{BOOK 1^^} Being a future king was hard. One had to set an example, be the man they wanted to see in every one of their subjects. Zavian didn't know how hard that would be, living up to his own image of what a good ruler was and he hadn't expected having to deal with falling in love with a slave. He was taken, abused and gifted. He had every opportunity there after to run, to be free. What freedom would it be though if he could be captured again and dealt a harsher fate? Marius knows the truth of the world, he's felt it from the day he was born. A dragon in a world of skepticism doesn't work well, especially when loving it's future ruler was so easy.