The Future King's Queen: The Dragon Kings of Fire and Ice, #9

By Amelia Shaw

Take a leap through time, a whole decade back, to the moment when Prince Carlak first discovered Princess Jessa was his fated mate. You might know how their story ultimately ends, but you'll be dying to know how their journey actually began!

 

Jessa

One minute I'm enjoying my epic shared twenty-first birthday celebration with my triplet siblings and the next? My world is turned upside down! I can't believe it and I scarcely understand it, but I know what I feel… Prince Carlak is my fated mate.

He's never even liked me, nor I him; but the bond between us can't be denied, until it can. As Carlak controls his inner dragon, my own parents begin to doubt that we're meant to be. After all, it's an irrefutable truth that a dragon shifter can't rein in his beast when confronted by the woman who's destined to be his…

 

Carlak

Given forewarning, albeit unintentionally by my mother, I discover that Princess Jessa, the beautiful, bright, and eldest daughter of King Stavrok is my fated mate. But knowing and feeling are two very different things.

Dancing with her, I barely manage to hold onto my dragon. It takes all my worldly strength and a decent amount of liquid courage to prevent me from destroying the triplet's special day. But the call of fate is undeniable, and I return to claim my mate… only life is never quite as fair as it should be—and Jessa soon fears the worst.

 

If you love your romance filled with angst and personal discovery, rife with passion, and sprinkled with a dash of hardship, then you'll fall head over heels for Carlak and Jessa in this steamy and exciting tale!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harley Romance Publishing
• Release date: Mar 31, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223299554

Book preview

Chapter 1.

Time jump ... ten years before Book 8.

Carlak.

IT WAS STRANGE TO THINK that I’d been born a prince due to the changed fortunes of my bastard-born father. Strange indeed. My gaze slid across the dining room table towards my father, a man whose huge strength and imposing stature over-shadowed most men. He was lounging casually in the chair at the head of the table, wearing naught but a peasant’s shirt loose around his body, and a pair of gray slacks. His hair was neither cut nor styled in any way. There was practically nothing regal about him.

He reached out for my mother’s hand and lifted her delicate fingers to his lips.

She smiled at the gesture, then extended her arm a little more so as to touch his face tenderly.

My mother was not only a sorceress, but a true Queen in every sense of the word. She wore the finest of clothes, spoke with genuine authority and grace, and walked in the most regal of manners.

By comparison, my father would have looked at home chopping wood or ploughing fields for a living.

I shook my head. Life is odd indeed.

What’s troubling you, son? called my father across the table.

I set my polished silver knife and fork down and wiped my hands on a cloth napkin. Nothing much, I answered.

Dad shifted in his chair, adopting an even more casual stance; resting one elbow on the armrest and lifting his thigh so he could drape a knee over the other arm rest. You sure? he asked again with that familiar twinkle of amusement in his eye that I’d never liked. He was teasing me.

I nodded to put an end to his line of questioning and sat up straighter, directing my gaze instead to my mother. Mother? When can we speak of my birthday celebration plans?

My brother Anthony snorted beside me. Stop talking like a stiff.

With a sigh, I ignored the sixteen-year-old who was shoveling food into his mouth like he’d never eaten before.

We can discuss them now, if you’d like, Carlak, my mother said.

Nineteen in a weeks’ time. I can’t believe it, Dad announced haughtily, finally sitting up straight in his chair. My son is a man and I’m so proud.

I hadn’t done anything exceptional to deserve my father’s praise, but I couldn’t help the flutter of happiness and pride that coursed through me to hear those words. Thanks Dad, I said, slipping into the more casual style of speech my father preferred.

We didn’t get the chance to celebrate your eighteenth properly last year, Mom went on, so this celebration ought to be impressive. We’ll invite all the royal families of course. And anyone else you’d like, Carlak, she added.

I’d been deathly ill over my eighteenth birthday last year and had been lucky to survive the ordeal at all, let alone manage a party. I definitely wanted to make up for lost time if I was permitted. Yes, please Mother. That would be most appreciated.

Mother glanced over at Dad. The triplets’ twenty-first celebration falls on the following weekend, so perhaps we can organize for Carlak’s celebration to take place in a months’ time? That will give us an adequate amount of time to prepare and will also space out the celebrations a little.

I clenched my teeth, hearing my jaw crack under the pressure. I’d been chasing Jessa, Anselm, and Vanya my whole life. They were the children of King Stavrok and Queen Lucy and were two years older than me.

Before I could comment, Anthony piped up. "Hell yeah! We haven’t had a decent party in ages. I’d forgotten about Anselm’s birthday."

And Jessa’s, I corrected my brother. I couldn’t believe he’d forgotten about Jessa! She wasn’t exactly someone you could easily forget.

My dad stared at me.

And I realized my mistake. I quickly swallowed before adding as casually as possible, Vanya’s too. Of course.

Mom’s gaze rested on my face and heat blossomed in my cheeks. She didn’t venture to say anything, but she had no need.

I buried my embarrassment in a large glass of water. I’d always liked Jessa, probably more than I should have. Like her sisters, she was two years older than me, and incredibly pretty. We’d been raised together, not quite like siblings, but definitely like close cousins. Our parents were the best of friends, which meant I had the opportunity to see the beautiful princess and her siblings all the time.

Well, I can’t wait to see Iain, Anthony piped up once again, naming the youngest of Stavrok’s children. He said he’d teach me some sweet flying tricks last time he was here.

I stared at him until he grew uncomfortable.

What? he said.

When am I going to be able to ask him about his magic?

And why hadn’t mother reassured Anthony adequately regarding his being a sorcerer. If she had, he would be able to admit that he could both shift and have powers. I’d seen them myself, firsthand on more than one occasion. Afterall, we’d shared a bedroom for years.

However, when I’d brought that to Mother’s attention she’d told me to remain silent on the subject. She reminded me that Anthony wasn’t comfortable speaking about it, and as it was his secret to bear, I should respect it.

The notion seemed absolutely ludicrous to me. He was who he was and should be proud of being born a true blend of both our parents. I certainly wasn’t blessed with any magical aptitude. Nothing, I finally said to my brother, more annoyed than I previously had been.

Dad chuckled in his typical fashion and dragged himself to his feet.

I jumped up also, respecting my father’s authority, and straightened my jacket. As the future king of the Black Mountains, I always made a point of trying to look and act my best. Being the heir carried a lot of responsibilities that my younger brother didn’t and likely, would never understand.

Are you spending the day with me, then? Dad asked, arching an eyebrow.

Yes, I’d like to, I answered, nodding at him.

Dad’s smile was hesitant at first, but then he gestured toward the door. All right, let’s go.

Aren’t you going to change first? I asked, unmoving.

Dad chuckled again. Son, I’m king. I could walk around naked, and people would still bow to me. So, get moving. We have a meeting with the councilors.

I tried not to sigh but judging by the look of annoyance on my father’s face, I wasn’t too sure I’d managed to quell the sound. I said goodbye to my mother—as was polite when leaving the company of a lady—and headed out of the dining room. Together we walked the long hallway toward my father’s office. Where are we meeting? I asked my father as he strode beside me with larger strides.

The ballroom, Dad said. and

I almost stumbled over a rug in my surprise. The ballroom? I repeated, my brow dipping. With the councilors?

Dad chuckled and continued walking without offering further explanation.

I was starting to feel like he was dragging me down the proverbial garden path, so to speak.

When we reached the ballroom, noise spilled through the doors.

Dad didn’t stop, he just pushed through the double doors like the mountain of a man he was, and the noise amplified tenfold.

I hurried after him. This was not a meeting with the councilors at all, but a meeting with our tenants. The townspeople.

Dad greeted the people, shaking hands and smiling as he walked up through the center of the room and sat upon a throne that had been moved into the room for this occasion.

I walked up beside him and turned, staring out over the sea of faces. This isn’t the meeting I was expecting, Father.

Dad stared up at me from his place on the throne. These are my people, Carlak. And yours. The blood of our kingdom. The workers. It’s heart. Make sure you don’t forget it.

Sire, said Thomas our butler as he walked up and gestured to a couple standing beside him, the Bourgers.

Dad sat up tall and began discussing matters with the people who’d come to speak to him.

I listened and learned as much as I could.

My father had been born a bastard of the King’s mistress. He ended up an orphan on the streets living under his tyrannical half-brother for many years. Mother had told us stories in the past of the reign of terror and famine that the townspeople had endured under King Magnik.

My father had rescued these people and transformed our kingdom into one we could all be proud of. It was a place where no-one went hungry, and no-one lived destitute on the streets.

I couldn’t even imagine the kingdom as my father described it previously. We were wealthy, and I found it difficult to believe there had ever existed a time when we hadn’t been.

As the meeting progressed the people brought forward their crops, their garments, and all manner of offerings to their king for favors and help.

My father accepted every single gift, even pulling on items of clothing and thanking the women personally who made them for him.

It was strange and I spent much of the day feeling uncomfortable. For one thing, I was on my feet, standing in the one place, unable to move. My feet ached. And for another, my princely clothing, while usually something I was proud to wear, made me feel like a peacock amongst the crows.

My father had dressed according to his audience and although he had dressed in a similar way to attend royal events, I had to respect his ability to move amongst the townspeople as though he was one of them.

I was not. And couldn’t imagine being so.

Carlak. My father called, pulling me from my reverie.

Yes, Father?

Help Nadine with her child, will you?

I stared at the woman in front of me, heavily pregnant, with three other children in tow.

Ah, I don’t...

The woman stumbled, losing her footing.

Dad launched himself out of his chair instantly, scooping up the sleeping child from her arms and pulling Nadine into his. Please. Sit, he told her. Thomas! We need some chairs here. Send for more.

The butler hurried off.

My father encouraged the exhausted woman into his throne.

Her face was pale and if she’d had the strength to do so, she would have declined. I could tell.

Dad glared at me as he deposited the sleeping child into my arms.

I gasped as the unexpectedly heavy weight slid into my arms.

All of you gather around Carlak, Dad said, gesturing to the other children. I’ll help your mother.

The other two children, strong, healthy boys with dirty faces and long hair took a step towards me.

You need to hold her better, the older boy said to me, touching his sleeping sister’s