My three mates once fought for me, but after Maren arrived, they abandoned our home, took my children, and planned to give her the baby I was carrying. I ended the pregnancy, dissolved every mateship contract, and walked straight to Evander, the dragon prince everyone feared. He never treated me like a vessel. He protected my choices, rescued my son from a flooded sea cave, and welcomed both of my children into his territory. By the time my former mates realized Maren had endangered the children and pushed the settlement toward starvation, I was already carrying the dragon heir—and their regret meant nothing.
