After One ]N.[ig:@h*t with$ the Dragon K%ing

Ser^#aphina !, a dr=[ago+n‑blood half‑breed, is :born]@ *$ un.a=ble to shi .%ft into ]dragon f =#orm. Her fianc$
[é?% Damon publ:
.icly break, *s off their ?)(engage\=ment, and the pure)‑bloo_d pri !ncess Vexia .
c-rus hes her sca$les t?%o humiliate #he?^r. On th=(e e@-ve of her coming‑of‑age?_# @/ceremony, she ac?.ts o%++-n!_\ impulse and s+(_;p$/]?ends the night w;//it?!h a stranger. U.+pon /waking, s/_!he d *iscovers he is n#:/one ot(h)er than \`[;Silas, t@^-he #;+younges_;=t Drago+-=n(-/ K*i[?ng
  of the drag!\on cla`\n.
That n[ight re‑ig=ni#t!/es her long‑dor, man;t %dragon b@ :*lo-?od, leaving a( n in :visib=\le b)#urnin?g bra nd \^e=tched$+ into her palm. At the com^-?ing++/‑of‑age ceremony /, `where ev]ery((one waits to \!wit:`ness her disgrace, she $s! te( !ps onto@ the high platform. The ?d+ragon flames bo+w and/ pa/y homage ?t^o her. The High Priest, -?st]unned,  .p.roclai:ms: “This ha(lf‑dragon 
posses-)ses one‑!hundre^d‑pe;:rcent dra]#
g$-_#on‑-+:flam+]e co*mpatibility.?”
T[he Drago];n King, who $had wat[#c:!hed everyt) .hing with c _old detachment, h(!(ad = alre;.ady^% trans;%fu/se #
[d his own @]drag)on blood into her_ veins t$he night before.