Prologue

-Ellie-

One week ago, supernaturals invaded the United States. Every mythical fairy tale creature I had ever heard stories about were all of a sudden real and not only that, they were overtaking our human world. For the most part these creatures were coming in peace. With their non-human strength and mind bending magical powers they overtook our government quite easily. They did it without any bloodshed. Well that is what we humans could see, who knows what fully went down with all their spells and powers.

The invasion was planned to a T, no one saw it coming. One minute I was working on my graphics staring deep into my laptop and the next they were surrounding us, taking over each city and each state.

Each supernatural group took a different section of The States. Vampires took over the North East. They didn't mind freezing their bejeezus off, so it worked out well. Warlocks took over the West Coast, where they all tried to look like they were proper beach bums, but no one bought it. Fae took over the Midwest, lots of wide open spaces to do whatever the hell they do. I have yet to get a clear understanding. They perform magic like warlocks but I think that it just lives inside of them. They can access it at any time, without casting a spell or taking time to make a potion. Shifters of all kinds took over the South East, I think the dense forest and wide mountain ranges called to them. Plenty of places to run and hide their beast.

Dragon shifters took over Tennessee, where my family lives. I thought I had read enough fantasy stories and watched How To Train A Dragon enough to not be completely shocked the first time one flew over our house. But I was wrong. Dead wrong. The things were massive. And the fire they spat out of their mouths could put off heat for miles.

If you're confused where the Witches and Fairies live, it is because there are none. All female supernaturals have become extinct for reasons we have no clue about. We found this out on the third day that they had taken over our lives. Remember me saying they had "mostly" been peaceful. I should rephrase that, they had "mostly" been peaceful with families and unmarried women. After they took over the government and claimed each area for their own. They charged in each home in the middle of the night and captured all unmarried males over the age of 21. No one has heard from any of them. We have no clue if they are dead or being held in an unknown area. Maybe being brainwashed to fight a war against all humans. All we know is we went to bed with all of our loved ones close by and then a few hours later all unmarried adult males were taken from us.

It was probably the first time in the last 25 years my parents were excited that they had 5 daughters and no sons. But my other friends were not so lucky. My best friend Lottie was devastated the night all the men vanished, her older brother and twin were gone in a flash. She said they barely even heard a door close and they were gone. Part of my heart was lost as well. Lottie's twin brother Lucas was one of my closest friends. We even had made a pack, that if we were not married by 35 we would marry each other. I was never in love with him, but he was well aware of that. He continued on and was completely fine with showing me love, even when I never could show it back. Don't get me wrong I loved him like a brother, but that was it.

Honestly I didn't think I would ever find true love. I just figured it wasn't in the books for me. Unlike my youngest sisters, who loved every single male that came near them, I had always been happy to be on my own. Until a man comes around that understands me fully and sweeps me into the deepest love imaginable, it wasn't worth my time. In high school I got a bit of rep for being outspoken and a tad dominating around the guys. They didn't intimidate me at all, so they looked at me like I was just another one of the guys and I was ok with that. All the guys I grew up with were completely superficial or an insane genius who I could never be equal with. And that's what my heart yearned for. I wanted a man that had strength and brains. A man that could match my passion and not back down. So far that kind of man is a myth. Something only written in legends. But who knows we all thought supernaturals were completely made up and apparently we were wrong.

You never know what this new world will bring. I just pray that I can be strong, protect my family and help those who we have lost. Game on.

Chapter 1

-Ellie-

The next day after the men had disappeared, there was an announcement from the Dragon Shifters that was shown on every tv, tablet and phone. All devices suddenly flashed with the announcement. The shifter in the video was different then all the ones I had seen so far. He was tall, but not as hulking of a figure. He looked more like an Olympic swimmer than the Viking type men I had been seeing around. He had red shaggy hair and adorable dimples. His broad smile was strangely comforting, even when we should be completely pissed off at them for taking our men. But here my sisters and I sat smiling at him on our screens. My youngest sisters were giggling loudly about how cute he was and how they would attract him if they ever had the chance. Though he somehow seemed sweet and made me smile, he did nothing for me. He was too predictable and didn't seem like he could challenge me at all. But I knew without even looking at my sister Jane, she was most likely red from blushing from her thoughts of him. He was just her type. I snuck a glance at her and couldn't hide my smile. She was beet red. Just like I knew she would be. His name was Charles Bingley, and he worked for the Dragon King. Yep, you heard me they have full out kings that rule his people. Apparently all the supernatural groups have one. My friend that lives in NYC said the Vampire king was wicked hot, but completely terrifying. One look from him made her almost wet her pants.

No one has yet to see the Dragon King or anyone from his court. So seeing this announcement from his court was very intriguing. Bingley explained their situation. That all the female supernaturals have become extinct. They have taken over the states, to mate with humans and continue their species.

And just like that all happy vibes we were getting from the man disappeared.

Even Lydia and Kitty went quiet.

No doubt we were all thinking the same thing. If they banished the men, they were most likely planning to force us women to mate with them. Bile arose in my throat at the thought. There was no way in hell a Dragon Shifter was going to force me to have sex with them and have their babies. Or was it eggs???? The whole thing was insane.

Bingley continued on saying that every home would be visited in the next few days. Every unmarried female from the age of 21 to 30 would be questioned. If you made the cut, you would be chosen to go to the Kings Court and compete to Mate with the Dragon King and become his Queen.

Gasps were heard all throughout the room. Except for the insane laugh that bubbled out of me.

Was this guy for real? He takes over our lives, takes away our men, then forces us to compete for his hand? Why would I want to be with a man that was mentally insane?

All my sisters stare at me like I have gone crazy. Mom specifically looks at me like I have finally lost it. Jane has tears forming in her eyes. It snaps me out of my insane laughter. I lean over and take her hand.

"I'm sorry Jane. This is just ridiculous. There is no way in hell they can make us compete for this lunatics hand." I squeezed her hand in comfort.

Another round of gasps are let out by Bingley's next statement. That every female that is chosen to go to the Kings court will be given 10,000 dollars. If she is chosen to be Queen she will receive a Million dollars.

A million dollars. Are you freaking kidding me?

Suddenly my thoughts are changing as I looked toward dad. He lets out a grunt knowing exactly what I was thinking. Apparently there was something that can convince me to even think about competing.

Saving my fathers company.

My father owns a tech company called Longbourn Technologies. But to keep up to date on the latest tech it's insanely expensive. COVID hit his business hard, no one wanted to buy tech from him or had the money to pay for websites and graphics. He has been in the hole ever since and barely surviving. There was a competing company that was threatening to buy him out. Collins Tech was the absolute worst. Looking for the easy way out in everything. So as soon as they saw that my dad was struggling, they swooped in and threatened to take everything away. The owner of Collins Tech was a slimy man named Bill Collins, anytime I was forced to be around him my gag reflexes were on high alert. The guy looked like he was stuck in a bad 90's mafia movie and smelled like one too. Collins disappeared with the rest of the single males and it was the one disappearance we didn't mind. We haven't heard from his company since then so hopefully the rest of his family that is running the company now doesn't harpoon us like Collins did.

"Ellie girl, don't look at me like that. There is no way I will let you sell yourself to save the company." Dad said, shaking his head. Stopping my thoughts before I could even get a word out.

"Why not! And she wouldn't be selling herself Thomas, she would be a Queen! But we all know Jane will be the one to catch the King's eye. She was born to be a Queen. I mean just look at her. If only Lydia was old enough, she too would make a great Queen."

Lydia snorted with a very unlady-like laughter at that accusation. But knowing Lydia she would happily jump at the chance. Lord help us if someone like Lydia was made Queen. I shuttered at the thought of a Queen teaching all her court how to twerk. Guh.

But as annoying as mom's words were. She was right about Jane. She was insanely beautiful. The picturesque American beauty. Perfect golden hair that looked like her and Barbie had the same hair genes. It was always naturally styled in loose waves that ran down her back. That with her piercing blue eyes and perfect figure, she was a bombshell. Not only that, she was also insanely sweet and loving. She was every males fantasy. Well at least human males that is. No clue what Dragon Shifters go for. Maybe huge Viking woman that could crush human skulls with one hand. If so Jane and I are out. I might not be model worthy like Jane, but I was more like a pixie than a Viking. I was 5'4" on a good day when I was stretching to my fullest. I had a tiny waist, but everything else was on the curvy side. Definitely not supermodel thin. I preferred to enjoy my meals, not run from them. Also my brown curly hair had a mind of its own. The only thing I actually quite liked was my emerald colored eyes. I got them from my dad's grandma. She was one of my favorite people before she passed away a few years ago. She was sassy, witty and feisty. She was still living on her own and driving till she was 95. She was my hero.

Bingley ended his announcement saying that after the new Queen was installed, with her humanity she would help the King to come up with a peaceful plan to help the dragons and humans intermingle. Intermingle: Meaning a fancy word for dragons getting it on with humans.

Ha, would not want to be in her shoes!

-Liam-

Every time I thought about the competition I had to empty my stomach. The whole thing left me in a constant state of nausea. As king I knew it was my duty to lead my people in this new challenge. And being an example of a positive mating was my only chance at stoping my people from becoming sex crazed beasts. I also had warned them the first person to defile a human before the terms have been decided they would be made an example. I wasn't messing around. We have already taken over these peoples lives and have taken away their human men. I know we are not coming in as heroes. They are terrified of us and the unknown. I don't want them in constant fear that they will get raped any minute of the day. That is not why we are here and that is not who we are. As a whole Dragon Shifters are meant to find their perfect mate. Their other half. They made us whole. It was something far larger than what humans called marriage. It went way beyond that. Deeper. We yearned for our equal and without them we would always feel lost. As our women continued to dwindle into non-existence, I sought out a powerful Wizard. I needed to know if there was any hope for my kind. He saw a prophecy that all of the dragon shifters could find our perfect matches in the States. To be specific in the state of Tennessee. I knew little of America, their basic lives without magic just always sounded sad and uneventful. But if this was the way to find the other halves of our souls. We would fight for it. It wasn't long till word had gotten out to the other Supernaturals and we had formed a plan of invasion.

The Wizard also told me the only way to find my True Mate was to hold a competition for the right to be Queen. Whoever was the winner, would be my perfect Mate.

The closer I got to the competition the more I feared and doubted there could ever be my True Mate amongst these people. From what I have seen so far, all the women are shallow and completely annoying. It's like they never have even opened a book or had any useful knowledge. A lady that was hired to cut my hair went on for a solid thirty minutes about some video thing called tikki toki or something like that. It was the most idiotic thing I had ever seen. I'm pretty sure somehow I lost brain cells as she dragged on about it.

Thinking about books I headed into the library. The Bingley's family home had a nice collection. It was nothing compared to the three story tall library in my castle. But it would have to do. I let out a sigh. Missing home and hoping we will be able to head back for good soon. My goal is to find our mates as quickly as possible and then bring them back to our mystical Dragon Island. The less time spent in The States the better.

A giggle caught my attention and I knew exactly who was sneaking around in the quiet room.

"Georgie, what did I tell you? You can not sneak around like you do at home. What if someone catches you? You will be destroyed." I locked eyes with my little sister, who had hidden herself between two large stacks of books and reading cushions that were propped up on the floor.

"I was going mad in my room. Once again let me plead by saying I would be way safer out and about outside the court. Walking amongst the humans. Where no one would think it's strange to see a young woman walking around, but around the Court I'm like a needle in a haystack. I stick out like a sore thumb!" Georgie huffed out dramatically and fell onto my thick leather chair.

"Yes, but here I can protect you fully. We have no idea what these humans are capable of. We haven't even been here a full week." I said while running a hand through my curly hair. Forgetting about my recent cut and still shocked to feel it so short on my fingertips. I had let it grow out almost to my chin. Georgie mentioned that I should get it cut before someone mistook me for a homeless man. Whatever that was, but it didn't sound good.

She rolled her eyes. Annoyance rising every second. "Unlike you brother, I have spent countless hours learning about America. The humans are quite interesting actually. I believe there is a lot more to them than you think."

I grunted and fell into the chair next to her. I didn't want to hear it. Charles had been preaching it at me since the first day we took over. But all I see is weakness. How on earth is there a woman among these people that will be strong enough to lead a kingdom of dragons? Impossible.

I felt a familiar pain in my chest and knew immediately my dragon didn't agree with me. He had been awfully chatty about the possibility of finding our mate since the prophecy was spoken.

"So a week of searching for the competitors and then they will be brought to the island for the competition. Are you ready?" I felt her eyes on me, but I continued to cover my eyes with my hands as I leaned my head back on the cushion.

"Not at all." I finally removed my hands and glared back.

She rolled her eyes again. "You poor Dragon King, get your choice of the most beautiful, perfect woman in the land. How dare they make you take one and have the only shared bed in the kingdom." A deep chuckle tumbled out of me before I could stop it. I shook my head at her ridiculousness.

We were all beyond ready to get that plus on top of finding our True Mates and having an heir. Something we have only dreamed of and let me tell you I have dreamed extensively about it.

"Liam, can you promise me one thing?" Georgie looked at me with big hopeful eyes.

"What's that?" I look at her slightly concerned. Noting her quick change from joking to serious.

"Can you at least try?" She said in a whisper, looking down at her fidgeting hands. Georgie was never shy or quiet around me. She was always up front and honest. Sometimes annoyingly so, like just now when she made her feelings very clear on how she did not want to be held hostage any more. So seeing this side of her, surprised me.

I looked at her quizzically. Unsure of what she was trying to say. "Try what?"

She let out the breath she had been holding. "Try to love her." Her voice was still so small and quiet.

To be honest, the idea of finding a Mate that I actually could love had never been in my thoughts. Since this plan of action was stabilized, I agreed to finding my Mate in hopes of being with someone who I could respect and care for, But Love. That was something completely different. I took a moment before answering her. Trying to word my thoughts correctly, not wanting to offend her. But as she looked up at me with anticipation and hope, there was only one thing I knew I could say that would give her the comfort she needed.

I nodded my head and closed my eyes for a brief second. "Yes Georgie, I will try." Knowing deep in my soul that's what our parents would have hoped for. Mom always wanted that for us both. She told us stories about the strength of the love that was shared between my father and mother. It didn't surprise me at all that Georgie wanted that for me as well.

She jumped up and threw her arms around me, hugging me excitedly. I shook my head at her silliness.

"Ok time for bed. Out of here, before someone finds you." I said pointing towards the door and giving her the hardest, serious glare I could muster.

She went to the door and saluted me with a cheeky grin. "Yes sir." Then stuck her tongue out and giggled as she ran out the door.

I shook my head at the scene and couldn't help the smile she squeezed out of me.

For someone who has to be hidden from my people at all times she has the most positive attitude. If I were in her shoes I would have given into the darkness long ago. But somehow she continues to hope for the best.

The sooner we Mate and fill our land with women again, the sooner she will no longer be in danger.