The Dragon Prince's Branded Bride: From Family Shame to Imperial Throne

Elaine POV:

"Keep that pathetic look off your face. Tonight is your sister's wedding, and do not embarrass House McFarland," my father, Ellery, hissed as he halted three paces away from my worn wooden carriage.

As a retired commander of the Dragon Guard, the half-blood gold badge on his chest gleamed brightly, yet he looked at me as if stepping closer would rot his boots.

I had just pushed open the carriage door when a deafening roar split the sky. A freezing wind rushed at me, carrying the royal capital's signature scent-and then a massive red-gold dragon descended, its wings swallowing my shadow in darkness.

Here, the Dragon-born ruled the skies while the Dragonless like me crawled in the dirt, forbidden even to wear scale-patterned silk. I ducked against the scorching gust of its landing, fingers twisted into my coarse skirt to keep my knees from shaking under the bloodline pressure.

At the palace gates, two Dragon Guards in red-gold scale armor crossed their halberds, their eyes raking over my scentless body with open disgust.

Their eyes reminded me of five years ago, when I was drugged by my stepsister Jaye and her friend Brittnie, framed with a forged recording stone, stripped of my name, and then cast out into the desolate wilderness. To this day, I still have no evidence to prove my innocence.

There were nights in the wilderness I should not have survived-nights when something beneath my ribs burned hotter than fear and would not let me die.

I just needed to survive tonight and slip away from this man-eating court until I could clear my name.

I sucked in a slow breath and stepped over the glowing dragon-core threshold-the line of absolute power in the court. The glare made my eyes water. Inside the grand hall, nobles draped in gowns woven with dragonfire thread held tall dragon-crystal goblets. The moment my plain boots touched the floor, the chatter died.

Dozens of mocking stares pressed down on my shoulders like heavy iron weights, thick with the suffocating scents of high-ranking dragon breath.

Jaye glided toward me in a dazzling red-gold scale-patterned wedding gown, clinging to her bridesmaids. Her laugh echoed through the quiet hall. "Look who decided to grace us with her presence. The pride of our family."

Beside her, a noble matron waved a feather fan in front of her mouth, raising her voice on purpose. "Is that the Dragonless girl who left those filthy recording stones at the Royal Academy? How does she have the nerve to show her face in the capital after five years of exile?"

I locked my spine straight and dug my fingernails into my palms, refusing to look at their gleeful faces.

Brittnie Moses stepped out from the crowd. As a favored half-blood noblewoman, she wore a heavy white lotus perfume that turned my stomach. She reached out and grabbed my hand warmly. "Elaine, it is wonderful that you could make it to the wedding."

I yanked my hand out of her grip, catching the flash of smugness in her eyes. "Do not touch me. Your perfume is choking me."

Brittnie's face crumpled. Tears welled up instantly, and she stumbled back with a gasp, clutching her chest as if I had struck her.

The murmurs turned into an uproar. Before I could react, a young Dragon Knight lunged forward and seized my shoulder, yanking me back hard. My heel caught on the hem of my gown, and I went down-straight toward the marble corner of the fountain behind me.

I hit the stone floor hard. Pain shot through my hip and elbow. My vision blurred.

"Hold her still," someone snarled. The same knight stepped forward, his hand raised for a second, heavier blow-

"That is enough, ser."

Jaye's voice rang out, sweet and placating. She stepped between the knight and me, her hands raised. "Please, good knight, forgive my sister. She has had too much to drink and does not know what she is saying. I will take care of her-there is no need to trouble yourself further."

The knight hesitated, then bowed and backed off, muttering.

Jaye crouched beside me, her voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear. "Do you think you are still the lady of this house? You are worth less than the mud on my shoes now." She smiled sweetly and reached out to help me up. Loud enough for the crowd, she said, "Poor sister. Let me help you up."

I ignored her hand. I had just gotten to my feet when the air in the hall suddenly changed.

The massive bronze doors groaned open, and a wave of pure, suffocating dragon breath flooded the room. The air was thick with sharp cedarwood laced with the scent of raging fire. It hit me like a physical blow, and my chest seized.

Every noble in the hall froze. Chairs scraped back. One by one, they dropped to one knee, heads bowed.

My movement stalled, my heart pounding violently against my ribs.

Brittnie noticed. She tilted her head, a slow, cruel smile spreading across her lips, and murmured low, "That expression... Do you think a ruined, nameless thing like you still has a chance at rekindling old love?"

She smoothed her gown and lifted her chin.

"Know your place, Elaine."