, painful moment. A tinge of jealousy creeps into me, especially when the woman kisses Gold on the lips. Who the fuck is this woman and why is she kissing my dragon?

It takes every ounce of willpower to keep my emotions in check. I don't know who she is, so I shouldn't jump to conclusions. To distract myself, I focus on the man standing in front of me. He's already looking back at me. He cocks his head to the side and narrows his eyes, but I cross my arms and hold his gaze just as pointedly. There's something about this dragon that rubs me up the wrong way. Ever since I became shadowborn, I've been able to sense darkness in others, and this man is drenched in it.

Finally, Gold comes back to me. "Izora, this is Queen Valessia." He lets go of the woman's hand and smiles at her with a look of utter adoration. "My little sister."

Heat rises to my cheeks as I quickly remember my manners and bow to her. I suddenly feel very stupid for getting jealous over their touchy-feely reunion. Valessia isn't Gold's past lover. She's his sister. Gods, I can be such an emotional bitch sometimes.

"Your Majesty," I say, keeping my head bent low, more to hide my embarrassment.

Gold takes my hand and pulls me forward. "This is Izora Dawn, my mate, and the rightful Queen of Helios."

My mate.

Those two words cause my heart to beat erratically more than my royal title. I knew Gold and I loved each other, but I never thought we were mates. Somehow that makes me love him even harder. I could definitely get used to being called his mate.

Queen Valessia takes my hand, her grip surprisingly weak. "She is beautiful." Then, letting me go, she turns to Gold. "We must have a feast and discuss all that has happened." She gestures at a small brunette girl who scurries over. "Take Izora to our royal chambers and prepare her for the feast. Zavier, you must come with me. The king will be pleased to see you have returned to him at last. He always knew you would, even when the darkness robbed our memory of you."

The brunette tugs my arm, but I stay rooted to the spot. Call me crazy, but I don't feel entirely comfortable about leaving Gold just yet. However, the thought of bathing in my own private room is ridiculously tempting. I can't remember the last time I had a bath. The prison showers were hardly anything to get excited about, and I've been in these clothes for what feels like forever.

Gold closes the distance between us and tilts my chin. "Will you be okay while I meet with the king?"

I nod, giving him my most reassuring smile followed by a wink. "Don't worry, I'm a big girl."

He chuckles then kisses me on the lips, hard and passionately. For once I find myself embarrassed to be kissed by him in public... because it's in front of the Queen of Draconia, who just so happens to be his little sister. While Gold did say he had royal ties to Draconia, which is why Eva kept him alive, I never thought he meant his sister was the queen.

"Try not to get into any trouble," Gold warns me, his lips quirking.

"Don't I always?" I grin at him, and then he takes me by the hand into the Dragon King's palace.

Chapter 7

Gold

I bend down on one knee and bow for my king. My pulse spikes as I wait for him to approach me, to say something, but for a long while he does nothing. I know I lost his trust in me the day I entered the Zorya Inn with my warriors. I abandoned my post, my kingdom, but most of all, I abandoned my king. If he unsheathes his sword and slides it through my throat, I will not resist him; I will accept it. Doing so is a fate I have long been overdue.

"My king, look who has returned to us at last. Do you not wish to see him?" My sister's tone is placating as she approaches the king in his throne room. My sister may be silent for most of the day and night, but when she does speak, her words hold power. She was always the child that sat quietly in the room and took everything and everyone