Rian Vale is a human weapon, branded with a Dragon Slayer's Seal and sold at
auction to kill a dragon. When the black-gold dragon lord Aurelian Draven
buys him, he doesn't see a tool—he sees a choice. Rian is defiant, refusing to
kneel, while Aurelian is unexpectedly restrained, protecting him from cruel
nobles and scheming elders.
Their relationship evolves from master/servant to something deeper. The seal
meant to control Rian becomes a key—to Aurelian's heart and to Rian's
liberation. Rian defies the Church, exposes corrupt elders, and ultimately
breaks free of his magical shackles. He leaves for three months to prove he
can, then returns by choice—not as a servant, but as a free man choosing his
home on a dragon's back.
