The capture of a Dragon King is cause for celebration. Jeyra never dreamed she would actually face one of the creatures who destroyed her home. But the longer sheโs around him, the more she finds herself gravitating to him. All it takes is one reckless kiss that unleashes desires and the truth that has been hidden from her to set them both on a course that could be the end of them.
Varek, King of Lichens, has known nothing but a life with magic. Until he finds himself on a different realm unable to call up his powers. Worse, heโs in shackles with no memory of how it happened. When he sees an enthralling woman who leaves him speechless, he believes he can charm her to free him. The more she rebuffs him, the more he craves her, igniting a dangerous passion between them. Can he protect the woman heโs fallen for while uncovering the truth โ or will peril that neither see coming tear them apart?
Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, itโs an introduction to an authorโs world. And for fans, itโs a bonus book in the authorโs series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant comes a new story in her Dragon Kings series. DRAGON REVEALED is out Tuesday, but you can read a sneak peek below right now!
Varek couldnโt shake the feeling that Jeyra was headed into trouble. He knew with certainty that she would ignore everything heโd cautioned her about. Not that he blamed her. Heโd do the same in her shoes.
It grated on him that he couldnโt be out there to help her. He knew that look in her eyes, the one that said she wouldnโt stop until she had what she wanted. Because heโd been there himself once. And had left a trail of destruction in his wake.
It wasnโt until he became a Dragon King that he found others he could trustโand who trusted him. The need to fight for everything then subsided. Not entirely because he was a King for his clan, but he no longer sought out things to clash over. It had been an eye-opening experience thatโd changed him in many ways.
He sat up and ran a hand down his face. Varek was beginning to hate the dungeon. He wanted to stand up, to stretch, get some clean clothes. And be upright in a hot shower. The little water he had to wash himself did the job, but it wasnโt the showers he was used to.
With nothing else to do, he lay back and closed his eyes. Heโd already finished the food Jeyra had brought, and no one would venture close to him until she returned. Unless, of course, that brute of a man returned, possibly with more clothes. Varek yawned and tested his body where he had sustained his injuries. They were almost healed.
That pleased him because he didnโt want to fight while injured. He could, but it would put him at a disadvantage. He had been at a disadvantage since he arrived on this realm, and it was time that changed.
He stilled as he felt something brush against his mind as soft as a butterflyโs wings. His eyes snapped open as he held his breath, listening to see if he heard it again.
โWhoโs there?โ he asked mentally.
Varek released his breath and slammed his fist against the ground when he received no answer. Was he so desperate for the other dragons that heโd imagined a voice? If heโd sunk to such levels, it didnโt bode well for his chances of escape. His thoughts turned to Merrill. How had he been taken but not Merrill?
โBecause he was with a woman,โ Varek suddenly said aloud.
He smiled as relief poured through him. He remembered something. At least now, he knew that Merrill wasnโt stuck somewhere on this realm. No doubt his friend had returned to Dreagan and informed Con and the other Dragon Kings about Varekโs disappearance. Unfortunately, none of them would know to look for him on another realm, much less the one where the twins were. If thatโs where he was.
โErith,โ he called, attempting once more to reach out to the goddess.
If he couldnโt contact any of the dragons on the realm, then she and the Reapers were his last hope. It also made him realize that he needed the cityโs layout to devise an escape plan. When he saw Jeyra next, he would ask her for it.
He smiled, recalling their kiss. It had been unexpected, but he didnโt regret a single moment of it. He hadnโt been able to stop thinking about her before the kiss, and now, she filled every corner of his mind. No matter what he thought about, she was there. He could try to ignore the feelings growing within him, but it wouldnโt do any good. He had found his mate in the most unlikely of places. But found her he had.
Varek snorted, thinking of how angry he was at whoever had captured him. But if he hadnโt been brought here, he might never have found Jeyra. He would have gone the rest of his life without a mate beside him. Oddly, that thought hadnโt bothered him before. Until he looked into Jeyraโs amber eyes and saw the fire inside her.
She had many reasons to hate dragons, but he hoped she could overcome them to be with him. If her response to his kiss was any indication, she just might be able to.
His smile died as he recalled the story of her family. That kind of deep-seated animosity didnโt relinquish its hold easilyโif ever. Jeyra wanted justice for whatโd happened. No doubt many others did, as well. What would happen if he agreed to the marriage the council offered? Varek couldnโt imagine it sitting well with the humans. It would only breed more hatred. And he only knew the mortalโs side of things in this war.
Mortals. That was laughable. He wouldnโt exactly call Jeyra mortal, but she wasnโt immortal either. The truth of what she was, however, confounded him. Until the Fae and humans came to their realm, the Dragon Kings knew nothing of those species. The Kings and dragons didnโt venture to other realms, so they didnโt know of anyone else.
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