“I was a "Dragonless" commoner, forced into a marriage with Lord Kraig Harris to break an ancient curse. But when I gave birth to his twins, he left me bleeding on the freezing stones of a charity cellar. While I fought for my life, he was at a royal feast, wining and dining Lady Karissa-the noble prodigy who had stolen my life. His aide threw fifty silver coins at my bruised legs. "Pay the midwife and stay out of sight. Do not bring shame upon the Lord." He thought casting me and my "useless" children out was a victory. Looking at my shivering babies in a wooden trough, the last ember of my love turned to ash. I had endured three years of his cold glares and public humiliation, but I would never let my children crawl through the mud as despised bastards. I didn't understand why I had to suffer so much just for lacking magic in my veins. But when the Royal Healer arrived and tested my blood, the needle didn't draw the dull gray of a commoner. It glowed with pure, blinding gold. I wasn't a Dragonless stray. I was the lost Princess of the First House of Dawncrest. With my real family-the most terrifying dragon lords in the realm-tearing the clouds apart to bring me home, I calmly summoned him for the Parting Ritual. Kraig Harris wanted to throw me away, so I decided to let him dig his own grave.”