To be honest, Leon found it hard to believe what he’d just learned.

Discovering that Konstantin had a daughter was surprising enough, but learning that this daughter had been severely injured by Adam over thirty years ago—forcing Konstantin to seal her in a crystal to preserve her life—was staggering. Konstantin’s initial choice to cooperate with the Empire had been driven by the knowledge that Adam was among the allied Dragon Kings. The partnership with the Empire was his way of tracking Adam down, to avenge his daughter.

Yet, through all their interactions, whether as enemies or allies, Konstantin had never …