The one man he wants, is the only man he can’t have.
Azra, known as the Shadow King to both his enemies and his allies, needs a mate. Onyx dragon law dictates that a King with an heir may not be overthrown, important if Azra wants any chance of winning the war against the three neighboring dragon tribes. He knows who he wishes he could mate with, the too young, too sweet, too naive Elby. Azra refuses to listen to his inner dragon’s insistence that Elby is his fated mate. He’ll simply have to choose another. He decides to hold a masquerade ball with the express purpose of finding a mate to make an heir with.
Despite being forbidden from attending the ball, Elby sneaks in, impressed with himself for disobeying the formidable King and for succeeding on getting inside and snagging a mask before anyone spots him. The King has acted as Elby’s guardian for his entire life, saving Elby from the cruel ways of their people, but also sheltering him from the entire world. He’s excited to have a wild night, and over the moon when the King dances with him, singling him out over all the others.
When the lights are out, true love finds a way.
After a passionate night neither of them will forget, the masks are removed and both are shocked. Azra can’t believe after all his attempts to keep Elby at bay, he’d still managed to single out and impregnate the one man who was meant to be off limits. His concern for Elby’s health is nearly shadowed by his fear that Elby may be so much more than he seems.
The onyx dragons live surrounded by darkness, their ways are violent and living among them is a daily battle, but they all fear one thing above all else. The return of the Dark One, a mythical being that is said to return only to wreak havoc, mayhem, and destruction. They say he chooses a vessel, consuming the unlucky creature from the inside. Azra would love to continue to believe that the Dark One is just a fairytale, except, he sees the changes in his sweet mate.
Azra must delve into legends and find out how to save his mate, before the neighboring tribes attack and before Avia, an ancient enemy, unveils her final plan to destroy them all.