She stood atop a mountain. A high one that elevated her above the puffy white clouds. Through the gaps in them, she could see a forest, the treetops green and lush. Through another hole, she noted the gleaming mirror sheen of tall buildings, a city but not a city of today. The flying cars gave it away.

At her back, she whirled to find a castle. It sat on several tiers of mountain, the stone block path striated with yellow pyrite—because surely no one would use gold so carelessly to make a pattern in the rock.

The castle itself was made of various elements. One wing entirely made of glass. Another the rich honey of hickory trees. Then there was the black lava rock tower, the obsidian spire rising high in the sky. All the colors of the Septs are here.

She somehow understood this even if she didn’t know where she stood.

A trilling sound had her tilting her head to see shapes in the sky. Beautiful, sinuous shapes with massive wings.

Dragons.

I should fly with them. She stepped off the ledge, and the fist of gravity clasped her body and tugged. Wings unfurled from her back and…

Heart pounding, Sue-Ellen woke, not falling, most certainly not flying, and in the last place she would have expected.

A hotel room.

Not just any room, a lavishly appointed and seemingly expensive suite. The windows on the far wall displayed the birds-eye view of a city—but not the city of her dream. Here, the buildings were ragged and uneven, the surfaces a panoply of textures and colors. As twilight took over, color ceased to exist, and gems of light popped up to illuminate the darkness.

How did she know it was a hotel? She didn’t know many houses with a sprinkler overhead, and the night table with the hotel stationery gave it away.

Where am I? How did she get here?

The last thing she recalled was…

What did she remember?

A grey void sat inside her head. How odd. She blinked and shook her head, trying to shake the cobwebs from her mind. Her memories remained out of reach. She had no beginning, no past. Maybe she’d only begun to exist in this moment.

No, I’m pretty sure I had a life. A life that was currently a blank slate.

The door to the suite opened without a knock or warning.

Sue-Ellen—her name being the one thing she knew—dragged the sheet to her chest, even though she was respectably attired in a gown. A lovely nightgown of pale gold with only thin spaghetti straps to hold it up.

A gown made for seduction—and not her style. Or was it? She didn’t remember her past penchant for clothing. Demure, seductress, or something in between. She couldn’t recall, but it seemed her memory was selective because she knew the man who walked in.

It’s him. The boy from the dungeon. Her lips parted in a smile of greeting, and she opened her mouth to say, “Hello, Remiel,” only she didn’t because that wasn’t Remiel.

Who’s Remiel? She stumbled over her own thoughts, the name—What name?—sinking into the fuzzy spots of her brain.

She blinked as the man approached, and it took a moment more for her to say, “Samael?” The question quite real given the recent confusing flurry in her mind.

“Good evening, my precious.”

For some reason, the term of endearment brought a shiver.

“Cold?” He reached her side and put out a hand as if to touch.

She moved away and frowned. “What am I doing here?”

“Sleeping. You’ll need your rest for our honeymoon.”

The words made no sense. Surely if she remembered him, she’d remember something so momentous as a wedding. “What honeymoon? We got married?” She must have gotten seriously wasted if they had because she didn’t remember a damned thing.

“It was a lovely ceremony and reception. You wore your mother’s dress.” Lie. Mother wore jeans and got hitched in front of a judge. “We danced to our song, Lady In Red.”

Another lie. That was her cousin Fanny’s song because of the incident in the white jeans. Had to love her selective memory. Can’t remember getting hitched, but I remember telling Fanny she imagined the wet spot and I let her go to her next class.

“Why aren’t I wearing a ring?” She held up a hand.

“Because it’s in my pocket for safekeeping. I made sure to book us a trip somewhere you could be yourself.” It sounded so thoughtful, and his wide smile looked perfect.

She still inwardly shivered. Because I can’t trust him.

Why not, though? This was Samael. The boy she’d pined for. She remembered him. Seeing him in that hospital bed and then the cage. Look at him now. He was no longer a prisoner.

They were together, and she was in his bed! Married. About to consummate.

Eek.

For some reason, this caused her heart to pound. She scrambled off the mattress, cheeks hot. Everything seemed so wrong.

This room. His words. Him.

He’s an imposter.

There was something not right about him, starting with the hair.

It should be long, touching his shoulders in curls at the tips.

The man in front of her had it cut professional short. He also wore a suit with a tie, and his eyes glowed green with a hint of gold.

They should be pure amber.

Samael’s hot gaze perused her, and she wrapped her arms around her upper body, all too aware of the thin fabric. Where was a comfortable footed onesie pajama, in flannel, when a girl needed it?

“How long have I been sleeping?”

“Long enough. Lots of long speeches at dinner. Put you right to sleep.”

Just how deep would he dig the trench for his lies? “How come I can’t remember anything? What happened to me?”

“Just pre-wedding jitters. You took something to calm yourself and then had a few too many glasses of champagne.”

“I don’t feel drunk.” She’d snuck a few when Uncle was away, enough to know how it felt.

“Because you slept it off.” Said a little more tersely.

“I feel so fuzzy.” She held a hand to her head as if rubbing it would ease the cloud. “I need some air.” And space. Space away from Samael.

For some reason, getting away seemed of prime importance.

“It’s a little late for you to be wandering outside in those clothes. And there’s no balcony.”

“Afraid I’ll throw myself off?” The words spilled from her lips, and she almost choked. Where did that come from?

“Always with the jokes. We both know you can’t fly.”

Says who? The cold voice spoke only to her, and its chilly presence comforted.

She approached the window, skirting Samael, and pressed her fingers against it. Peeking out, she tried to find a landmark, something to give a sense of her location. “Where are we? What city?”

“Why all the questions? You should be happy we’re finally together.”

A stray thought floated to the surface. “We aren’t supposed to see each other anymore. Uncle Parker was quite adamant about that.”

“Parker’s dead and can no longer stand in our way.”

“Dead?” She didn’t recall any death, and yet at the same time, the word sounded right.

Uncle’s dead, but I still couldn’t escape.

Escape what?

She wished her mind would stop playing games with her. It was proving quite distracting.

Samael drew close, close enough that he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

The embrace caused her to stiffen. Something about it felt wrong.

Where is the spark?

How come she never felt a spark with him?

Because he’s not the man you’re looking for.

Who was that talking in her head?

Me, dummy.

Her eyes widened but went unseen, given her back was pressed against his chest.

Who are you?

The chilly chuckle oddly reassured. You. Time for you to wake up.

“Why so pensive?”

Too late, she realized Samael had seen her expression in the window. He turned her so that she faced him. A pinch of her chin raised her expression, and she noted, as Samael stared at her, a frown of displeasure creased his brow.

He moved his mouth close.

She leaned her head back.

“Kiss me,” he demanded.

“No.”

“Tease.” His mouth moved toward hers, and she stared at it, slightly horrified. She pushed away from him, suddenly determined he wouldn’t kiss her.

But why? She’d let him kiss her before.

Before I found out the truth.

What truth? She wanted to scream as the holes in her mind mocked her with their absence.

“What’s wrong with you?” The words snapped out of him as she removed herself completely from his embrace and put some distance between them.

“You tell me what’s wrong with me. There’s something wrong here. You’re hiding something. You did something.” She pressed her hands to her temples.

Wake up.

I’m trying.

Samael’s lips pressed tight. “Why do you constantly reject me? What do you see in him? We are the same. The same flesh. Face. And yet, I saw you with him. How you reacted.”

“Him? Who are you talking about?”

You know who he’s talking about.

Truly, Sue-Ellen wished she did because she had a feeling it would explain a lot.

“Come back here.” He pointed to a spot in front of him.

She chose to move in the opposite direction along the bank of windows, wondering if she should make a run for the door leading to the hall.

He saw where she glanced. “Oh, no you don’t, precious.” He stalked her, a long stride with an intent green gaze hinting of gold and menace.

The door was out of reach. The windows at her back would provide no escape. They weren’t the kind that opened.

“What do you want from me?”

“You. Legs spread and accepting my seed. I had hoped for willing, but I brought handcuffs in case you proved stubborn.”

“Don’t you dare touch me.”

“I will touch you, and touch you often. How it feels is up to you. I can do gentle. Or not.”

The very coldness in his words took her breath. How could anyone be so…evil? “Why are you doing this?”

At the query, he shrugged. “Because I can. Because I’m king. Because getting inside you first and planting my seed will hurt him more than anything else I can do.”

“Him who?” Who did Samael keep referring to? The answer hinted just out of reach.

“Don’t play stupid. We both know you prefer my brother, and yet it was I who tried so hard. I was so patient, too. But the process took so long. The treatment drugs could only be applied slowly.”

What drugs?

“And then, when that was done, they didn’t want me to waste my essence, not with it in such high demand with the Septs. I had to wait some more while they started you on hormone treatments to stimulate your eggs.”

“What treatments?” And why did she want to pinch herself awake? Surely, this was a nightmare.

“You are now ready for me. Ready to be the vessel for the gift I will bestow upon you.”

“You can keep your gift.”

“It’s answers like that which got you into trouble in the first place. I would have thought your last lesson would have taught you some respect.”

“You threw me into a pit.” The memory hit her suddenly.

“I did, and I’d do it again to punish you. I put you with my cave-dwelling brother to teach you a lesson. To show you how much better off you are with me.”

Samael had a brother? The truth uncoiled slowly in her head. “Remiel lives in the cave.” Remiel was the boy she’d fallen for. The man who’d given up his life for her. The dragon who claimed she was his hoard.

And Samael had just stolen her.

She shook her head. “Oh, Samael. What have you done?”

“I did nothing wrong,” he shouted. Green fire danced in his eyes, the gold a mere pinprick in the center. “I courted you, and respected you, yet still you prefer him over me. Always him.” He screamed at her now, the warm spittle like drops of acid spraying.

He acted like a child, one who’d had his toy taken away from him. One who could not handle his jealousy.

I don’t really care. He didn’t have the right to treat her like this. He didn’t have the right to threaten or hurt or do anything to her.

No one would ever have that kind of control over her again.

Ignoring his angry countenance, she turned away from him and noted through the glass just how high they were. High enough for a dragon to fly.

“Does Anastasia know you’ve brought me here?” she asked as she watched a shadow skimming over rooftops. She had a theory. An outrageous theory.

“Of course she knows. Who do you think helped me install you here?”

The pieces fell into place, and Sue-Ellen wanted to shake Samael. Shake him for being so clueless. “She put me here. She knows what you’re planning to do to me.” That added only more credence to her theory. For some reason, she felt prompted to warn him. “Samael, you have to leave. Now. It’s a trap.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re being used. The priestess is about to betray you.”

“Betray me? She wouldn’t dare. I am the Golden king she’s been waiting for.” The arrogance refused to see the truth.

“Are you the one foretold?”

“It’s been declared. I am the Gold returned.”

“But you’re not pure Gold.” A few more pieces of the puzzle clicked.

“Close enough.”

“Is it?” Because Remiel was a pure Golden dragon while Samael was not. Given Anastasia was all about the prophecy and the return of the true king, that meant Samael was the dupe.

“I am—” Samael never got to finish his statement.

As the door once again opened without warning, Anastasia sauntered in. Still looking like a bitch. Still in need of a slap.

Her rouged lips curved into a smirk. “There’s the Golden mutt.”

His attention veered from Sue-Ellen to the priestess. “What did you call me?”

“You’re a mutt, dear child. A mixed-blood.” Anastasia walked into the room, the height of arrogance. Head held high. Smirk quite distinct.

“I am Golden.”

“Half Golden, which makes you useful.”

“More than useful. I am your king. You will show me respect.”

A loud derisive snort left the priestess. “You are not the king. The true king is coming. Remiel has declared himself.”

“And? He does it too late. I”—Samael stabbed himself in the chest with a finger—“have already declared myself. His statement changes nothing.”

“On the contrary, it changes everything. It seems he’s finally learned from his time in the cage. I knew one day, with the right incentive, I’d get him to break out.”

As the priestess argued with Samael, Sue-Ellen felt her mental thoughts slowly coming back to her. Memories tumbled into place, and she added to them as she listened to Anastasia and Samael quarrel.

“Remiel is a loose cannon. You said so yourself.”

“So are you, apparently. I thought I said the girl was off-limits.”

Samael’s shoulders stiffened, and a thickness entered his tone. “The girl is mine.”

“No, the girl is your brother’s. The fact that you keep trying to trick her hasn’t changed her feelings for him. She prefers the real Golden king over you.”

The words made Sue-Ellen wince. They were cruel. So cruel.

“Well, he apparently didn’t feel the same way, given he never turned away those women you paraded in front of him.”

The what?

“Only once he made the deal to forget. He proved a lot more amenable to attempts to breed once the girl was gone.”

“That deal is over. He remembers everything now. But it won’t do him any good. He’s stuck in the pit, and I’m here with Sue-Ellen. So if I were you, I’d shut up now before I shut your mouth permanently.”

“Threats? Do you think that’s wise?” Anastasia’s lips curled into a cruel sneer.

“It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”

“Still acting like a boy rather than a man.”

“This boy is going to claim this woman, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. And you can tell my brother that.”

“I already did.” Anastasia smirked. “Would you like to hear his reply?”

Sue-Ellen kind of did. However, she had something more pressing to state. “There is not going to be any claiming by anyone. Not you. Not Remiel. Not anybody. I’m done playing your games.”

“The girl finally finds her tongue. Not that I care. You were simply the bait.”

Bait for which fish? She was so tired of it all, and she placed most of the blame on the priestess in front of her. “Why hasn’t anybody killed you yet? Surely not everyone’s aim is that bad?”

“Smart words for a girl who was caught so easily. You never even knew there were two.”

Way to play on her guilt. “You won’t fool me again. I’m done with all this.” She pushed away from the window, only to halt immediately as both the priestess and Samael stiffened.

“You’ll be done when I say you’re done,” Samael snarled.

“You can’t tell me what to do. I’ve had enough of that.” Sue-Ellen rammed her elbow back, knowing it would hurt—crack, oh boy did it hurt—but the glass-plated window webbed, and a second blow shoved the weakened shards outward. As they fell to the ground in a glinting glass shower, she dove out, evading the grasping fingers of Samael and his shouted, “Don’t you dare!”

Oh, she dared, all right.

The wind fluttered past her cheeks, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of freedom. But the sidewalk fast approached.

Come out, come out, wherever you are.

She sang to her inner beast, knowing she was in there.

About time you called for me. Grumbled even as her primal self burst free and flapped her wings for the first time.

Holy shit, look at me. I’m flying.

Only, it turned out flying wasn’t as easy as it looked. Just flapping wasn’t enough. While slower than before, she continued to plummet!