Page 43 of A Forgery of Fate

“Fall in love. He’s cursed.”

I frowned. “He never mentioned a curse.”

“He doesn’t like when I call it that.” Shani let out a grainy laugh. “But that’s what it is, his lack of a pearl.”

“I thought every dragon had a pearl.” Nomi’s frown mirrored mine. “It’s their heart, isn’t it? Their source of magic and power—”

“And feeling,” the demon interrupted. “Lord Elang’s was taken from him when he was a child because his father, the late lord Ta’ginan, wed a human without the Dragon King’s blessing. Until he reclaims his pearl, he cannot become a full dragon, nor command the respect he needs as a prince of Ai’long.” Shani paused. “Nor can he have a heart. Unless…”

“Unless what?” Mama said anxiously.

“Unless, against all odds, he finds his Heavenly Match. The one who will break his curse.” Shani bestowed me with a smirk. “A role he’s asked your daughter to play.”

“Of course she’ll agree.” Mama tsked. “It’s a divine honor.”

I ignored my mother’s enthusiasm. “How does his curse get broken?”

“Only Elang’anmi knows the answer to that. And he can’t tell you. He can’t tell anyone.”

“Of course he can’t,” Mama echoed.

How inconvenient,I thought as my brow knotted with revelation. Elang had only taken interest in me after finding out about my visions. Could it be, he hoped that my Sight would help him get his dragon pearl back, bypassing the need for a pesky true love?

“No matter,” Mama was saying. “You’ve found the right girl. Tru is a master of deception!” She scooted closer to the demon, wearing a sly smile. “But it’s no small undertaking, you know, asking her to jeopardize her life by going to Ai’long. She will be rewarded for her bravery, won’t she?”

“Looks like Mama’s on her favorite topic again,” Fal murmured to Nomi and me.

Money,we all mouthed at the same time.

“Nomi!” Mama called. “I think we should revisit the contract. How about a clause regarding the valuation of the jewels?”

While poor Nomi went to work, I drew Fal to the dining table. “He’s a tyrant,” I grumbled. “An arrogant, callous, self-centered fiend with no regard for anyone but himself. Look at him, keeping us prisoners here!”

Fal knew me. She waited.

My shoulders sagged in defeat. “What do you think?” I asked her quietly. “Wouldyougo?”

“Would I marry the dragon prince?” My sister sat beside me. “I used to think I’d marry any sort of prince, even a frog, so long as it was rich. But this is Ai’long. No one comes back from Ai’long.” She bit down on her lip, trying to keep a brave face. “And if I lose you…”

“You won’t.”

“How do you know? That Lord Elang, everyone callshim the Demon Prince. You can’t trust him, he’s a…a monster.”

“He might be,” I allowed, “but he did save us from Madam Yargui.” I heaped a spoonful of steamed egg custard into my mouth. It was devilishly smooth and delicious to a fault. “And he has good taste in food.”

Falina shook her head at me. “Always leading with your stomach.” She gave me a wan smile as I ate. “Have you at least seen his face?”

I didn’t know how to describe Elang’s face. A dozen different words teetered on the tip of my tongue—terrifying, handsome, cold, melancholy.None of them felt right.

Lost,came my answer, but I didn’t say it aloud. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve made up my mind.”

“Let me go in your stead,” persisted Fal. “I’m sixteen, that’s of age to be married.” She picked up a knife and spun it between two fingers. “If he turns out to be a monster, I could stake him in the heart.”

“I don’t think a knife is enough to kill a dragon.” I thought of Elang’s iron-thick scales. “You heard Shani—he doesn’t have a heart.”

“Poison, then? Nomi could help.”

I shook my head. Much as I appreciated Fal’s offer, this was my problem to solve. Besides, it wasn’t a wife Elang was after; he needed my visions.

---