Was he smaller? Standing? Or was that only her wishful thinking? Mina couldn’t tell. There was no hope in his eyes, though, only frustration and despair.
There was one last thing left to try.
Mina drew back her hand and slapped Stephen as hard as she could, palm cracking against the scaled side of his face with a sound like a coachman’s whip. It hurt like hell—probably far worse for her hand than his face—but the pain was just fuel. She raised her voice again and snapped, as sharply and forcefully as she’d ever spoken to anyone.
“You’re not leaving me, you bastard! Change back now!”
Violence was the last of last resorts. If it didn’t break through whatever hindered Stephen, she had lost him forever. And having started, she couldn’t stop. She didn’t want to watch any more, either. Mina closed her eyes, still weeping, and drew back her hand again.
Another hand caught her wrist.
Warm.
Skin, not scales.
No talons.
Human.
Mina opened her eyes.
“Cerberus,” Stephen said. His voice was still too deep for a human, and a stripe of glittering red scales ran up the back of his arm, but the chest he pulled her against was a man’s. Bare, too—he must have had a new shirt on when he’d changed. “Cerberus,” he said again, kissing her forehead. “Mina. Lady MacAlasdair.”
At first, she was too relieved to be surprised. Then she lifted her face from his shoulder—the red stripes ran down his chest, she noticed, but were nothing a shirt and gloves wouldn’t remedy in public, and she’d never mind in private—and made a sound with far more surprise in it than either dignity or coherence.
“Aye,” said Stephen, and then paused. “If you wish, of course.”
Laughing, she leaned up to kiss him. “Someone’s hand in marriage is the traditional reward, isn’t it?” she said. “For fighting a dragon?”
Acknowledgments
There’s a line about taking a village to raise a child that also seems appropriate for books. As always, I’d like to thank the wonderful people at Sourcebooks, including my editor, Leah Hultenschmidt; my publicist, Danielle Jackson; and Cat Clyne, my editorial assistant, for whipping this manuscript into shape and getting it out the door. I’d also like to thank all my friends and family for suggestions, occasional proofreading, and encouragement.
Are You In Love With
Love Stories?
Here’s an online romance readers
club that’s just for YOU!
Where you can:
• Meet great authors
• Party with new friends
• Get new books before everyone else
• Discover great new reads
All at incredibly BIG savings!
Join the party at
DiscoveraNewLove.com!
No Proper Lady
by Isabel Cooper
***
It’s Terminator meets My Fair Lady in this fascinating debut of black magic and brilliant ball gowns, martial arts, and mysticism.
England, 1888. No one has any idea that in a few hundred years, demons will destroy it all. Joan plans to take out the dark magician responsible—before he summons the demons in the first place. But as a rough-around-the-edges assassin from the future, she’ll have to learn how to fit into polite Victorian society first.
Simon Grenville has his own reasons for wanting to destroy Alex Reynell. The man used to be his best friend—until he almost killed Simon’s sister. The beautiful half-naked stranger Simon meets in the woods may be the perfect instrument for his revenge. It will just take a little time to teach her the necessary etiquette and assemble a proper wardrobe. But as each day passes, Simon is less sure he wants Joan anywhere near Reynell. Because no spell in the world will save his future if she isn’t in it.
***
“A genre-bending, fast-paced whirl with fantastic characters, a deftly drawn plot, and sizzling attraction.” —RT Book Reviews Top Pick of the Month, 4.5 Stars
For more Isabel Cooper, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Lessons After Dark
by Isabel Cooper
Author of No Proper Lady, a Publishers Weekly and Library Journal Best Book of the Year
***
A woman with an unspeakable past
Olivia Brightmore didn’t know what to expect when she took a position to teach at Englefield School, an academy for “gifted” children. But it wasn’t having to rescue a young girl who’d levitated to the ceiling. Or battling a dark mystery in the surrounding woods. And nothing could have prepared her for Dr. Gareth St. John.
A man of exceptional talent
He knew all about her history and scrutinized her every move because of it. But there was more than suspicion lurking in those luscious green eyes. Olivia could feel the heat in each haughty look. She could sense the desire in every touch, a spark that had nothing to do with the magic of his healing abilities. Even with all the strange occurrences at the school, the most unsettling of all is the attraction pulling her and Gareth together with a force that cannot be denied.
***
For more Isabel Cooper, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Wings of the Highland Dragon
by Isabel Cooper
***
Younger son of a family of shape-shifting dragons, Colin MacAlasdair has lived a long life free of both family duty and mortal cares. He takes very little seriously—including an invitation to his friend’s country house. But the girl who drops onto his balcony at midnight catches his attention.
Regina Talbot-Jones didn’t count on her brother’s friend being so handsome, and she certainly didn’t expect him to be a dragon. Reggie’s empathic power has kept her distant from most people, but when she meets Colin, she wants to get closer.
Lovesick girls, interfering parents, and angry ducks: all the ingredients for a memorable house party. With an angry ghost in the mixture, though, Reggie and Colin end up thrown together even more—and discover that each has a great deal to discover about the other.
***
“Isabel Cooper is an author to watch!” —All About Romance
For more Isabel Cooper, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Lord of the Hunt
by Shona Husk
***
Raised in the mortal world, the fairy Taryn never planned on going back to Annwyn, much less to Court. But with the power shift imminent, she is her parents’ only hope of securing a pardon from exile and avoiding certain death.
Verden, Lord of the Hunt, swore to serve the King. But as the magic of Annwyn fails and the Prince makes ready to take the throne, Verden knows his days as Hunter are numbered.
When Taryn and Verden meet, their attraction is instant and devastating. Their love could bring down a queen and change the mortal world forever.
***
Praise for For the Love of a Goblin Warrior:
“Ms. Husk outdid herself in this book… Once I got into the story, I couldn’t put it down.” —Night Owl Romance Reviewer Top Pick
“Husk has an amazing ability to weave a mesmerizing story with a magical dark fairy-tale feel.”—Love Romance Passion
“An entertaining and unique read. Shona Husk creates a dark yet delightful world where romance and fantasy combine.”—Romance Reviews
For more of the Shadowlands series, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Prince of Shadows
by Tes Hilaire
***
It’s forbidden for a warrior of the Light to love a creature of the Dark…
Valin has never quite fit in with the rest of the Paladin warriors. His power to manipulate shadow has always put him at odds with their purpose of using heavenly Light to eradicate evil. His warrior brothers have no idea how close he is to being lost to his dark nature.
But maybe he was never all that Light to begin with
When Valin meets the vampire Gabriella,
she awakens within him something he thought long buried. But as he watches Gabriella’s need for vengeance threaten to drag her down into the same dark hell that he’s living, he knows his only chance at redemption is bringing her out of the dark…
***
Praise for the Paladin Warriors series:
“This world and series is great. If you love the warrior series books along the line of J.R. Ward or Sherrilyn Kenyon, I highly recommend that you pick these up.”—Smitten with Reading
“Hilaire has created a unique blend of mythology and fantasy… a scorching read.”—Fresh Fiction
For more Tes Hilaire, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
The Magic Between Us
by Tammy Falkner
***
When these worlds collide
Cecelia Hewitt has lived her whole life in the land of the fae, and she dreams of a future with her childhood sweetheart, Marcus Thorne. When Marcus is called upon to dwell in the human world, it means leaving Cecelia behind and breaking both their hearts…
More than sparks may fly
Marcus was groomed for leadership in the land of the fae, but now that he has found his human parents, he will inherit his father’s title and position in the British ton—and he will marry a human. As love and passion continue to burn between Cecelia and Marcus, the question remains: Can two people fated for different worlds find one to share?
***
“Falkner writes a good story that flows well and is full of spirit, emotions, and love…”—Long and Short Reviews
“Falkner blends the paranormal with the historical convincingly and with great passion.”—Debbie’s Book Bag
For more Tammy Falkner, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Everlasting Enchantment
by Kathryne Kennedy
***
From the enchanted world of Kathryne Kennedy comes the long-awaited new installment in her bestselling Relics of Merlin series—where the magic never dies.
Powerful magic is afoot
Millicent Pantere cares nothing for the problems of the crown or the intrigues of London society. But the ladies of the realm are acting strangely, and Millicent is coerced into tracking down the rumors of a mysterious man who comes in the night and disappears at dawn.
And so the hunt begins
Millicent’s search leads her to one of Merlin’s legendary relics and the seductive knight bound with it. Centuries ago, Sir Gareth Solimere seduced the wrong woman, and he has been trapped ever since by a diabolical curse. He’s looking for the one who can break the enchantment—but in this world, there is no love without betrayal…
***
“Kennedy brilliantly and seamlessly lures readers into a realm where magic exists and Merlin’s legacy continues.”—RT Book Reviews
For more Kathryne Kennedy, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Enslaved
by Elisabeth Naughton
***
GRYPHON—Honorable, loyal, dependable…tainted. He was the ultimate warrior before imprisonment in the Underworld changed him in ways he can’t ignore.
She calls to him. Come to me. You can’t resist. But Gryphon will not allow himself to be ruled by the insidious whispers in his head. And there’s only one way to stop them: kill Atalanta, the goddess who enslaved him. But with so much darkness inside, he can’t be sure what’s real anymore. Even the Eternal Guardians, those who protect the human realm and the gods, want to exile him.
Finding Malea is like a miracle. Somehow he doesn’t feel the pull of the dark when she’s near. And he’s determined to keep her as near as possible, whether she wants him close or not. But she’s a temptation that will test every bit of control he has left. One that may ultimately have the power to send him back to the Underworld…or free him from his chains for good.
***
Praise for Enraptured:
“A spellbinding and wickedly sexy thrill ride that turns the heat up. Ms. Naughton continues to rock the Greek Mythology world with another entry in her brilliant Eternal Guardian series.”—Bitten By Paranormal Romance
For more of the Eternal Guardians series, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
About the Author
Isabel Cooper lives in Boston, in an apartment with two houseplants, an inordinate number of stairs, a silver sword, and a basket of sequined fruit. By day, she works as a theoretically mild-mannered legal editor; by night, she tries to sleep. She’s only ever broken into one house, and that was in college and for very good reasons. Well, sort of good reasons. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
You can find out more at isabelcooper.org.
Legend Of The Highland Dragon Page 26