The Dragons Egg The next morning Cassandra woke up early, around sunrise.
Someone was slowly caressing her hair and bare skin.
Remembering the events of the previous day, she opened her eyes and checked around, worried.
My Lord! Kairen was indeed there, on the side of the bed, sitting there while watching her.
She jumped, her arms wrapping around his neck to hold him, letting out all her worries from the previous night.
Cassandra was so worried, she even checked his torso for injuries, but he only had a couple of thin black scale lines on his arms, already healing themselves.
She let out a long sigh of relief and the Prince put his hand around her neck.
I was so worried.
Youre fine now.
Didnt he understand that she was worried about him at all? He only kept looking at her for a long time, like he was trying to capture her face in his mind, until Cassandra blushed.
Kairen seemed a bit odd this morning.
Is there something wrong, My Lord? No.
He got up and brought her one of the usual gold trays, with fruits, meat, and cheese.
Cassandra was a bit lost though and ignored the food.
She tried to think of what could be wrong.
When did you get back, My Lord? I meant to wait for you, but I fell asleep… Late in the night.
Did you get any sleep at all? she asked, worried.
I did.
She frowned.
She couldnt even tell if he had slept beside her, she was too exhausted herself.
Suddenly, she thought of something else.
Is your dragon back yet? Kairen immediately frowned slightly.
Not yet…He will be here soon.
Was the problem with Krai then? Cassandra couldnt help but worry about its absence.
It didnt seem usual for the dragon to leave, and go so far away and for so long, without its master.
Did that explain Kairens odd behavior this morning? Probably no one else but Cassandra would have noticed anything was different with the Prince, but she was sure.
He even seemed a bit…uneasy.
She grabbed a bit of food, eating in silence, lost in her thoughts.
Kairen didnt say a word either, watching her eat, sometimes taking some meat as well.
After a while, a little knock was heard on the door.
Your Highness? May I come in? Nebora walked in as soon as Kairen gave permission, bringing in hot water and soap for Cassandra.
Kairen got up and left without a word, leaving his concubine even more confused than before.
She turned to Nebora.
Nebora! Do you know whats going on? What do you mean? I dont know.
His Highness is acting…odd.
Her friend frowned, turning her head towards where the Prince had just left.
Odd? How so? Come, Ill help you bathe.

It was weird to have her own friend help her take a bath, but Cassandra didnt say no.
She had gone to bed quite dirty last night and this was more than welcome.
She got into the bath, where Nebora poured the hot water, and started washing herself.
I dont know, he seems uneasy.
I dont know what youre talking about Cassie.
His Highness isnt like usual? I couldnt tell the difference.
But the dragon isnt back yet.
Maybe it has to do with that.
We saw it leave in the direction of the palace, didnt we? Perhaps something happened there? I guess we wont know until it comes back.
Oh, Ill wash your hair too, give me that.
She let Nebora tend to her and help her wash her long brown hair, trying to relax a bit.
Maybe she was just worrying too much and it was nothing.
Yet she couldnt shake off this feeling that something big was about to happen.
He retrieved our stuff, by the way.
His Highness? Yeah.
He came back late last night with the chariot and everything in it! I already took your herbs to the storage, as we had discussed.
Oh, and he even killed some snow leopards! Its awesome, do you know how expensive their fur is? We can make you some great coats with that! Cassandra didnt feel much about getting a snow leopard coat, but she was impressed by her Prince once more.
He had managed to kill several of those beasts all by himself and carry their cart back home? The War God was truly worthy of his title! Once she was done bathing, Nebora picked a new red dress for her and insisted that Cassandra wear some jewelry.
After a bit of arguing, she was made to wear some little ruby earrings and a gold hairpin.
Nebora even helped her apply a bit of lip balm and scented cream on her neck.
Cassandra felt a bit odd wearing so much, but she was prettier than ever.
When she and Nebora got down to the castles open area, Marian and Prunie ran to them, all sparkles in their eyes.
Cassandra, you look so pretty! Are those real rubies? Hands off! said Nebora.
Dont forget, Cassandra is our friend, but shes also His Highness Concubine.
Dont touch her stuff with your dirty hands! Nebora, you meanie! Cassandra chuckled at the girls bickering.
She had missed all of them, and insisted on making some tea for them.
They walked to the kitchen, meeting the rest of the castles staff there.
Cassandra brought out some of her new herbs to make tea, all the younger girls watching her with expectation.
It smells so good! said Bina, humming.
Its citrus and mint tea, explained Cassandra before serving them.
A Concubine shouldnt be pouring tea for servants, said Patrina with a frown.
Nebora rolled her eyes at her.
Who caies, its just tea and we are the only ones here.
Do you know where Krai or His Highness are? asked Cassandra to Patrina.
His Highness just went to the dragons field.
His dragon might be coming back soon.
The dragons field? More like his playground, explained Nebora.
Its the black dragons favorite spot, it usually lands there instead of directly inside the castle like last time.

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Cassandra immediately put down her teapot and grabbed her coat again, hurrying outside.
Did this mean Krai was about to come back? Nebora and Prunie ran after her, but she was walking too fast.
Nebora helped her find her a way outside to a little hill, where indeed, her Prince was standing still, a hand on his sword.
He was looking at the sky when Cassandra walked up to him.
My Lord? she softly called him.
Cassandra.
What are you doing outside? It wasnt so cold though and she walked easily through the thin coat of snow to get to him.
He grabbed her as soon as she was in his reach, pulling her against him.
Are you waiting for Krai to come back, My Lord? Look.
She turned her head up to where he was hinting at, a little dark shape appeared a couple of seconds later in the sky.
Krai! It was obviously a dark dragon and she recognized its large size and way of agitating its tail even from such a distance.
How high was it? It was slowly going down to them, getting closer with each flap of its wings.
Cassandra felt her heart warm up a little as the dragon was coming down.
Something felt wrong, however.
Krai was more agitated than usual.
What was going on? It took her a while to realize a silhouette was standing on its back.
Did the black dragon usually let someone ride it? Who was that? With Krai coming closer, preparing to land, she finally recognized the feminine silhouette, totally surprised.
Princess Shareen? A minute later, there was no more place for doubt.
Krai landed swiftly, though it immediately ran to Cassandra, disregarding its rider.
Imperial Princess Shareen didnt seem to be unbalanced, however.
She got down with a little jump, landing perfectly on the snow.
She was wearing a sexy purple dress and a little fur cape on her shoulders.
She smirked upon seeing Cassandra, and Kairen next to her.
Sister.
Hello, handsome.
Happy to see your older sister? Shut it.
How did it go? Shareen stopped smiling, crossing her arms.
Not as we expected, unfortunately.
Someone took it before us.
Kairens anger on his face scared even Cassandra, who had no idea what was going on.
She slowly stepped aside, as Krai kept nudging her with its head, growling softly, repeatedly asking for her attention.
1 Who? asked her Prince, not hiding his anger.
Not one of our siblings.
Vrehan was furious and Sephir had no idea.
Anour even tried to help me retrieve it, but someone else got into the vault first.
They left a clue though.
She stepped to him and gave him a little diamond.
Kairens anger seemed to calm down, as Shareen smiled.

Bitchy as ever, isnt she? Better her than anyone else.
Cassandra, who couldnt take it anymore, stepped forward again, glancing at the little diamond in Kairens hand.
*My Lord, could you tell me whats going on? Something was stolen? From the Emperors vault? It doesnt belong to our father, but to you, sweetie.
To me? Cassandra was confused.
Why would something of hers ever be in the Emperors vault in the first place? She had no idea what was going on.
Shareen smirked and stepped closer to her with a cunning expression.
You dont know, do you, sweetie? Whats in our Imperial Fathers vault? Cassandra shook her head, a bit lost.
Behind her, Krai growled at Shareen, annoyed, but the Princess ignored it, playing with a strand of Cassandras hair around her finger.
Our Imperial Father keeps everything in a very secret place, especially everything about dragons.
That vault is kept by Glahad, our fathers dragon, because its connected to the Dragons Nest.
A nest? *This Empires most precious things are Imperial Dragons, continued Shareen, and their eggs.
When a dragon is ready to have its egg, it goes to the nest, lays its egg, and protects it.
So our father always knows when another dragon will be born.
Cassandra was completely astonished.
She had no idea.
She turned to Krai, putting the pieces together.
Youre saying… Krai went back to the Palace to … Lay an egg, said Kairen.
She was starting to understand, looking at the black dragon.
But, dragons were linked to Imperial Family members? So, Krai laying an egg meant… Congrats, said Shareen with that little smirk of hers.
Youre having my brothers brat.
Cassandra was floored.
She was pregnant? With her Princes baby? And Krai having an egg was proof of that? She turned to the dragon, which was still acting all clingy, asking for scratches from her.
Kairen was still frowning though.
But…What happened to Krais egg, then? she asked, worried.
Somebody stole it before I got there, explained Shareen.
Once an egg appears, it becomes a race to see who will get to it first.
Why would someone steal an egg? asked Cassandra, confused.
To try and destroy it, explained Kairen.
If our sons dragon is killed, he wont be acknowledged as an heir to the throne.
+ No one wants Kairen to have an heir.
Everyone knows Father would pick him as the next Emperor right away, sighed Shareen.
So, as soon as Krai had it, it was obvious everyone would try to get that egg.
Someone got there before me though.
Cassandra glanced at the diamond.
Who then? And what did they want with it? Cassandra glanced at the diamond.
Who then? And what did they want with it? Who did… Our mother, growled Kairen.
That old witch stole it.