Nikai shifted shortly after they turned two. The entire course of their lives was changed from that moment on. Nadim’s dragon didn’t appear until a couple years later, no matter how hard Nikai tried to help him. Their father’s amazement and pride angered his twin, dividing them and their bond. Everyone tried to reassure Nadim it was normal to not shift. Dragons lived for thousands of years, so time wasn’t measured in days or years, but in battles and scars. They’d tried to tell him he’d catch up, but his brother wasn’t one to be consoled.
Their lives changed again when the seer arrived several centuries later. They’d thought she was coming with news but not realm shattering visions. Nobody ever denied nor disbelieved when she imparted a prophecy.
Training and battling with the elite guards were his passion. He didn’t take for granted the immense strength it gave him, which in turn made his brother drift farther away. For over five centuries, Nikai went with his father and the other elite dragons, protecting their kingdom. With each battle he fought, his own dragon became stronger. Nadim, on the other hand, enjoyed playing and bedding females and swore he loved the freedom. Nikai knew since he’d been a young dragonling that was his duty and didn’t mind starting at the bottom. His brother thought it was beneath him to. What Nadim failed to understand was they had to learn the art of war and bleed like the others, just as their father the King did, to become the best Kings they were meant to be.
The seer’s vision rocked the Dark Dragons. He and Nadim assumed they’d rule together. His brother, no doubt, thought he’d stay behind and rule the kingdom and expect Nikai to battle in order to hold their legacy. The prophecy the seer gave destroyed such foolish dreams. Her vision showed Nikai as the sole King of Dragons. The twin bond they’d shared since they’d been in the womb fractured, like someone had taken a bat to his skull.
Anytime Nikai tried to reach Nadim on their private link, he was closed off, bitter. In Nikai’s estimation, his twin was pathetic. Nikai’s anger at his brother’s attitude after the seer left made him explode in a fit of rage. If Nadim would’ve trained, worked harder...tried, he might’ve been in the prophecy too.
Blood, sweat, and broken bones. That’s what Nikai was willing to endure, and more.
“Nikai, when are you planning to settle down and give me little ones to spoil? If you did, maybe I won’t miss my Tanith so much when she leaves.” Queen Shani’s words brought a hush over the great hall.
Nadim belted out a laugh, slapping the table with fake glee. “Mother, that is an excellent question. Well, brother, are you going to answer her?”
It took all his self-control to keep from eliminating the space between the two of them. Eight small feet saved his brother. Nikai wanted to finish what he’d started the other day. Nadim was aware of how he felt about Belle. Hell, the entire kingdom, including his parents, were aware. The only reason he hadn’t claimed her was an antiquated law stating only certain colored dragons could be crowned. Pink wasn’t considered one of them. He disagreed, loving his Belle and the beauty she was in every form. There was always an air of awe when she shifted.
No other dragon could compare to her in his heart and the very depths of his soul. She was a treasure; his crowning jewel he’d kill for. He’d give up anything, even his birthright.
Thinking about the hurt he’d seen in her gorgeous eyes when he’d told her they couldn’t be together, nearly brought him to his knees. He didn’t say the real reason, but hoped she was aware. His parents would realize after his sister’s marriage he would only be happy with Belle. If not, he and his dragon would claim her and damn the Kingdom.
“If you value your life, Fratellinodrak, I suggest you pipe the fuck down or I’ll rip your tongue out. I’m sure the pets our cook keeps out back will find it a tasty treat.” He didn’t break eye contact with the little bastard who thought to test him.
Nadim’s nostrils flared. A puff of smoke escaping him as he fought his dragon. Nikai didn’t call him Fratellinodrak or little brother often, only when he wanted to infuriate his twin. Just once, Nikai wished like hell Nadim would step up and challenge him outright. It was no secret the other male preferred to be a bitch-ass. Nadim never wanted the duties of King, but he hated the idea of Nikai getting the power.
He didn’t understand his twin’s animosity. Sure, Nikai was to be King. He’d put in the work with blood, sweat, and tears. He was the one who endured countless years of training and studying. There were days and nights he’d gone to bed with so much pain and suffering it was a wonder he survived. Nadim got to be a spoiled rotten fucktwit once his parents realized he had no ambition for the throne.
“Enough, Nadim. You will not speak to the future King in such a disrespectful way. Would you speak to your father that way?” His mother asked, but continued before he could answer, her voice cutting like a whip. “No, you wouldn’t. He’s the heir apparent, and as such, you will hold Nikai in the same respect.” Her words brought a hush over the enormous space, and with it, a finality that wouldn’t be questioned. Not unless they wanted to face King Nadir’s wrath. He was handing the crown over, but he wasn’t weak.
Nikai wanted to turn toward where Belle and her parents were sitting but refrained. He planned to continue the tradition of First Meal. Most of the clan would gather in the great hall, providing a sense of comradery that came with it. With every eye on her, thanks to Nadim, she had to be seething. He met the stare of several who were watching them both. Their eyes shifted to their plates under his glare. He didn’t give two moons what they thought of his choice in mate. His dragon gave a huff. ‘We will slay them all if they try to stop us from claiming her. She’s worth a hundred of those fools.’
He wanted to chuckle at the deep voice inside him as his dragon rumbled. On the best of days, he battled to control the big bastard, which he supposed made him an excellent candidate for the next Dragon King. Nadim didn’t like the restrictions or the rules that came with the title.
Nikai’s dragon emerged earlier than any other dragon in history, his powerful alpha making himself known. King Nadir had said they’d all been unprepared for Nikai’s dragon. The beast came out roaring with dominance, ready to battle males five times his size. He’d never told a soul that his dragon spoke to him for as long as he could remember...his entire life.
It took Nadim far longer to shift. The male was years behind in all things, shifting, fighting, and Nikai was sure even fucking. Nikai tried to show his brother how to change, shifting in front of Nadim over and over again. Nadim wasn’t willing to try, he’d been lazy since birth.
“You appear almost as fierce as the day you’d been but a child. You swooped out of the sky like a battle dragon, ready to kill one of my guards. Ah, I can still see you roaring. You were a sight to behold when you thought he was trying to harm me,” his father said with a grin.
He’d been two summers old, watching the Elite train in the enormous field behind the castle. He’d noticed the male with dark green scales flying toward his father’s unprotected human form. The only thought in his mind was to save his father from harm.
“I was sure he was going to kill you,” Nikai laughed, remembering the anger that bubbled out of him as he ran, shifting into his dragon in a blink. The ferocious scream he’d unleashed, followed by flames that rivaled a full-grown dragon, frightened them all. His thoughts were narrowed down to kill the traitor. His father’s second in command tried to avoid being hit, freezing in mid-strike. The older male, unprepared for Nikai’s attack, took a blast from Nikai and fell. Nikai found out later they were practicing.