by Karalynn Lee
Afterward, he lay beside her and pulled her against him. She draped a leg over him possessively.
“I like your hair like this.” He brushed the ends with the back of his hand. It had grown a little since she’d cut it with Herrol’s blade, but was nowhere near its former length. “It reminds me of when I first saw you in my mountains.”
“It was time for a change.” She would have to tell him the full story someday.
“They were fools. Spirits like yours are most beautiful free.” He traced her cheekbone.
His warmth still amazed her. “You don’t think I was the fool? I thought you’d be furious I sneaked away.”
“Don’t you understand?” he asked. “I know everything that passes in my realm.”
He’d said as much to her, when she’d first met him. Now she understood that all the creatures who lived in the mountains must serve as his eyes. Of course he could understand them if he could change into one of them, and no wonder that eagle had followed her. “So you knew. Why didn’t you stop me, after you told me I couldn’t ransom Dereth?”
“If you stay in Helsmont, I want it to be your choice. I never want to trap you here, even if it means you’ll be gone from me.”
“That’s why you let me leave with Herrol.”
He was silent for a while. “That was hard,” he said at last. “I roamed the mountains for a few days. I was so angry I didn’t think my people were safe around me.”
“I’m sorry.” She wished she could turn back the days, unravel his pain.
“I blamed myself. I always worried because I didn’t know how to court a human. If you had been dragon I would have danced in the skies for you, woven the wind into patterns and song. But I didn’t want to frighten you with such storms.”
“Will you show them to me now?”
He laughed. “Do you need to see them to feel properly courted?”
“No, you’ve already done that.” Through quiet breakfasts and the animals he’d trusted her with. “I was a fool. I never should have left.”
“It turned out for the best. Now Herrol is gone from my kingdom and can no longer make eyes at my wife.”
“Has it been a full year?” she said in wonder. “Are we married now? Your mountain customs are so strange.”
He twined his fingers with hers. “My heart, I never needed a year to know that I wanted you. It was only left for you to decide the same, once you came to know my full nature.”
She raised herself onto an elbow so she could look him full in the face. Did it matter that those dark brows and curling mouth weren’t the features he’d been born with, as long as they formed that tender expression whenever he looked at her? She didn’t care what form he took, for she knew the shape of his heart.
She’d been wrong before; there was something—someone—she could commit herself to for centuries and beyond. “I’ve decided,” she said, and joined her lips and life to his.
* * * * *
If you loved Heart of the Dragon’s Realm, don’t miss these enthralling stories, also by Karalynn Lee. Available now!
Slip Point
How can he trust a woman who’s both a pirate and the girl who broke his heart?
Demon’s Fall
She was an angel at the gates of Hell.
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About the Author
Karalynn was born in Texas, raised in Korea and now lives in California. Despite having majored in English, she makes her living writing in programming languages instead. She enjoys early mornings, running, barley tea and watching football games in crowded pubs. More of her writing is available from Carina Press, Samhain Publishing, Drollerie Press and at her website, www.karalynnlee.com.
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ISBN: 978-14268-9455-8
Copyright © 2012 by Karalynn Lee
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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