Skylar sprinted down the empty hall, her skirts held tightly in her fists to avoid tripping over them. She chuckled softly as she hid behind a marble pillar. "Dammit, princess," the leader of her three guards, Ian, grumbled under his breath as he and the two others passed by her hiding place. She was quite adept at evading her guards, she'd had twenty-one years to hone in her skills, and her guards never seemed to catch on. She appreciated them, but they were suffocating. The large, blue clad men were never more than ten feet from her. "Sorry, Ian," she whispered and then took off in the direction from which she had come. Greta, her parents, and her guards chastised her on a nearly daily basis for evading their presence, but the dragon in her did not like being stalked. The dragon within her did not like much, but the one time they got along was when she was sneaking away from her supervisors. Although, even when she and her counterpart where on the best of terms, the dragon constantly fought to escape the confines of her mind.

Skylar strode briskly around the corner and took a deep breath, clasping her book against her chest. The fresh air seeped in from the open doors at the end of the hall, signalling her freedom and calling out to her. She smiled and danced proudly outside. Now that her guards were looking for her elsewhere, she had at least half an hour before they caught up with her again. The courtyard was often empty in the middle of the day, as those in the castle were breaking for lunch, which made it Skylar's favorite time to be outside. The sun sat directly above the large patch of land in the back of the castle, warming Skylar's fair skin and filling her with energy. She sighed and laid down on her back in the spring green grass. She used her highly advanced sense of smell to take her surroundings. Grass, trees, the people who had walked there before her, the heavy smell of horses from the stable at the other end of the courtyard, all the smells of her life brought her comfort and security. After one more deep inhale, she rolled over onto her stomach and opened her worn book. She read the story of the daring knight, evil witches, and the brave girl out to save them all, though she didn't really absorb what she was reading; she had read the book countless times.

Skylar loved being alone because she wasn't burdened with having to sit tall and proud and always be conscious of the eyes that were watching her, and there were always eyes on her. She didn't need to worry that she would do or say something that would give away her deadly secret. When she argued with her mother and father and got too worked up, her eyes would begin to glow and once she grew claws where her fingernails should have been. She'd been horrified, as had the king and queen. It put an abrupt end to their argument as Skylar tried to figure out how to retract the nails. That lack of control could never happen when she was with anyone other than her nurse, mother, or father. She didn't even want it to happen around them. She didn't want to lose complete control of herself, as she had no idea what she was capable of.

Her sensitive ears picked up on familiar footsteps on the grass and disturbed the air and scents around her. She smiled when a shadow stood between her and the sun, casting the words on the page into darkness. "You know the sun isn't good for your complexion," a deep voice chuckled.

"But it feels so nice. I won't get burned," Skylar smiled and lifted her gaze to look into her friend's hazel eyes. "You're back!"

"I do believe I am. And I've missed you." Jonathan grinned, reaching out a large hand to assist Sky to her feet. She leaned in and hugged him close; her best friend had been gone for nearly three months and the castle had been quite boring without him. "I see that you have evaded your guards once again." His familiar musky scent overwhelmed her senses and it took her a moment before she could respond.

"They really aren't very good if they can't keep track of me," Skylar shrugged.

"I think that it might have something to do with the fact that you hide from them," Jonathan suggested. He took a respectful step back, letting go of her gently. She hugged her book to her chest and studied her good friend. The knight dressed casually in black cloth trousers and a red shirt that rested over his broad shoulders and stretched across his muscular chest as though it had been painted there. His ever-present sword hung at his hip and a large hand rested on the hilt in a casual stance. The neatly cut blonde hair on his head added to the proud aura that surrounded him and the noble blood that ran through his veins.

"Since they spend all their time with me, I have to make sure that they keep their tracking skills in tune."

Jonathan laughed openly at that. "You have an excuse for everything, don't you Princess?"

"One has to be charismatic if they are to gain the loyalty of their people."

"Ah, there it is again."

Sky didn't answer, but looked up at the sky. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks when she noticed the affectionate way Jonathan was looking at her. The dragon growled and clawed at the cage in which Sky had locked it in the corner of her mind. For the most part, the dragon stayed quiet when Jonathan was around; it tolerated him because he was strong, kind, and intelligent, but whenever Skylar began to have deeper feelings for the knight, the dragon retaliated at full force. Whenever the dragon fought her as hard as it did it brought on a pounding headache that lasted until the fury of the monster subsided. It didn't help that the full moon was only days away; the one force that caused her to shift into the monster with no choice on Skylar's part was the one thing she dreaded the most. It was the night that she snuck out to the woods, into the cave that she and her father had discovered. She never allowed her father, Greta, or her mother to accompany her into the woods for fear that she would hurt them when she was in the form of the beast. She chained herself up so the dragon form of her couldn't escape into the world to wreak terror on the night.

"So," Jonathan broke the silence, "are you excited for your party tonight? I'm glad that I made it back in time."

"Define excited," Sky said quietly. Ever since her parents had told her of the party, a rock had settled in her stomach and appeared to have no intention of leaving. The dragon hated human events such as this, especially when the unspoken goal of the king and queen was to find Skylar a husband.

"Hey, there's nothing to be worried about, Sky," Jonathan assured her. "Everyone is going to love you."

Not if they knew what I really am, she thought to herself, but smiled at Jonathan's encouragement nonetheless. She knew that he only meant well, whether he was misinterpreting her worry or not. Jonathan had no idea that Skylar turned into a dragon, and she was going to keep it that way. Her friendship with the knight might have been strong, but there was no way it was strong enough to withstand the betrayal the warrior would feel. Jonathan's mother had died during his birth and his father had been killed by dragons when Jonathan was only eleven years old. Skylar's father had taken him in after his father died, for he had been good friends with the orphan's father. Jonathan would not hesitate to kill Skylar if he knew what she was, if he knew that she was a monster. The knowledge that her close friend would hate her devastated Skylar, but she accepted it just as she had accepted her lot in life. She could not change that she turned into a monster, but she could control it and keep it in check.

"Princes and nobles have been coming in from all the kingdoms to try to woo you this evening," Jonathan informed to her. She almost thought she detected a touch of jealousy in his casual tone, but convinced herself that she had imagined it.

Skylar nodded. "I've been watching the carriages arrive, though I have yet to greet them myself." She worried that the dragon's defiance would be too much for the constraints. She had never had to put this much effort into keeping the monster in check, but it was angrier than she had ever experienced.

"That's alright, I suppose. You'll make a wonderful impression this evening," he decided.

"Will you be attending?"

"At the king's request," Jonathan grinned. "I do hope you'll save me a dance."

"You could have the first one, if you wish."

Jonathan seemed to stand taller at that statement. "I would be honored, but it would be better manners for you to dance with one of your guests first."

Disappointment filled Skylar, but she understood his reasons. "Second then."

Her statement was rewarded with a chuckle. "I'll hold you to that." Perhaps her birthday celebration wouldn't be too horrible after all.

"How are your grandmother and grandfather?" Skylar asked him. She hooked her elbow through his and they began to stroll leisurely through the quiet courtyard. The birds that lived there always avoided her, as though they could sense how much of a danger she imposed. Her presence didn't stop the bumbling bees and other insects that lived amongst the flowers and she grinned at a particularly large bee as it meandered across their path.

"Well, as I expected, though it had been far too long since I had gone to see them," he sighed. "I need to visit them more." His father's parents lived on an estate that was about a week's ride south of the castle. They could have taken in the young Jonathan when his father was killed, but when the king offered for the orphan to live at the castle, the elderly couple quickly agreed. To have their grandson live amongst the royalty? Who would say no to that? When he was younger, servants would accompany him to the estate twice a year to stay with his grandparents for a few weeks. But ever since he became a knight, that had stopped. It had been three years since he had been able to make the journey.

"I'm sure that they are just glad to see you when they can, Jonathan," Skylar assured her friend. "They understand that you have your responsibilities just like everyone else."

"I know, but they're family, Sky," he lifted one shoulder and let it drop. "They're all I've got left."

"Hey," she pulled him to a stop. "You seem to forget that we've been friends ever since you intruded upon our home."

A corner of his full-lipped mouth lifted. "Intruded?"

"Yes, intruded. You were three years older than me, and you were mean, quiet, and ignored me."

"That obviously didn't stop you trying to get my attention."

"I'm not easily deterred, you know that. Either way, I've always been there for you to keep you from making a fool of yourself and I'll continue to do that until I've decided you can do it on your own."

"A fool of myself?" he raised a blond eyebrow with a bemused grace.

Skylar nodded at him, pleased that he was coming out of his sullen mood. His hazel eyes gleamed in amusement at her. "Mmmhmm. Like saying things that aren't true. Everyone at the castle is your family. Everyone adores you and would be greatly offended to hear that you don't feel the same."

"And that would make me a fool."

"Of a sort."

"You're right." His eyes narrowed. "I hate it when you do that."

"So, all the time?"

That got her a true laugh, which filled her with pride. It was easy enough to amuse Jonathan but to get him to honestly laugh was a feat that she did not take lightly.

"Yes, Princess, all the time." He offered his elbow, which she took once again. As he lead her down the deserted path, he chatted about his time spent with his grandparents. His eyes lit up as he spoke of finally beating his grandfather at chess, which he had been attempting since he was a little boy. Skylar loved watching him talk about things he was excited about; it was the only time he really let himself go. He used his hands to talk and his mouth contorted endearingly as he tried to talk around his grin. "My grandmother sent something for me to give you."

"Oh?" her curiosity was piqued. What could she have thought a princess would want?

"She was hoping you would wear it this evening. As they are unable to attend, she wanted you to know that they are thinking of you."

"How kind of her," Skylar responded impatiently.

Jonathan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bundle that was cinched closed at the top. He urged it open and lifted out a silver chain, the end of which connected to a sapphire shaped like a teardrop set in a silver casing. It sparkled in the most mesmerizing way as the sun reflected from it while it spun on the chain. The gem fit neatly in Skylar's palm and it was the most beautiful yet simple piece of jewelry she had ever seen.

"Oh it's gorgeous," she breathed as Jonathan let it settle in her hand.

"Grandmother thought it would match your eyes. It's a little darker, but quite close. She'll be pleased to know that you like it."

"I must thank her myself. This is a wonderful gift."

"She told me that all ladies should have at least one piece of jewelry that is their own and wasn't passed down from their mother."

"Oh, I most definitely will. Jonathan, thank you."

He looked down at his boots, but she saw the slight reddening of his neck and cheeks. She found it simply endearing that her brave knight had turned bashful. "I'm simply the messenger," he insisted.

"Thank you, nonetheless," she grinned at her friend, still adoring his change in demeanor. "Would you help me put it on?"

"Of course," he plucked the necklace from her palm and stood behind her. The glittering teardrop fell in front of Skylar's face as Jonathan lowered it in front of her and clasped it at the base of her neck. She looked down at it and grinned. It rested perfectly against the porcelain skin of her chest, standing in gorgeous contrast to the creamy tone. "Oh, it's so lovely." Like Jonathan had pointed out, none of the jewelry she had was truly hers. It had all come from her mother and other queens before her. This one was a gift to her.

"It does look like it belongs on you. It actually matches your eyes quite well. Your eyes don't like to remain one shade of blue."

"I have to keep people on their toes."

"Of course you do," he shook his head in affectionate amusement. "And what have you been up to these past months, Skylar?"

She opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by the voice that truly caused her blood to run cold. "Skylar! Must we have this talk every day?" Greta demanded from across the courtyard. Her hands were braced on her wide hips indignantly. Skylar's guards stood behind her. They looked awful smug in Skylar's opinion.

"I see you've been up to much the same as usual," Jonathan whispered in her ear. She suppressed a smile as she allowed Jonathan to lead her back to her nurse, who glared menacingly at Skylar, but her gaze practically melted at the sight of the knight.

"Jonathan, darling, I had heard you made it back safely. It's lovely to see you. The castle hasn't been the same without you." She pulled him away from Skylar to kiss both of his cheeks. "Now that you're back, could you possibly try to convince the princess here that her guards being around is a good thing?"

"I could try, Greta, but it may not go as well as we both would wish," Jonathan winked. "Now, I must excuse myself. My men are waiting on the training field and I have to make sure that they haven't gone soft while I've been away. Pardon me." He gracefully exited the courtyard, leaving Skylar in the hands of her irritated nurse with no way to buffer the emotions. All of Greta's agitation pointed directly at Skylar, causing even her dragon to cower in its confines.

"You," she pointed a finger accusingly at Sky, "are going to make my hair fall out. We've been looking for you for ages! Why must you run off?"

"Maybe if-"

"No, I wasn't looking for an actual answer. I just want you to think about the reasons and decide if they are valid. Now, come along. We must get you ready for the party tonight! You missed lunch, too. Oh well. I'll get someone to bring you some food," she sighed. "What am I going to do with you, child?"

Skylar grinned sheepishly and lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug. Greta grumbled to herself but grabbed Skylar's arm in a gentle yet firm grasp and propelled her back into the castle. Her three guards trailed behind, obviously happy that Skylar was getting chastised once again for evading them. Of course, she would do the same thing tomorrow, and it wasn't likely they would be any more vigilant.

"How many guests have arrived?" Skylar asked her nurse.

"A few, but only the ones who live far away. The rest will arrive later this evening. Everyone is looking forward to celebrating with you, dear."

Skylar made a noise of agreement but a knot of worry had settled in her stomach as her dragon reappeared in her mind. It wanted nothing to do with this evening and she would most likely have a headache for most of the night, which she was not looking forward to. They traveled throughout the castle, passing servants who were rushing to finish preparing for the party. No one paid them any mind simply for that reason. Greta ushered Skylar into her chambers, shutting the door in the faces of the guards. Skylar looked around her tidy room and saw that her dress had arrived.

"Oh, Greta," Skylar breathed in admiration. The gown was made of blue silk the color of the sapphire around her neck and the sleeves were a thin, nearly transparent fabric that flowed down nearly as long as her skirt. A silver ribbon held the bodice together and criss-crossed down her front before it wrapped around her waist to tie in a bow at the small of her back. More silver ribbon lined the hem of the dress and it twinkled in the afternoon sunlight that shone through the open doors of her balcony. The queen had asked Greta to make the dress for Skylar, but she never expected the work of art that was presented before her.

"You like it? I thought the color would like nice with your eyes," Greta grinned, obviously pleased with herself.

"It's perfect. And it matches the necklace that Jonathan's grandmother gave me," Skylar touched the necklace at her throat and lifted her chin for Greta to examine it.

"My my, that is quite the gem. Loretta has always had wonderful taste. But she sent Jonathan to give it to you?"

"Yes, she did. Is that a problem?"

"No..." Greta drawled as she began to warm water for a bath. As the water warmed she moved about the room, gathering the things she would need to primp Skylar for the party.

"Greta."

"Oh, it's just that Sir Jonathan is a very nice noble gentleman and his grandmother is aware of that fact."

"What are you insinuating?"

"He wouldn't be such a horrible match, that's all I'm saying."

"Greta!"

"What? Is it so horrible that I've noticed he's an attractive man with whom you get along?" she held up her hands in surrender. "I know that your father wants you to marry for a strong alliance, but I could perhaps persuade him into-"

"Greta, please stop," Skylar begged quietly. She couldn't bear to talk about things that could never be. Yes, she had a crush on the knight, but to marry him and never be able to reveal who she truly was for the fear that he would kill her was not something she couldn't bear.

"Is something the matter, love?"

"Jonathan could never love me, Greta, not really, even if Father would allow us to marry. You know how he hates dragons," Skylar whispered the last word, as though she would be struck down for even uttering it. "I could never be myself; I would always have to be on guard."

The dragon within her growled so loudly that it echoed in her mind and pounded with her heartbeat. Skylar grimaced and rubbed her temples, wishing more than ever that she could just be normal. Greta walked over and reached out her wrinkled hand to the princess. "Darling, I wish you wouldn't be ashamed of what you are. You were born this way for a reason."

The words caused Skylar's temper to flare. For what reason could she have possibly been cursed in this way? "Greta, please don't say such things. There is no feasible reason as to why I could have been born with this monster in my head. No matter whom I end up married to, I will always have to hide for the fear that I will hurt someone."

Greta said nothing. She simply wrapped a familiar arm around Skylar's shoulders and tucked her close to her side. Skylar rested her head on her nurses soft shoulder and sighed. The dragon within her continued to claw at its cage with a furious abandon, but Skylar ignored it as best she could, as she always did.

"Do you remember the first time you shifted?" Greta finally asked.

What a strange question. They never spoke of that night, for fear that someone would overhear. Why Greta would bring it up now was beyond Skylar. "I remember that I felt very sick and my whole body ached as though someone was trying to pull me apart. I don't remember the actual shifting, other than the fact that it hurt. And I don't remember being a dragon."

"Well, I remember it as though it were yesterday. You had collapsed just as the first stars winked into appearance in the sky. You were so cold, like an icicle beneath my fingers. Your parents were so terrified that you were going to die. You remember that you had been having back pains and you were always so warm?"

Skylar nodded, still unsure as to where Greta was heading with this story.

"Well, your mother, father, and I were all sitting in this very room, waiting for a doctor or for you to wake up, or something to happen, when the clock struck midnight. The second the first chime rang through the room, your eyes shot open and they were glowing in the strangest way, in a way that none of us had ever seen before. And then you began to scream--actually roar now that I think about it--and convulsing. You fell off the bed, at your father's feet, and you scratched him across the chest; you drew blood.

"When he picked you up, you were the tiniest dragon I had ever seen. You were no longer than my arm, child. When you opened your eyes, they were filled with as much fear and confusion as the rest of us were feeling. Your mother didn't react the best of ways and she left the room, but your father stayed with you. He stayed with your for two hours before he went to console Violet. I stayed with him as well and he and I simply watched you. You were so small, but you got the hang of walking quickly enough and you were a playful thing. Adorable too, the cutest little thing I had ever seen. And you want to know what I thought? I thought to myself, 'This little dragon couldn't hurt a fly.' I wasn't scared of you at all, and I'm not scared of you now. I don't believe that you could ever hurt anyone, not even when you are a dragon."

Skylar hid her face in Greta's shoulder, concealing the tears there. Even her dragon had stopped fighting for freedom to listen to what Greta had so say. It was content with the announcement that Greta did not fear it. "You don't ever have to worry about me being scared of you, child. Not ever," Greta promised, kissing her hair. "I don't believe you'll ever hurt anyone."

Skylar had nothing to say in response, but was grateful that Greta had shared that with her. They sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the ticking of the clock that sat on the mantel. Even the dragon within Skylar sat quietly, for once not fighting her. Of course, the pessimistic side of Sky had to worm its way into her thoughts. The only reason Greta wasn't scared of her was because the nurse had known her her whole life, and she was present when Skylar shifted for the first time. She remembered when Skylar was a tiny dragon that was easily contained. She hadn't seen the dragon since then. She didn't know what it looked like now, and she probably didn't want to. Skylar herself wasn't sure what she looked like as a dragon, but she knew that she was huge. She was big enough to make even the bravest knight pause, she knew that. Other than that, she only knew by instinct that her horns and spikes along her back were razor sharp and formed into deadly points. It was only too easy to imagine the dragon hurting someone, even if it was accidentally stepping on them.

She needed something to distract her so she stopped thinking about such things. "Maybe we should start getting ready for tonight."

"Oh! Of course!" Greta leaped to her feet, rushing over the warming water and pouring it into the tub. "Time's awasting. Luckily, we don't need to do very much to make you look your best." She grinned and pinched Sky's cheek affectionately as Sky walked past her to undress behind the screen for her bath. "Your parents will be here to escort you into the ballroom in a few hours. By then, you will be the fairest princess in the land. That I will make sure of, I promise you that, darling."

"I have no doubt in you, Greta. Just make sure that I am recognizable," Skylar teased as she lowered herself into the bathwater. It relaxed her tense muscles as she settled in. She leaned her head back against the side of the tub and closed her eyes while Greta continued bustling about the room. Eventually, she cleaned herself and she felt much better. Even her dragon was blissful. Skylar had long ago realized that they influenced each other greatly. When the dragon was angry, Sky herself became irritable. When Sky was truly happy, the dragon relaxed. Hopefully, if Skylar stayed calm this evening, the dragon would remain passive.

Greta helped her dry off before wrapping her in a silk robe. "Now sit here and let me work my magic." The nurse urged Skylar to sit down and close her eyes. The nurse patted some powders along Skylar's small round nose, and along her angular cheeks. She had the princess purse her lips while she painted them a bright red. "I told you I didn't need to do much to make you look your best." Greta smirked and pulled a hair brush off the vanity behind Skylar. She went about brushing out the auburn waves so they fell about Sky's face.

"Up or down?" Greta asked, stepping back to study her subject.

"I trust your judgement, Greta," Sky smiled as she blew a stray hair off of her cheek.

Greta tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Both," she decided just as a commotion sounded from the open doors of the balcony. Trumpets rang proudly and the symphony of horseshoes on cobblestone accompanied them. Another guest was arriving then. Skylar rushed to the balcony before Greta could stop her. A black carriage rolled through the gates, pulled by two black horses and driven by a man dressed in all black.

"King Draco," Greta whispered from just behind Skylar's shoulder, causing her to jump.

She swallowed nervously as she watched the dark carriage come to a stop in front of the castle doors. "It appears so." There was an alliance between Trael, her father's kingdom, and Linester, Draco's kingdom, but that could end at any moment. Tensions were always high between King Harold and King Draco. Because of the alliance, they were often visiting one another or communicating in some way, but those often ended in arguments. How they weren't always at war had baffled Skylar her whole life.

The carriage doors opened to allow two young men, Draco's sons, to exit, along with a beautiful but terrifying Queen Isabel. She wore a deep green gown and appeared to float on the ground. Her long, pitch black hair was left unbound. A single silver ringlet encircled her head, serving as her crown. Draco exited the carriage last, arrogant as always. His own silver crown rested atop his shoulder length black hair. He nodded at Hal as they approached one another and shook hands. Violet and Isabel were conversing amicably, but neither seemed to be heartfelt. The two sons, one fourteen and the other eleven, stood proudly next to their father. Hal addressed them respectfully and Skylar caught her name on the breeze. Her dragon, who had been quiet, awoke with a vengeance. Skylar cringed and stumbled backward with the sudden pain.

Draco was a hunter of dragons. Skylar herself had seen their heads and other body parts mounted in his hunting room. Those things made her dragon so angry that Skylar had fainted once. That was the last time she had visited the castle of Draco. The dragon within her associated Draco with death and hated him in a way that only a monster could. The only good thing was that it realized that if it showed itself, Draco would surely kill them both.

"Skylar, darling, all you alright?" Greta asked, place her hands on her arms and feeling her forehead.

"Mmmhmm," Skylar insisted. "It just doesn't like Draco." "Ah. I would think not. You must be careful around him tonight, love. You know that if he ever found out about you, he would kill you without hesitation."

"I know. So does it. I'm not worried that it'll force me to shift. I'm just worried that I'll say the wrong thing or show how uncomfortable I am and he'll get suspicious."

"Well, fortunately, Draco has no idea that dragons are actually people."