Taking a deep breath, the young woman flipped over the first card.

“King of Spades.”

This was unusual. She’d rarely ever drawn this card. When she did, Damien often killed the person.

“The King of Spades signifies power. You’re standing in judgment of others, using a strategic and militaristic mind. It’s the first day of the festivities. An easy day to start sitting in judgment. You’ve come from the High Council.”

Without lifting her eyes from the cards, Nia pondered this. Every clan had an Elder Master that ruled, but they weren’t absolute rulers. Even they had to report to the elusive High Council. There were five members, and each was a Metallic dragon. Mostly silvers and bronze. The golden dragon had been lost to time and legend. If he ever returned, they would finally know peace in the clans.

Turning over the second card, Nia smiled.

“Ace of Cups.”

Again, another interesting draw. She was drawing for today, not this week and it concerned her the card reading.

“You’re here to enforce the will of the Council. An enforcer…-” she paused a moment as the images flooded her mind.

He was the golden dragon. The supreme ruler came here for her. Her mate. Did Damien know that he was the Golden One? The one feared by all of the other dragons?

There was a legend among the clans of the Golden One. The only golden dragon that would be born within the last four thousand years. The one that was supposed to unite all the clans under one rule and bring real peace to their lands.

Of course, many thought it was nothing of it. But sitting before her was a golden dragon.

“It’s alright, beautiful, you can tell him the rest. Damien should know what he wrought.”

“You’re here as the enforcer. To watch, judge, and claim. Your mission for today is to find your mate and to punish wrongdoings. To judge the worthiness of our leader and decide on who will remain the Elder Master.”

Her voice was shaky as she spoke. She had kept his color a secret. Now she understood how a non-Chromatic was allowed in the Conclave. No one crossed the Council.

“Don’t worry, my darling pet. You’ve nothing to fear from the likes of him. Just keep following my orders, and all will be okay. Now, I believe you have one more card before you are dismissed.”

Damien’s voice held laughter. He honestly thought that he was safe. He might be. It all depended on the whims of a man she didn’t know. Was it so wrong of her to hope that Orion would choose to deal with Damien? Damien was ruining the Chromatic clan, and everyone knew it, but none was powerful enough to stop him. Yet.

Shifting slightly on her cushions, Nia took another deep breath to steady herself and flipped over the last card. Staring blankly as she allowed her gift to flow over her at the sight of the card.

“The Lovers.”

Nia pondered this one. Her entire reading was odd for the man.

“You’ve found your mate here at the Conclave, but there are trials ahead of you to get her. Getting her alone and unguarded will be the hardest part. Your mate is receptive to you and your advances. You will succeed in the first stage of The Claiming, but there will be a cost. Secrets revealed that cannot be undone once started. Are you willing to take that risk?”