Dragon’s Beauty by Miranda Martin

Years ago we humans crashed into Tajss and my life of privilege and pretense crumbled amidst the wreckage. Once hailed as a celebrity, a princess of the stars, I now know my reality was a facade built upon the legacy of my parents’ status. Still, I cling to the remnants of my former life. An illusion of influence and mattering. Yet, beneath the glittering facade lies a profound emptiness, a sense of inadequacy that gnaws at my soul.

Then Sek’pet, one of the alien dragon-like Cavern Zmaj, crosses my path—a chance collision that ignites a spark within. His fiery gaze pierces through to the core of my being. For the first time, I dare to hope for something real, something genuine. With one fateful encounter, the carefully constructed walls around my heart begin to crumble, exposing vulnerabilities I never dared acknowledge. Can I dare to believe in a love that transcends the constraints of social constructs? Will embracing this newfound connection lead to liberation or upheaval in the lives of those who depend on me for escapism?

As I grapple with these questions, one thing is clear. Love may be the only truth worth pursuing. If I can summon the courage to seize it.