DRAKENFELL — BETA QUARTERS
Hale Ironholt was a simple man.
He loved his mate. He loved his dragon. He loved his job. He loved breakfast. The hierarchy was firm, the hierarchy was functional, and the hierarchy had never once required revision because the four pillars of Hale Ironholt's existence were stable and cooperative and had coexisted peacefully for the duration of his adult life.
Until two days ago, when one of the pillars started acting weird.
It was Elara. The mate pillar. The pillar that was supposed to be the most stable of the four, given that it was built on a fated matebond and reinforced by the kind of love that made other couples look like acquaintances.
She was hiding something.
