Heart Of The Dragon. Gena Showalter
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Praise for the novels of New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Gena Showalter
Heart of the Dragon
“Lots of danger and sexy passion give lucky readers
a spicy taste of adventure and romance.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Filled with steamy sex, adventure, and a sprinkle
of humour…a fantastic book!”
—Myshelf.com
Jewel of Atlantis
“Showalter has created a ripe mythological world
populated with fascinating creatures and dark lore…
For extraordinary escapism, read this book.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Shines like the purest gem…Rich in imagery and
evocative detail, this book is a sterling example of
what makes romance novels so worthwhile.”
—A Romance Review, 5 stars
The Nymph King
“A world of myth, mayhem and love under the sea!”
—New York Times bestselling author J.R.Ward
“I want to visit Atlantis! Deliciously evocative and
filled with sexy men, The Nymph King is every
woman’s fantasy come to sizzling life. A must read.”
—New York Times bestselling author P.C. Cast
“Gena Showalter’s stories hum with fast pacing and characters that leap off the page. Pick up one of Gena’s books! You won’t be disappointed!”
—USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Kenner
Atlantis
New York Times bestselling author
GENA SHOWALTER
invites you to enter Atlantis,
a world of dark seduction and powerful magic…
HEART OF THE DRAGON
JEWEL OF ATLANTIS
THE NYMPH KING
THE VAMPIRE’S BRIDE
Heart of the Dragon
Gena Showalter
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author GENA SHOWALTER has been praised for her “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories”. She is the author of more than seventeen novels and anthologies, including breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting-edge young adult novels and stunning urban fantasy. Readers can’t get enough of her trademark wit and singular imagination.
To learn more about Gena and her books, please visit www.genashowalter.com and www.genashowalterblogspot.com.
Other sexy, steamy reads from Gena Showalter and MIRA Books
ATLANTIS
HEART OF THE DRAGON
JEWEL OF ATLANTIS
THE NYMPH KING
THE VAMPIRE’S BRIDE
LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD
THE DARKEST NIGHT
THE DARKEST KISS
THE DARKEST PLEASURE
THE DARKEST WHISPER
DARK BEGINNINGS
THE DARKEST PASSION
THE DARKEST LIE
More stunning tales from Gena Showalter are coming your way…
INTERTWINED
UNRAVELLED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
You survived a childhood of mind-numbing pain and abject humiliation. You survived a childhood of utter terror and unimaginable horror. Somehow, some way, you survived a childhood with me as your babysitter. Thankfully I’ve found a better outlet for my…creative spirit.
To Auston and Casey Dowling. I love you both.
To Debbie Splawn-Bunch, who wouldn’t let me title this book Extra Crispy Love.
Prologue
Atlantis
“DO YOU FEEL IT, BOY? Do you feel the mist preparing?”
Darius en Kragin squeezed his eyes tightly closed, his tutor’s words echoing in his mind. Did he feel it? Gods, yes. Even though he was only eight seasons, he felt it. Felt his skin prickle with cold, felt the sickening wave of acid in his throat as the mist enveloped him. He even felt his veins quicken with a deceptively sweet, swirling essence that was not his own.
Fighting the urge to bolt up the cavern steps and into the palace above, he tensed his muscles and fisted his hands at his sides.
I must stay. I must do this.
Slowly Darius forced his eyelids to open. He released a pent-up breath as his gaze locked with Javar’s. His tutor stood shrouded by the thickening, ghostlike haze, the bleak walls of the cave at his back.
“This is what you will feel each time the mist summons you, for this means a traveler is nearby,” Javar said. “Never stray far from this place. You may live above with the others, but you must always return here when called.”
“I do not like it here.” His voice shook. “The cold weakens me.”
“Other dragons are weakened by cold, but not you. Not any longer. The mist will become a part of you, the coldness your most beloved companion. Now listen,” he commanded softly. “Listen closely.”
At first Darius heard nothing. Then he began to register the sound of a low, tapering whistle—a sound that reverberated in his ears like the moans of the dying. Wind, he assured himself. Merely wind. The turbulent breeze rounded every corner of the doomed enclosure, drawing closer. Closer still. His nostrils filled with the scent of desperation, destruction and loneliness as he braced himself for impact.
When it finally came upon him, it was not the battering force he expected, but a mockingly gentle caress against his body. The jeweled medallion at his neck hummed to life, burning the dragon tattoo etched into his flesh only that morning.
He crushed his lips together to silence a deep groan of uncertainty.
His tutor sucked in a reverent breath and splayed his arms wide. “This is what you will live for, boy. This will be your purpose. You will kill for this.”
“I do not want my purpose to stem from the deaths of others,” Darius said, the words tumbling from his mouth unbidden.
Javar stilled, a fiery anger kindling in the depths of his ice-blue eyes, eyes so unlike Darius’s own—unlike every dragon’s. All dragons but Javar possessed golden eyes. “You are to be a Guardian of the Mist, a king to the warriors here,” Javar said. “You should be grateful I chose