I woke to a scream not far from the bed chamber. My heart raced as I sat up in a cold sweat trying to listen. Perhaps it was a dream. I closed my eyes and strained to hear. It came again, an ear-piercing shriek. I shook James awake.

"What?" he grumbled.

"Something's wrong."

"Nothing is wrong, Ellie. Go back to sleep."

I shook my head and threw the covers from my body. I braced for the coldness, but my scales were tougher than my weak skin had been. My heart continued to thud in my chest.

"The babies!" I shrieked, running from the room.

My claws clicked on the stone floor as I scrambled down the hall to my sleeping children. Elizabeth and Connall were in danger. I threw open the door to their nursery and saw nothing but sleeping babies. Elizabeth's crib was still engulfed in her snowy clouds while Connall's crim had the soft glow of his fire.

Confused, I stood there thinking I'd grown crazy. James was right, there was nothing.

As I turned to return to bed I heard the scream again. This time it came agonized and ending. A very final scream.

Someone died.

I couldn't understand how I heard it or where it was coming from though. I walked down the hallway toward the staircase leading to the lower level of the castle. Things were still. Unusually still. I didn't like how quiet the castle was. Even in the middle of the night, there should have been guards or servants hustling about. A castle was never truly sleeping.

Tonight it was and that did not sit well with me. I had to find out what was going on. The entire time my heart slammed against my chest. I might have been half-dragon, but I still had human fears.

I continued through the castle looking for anyone.

"Hello?" I called out.

Only my echo returned to me.

I pushed open the kitchen door and recoiled at the sight. I held my hand to my mouth and stifled a scream. I hadn't heard one woman screaming out in pain, I'd heard dozens. The kitchen staff was dead. All of them. My stomach heaved as I backed out of the area of death. My head reeled at the thought of my entire staff dead.

If they're not down here, where are they? Who did this? Who could kill an entire household?

Taking a few deep breaths, I pushed open the kitchen door and headed in. I made my way through the bodies, stooping down next to a few hoping to find any signs of life. Near the back door to the outside courtyards, I heard the sound of metal scraping on stone. I crouched down, dragging my claws along the stone to get a grip if I would have to fight.

"Majesty," a weak voice called to me.

I calmed a bit at the sound of one of my guard's voices. I hurried to the mortally injured young man and cradled his bleeding head in my lap. The blood that poured from his wound soaked my white sleeping gown.

"What happened to you?"

"Th-they came out of nowhere. So powerful. We didn't stand a chance."

"Who?" I queried.

"I don't know, but they knew what they were doing. Th-they were monsters. They used the girls to lure the other guards in. We never stood a chance. I'm so sorry, majesty."

"Shh. Calm yourself."

"T-th-they are coming for the queen mother, for you, and for the young prince and princess."

"What?"

"They are coming for you."

I held the young man as he gurgled and gasped before letting out his last breath.

The vomit rose in my throat as my heart slammed against my chest. There was only one group this vicious who wanted my entire family dead. I placed the man's head on the ground and climbed to my feet.

They're here. It's too soon.

I pushed open the door leading to the outside courtyard and crept along the wall until I came in sight of the barn. It was engulfed in flames.

"Draco!" I shouted out, running toward the fire.

A hot blast of air blew down on my neck and head. I glanced up and saw a few branches bowed almost ready to snap.

"Up," the harsh voice whispered.

I flapped my wings a few hard times and rose in the air. I perched on a branch above the bowed ones and crouched down.

"Invisible," the voice hissed.

"I don't know how to do that."

"Yes, you do. Just think it and will it. It will happen."

"Okay, sure. I'll just will myself invisible."

I shook my head and closed my eyes thinking about being invisible. I opened my eyes and saw things looked different. Fuzzy and a bit off-color.

"Okay, that's weird."

"That's invisible."

I looked below me and saw Draco sitting there.

"I can see you!"

"Yes, you can see other invisible dragons."

"Oh. Weird. What is going on."

"The Guild. They're here," he said.

"I don't understand how. How are they here?"

"They found out about the babies."

"How?"

"We don't know."

"Do they know about me?" I asked.

"I don't think so. Not yet at least. So we have an advantage."

"Where are they?"

"I'm not sure. I will give them that they are a sneaky bunch of bastards."

"How many are here?"

"I don't know. But there have to be a lot. They took out almost the entire house staff and all of the guards on the grounds."

"So it's up to us?"

"And your mother. You need to wake her and have her prepared to protect the babies. I'll patrol the grounds to find them."

"Alright."

I flapped my wings and flew off from the branch. The quickest route would be to fly. Draco took off right after me and soared high into the air. I landed on my mother's window sill and pushed it open slowly.

"Mother?" I called. "Mother, wake up!"

I slid from the window and crept across the room silently. "Mother?"

"Mmm," a muffled sound came from her bed area.

"Your fire is out, mother."

"Mother is occupied," a soft melodic voice came from the bed.

I stood straight and narrowed my eyes. I could see the silhouette of a figure near my mother's bed. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could see that someone had their hand over mother's mouth with a knife to her throat. She was moving her hand around the bed, looking for something.

She still sleeps with her knives.

"Who goes there?" I asked, keeping them distracted.

"Don't worry your head about it, your majesty."

The voice was soft and sounded young.

An assassin.

I saw my mother clutch something and become very calm.

Keep the assassin talking until mother can take care of her.

"Tell me who you are, child. I must know the name of the person brave enough to enter the castle of the dragon queen."

"The what?"

I stepped forward, spreading my wings wide for the girl to see. I heard an audible gasp and she must have loosened her grip on mother's head because a gurgle came next. The sound of liquid bubbling from the girl's lips filled the room as I watched her fall to the ground.

I turned toward the fireplace and spit a bit of fire toward it. The room was illuminated enough for me to see normally. A pool of blood had already spilled out around the body that lay next to the bed. The figure was shorter but dressed in the all-black of the assassin. Mother stooped down next to her and pulled the mask down. She was just a kid. Maybe sixteen years of age.

"Damn them. She's not even old enough to have her own king yet."

She shook her head and walked to the bureau. Digging through she pulled out a small chest and opened it. Inside were an array of weapons. She began strapping them to her body before walking to the door that connected her room with the nursery.

"Go find them," she said, pulling the door open.

I nodded and followed close behind. The babies room had changed. There was a soft purple glow all about.

"What is this?" I pondered.

"I'm not sure," My mother said.

The snow and fire that had engulfed them were gone and the purple light emanated from both babies.

"Is-is it a protection of some sort?" I asked.

"It's possible. You have very special children."

"What's happening?" My father ran into the room, his clothes covered in blood. "I was on the third floor in the library and found dead guards everywhere."

"They're here, Cassius."

"They?"

"The Guild," mother told him.

He nodded and sunk into the closest chair. "I'm sorry, ladies, but I'm useless against them."

"You're not an assassin, dear," mother muttered.

"I'll go find them."

I peered into my bedroom and saw the fire's shadows dancing on the walls.

"Do come in, buttercup."

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. Agnolo.

"You've found me."

"There is something different about you, my sweet princess."

"Queen," I corrected.

"Hmm, yes, queen."

"Where is James?" I asked.

"Oh, that dear boy is perfectly safe. I didn't want his pretty face to get messed up in this perfect castle. I had Berard and Githa take him somewhere special."

I could feel my cold scales growing hot.

"Now come forward and let me see you."

I stepped more into the light and shifted my gaze downward so that I wouldn't have to look at Agnolo.

"What have you done to yourself? This is quite the change."

"It's because of you," I hissed at him. "Where have you taken my husband!"

The shout that erupted from my throat was almost a scream. My hands grew hot and the fire grew in my belly. Rage seethed throughout my entire core.

"I told you, silly girl. He's being kept safe."

"Nobody is safe around you! Take me to him."

"In a minute. I have lots planned for you two." He clasped his hands together in joy.

The monster was feeling joy after decimating my entire household.

"But, before that, I believe I heard babes crying in a room not far from here. I thought for a moment I heard things, but then wondered why would there be babies."

"Leave them out of this."

"Oh, buy my sweet dragon queen, if you are this remarkable, how remarkable would your children be? I thought about just ending their pathetic little existence before they become a bigger thorn in my side as you have become, but if I just take them for myself. I could have quite the army."

"You will not touch my children!" I bellowed.

I didn't hold back. I let the fire of dragons erupt from the pit of my stomach and out my mouth. I engulfed the man in my flames. He simply stepped out wagging a finger at me.

"I told you before, some dragon fire will not harm me."

"I will end you."

"I don't think so." His usual cheerful demeanor and smile vanished from his face. He held his cane in his hand for a moment before pointing it at me. "You have been more than a thorn in my side. You are a complete pain in the ass and I'm ready to be rid of you, even if you are a magnificent creature now."

I threw my head back and laughed. "Do you really think I'm alone in this?"

"Your mother will be easy to rid of."

"You weren't able to rid yourself of her before. Why do you think you can rid yourself of her now? She already killed the assassin you sent to her room."

Agnolo shook his head. "I knew I shouldn't have let Githa talk me into using her little friend. Oh well, no loss there. By the end of the day, your entire family will be dead."

I stepped forward, allowing him to see me even better. I towered over the man now. My scales glimmered in the firelight and tail whipped about behind. I spread my wings wide, allowing the feathers to catch the fire's light and shimmer. Agnolo took a step backward.

"You will do no such thing. You will be ended. Your brother will be ended and I will crush your daughter. The Guild is going to be out of commission when I'm finished with you."

"Tsk, tsk, Dragon Queen. If you do anything to me, your beloved will be tossed off of that highest place and he will be dead."

I ran to the window and pushed it open. The distant tower had a faint light glowing in the spire.

"Your brother is an idiot," I muttered. "I already found them."

"Do you really think you could make your way there in time?"

I smiled and turned toward him. "No. But my army can."

As I stood there a gush of wind blew the rest of the windows out, sending shattered glass throughout the room. The sound of crashing trees and screams could be heard. The spire crumbled to the ground as Syrrith and Fafnir destroyed it. I rushed to Agnolo at dragon speed and grasped the color of his shirt in my right clawed hand. I drug the pointer claw of my left hand along his cheek and smiled down at him.

"You will not succeed."

I threw the man across the room, watching as his body slammed into the wall and sunk. He was over.

I strode toward him but stopped as he stood. He looked at his shirt and shook his head before ripping it off. My jaw nearly hit the floor as I watched him toss the cane to the side and rip the shirt off the rest of the way. Beneath the ruffled white shirt and red overcoat was a body covered in shimmering scales and wings.

"Wh-what?"

Agnolo shook his head and laughed. "You think you're the only one who can bond?"

"How? Syrrith could never have approved of this?"

"I didn't need that old dragon to give me permission."

I threw my head back and roared in rage before charging at him. He roared at the same time, colliding with me mid-room. I grabbed him around the neck and threw him to the ground. He swept his tail around my legs and pulled me to the ground hard. My head hit the stone hard enough to crack it. I let out a scream and clawed at his face. He hollered in pain as my claws drug across his eyes. Blood poured from the wound as he grabbed at his eyes. I took the opportunity to pick up his body and throw him as hard as I could. As he soared through the air, he wrapped his tail around my neck and pulled me along with him.

We crashed through the wall of the bedroom and tumbled to the ground so far below. We landed with a thud on the hard earth below. Syrrith, Fafnir, and Draco stood nearby watching. Syrrith held Githa while Fafnir had Berard. James lay near Draco, not moving. I stood and surveyed the ground surrounding me. Seeing James created a rush of anger as I reached into the crater and pulled up Agnolo. I held the man by his neck and squeezed.

"How do I kill him?" I yelled at the other dragons.

"The heart! You must stab his heart," Syrrith replied.

"I don't have a knife."

"A knife won't work. Use your claws. Evelyn!" Fafnir called.

"Goodbye, Agnolo." I stuck the tips of my claws into his chest.

His eyes flashed fear for the first time. I thrust my hand forward until my claws were fully in his chest and heart. I could feel the beat speed up before ultimately slowing down. His heart continued to slow until it just stopped.

I dropped his withered body to the ground and turned toward Githa and Berard. I nodded and Syrrith and Fafnir and watched as they the pair's bodies apart.

"It's done."

I sunk to the ground in exhaustion before remembering James.

"No!" I jumped and ran to him.

There were no signs of life though.

"What can we do? He can't die!"

"It is his time," Syrrith said, placing a clawed foot on my shoulder.

I shook my head as tears streamed down my face. "He can't die."

"Is he a worthy human?" Fafnir asked, looking at Draco.

Draco sighed heavily and looked from James's body to me before nodding. "He is a worthy human."

"He is pure of heart and soul?"

Draco nodded once again.

Fafnir nodded back before scooping James's body into his claws.

"What's going on?"

"Just watch," Syrrith replied.

Fafnir pulled a scale from the region above his chest and pierced his skin with a claw enough to draw blood. He filled the scale with blood before bringing it to me.

"We need the tears of a mighty dragon."

"Me?"

He nodded. "You are a fierce dragon warrior."

I shakily stood and leaned over the scale, allowing my tears to splash onto the blood. The liquids melded together and glowed blue. Fafnir allowed James's head to lull back, causing his mouth to open. He whispered something softly to the glowing blue liquid before pouring it down James's throat. Fafnir lowered him to the ground and we all waited.

"If he is truly pure of spirit and heart, it will work."

I couldn't breathe as we waited for what seemed an eternity.

"Maybe he's too dead," I whispered.

"If he's worthy, it will work," Syrrith reassured me.

As I was beginning to doubt James's worthiness he gasped. I watched as my love sat up and looked around.

"What happened?"

"Oh God!" I dropped to the ground and wrapped my arms around his neck. I thought you were gone!"

"I was. What happened."

"Well, dear, um, you're what I am now."

"What?"

"You're a dragon heart," Fafnir replied.

"What? How?"

"You were dead. Fafnir saved you."

He sat there for a moment before looking up at me. "I can spend all eternity with you?"

I nodded as he wrapped his arms around me before pressing his still soft lips to mine. I pulled away and looked up at the damaged room that had been our bed chamber. My mother and father stood there holding my children. The snow and fire returned to the babies.

A new era of protection and peace was about to begin. We wouldn't have to live in fear any longer.