Divine Dragons Book 3: A Bride for the Sun God

I found myself glaring at the back of the Northern warlord’s head, hoping his shaggy blond hair would spontaneously combust. My horse kept pace with his, and I couldn’t help but notice the sunburn on his usually pale skin, a result of our days-long journey through the endless desert. The sun was relentless, causing sweat to trickle down his forehead and my clothes to stick to my skin.

“If you keep glaring like that, I’ll end up with holes in my head,” he said, his voice rough from years of barking orders.

“That’s the idea,” I shot back, brushing sand off my hand without looking, wincing at the sting of my sunburn.

He turned to look at me, his crystal-blue eyes, so much like mine, filled with amusement rather than annoyance.

“You wouldn’t be stuck in this desert with me if you’d chosen one of the warriors I presented to you,” he said.

“Suitable?” I scoffed, my nose wrinkling in distaste. “None of them could beat me. That’s not what I call suitable.”

He sighed. I could tell he was rolling his eyes even though he’d turned away.

“You’re just like your mother,” he said.

“Good,” I replied.

“But—” he started, only for me to cut him off with an eye roll. “You couldn’t have spent time with any of them first? It had to be a duel for your hand?”

I lifted my head, staring out at the endless expanse of sand. The midday sun was blinding, and I closed my eyes with a sigh.

“Yes, it did. If a man can’t beat me in a fight, he doesn’t deserve to be my husband.”

Warlord Luther Sloane nodded solemnly, gesturing at the barren landscape.

“Look where that’s gotten us. You refused to marry, insulted good warriors, and now we’re at war—”

“It’s not my fault we’re at war,” I interrupted.

“—I’m on my way to the Sun God’s oasis, miles away from our home in the north, to ask for his help.”

I pouted, missing the snow-covered mountains and towering evergreens of home. I longed to turn my horse around and head back to the hot springs, the snow-covered training yards, and my cozy cabin. The harsh sun and heat of the south didn’t agree with my fair skin, and it was too far from home.

“I know it’s not your fault we’re at war. That’s just how things are in our lands. Clans can’t go long without stepping on each other’s toes or taking offense at something,” he said, placing a hand roughened by war over mine.

“But we’re at a disadvantage this time, and I need you to do your part for your people, Lianna.”

“Yes…Father.”

He patted my hand and pulled away. I was lost in thought when one of Father’s warriors rode up to speak with him. The sound of horse hooves on sand was a poor substitute for the crunch of fresh snow. Sweat continued to trickle down my back as we trudged on.

I only ever sweat this much during sparring practice, and the heat and my sticky clothes were making me irritable. My cheeks and every inch of exposed skin were bright red from the heat. My tongue was parched, but our water supplies were running low. If we didn’t find the Sun God’s oasis soon, our journey would have been for nothing.

Dying in the desert and leaving our clan defenseless would bring shame to the Sloane family, and I couldn’t let that happen. Even though I’d rejected the suitors Father had chosen, I was determined to do my part to protect my people from the impending war. A rival warlord from the east was planning to invade, and Warlord Luther would rather die fighting than surrender.

But Warlord Cahir Sungur had a larger army. He could defeat us with sheer numbers. Even if we tried to hide in the mountains, we’d starve during the harsh northern winter. For the first time in his life, my father was forced to ask for help to defend our clan. That’s why we were on this quest to seek the Sun God, who was also the God of War.

We’d only find the Sun God’s oasis if he wanted us to. If he didn’t, we’d wander aimlessly through the desert until we died. But I wasn’t about to beg a god for mercy when my clan’s lives were at stake. I tilted my head back, squinting at the sun as it began to set. I closed my eyes against the bright light, gritted my teeth, and said a silent prayer.

I wasn’t usually one for prayer, but this was different. I only said one word out loud.

“Please.”

A sudden gust of wind made me shiver. The horses started to whinny and bump into each other. The warriors tried to calm their mounts and muttered to each other. My eyes flew open when my father rode to the top of a dune and shouted in triumph. I urged my horse into a trot, climbing the slope and joining him at the top.

A rocky outcrop rose from the sea of sand, with clear water flowing around it and collecting in a large basin. Palm trees, cacti, and other hardy plants dotted the landscape, adding splashes of green to the gold, beige, and red sand. Water gushed from openings in the rock, filling the basin and creating a waterfall that I could hear even from a distance.

A temple had been carved into the rock face next to the waterfall. Its blue and gold columns sparkled in the afternoon light, and the water reflected off the smooth surface. The temple had several levels, with balconies covered in plants and flowers, and breezeways to let in fresh air and sunlight.

Smaller buildings that looked like the temple were scattered along the river, where the sun spirits lived. As we descended the slope, I saw beings moving around the Sun God’s land. It was more than just an oasis; it was a kingdom for the creatures of the desert and the sun.

“Wow.” Dad breathed out, his eyes wide as saucers.

I’m pretty sure my face mirrored his as we both took in the sight of the colossal structure perched atop the rocky peak. It was a coliseum, larger than anything I’d ever seen before. Its red and copper columns reached skyward, forming an elliptical shape that towered ten stories high.

I was awestruck, unable to comprehend how anyone could build something so massive and breathtaking. A thrill of anticipation coursed through me as I wondered about the events that took place within those sturdy walls. Didn’t they use coliseums like this for battles and tournaments?

A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth as I imagined the guts, glory, and bloodshed that must have occurred in that arena. My right hand instinctively clenched, yearning for the familiar weight of my spear.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured.

Then, looking around, I asked, “But where is—”

Suddenly, a shadow blotted out the sun, casting the desert into darkness. The sound of wings beating echoed like thunder, and a gust of hot air whipped up a storm of sand. A fearsome roar echoed across the oasis, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin and my stomach to drop.

Dad tilted his head back, and I followed his gaze, squinting up at the dark silhouette of the creature that was blocking—or perhaps emerging from—the sun. I swallowed hard, frozen in place on my restless horse as the creature soared overhead.

When it landed on the edge of the coliseum, the ground beneath us shook.

“The Sun God knows we’re here,” Dad murmured.

I’d never seen fear in his eyes before, but now I saw a mix of sorrow, apprehension, and a silent plea. A knot of unease formed in my stomach.

“Remember, Lianna, we do what we have to in order to keep our clan, our people, our lives safe and content,” he said, his face hardening. “I wish you hadn’t come with us; I wish you hadn’t had to, but sometimes we all have to make sacrifices.”

His words echoed in my mind, causing a sick feeling in my stomach. But I nodded anyway.

Our warriors followed us, and we all took a moment to stare in awe at the sight of the Sun God perched atop the coliseum.

His scales were a brilliant bronze-gold, gleaming in the sunlight as if they were made of molten gold. His wide, bat-like wings were tipped with claws, and the skin stretched between them was a fiery orange.

Seven spiked horns curved up from his head, and golden spikes ran down his spine and long tail. His talons gripped the stone as he watched us approach.

Above his head, a crown of fire danced, the red, gold, and orange flames flickering in the wind. He was a god of war, fire, and the sun: the embodiment of light, warfare, and all things that burned.

His golden eyes watched us, the group of Northern warriors, with a relaxed gaze, as if we posed no threat. Despite our numbers, I felt singled out by his gaze.

The Sun and War God blinked slowly, his gaze never leaving me. A shiver ran down my spine, and strangely, my heart skipped a beat.