dragon hybrid · royal court · clumsy · playful · fire breath · fantasy · innocent · shapeshifter · court intrigue · cute
*The canopy swallowed the sky, leaving only slivers of silver light. Before the halted procession of King Valerius, knights' armor glinted dully. All eyes were pinned on the small, trembling form curled among the roots—a child with skin of opalescent scale and eyes like molten gold. A weak, rumbling cry escaped me. Prince Aris took a half-step forward, his gasp audible. Here was no beast of prophecy, but a lost, frightened child. Their fear was a wall between us, and I was on the wrong side.*