The Tragic and the Pure - DreamNotFound

Prologue

George POV

Warm sunlight bathed soft skin, tickles of wild grass dancing against his senses. George gazed up at the handsome face above him, amused in the way grass blades blended into a deep green cape. Bright rays alighting dirty blond into brilliant shades of gold, hair tousled messily. 

Emerald cities blinked down at him, eyes the color of the very hue of life. George knew from experience tracing the pale freckles splashed on the dirty blond's cheeks would form a new shape every time. 

"Caught you." Dream smiled wide enough to show off his sharp canine teeth. 

"Dream!" George laughed against his burning lungs. "You didn't have to tackle me." 

"Is there another way to play manhunt?" Dream leaned down until their noses brushed. "Do tell." 

The brunette's breath caught in his throat, his only just calmed heart beginning to flutter. George lowered his lashes, warm breath caressing his already heated cheeks. "You're an idiot." 

He swore he melted entirely when Dream gave him gentle smirk. "I know."

Lips met in shared intimacy, skin touching skin with irresistible warmth. George could taste the emotions that made up the dirty blond. Dream's tenderness, the soft sugary sweetness he reserved for the brunette. The mischief that formed sparkles in his green irises, a strength that made George always feel safe around him. 

A light breeze brushed between them when their mouths separated in reluctant distance. 

"If I'm an idiot, but I still caught you, then what does that make you?" Dream teased. 

"Annoyed." George nudged him, unable to hide his smile. "Now get off." 

The cool air filled with tea-kettle wheezes, the dirty blond rolling to lay beside the human prince. 

"It's not funny." George rubbed his head in mock pain, knowing full well Dream had shielded his fall. Still, he knew just how to get to the idiot. "You hurt me." 

Right on cue, Dream sat upright. "I hurt you?"

George willed his smile to stay down when the dirty blond reached a hand to gently rub his head. Pointed black nails checked him for injuries in anxious concern. 

Manhunt wasn't a dangerous game, simply a version of hide-and-seek mixed with tag. Playing with the dragon prince changed none of that. Dream always watched his strength, treating the human as though he were a delicate flower. George could never feel anything but secure and protected around him.

At least, that was what he'd believed until the sun set, their fate turned in the flip of an hourglass.

That night, loud crashing shot adrenaline through his veins. Metal boots thudded the ground, guards rushing down the castle halls. George raced close behind them, alarmed when the sounds of struggle echoed from his father's throne room. 

Shouts urged him to stop, go to his room where it was safe. He'd never been one to listen.

Nothing was ever the same after what he saw that night. 

His wounded father stood behind his dragon guard, whose brilliant green wings stretched wide in protective fury. Washing scarlet rivers over the once pristine crystal tile was a chillingly familiar body. 

George had only seen the dragon king's true form once, when he was a young boy. He remembered being captivated by the power radiating from the shimmering black body. Now, he looked small. Fallen from grace to collapse in pools of his own lifeblood. 

But that wasn't what tore the heart from George's chest, or force his limbs to freeze in shock. No, that was the emerald dragon backing away from the blood bath. His striking eyes nothing more than thin chips of hatred. 

Their gazes met for the fleeting moment of a single heartbeat before Dream turned and crashed straight through the castle wall, disappearing into the darkness beyond. That split second of connection cut straight into his soul.

George shook with uncontrollable sobs, his father's shouted order forcing his knees to strike the floor in shocked agony. 

"The dragon king and his heir have betrayed us! They've attempted to murder me, catch and execute the escaped traitor!" 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Dragon Species: 

A race descended from dragons with the ability to take human form. However, after centuries of mixing with humans, they lost their ability to fully transform into a dragon. Only pure-blooded royals can take dragon form. Pure-blooded royals include only the dragon king/queen and their heirs.

Second Forms: 

Every dragon descendant is capable of using this form. While outwardly they appear human, they can take on characteristics at will. These include wings, horns, claws, scales, etc. They can change from entirely human to second form at will. 

The Kingdom:

The kingdom is ruled in joint leadership by the dragon and human king. Where dragons provide protection of the kingdom, humans manage supplies and negotiations. Hundreds of years ago, dragons and humans lived in separate kingdoms, eventually joined together after a great war between the species. 

Marriage between human and dragon royals is strictly forbidden in fear of tarnishing the pureblood dragons with human blood. Dragon princes/princesses are assigned a marriage when they come of age with a neighboring kingdom's heir. Outside marriage, kingdoms do not often interact.

Kinoko Kingdom: 

The kingdom George and Dream grew up in as fellow princes. This is where our story takes place, and where the writing quill bleeds ink the color of blood.