The Death King (Death Series Book 1)

At fifteen, the narrator's kingdom fell when the Death King arrived with a black dragon and an army of the dead. Her father, King Laurier of Scorpion Valley, could not stop him. She attempted to escape but encountered the Death King himself—a man in black armor. Rather than kill her, he spared her life, though she did not experience it as mercy. For the next ten years, she was enslaved in the Arid Sands, forced to dig for Black Diamonds. She also served as the personal slave of General Titan, who became obsessed with her. When news arrives that the Death King is returning, she attempts to steal his dragon, Khazmuda, in the night. The dragon, however, is sentient and can communicate directly with her mind. She possesses the gift—the ability to speak with dragons. The Death King spares her again and brings her to his castle. He does not recognize her and asks her to fight for his cause, though he does not explain what that cause is. He tells her he desires her because she shares his gift. Despite finding him physically striking, she refuses his advances, knowing he destroyed her life. He does not accept her refusal. Trigger Warning: Contains dark themes including rape and suicide.