Reborn: the Dragon god’s Bride Chapter 07
Months in that cell. My belly grew, Isadora’s belly grew. And three days before we’re both due, the sky catches fire.
I’m lying on the bed when it happens. The light through the window just changes. Not slow like sunset. Instant. The whole sky goes gold–red.
Isit up. “What the ”
Kael’s already at the window. “It’s beginning.”
The northern lights went crazy. Not the usual soft greens and purples. Gold and red flames shooting across the sky, twisting and moving. The whole city’s glowing.
press my face to the bars. People are running into the streets, pointing up, screaming,
The dragon god!”
A prophecy!“.
“White platinum dragon!”
My wrist burns. I look down and my breath catches. The mark–from the temple, it’s glowing so bright 1 can see it through my sleeve. Heat spreads from it, crawling up my arm, spreading everywhere.
I put my hand on my stomach. What are you?
“Kael.” My voice shakes. “My wrist. It’s burning. It’s never-”
He comes over, takes my hand. He looks… happy? “Your child is answering the call.”
“What call?”
“You’ll see.” That smile again: “Three more days.”
Second day, I hear music from the courtyard. I look out and there’s decorations everywhere. They built a stage in the main square.
The High Priest’s on it, arms up to the sky.
Dragon god blessed us!” His voice carries across everything. “White platinum dragon will be born! The Thornwing family gives us a new ruler! Our glory returns!”
The crowd loses it.
“White platinum dragon!”
Thornwing family forever!”
“The princess will save us all!”
They’re talking about Isadora. Her baby with Damien.
My hands squeeze the window bars. The mark gets hotter.
“They think it’s for Isadora’s child,” I say.
Kael stands next to me. “Let them think what they want. Truth comes out soon enough.”
“But what if they’re right? What if that sky really is for her baby?”
“Seraphina.” He turns me around. “When have I lied to you?”
1,think about it. He hasn’t. Not once these past months.
“Your child will change everything,” he says. “Trust me.”
Next afternoon, footsteps stop outside my cell.
look up. Guards are arguing with someone.
“Princess Isadora, Lord Damien said you can’t-”
“Move.” Isadora’s voice is weak but she’s not backing down.
The door opens.
oh god.
she’s huge, belly just as big as mine. But everything else, her face is all bones and pale skin. Dark purple circles under her eyes. Her lips are cracked, bleeding.
Fresh bruises on her wrists and neck.
She’s leaning on the doorframe just to stand up.
“Isadora…” I start to get up.
“No, don’t.” Her hand’s shaking, “I just… I needed to see you.”
Heavy footsteps down the hall.
She goes completely stiff. Her eyes, god, the fear in them.
Damien walks up, face blank and cold. “Isadora. We’re leaving. Now.”
I just need a minute-”
“I said now.” His hand clamps on her shoulder.
She flinches.
My fists ball up. “Get your hands off her.”
Damien smiles. All teeth. “Or what? You’ll waddle over here and fight me?” He looks at my stomach. “How’s the monster baby?”
“Damien, please.” Isadora’s voice cracks. “Let’s just.
But she’s looking at me through the bars. Desperate.
“Sister,” she whispers. “My baby… will he be healthy? I’m scared. My body hurts every single day and I can’t
“Isadora.” I reach through the bars. “Get the healers to check you. Your face, you look like death.”
“She’s fine.” Damien yanks her back. “Normal pregnancy stuff. You wouldn’t know, being a wingless fraud who slept with a cripple.”
He drags her away. She stumbles, almost falls.
“Damien!” I shout. “She needs a healer!”
He ignores me. But Isadora looks back, tears running down her face.
“Sister… if something happens to me…” Her voice breaks. “Will you… take care of my baby?”
Everything stops. “Isadora, nothing’s going to-”
“Promise me!” She’s being pulled around the corner but she’s fighting his grip. “Please! Promise!”
‘I promise!” I’m shouting now. “But you’ll be fine!
Isadora!” they’re gone.
I stand there holding the bars, shaking.
That night, the pain starts.
Both of us, apparently. I hear chaos in the palace, running, shouting, “The princess is in labor!”
Then my body clenches and I gasp.
“Kael-”
He’s right there. “It’s time.”
Next few hours are just pain. Over and over. I’m gripping Kael’s hand so hard I think I’ll break it.
No healers. No midwives. Just us in this cell with one shitty lamp.
“You’re doing great,” he keeps saying. Wiping sweat off my face. Channeling magic into me. “Breathe. Just like that.”
I bite my lip to stay quiet. I won’t give those guards.
the satisfaction.
Outside, I hear celebrating. Cheering. Music.
“She gave birth!” someone yells. “Princess Isadora gave birth! It’s a-”
More cheering covers the rest.
My stomach drops. It’s happening again. She had the white platinum dragon. And I…
Another hit of pain. This one’s huge.
Now,” Kael says. “Push now.”
push with everything.
Then it’s over.
Pain stops. Pressure’s gone.
“Kael…” My voice is barely there. “The baby…“.
He’s bent over something, hands glowing. Then he wraps it in the dragon scale blanket and turns.
“You did it,” he says softly.
“Is it…” I can’t finish. Can’t ask if my child’s wingless again.
He smiles. “Three months and you’ll see. For now, your child is extraordinary.”
The egg’s warm against my chest when he lays it there.
I touch it. Please. Please be different this time.
Dawn comes way too fast.
Tradition says all dragon eggs go to the Sacred Hall
for blessing. The magic shields stay up three months before you see the real bloodline.
Kael helps me stand. My legs shake but I manage.
We wrap our egg in the blanket and go to the door,
Guards block us. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Sacred Hall,” Kael says. “For the blessing.”
The guard laughs. “A wingless freak’s bastard doesn’t get blessing. Get back inside.”
Dragon tradition says all newborns–”
“I don’t care what tradition says!” He shoves Kael back.
Then we hear them. Footsteps. A lot.
Damien comes around the corner with his whole circus. Servants with banners, nobles in fancy clothes, priests with incense.
And Isadora.
Two servants are holding her up. Her skin’s gray.
But she’s holding an egg.
When she sees me, her face changes. Pain. Fear.
Something else.
She stumbles toward me. The servants let go.
“Move, Seraphina.” Her voice is loud. For show. She bumps me–soft, gentle. “Get your bastard egg away from mine.”
Her eyes catch mine for one second get it. She’s performing for Damien.
“Of course, Princess,” I say quietly.
The High Priest shows up, looking down at us. “No. rule says wingless can’t enter the Sacred Hall. That’s only because royalty never made such… shame… Lefore.”
The nobles laugh.
Damien steps up, smug as hell. “Let them in. I insist.” Big gesture. “When my white platinum dragon hatches in three months, that little mongrel next to it will make things even better.”
He laughs. They all laugh.
I hold my egg tighter. Say nothing.
Kael touches my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
We follow them into the Sacred Hall.
They put Isadora’s egg first. Dead center, on purple velvet.
The High Priest starts chanting. Magic spins around the egg, making the shield stronger.
Then he looks at us. “Well? Put yours down.”
Kael carries our egg over. Sets it next to Isadora’s.
The simple blanket looks like garbage next to all that purple and gold.
The priest doesn’t even chant for ours. Just waves his hand and a basic shield appears.
There,” Damien announces. “Three months, we come back for the hatching. We’ll all see the glory of Thornwing bloodline.” His eyes find mine. “And the shame of a wingless pretender.”
The nobles clap.
look at my egg one more time.
In three months, we’ll see who’s shameful.