The tunnel was long, and we marched in silence for several minutes. Only our heavy breaths and the clutch of my sister’s hand around my arm betrayed the nerves of my companions. The heat in the air grew near boiling as we reached the end of the tunnel, my fine red hair sticking to my neck and forehead where it had escaped from its elegant knot.

I raked it back from my face as I pulled Kat to a stop at the edge of the exit. Pulling myself upright, I did my best to look regal as I replaced the medallion around my neck.

“You’ve been informed of the rules, but allow me to refresh your memory,” I said, my voice echoing in the close confines of the tunnel, alarmingly similar to my father’s deep, commanding tone. “Your weapons are to stay sheathed at all times. If you make any move to threaten the dragons, we will not protect you from their rage. Do you understand?”

Sir Demar gave a tight nod, his expression solemn; the knights behind him looked anxious as they muttered their agreement. I met their gazes before clearing my throat and continuing.

“The dragons make the choice, not us. Do not approach them; if a dragon finds you to be a suitable pair, they will mark you as their own.” I waited again for their murmur of acknowledgment before I smiled at them. “I pray we all find pairs today. Good luck,” I said, repeating the words they would not have heard the dragon speak before I turned to exit the tunnel.

The sunlight was nearly blinding after the walk through the dark tunnel, the glow of the ruby finally dimming as my riding boots met soft sand. Kat’s tight grip held me back for a moment, her jade-green eyes wide as she looked up at me. I gave her a confident smile before gently shaking off her hand.

“It was my win,” I reminded her with a faint smirk, relieved to see the anxiety dim behind the annoyance in her gaze.

Huffing, Kat stepped back to allow me to enter the nest alone. My feet sank into the soft ground, strewn with large shards of eggshells in dazzling gemstone colors, reflecting the light in rainbows across the sand.

The rustle of wings made my pulse stutter, my gaze drawn up to the ring of towering peaks that protected the nest.

Dragons clung to the sheer cliffs, talons scoring the stone as they watched me walk toward the large, circular stone dais at the center of the expanse of sand. I felt the medallion in my hand pulse with heat as soon as I stepped onto the smooth, solid surface; the gentle rustle of idle dragons became a rush of sound as dragons took flight.

I had heard stories of prior pairings, knights approached by three or four dragons who were interested in their potential. My father often boasted that seven dragons had shown their favor before his pair, the massive black dragon Viren, had claimed him as her partner.

I would have counted myself lucky to see a handful of hopeful dragons respond to my offer, but I could never have expected to be unable to count the massive beasts who stirred the air around me.

Speechless, I raised my hand, my breath held as I waited for the silent battle for dominance to conclude. Though I tried to keep my expression serene, a small part of me preened under their attention.

I had been labeled the pride of my house as an infant. As a child of Eliseo born with the crimson eyes of a dragon, I had grown up surrounded by the accolades of both servants and nobles. All of them had been certain that my eyes and my heritage meant I was bound for greatness. And perhaps, if I paired with a strong enough dragon, it would be enough to quiet my father’s ever-stricter expectations.

My hope began to twist into anxiety as the beat of wings began to settle, and my hand was cold, untouched, and unclaimed. A slight tremble took me as I watched, confused and dismayed, as dragons settled in the sand around me one by one.

I knew it was a sign of defeat, the dragons bowing their heads to one another. Despite their actions, none of them stepped forward as the beast who had triumphed over the others. There was no victor to claim as my pair.

Footsteps against the stone behind me made me jump slightly, my gaze flashing to my sister to see she had come to join me; her eyes were flooded with concern, sharing my confusion as she looked over the dragons. The medallion pulsed again, and there was a rustle of wings once more as dragons took flight.

Kat quickly stepped forward, her palm raised up as four dragons quickly settled back. The fifth, a young dragon with golden scales and bright orange eyes, landed on the stone dais with its neck arched to hold its head high.

Kat’s face was pale as she stared wide-eyed at the glistening dragon; its golden scales showed its high rank, a dragon that could only be outshone by royalty, but it bowed its head as it laid its nose against my sister’s hand.

I watched with quiet envy as the steam and smoke from the dragon’s nostrils seared my sister’s palm, glowing with small licks of flame as the bond of magic and strength formed a silvered scar on Kat’s skin. Wonder filled her gaze as her hands stroked over the dragon’s nose, bowing her head to meet her new partner.

Though the dragon in its youth was already the size of a large dog, Kat didn’t stagger under its weight as it draped over her shoulders, its long nose resting on top of her mane of wild curls. Its orange eyes were full of arrogance as it gazed over the other dragons, proud of its choice of partner.

“Markus…” Kat whispered my name, hesitating to complete the ritual.

I gritted my teeth, seeing the dragons stir with unease. “Go, don’t offend them,” I muttered, tense as my sister reluctantly left me to return to the tunnel.

I remained in place, my palm still offered, as the rest of my companions took their turns. The two young knights were both claimed by green dragons; I saw their brief disappointment when they were chosen by the most common of beasts, only to watch it turn to awe and gratitude as they learned the name of their pairs.

Sir Demar’s amber eyes focused on me with sharp concern as he was the last to step onto the dais.

He stood unflinching by my side as the wind was once more beaten by dragon wings, unsurprised when a massive black dragon was the one to press its nose to Sir Demar’s offered hand. They were powerful and notoriously picky.

Demar was the most promising dragon knight of our generation. His stoic expression broke for once in a gentle smile of awe and affection as he looked at the scar across his palm before giving a grateful nod to his dragon. The knight glanced at me once more, a deep frown on his face, before slowly walking back to the tunnel.

Standing alone on the dais, the tremble had settled in my body as I looked out over the dragons. They remained on the sand, obedient, staring at my offered palm, but none of them moved.

After several long moments, my chest aching, my fingers curled in as I slowly lowered my hand. It was hard to breathe as I took a step back, hoping that it would change something, that one of them would stop me from leaving.

“Young master,” a rumble in my mind made me look up to where the guardian dragon, the elder who had granted us entry, was still positioned at the top of one of the sharp cliffs. Its crimson gaze met mine with sympathy as it spoke words that speared through me, “There is no pair for you here. Return to your family, young one.”

I wanted to protest, but the words died in my mouth as the dragon reared up over the cliff, talons clawing at the air in silent warning.

My eyes burned as I lowered my head in shame. I quickly stepped off the dais as the medallion began to cool against my hand. The ritual had been completed, the magic beginning to fade, and the warm sand felt suddenly unwelcoming as I rushed for the tunnel.

“Markus…” Kat’s reaching hand was brushed away as I walked past her, my throat tight with fear and disappointment.

This was meant to be a joyous occasion, but the bitter taste of defeat lingered in the back of my throat. My father had expected me to return with a pair the family could be proud of, one fit for the next Eliseo lord. What would he say when I returned with no partner at all?

I closed my eyes against the thought, the encroaching expectations of my family, the people of our land…, and my own hopes, which had been shattered as I stood alone on that dais.

The dragons had rejected me… and I would face the consequences of their decision at my father’s hands.