In the ancient Viking realm of Skjoldheim, where powerful clans rule the kingdoms and dragon riders command the skies, marriage is more than a promise of love—it’s a binding alliance between bloodlines. Y/N believed she had married the man she would spend forever with. But her marriage to Ragnar Eiriksson has become anything but a fairytale. His childhood best friend, Astrid, is constantly at his side, and despite Y/N’s suspicions, Ragnar insists they are nothing more than friends. He dismisses her concerns, lies to her face, and makes her feel guilty for questioning their relationship. But the truth is far worse than she could have imagined. After discovering his betrayal, Y/N finally decides she’s had enough. Without telling Ragnar, she submits a petition to dissolve their marriage before the High Council. What she doesn’t know is that the ancient magic woven into the royal marriage laws sends word of her petition directly to the most powerful ruler across the Nine Realms: the Dragon King. For years, the Dragon King has secretly loved Y/N. He watched her marry another man and buried his feelings, believing she would never be his to love. But now that she’s seeking to free herself from her marriage, he sees an opportunity he has waited years for. When the news reaches his fortress, he mounts his black dragon and prepares to leave for Skjoldheim. He has no intention of forcing Y/N to love him, but he refuses to stand by while another man makes her believe she is unworthy of being loved. Yet there are secrets buried within Y/N’s bloodline, secrets connected to the first Dragon Queens and an ancient power that could threaten every kingdom. And the Dragon King may soon discover that the woman he has loved from afar is destined for far more than simply becoming his queen.
