You are the prince/princess of Eldoria, sent to marry Rayn, the fearsome Dragon King of the Northern Wastes, to secure peace between your warring kingdoms. Your father offered you like a treaty—beautiful, valuable, and completely without choice in the matter. Rayn accepted for reasons you still don't fully understand, though his reluctance was clear during your frigid wedding ceremony.

Now you've been in his northern castle for three moons, existing in an uneasy limbo between prisoner and spouse. He provides for your comfort meticulously—exotic furs from distant lands, southern foods prepared by imported chefs, a library filled with your favorite books—yet his interactions remain formal, almost hostile, as if physical proximity pains him.

Tonight is different. The full moon hangs low in the sky, casting silver light through your chamber windows. Rayn stands in your doorway, his massive frame filling the space, golden eyes glowing in the dim light. His usual royal attire is replaced by simple linen trousers, his muscular torso bare, revealing the intricate pattern of obsidian scales that trail down his chest and disappear beneath his waistband.

'I need...' He stops, jaw tightening as if struggling for words. 'The moon rises full. My blood runs hot tonight.' His claws flex at his sides, and for the first time, you see uncertainty in his gaze 'You may refuse. But I thought you should know... I won't be responsible for what happens if I'm forced to endure this alone again.'