The Prince of Dragon Magic: The Dragon Kings of Fire and Ice, #7

By Amelia Shaw

Marienne and Erik's son finds his mate...

Anthony has a secret that he's been hiding from everyone. Something he's ashamed of, and something he has no control over. He has magic, more magic than any dragon shifter in history, and in his eyes that makes him a freak. An abomination. Not worthy of love, especially from that of his fated mate.

Charity's life as a restaurant manager is rudely interrupted when she's attacked, then saved by a dragon shifter and prince of alternate realm. Her world no longer makes sense, and when she sees the magic swirling in Anthony's eyes she knows she's found the man of her dreams. Quite literally.

*** The Prince of Dragon Magic is the seventh book in the Dragon Kings of Fire and Ice series. A standalone, yet interconnected steamy paranormal romance story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harley Romance Publishing
• Release date: Jul 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798201660529

Book preview

Chapter 1

ANTHONY

My biggest secret was kept by my mother and father. No-one else knew. Not even my older brother Carlak.

I had magic. And the gift of sight. Just like my mother, Marienne, Queen of the Black Mountains.

Mom always said that her gift created life and gave our kingdom, and those around us, many blessings. After all, it was because of her gift of sight that King Stavrok found Lucy, and years later, their son Anselm found his mate, a human named Kayla.

She was sweet, though not my type. I liked a woman with a little fire under her belt. Anselm, my best friend, had been ready to find his mate and had asked Mom for help. He could have asked me too, since I could see many of the same things my mom could, but no-one knew about my magic—not even Anselm—so I was never asked.

Mom was a sorceress, so her magic was an accepted part of her, but I was a dragon shifter like my dad, and everyone knew you couldn’t be a dragon and have magic.

Except, apparently, when it came to me. A magical freak of nature.

Anselm and I had grown up together, more like cousins than friends, and the fact that he still didn’t know about my magical abilities was beginning to eat at me. The discomfort of lying to my friend—or at least, omitting part of the truth of who I was—had created a literal pain in my gut that wouldn’t go away.

I groaned as I reached over the dining table for the pitcher of water, pain tugging low in my belly.

Your gut still giving you trouble? Dad asked from the head of the table, where he was carving up his roast lamb pie with potatoes.

My father had spent all of his childhood and teenage years with not enough to eat, so now that he was king he made sure we all ate well. Including our people who lived within the grounds of the castle.

Yeah, I said, putting a hand to my stomach as I poured a glass of water.

Mom stared at me from her side of the table, her hands wrapped around her hot cup of tea.

What? I asked, glaring back at her.

You know what I think it is. She took a sip of tea. You need to stop lying to everyone, Anthony.

I stared down at my empty plate. No. I’m just hungry. I began piling food on to the porcelain. Potatoes and lamb and baked tomatoes.

Son, my dad said. You’re my heir, and I’m proud of you, in every way. You’re a good man. I don’t know why you insist on hiding your magic from everyone other than the two of us.

I wanted to roll my eyes at him, but had learnt that would only get me a slap to the back of the head at best, and a magical detention in my room at worst.

So, I didn’t.

I may have been twenty-six, but my parents were still my parents. It’s no-one else’s business.

And it wasn’t. I didn’t want to be judged by everyone and labeled a freak. Or worse, have people I knew want to use me and my magic the way my mother had been used before my father rescued her from her monstrous first husband.

Magic would not be considered a strength in our world, for a dragon shifter.

My gut clenched and pulled tight. I grabbed my fork and shoved food into my mouth. I was just hungry, I told myself. That was all it was.

Well, I’m off to visit Lucy and my grand-daughters today, Mom said, standing up. Would you like to join me, Anthony?

Carlak and his wife Jessa had twin daughters, born last year, and had spent the last month at Stavrok and Lucy’s castle.

I shook my head, part of me missing my brother, but the other part too jealous to consider visiting them right now. Carlak had been so happy since finding Jessa and becoming a husband and father and of course I was pleased for him. But I did wonder if I’d ever find that level of joy. If I’d ever find my mate. I shook off the negative thoughts. I’d enjoyed the peace and quiet since they’d left, so I had to focus on the positives.

No. I have plans with Dad. Work in town.

Dad nodded and Mom sighed. All right. I’ll be home in a few days. But... may I speak to you, Anthony? Alone please?

I glanced at my dad who had just finished his last mouthful of food.

He stood up with a smile. Time for a shower. I’ll meet you in the foyer in an hour?

I nodded and Mom went up to my dad and kissed him goodbye, their embrace too long for me to tolerate. I glanced toward the roaring fireplace instead of at them, trying not to flinch.

I was an adult now, but still... ew.

I’ll see you soon, my love. Travel safe. Dad nodded, and left the room.

Mom turned to me, her eyes rippling with purple smoke, her magic clear for the world to see.

I groaned, this time in annoyance. What is it, Mom? She’d lectured me for years about my desire to keep my magic secret, so nothing she was about to say would be new.

I had a vision last night.

Oh. That was new.

I sat up straighter, giving her my undivided attention. I might try and deny my own magic’s existence, but I wasn’t stupid enough to ignore my mother’s visions.

What did you see? It had to be about me, or she would have shared this vision with Dad too.

Mom chewed on her lip, worry clear in her eyes, and in her aura.

I dusted off my hands, even though they were clean, but it gave me something to focus on. I did not want to get into a weird push-pull of a discussion. Mom, if you don’t want to tell me, it’s fine.

I pushed my chair back and stood up to leave.

How much of your future have you looked at, Anthony?

I stepped away from the table and pushed my chair in. You know I don’t use my magic like you do, Mom.

I’d never wanted her to teach me how to use my magic. I wanted to be a dragon shifter, like my father, and I was. I didn’t need magic, too.

I was an aberration. The only shifter we knew to have inherited both skills of my parents. No-one knew my secret because a sorcerer and a dragon shifter couldn’t exist in the same body. Mom couldn’t shift because she had magic. My dad had no magic because he was a shifter.

It was wrong that I had both abilities.

I didn’t ask for the vision, Mom assured me. It came to me in a dream, and stayed vivid on waking. I can’t refuse the gift, Anthony. I have to offer it to you.

She held out her hand and I stared at her, long and hard. I don’t want it, Mom.

I didn’t want to know who my mate was. I didn’t want to know the future. Life was complicated enough as it was, and I knew how much my mom had suffered for her gifts. That wasn’t the life I wanted.

I know, she whispered. But do you trust me?

The words hit me hard. Of course, I do. I trusted my mother more than anyone in the world. She’d birthed me, fed me, and kept me safe through my childhood and teen years.

She would move mountains, literally, for me if I asked her to. There was no-one more firmly in my corner than my mother.

Then take my hand. She whispered again, her arm shaking with the strain of holding it out.

I didn’t want to. God, I didn’t want to.

I could feel my magic rising up within me, reaching out for her and the power she wielded.

I fell forward involuntarily, and caught the edge of the table. I clutched the wood, not wanting to admit that I was afraid. Afraid of what my mom wanted to show me; afraid of what my magic would do once I opened that door.

I’d never allowed my magic to learn or grow, consciously shoving it down into the black hole I’d created for all the parts of me I didn’t want to admit existed.

But here, now, I could feel it rising, bigger than ever before.

Please. Mom gulped out the word and I was propelled forward by my own powers.

I lifted my arm and reached out for her, my fingers straining to meet hers as if of their own volition.

When our hands connected, I was thrown into a world I’d long since stopped allowing myself to enter.

I threw back my head and my eyes slid closed as I stood up straight and held out both hands for my mother’s magic transfer.

There was my future, flashing before my eyes.

A woman. With red, curly hair. The flames of desire and passion whirling in her eyes.

The image shifted, and real flames surrounded her. There was a child in her arms. Then the flames were gone. She dropped to her knees, begging me for help. I stood over her. Shaking my head.

Despite the fact I couldn’t hear any words, I knew what she wanted. She needed me. My magic. And I was refusing to give in to her pleas. I wouldn’t use my magic to help her, or anyone. Not even my own child.

I gasped and pulled my hands from my mother’s grasp, not wanting to see anymore.

No. No. No. I repeated the word over and over, reeling back. No more.

I panted, unable to catch my breath. My magic pulsed inside of me and I couldn’t push it down, no matter how hard I tried. Mom. What did you do?

I didn’t do anything. She sounded much calmer than she had a right to be. I only shared my vision with you.

I staggered further away from her, toward the doors that led out into the hallway. I... no.

I needed to fly, to bring out my dragon shifter. He would push away my magic. Burn it away. He always had before.

Anthony. Where are you going? Mom called out behind me but I kept going, staggering down the hallway, dragging my left foot that for some reason didn’t seem to want to work.

Finally, I made it to