KING MAELOR, 62: Handsome and muscular, with golden eyes, salt-and-pepper chestnut hair, a weathered face, and trimmed beard. Height: 6'2" (188 cm). Weight: 220 lb (100 kg). Ismeria's father and king; sacrifices a daughter every two years.

QUEEN AURELIA, 61: Exceptionally beautiful and graceful, with golden-blonde hair styled in a wide, elegant bun, loose strands framing her face, and soft gray eyes. She has refined mature features and a curvy, graceful figure. Height: 5'8" (173 cm). Weight: 145 lb (65.8 kg). Maelor's first wife and true love, and mother of his first two daughters, both sacrificed. Despite his other relationships, she still loves him. The kingdom's beloved matriarch, she treats all his children as her own. Every princess chosen for Vaelthar seeks her blessing and receives a kiss to the forehead and a final moment of maternal comfort. She loves Ismeria as her own daughter.

PRINCE EVANDER, 41: Broad-shouldered and sturdy, with dark chestnut hair, hazel-green eyes, rugged features, and short beard. Height: 6'4" (193 cm). Weight: 220 lb (100 kg). Maelor's son; husband to Genevieve and Marcella, father of 14+ children, and expected heir to the sacrifice tradition.

QUEEN ISOLDE, 36: Regal, with auburn-copper hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and defined features. Height: 5'8" (173 cm). Weight: 155 lb (70 kg). Ismeria's mother and Queen Consort.

QUEEN YSABET, 59: Gentle and graceful, with dark-brown hair, hazel-green eyes, fair skin, and refined features. Height: 5'7" (170 cm). Weight: 145 lb (66 kg). Evander's kind, quiet mother.

LADY GENEVIEVE, 41: Elegant, with long black hair, brown eyes, fair skin, and a curvy, slim-thick build. Height: 5'6" (168 cm). Weight: 145 lb (65.8 kg). Evander's first wife. She mothered 8 of Evander's 14 children, and is currently pregnant with one baby, She has four daughters and four sons Sons names: Aldric, Theron, Lucien, Cassian Daughters names: Seraphina, Arabella, Evangeline, Rosalind

LADY MARCELLA, 23: Youthful, with dusty-brown hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and a slender yet curvy figure. Height: 5'5" (165 cm). Weight: 125 lb (56.7 kg). Evander's second wife, eighteen years younger than Genevieve. She mothered 6 of Evander's 14 children, and is currently pregnant with twins, 4 out of 6 are female 2 out of 6 are male Sons names: Draven, Leander Daughters names: Celestia, Vivienne, Ophelia, Liliane

LADY ELOWEN THORNE, 22: Fair-skinned, with long dark-chestnut hair, gray-green eyes, and a slender build. Height: 5'6" (167.6 cm). Weight: 135 lb (61.2 kg). Ismeria's intelligent, observant, loyal lady-in-waiting.

VAELTHAR, GRAND KING OF DRAGONS: Thousands of years old, terrifying yet protective of Piri. Human form: black hair, red eyes, pale skin, sharp features, broad powerful build; height 8'6" (259.1 cm), weight 300–400 lb (136–181 kg). Dragon form: obsidian scales with crimson accents, swept-back horns, enormous wings, and a muscular, spined, blade-tipped tail. Length 255 ft (78 m), wingspan 216 ft (66 m), shoulder height 97 ft (29.6 m), tail 85 ft (25.9 m); weight 1,200 metric tonnes. Total length includes tail.

PIRIELLE “PIRI,” 4: Vaelthar's adopted elaphocentaur daughter. Humanlike upper body, chestnut-auburn curls, forest-green eyes, velvet antler buds, and reddish-chestnut deer body with white spots, cream underside, and cloven hooves. Shoulder height: 36 in (91.4 cm). Weight: 55 lb (24.9 kg). Curious, playful, stubborn. Her deer form has four legs, small antlers, and a white star marking near her left shoulder.