My Fire Chief is a Dragon (The Doors to Muirara #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

The Royal Palace of the Ravaeth Court…

Prince Rhaziel Stormfyr strode across a courtyard oasis within the palace. The red dragons of the Ravaeth Court were known for their ability to create lush, beautiful gardens. Their architects, artists, and scholars were second to none. They were highly educated, civilized, and wealthy.

Though not as wealthy as the Argenth Court far to the north.

The white dragons of the Argenth Court were a mix of intellect and financial savvy. At least, that’s what they liked to call it. Rhaziel called it what it was.

Greed.

And what King Iskareth wanted, he got, even if he had to take it by force.

Rhaziel hated that. In fact, it was one of the many things he disliked about the white dragons of the Argenth Court.

They took slavery to a new level. The Ravaeth Court had abolished slavery centuries ago.

All workers in the palace were paid a wage, and his father’s kingdom had prospered because of it.

Rhaziel had warned his father not to get too close to King Iskareth. Should the king of the white dragons set his sights on something within the Ravaeth Court, he’d stop at nothing to obtain it.

Rhaziel crossed into a wide, marble-floored hallway that led to the throne room. He had no idea why his father wanted him to appear at the end of the day’s petitions, but he would obey.

He cut down another hall and headed away from the main entrance to the throne room. He preferred to enter through the side door near the dais.

When he reached it, it was guarded as usual. He nodded to the guards on duty. One, whose mate had recently given birth, smiled at him. “Your Highness.”

Rhaziel smiled back. “Omiran. How fare your mate and little one?”

Omiran grinned. “They thrive, Your Highness.” He stood straighter. “We look forward to the blessings given by your family.”

Rhaziel put a hand on his shoulder. “As do we. Each birth is a miracle.” He gave Omiran’s shoulder a squeeze and continued through the door.

Once inside the throne room, he ducked behind several of his father’s advisers and slowly made his way toward his parents. More than a few maidens of the court began to whisper and giggle as they caught sight of him.

Rhaziel ignored them. He was now of marriageable age, but none of the noblemen’s daughters interested him. What was annoying, was the fact his parents had started urging him to take a wife.

Maybe urging was too strong a word. Hmmm. Gainfully encouraging him to take a wife? Well, something like that.

Rhaziel inched his way toward the dais, careful not to disrupt the petition being presented by a merchant who traveled between the green dragons of the Verdanth Court to the south and the Ravaeth Court in the east. He journeyed north as well, though only twice a year. It was a long and treacherous route.

“This is the third time I have been attacked, Your Majesty,” the merchant complained.

His name was Malik Jafarah, a Fae. He was a decent sort, known for his silks and fine cloth. Some joked he clothed all four courts.

The red dragons of the east. The white dragons of the north. The green dragons of the south. And the blue dragons of the west.

Rhaziel stood with his feet apart and his arms crossed over his impressive chest as he listened to the proceedings.

His mother, Queen Sahmira, spotted him and smiled.

He smiled back. Rhaziel wondered if she had something to say to him. He glanced at the noblemen gathered nearby, some with their daughters in tow, and hoped they weren’t there to petition his parents for a marriage contract.

He shuddered at the thought.

“I will send guards with you as you travel west, Malik,” King Rhaevor announced. “Having dragon shifters with you will help.”

Malik bowed low. “Many thanks, Your Majesty.” He straightened. “Indeed, having dragons with us will help immensely.”

Rhaziel watched Malik Jafarah bow again and leave.

Not everyone in the dragon courts was a dragon. There were Fae as well, like the merchant Malik. There were even humans. Most were men, though occasionally one saw a woman. Human females were rare and highly sought after.

Males traveled into the dragon courts to work, especially the Ravaeth Court, which paid well. Those same males were wise to leave their wives and daughters behind in their homelands. That way, the greedy dragons of the north couldn’t get their hands on them.

Nor could any of the other races within the dragon realm, for that matter.

Human females were alluring because they were so incredibly fragile.

They brought out the protective instincts in dragon shifters, making them both more dangerous and more powerful.

Only a few dragons had ever taken a human mate.

Such unions were rare. Very few humans traveled into the dragon realm, and even fewer dragons left it.

Still, some feared the white dragons of the north might someday discover a way into other realms.

So far, they hadn’t managed it.

And when the occasional Fae portal appeared, its creator was strongly encouraged to return home as quickly as possible, lest they be forced to open a gateway for a group of greedy dragons eager to claim whatever spoils lay beyond.

“Come here, my son,” King Rhaevor boomed from his throne.

Rhaziel jumped. He’d been lost in thought, considering the perils of the northernmost court. He nodded to several of his father’s advisers and headed for the dais. When he reached it, he bowed.

“Father.”

“Rhaz,” his father said cheerfully. “Come, take your seat beside me.”

Rhaziel smiled. “As you wish.” His parents had always called him Rhaz. It was a nickname he’d carried since boyhood.

He took his seat beside his father. “What did you wish to see me about?”

The king watched as guards hurried to clear the throne room.

“It’s a matter of great importance, I assure you.” He turned on his throne to look Rhaziel in the eye.

“I’ve received a proposal from King Iskareth to the north. He wishes to offer his daughter, Princess Beyza, to you in marriage.”

Rhaz froze. “Absolutely not.” He glanced at his mother and back. “Tell me you told him no.”

The king puffed out his chest. “On the contrary, I wholeheartedly agreed.”

Rhaz gave him a blank stare, his body numb for several moments before he found his voice. What was his father doing? Had he gone mad? Princess Beyza was selfish, greedy, and cruel. She might be beautiful, but the rest of her so-called attributes turned his stomach.

“Have I rendered you speechless, boy?” his father asked. “I said I agreed with King Iskareth. We are drawing up the agreement now. A messenger will deliver it as soon as it is complete.”

Rhaz slowly shook his head, his eyes narrowing. “Father, this is madness. Princess Beyza is a blight upon her clan. I won’t do it.”

His father heaved a sigh. “I knew you would argue this, but you are too young to understand.”

“I am eighty-seven!” Rhaz shot back.

“Exactly.” King Rhaevor rose from his throne and closed the distance between them.

He poked Rhaz in the chest. “You will marry her,” he said.

“It is your duty as prince and heir to the throne.” He poked Rhaz again.

“They have been watching us, Rhaz. Watching every move we make. That tells me they want something from us. If we refuse this alliance, they will come and take it by force, and then we’ll have a war on our hands. ”

Rhaz held his breath. The white dragons were cunning, ruthless, and greedy. Everything was about acquisition, building power and wealth. Their methods of obtaining both were often questionable.

His father lowered his voice. “My spies tell me Iskareth has held numerous meetings in his war room over the last six months. He’s being diplomatic now, but later? Whatever it is he wants from us, he’ll come and take by force.”

“Ask anything of me, Father, but not this.” Rhaz took a deep breath. “You’re asking me to pledge myself to a life of misery.”

Rhaz already knew this was a battle he couldn’t win. He was a dutiful son and prince. All his life he’d done his duty. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.

“You will marry Princess Beyza,” his father boomed. “For the good of the kingdom and for your king.”

Rhaz watched him return to his throne and sit heavily. A deep frown settled on his father’s face, as he put a hand over his stomach.

Rhaz frowned. That old ailment again. His father’s stomach only troubled him when he was under tremendous stress. King Iskareth must already be making threats behind the scenes. Perhaps they were closer to war than Rhaz realized.

“We will discuss this later, Father.” Rhaz rose. “I must see Basil. He’s been pestering me all morning.”

His mother laughed. “Good old Basil. What would we do without him?”

“Enjoy a great deal more peace and quiet,” King Rhaevor muttered.

That earned him a chuckle from Queen Sahmira. Rhaz’s mother was the smart one and kept quiet during their conversation.

The king leaned back on his throne and waved a hand. “Go, Rhaz. See what the little pest wants and enjoy whatever treat he’s prepared for you.”

Rhaz gave his parents a curt nod, turned on his heel, and left the throne room. All he could do was prolong the inevitable.

And by scale and flame, he intended to prolong it as long as possible.

Rhaz took a few shortcuts through the palace, heading for the courtyard garden he frequented most.

Basil had been pestering him for days, insisting he needed to spend more time outdoors, enjoy the fresh air, and get some sun. Ash and embers. Rhaz didn’t know what the little gnome was talking about.

Ravaeth was a desert kingdom filled with towering sand dunes and dotted with oases.

The largest oasis housed the palace and the most beautiful gardens in the realm.

They were meticulously tended by a group of Smaradel, or green dragons as most called them, who made their home here.

They were masters of plants, foliage, and growing things.

Some of Rhaz’s people had joined the ranks of the green dragons, learning their ways while teaching them architecture and engineering in return. It was what his clan excelled at. That and scholarly pursuits, among other things.

He was halfway to the garden when Lady Sheroe, the daughter of a nobleman, stepped out from behind a marble pillar, blocking his path.

“Well, hello, Rhaziel, my prince.” She lowered her gaze and bowed. “What has you wandering the halls?”

He eyed her. He wasn’t sure who was worse, Lady Sheroe or Princess Beyza. Both were ambitious and would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. Currently, Lady Sheroe wanted him.

Wasn’t she in for a surprise when his impending doom was announced at court?

“I have an appointment with Basil.” He tried to move around her, but she sidestepped into his path.

“Basil? Your cook? What does a prince need to meet with a cook about? Are the king and queen thinking of throwing a ball? Oh, tell me they are. It’s been so long.”

She whined the last part.

“It’s been a month,” he said dryly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Lady Sheroe, I’m late.”

He stepped around her and continued down the corridor. The last thing he wanted was for her to follow him, but thankfully Basil was enough of a tyrant that she wasn’t about to venture near the cranky little gnome.

Rhaz reached the garden, looked across the expanse of grass, flowerbeds, and exotic foliage, and spotted Basil at the far end fussing over a table set for tea.

He sighed and headed toward him. Basil had been a constant in his life. The gnome had watched him grow up, scolded him when he thought he’d done something wrong, comforted him when no one else would, and somehow managed to become more of a father to him than the king at times.

Rhaz smiled at the thought. He could just see Basil, all three feet of him, standing on a chair and ranting because Rhaz had spilled something or broken a dish.

Sometimes Basil would climb onto a counter just to get closer to Rhaz’s eye level while lecturing him. Considering Rhaz stood well over six feet tall, it never worked particularly well.

That is, until the day Basil climbed a bookshelf and nearly brought the entire thing down on himself.

Basil turned and spotted him. “There you are, Your Highness. Hurry before the tea gets cold.” He waved a spoon in Rhaz’s direction.

Rhaz wasn’t about to hurry. Instead, he slowed his pace and gave the gnome a sly grin. He was about to tease him when he heard an odd sound.

A low humming, or was it buzzing? Rhaz stopped and looked around. “What is that?”

The humming grew louder.

There came an odd POP and then he saw it. A rectangular shape began forming on the opposite side of the tea table. Golden light filled the space. It grew brighter and brighter until Rhaz could see tiny flecks of gold swirling within it. “By scale and flame. A portal?”

Basil still had his back to it. “What is it?” he asked. “What’s happening?” He turned. The spoon fell from his hand. “What’s this?” His eyes widened. “Your Highness, run! It could be an enemy. Get away from here!”

A sharp crack split the air. Then came the pull.

Rhaz had never experienced anything like it. An unseen force dragged him toward the portal.

The tea table slid across the ground and vanished into the glowing doorway. Then Basil’s feet left the grass.

“Basil!” Rhaz lunged toward him.

The little gnome clawed at the air as the force pulled him backward. “My Prince!”

Rhaz almost reached him. Almost. Basil disappeared into the portal and poof! Gone.

“Basil!” Rhaz tried to stop himself, but the force only grew stronger. His feet left the ground as the portal dragged him forward. He couldn’t fight it. Couldn’t move. How was he to escape? “Basil!”

The golden light swallowed him. Unable to bear the brightness, Rhaz squeezed his eyes shut. He was spinning. Flying. Falling. What was happening? Rhaz felt as though he were traveling faster than thought itself. Or perhaps he wasn’t moving at all. He couldn’t tell.

One moment he was spinning. The next he was dropping. Where was Basil? How could the old gnome survive this?

Rhaz tried to shout, but no sound escaped him. In fact, he realized he couldn’t move at all. This was unlike any portal he’d ever studied. He knew some races could travel between realms, but he’d never heard of anything like this.

This was brutal. Would he survive it?

Just as suddenly as it had begun, everything stopped. Rhaz flew through the air and slammed onto hard ground. Pain exploded through his body. His insides felt twisted into knots and he struggled to breathe.

Slowly, he opened his eyes. Darkness surrounded him. Night. “Where am I?”

Then everything went black.