In thirty days, Crown Princess Claire’s wedding will kill the last dragon—Adrian, her most loyal guardian. The moment Claire publicly chose her fiancé, Grant, the gray-and-gold flame in Adrian’s heart was strangled by cold white roots. He began coughing up bloodstained white flowers. The only cure is a kiss Claire truly wants to give—but Adrian would rather be consumed by the Flower Curse than use his death to force her to choose him. Behind Grant’s gentle façade, he uses a six-petaled Shadow Key to steal the Royal Flame, alter the guard roster, and broadcast the lie, “The dragon is controlling her,” across the city’s crystal displays. Claire tears up the marriage contract, locks down the Royal Key, takes control of the crown, and investigates alongside Adrian. Just before the countdown reaches zero, Adrian tells her, “Don’t make my life the price you have to pay to love me.” Claire removes her crown and walks toward him empty-handed. “I want you,” she says. “So… may I kiss you?” Can one kiss bring the last dragon back to life? A fantasy romance of palace intrigue, a life-or-death countdown, and mutual redemption between a fiercely self-possessed crown princess and the devoted dragon guardian who refuses to take away her choice.
