The dragon whined unhappily, struggling around in her arms to get away. Ongoing theme of her life. She had to tighten her grip to keep the creature from chewing on the gaudy bronze plates that were strapped on its back. "Just for a few minutes." The dragon rider tried to soothe him, scratching under the clunky headpiece that had been custom forged just for the dragon. "Please just hang on for a while until I manage to prove my dear father wrong, and I'll take these stupid things off you."    "Come on! Up you go!" The Captain whistled from the shed, his voice loud and piercing.    Hesitating only for a second, the dragon rider grasped the belly-strap with one hand, planting her heel on a spike, and lifted herself in the air. Desperately she lunged for the pommel, fingers slipping hopelessly for a moment before she managed to secure a firm grip. Wriggling inelegantly

/HIS POV/  The day after the ball, Javier woke up damp and sweating. His heart hammered in his chest, the deep breaths he forced himself to draw doing little to slow it. Another dream. This time it focused on him as a child again, and he was tired. He was tired of seeing his dead parents, his childhood and knowing that he can never have any of it. Never experience those things again.    Every single time it tore him from inside to see those faces which have been long gone.    Wiping the sweat off his forehead he let out a sigh. It would be futile to try to go back to sleep now, what with the way his heart and mind still thrummed from his dream.    He blinked against the dark, feeling a peculiar mixture of antsy and peaceful. His skin was bathed in sweat yet cold to the tou

“Hello, Your Highness,” A soft voice travelled to his ears, breaking the silence and cutting Javier's ruminations short.   Frowning, he blinked at the person standing in front of him. She was the first guest to come forward and recognise him; he had to give the stranger credit. After all, it was a giant ball filled with all sorts of people in masks just for entertainment. “How do you know who I am? Have we met?”   “Yes, we have,” The stranger replied, smiling as she took a sip of her champagne. The room was too dark to allow him a good glimpse of her eyes, which might have helped him in a way.    Then again, why in the world would he agree to throw such a party? Javier should have known better than to create more intrigue when all he wanted was to seek solace away from people. 

Celina stepped her foot in the quaint little house. As she opened the heavy, creaky door, the sound of metal being smashed together grated her ears, sending an uncomfortable shiver down her spine. She’s never liked the sound or smell of metal, even though the dragon rider grew up surrounded by those.   "Who is that sword for?" The dragon rider asked, finding a familiar face polishing a new weapon.   The man startled, almost dropping the sword at the sound of her voice. And he does end up letting go of the thing altogether as soon as his eyes land on Celina, immediately going to hug her instead. She laughed, welcoming the embrace and breathing in deep, nose wrinkling a little when the smell of burning metal and coffee. She missed her uncle.     Celina pulled away first, about to

Please leave a review!! It helps other readers discover my book quickly :))***/His POV/   Javier held Celina's face firmly in place, cupping her jaw as he kissed her hungrily. It was as if he's trying to make up for every day they have spent apart. His mouth was relentless, sucking on her tongue, claiming it and making her moan. The eighteen-year-old pushed her body even more against him, unable to get close enough.      The Prince seemed to sense what she wanted, taking two steps required to press Celina up against his closed bedroom door. His body crowded her fully, feeling every curve and every nuance of her body against his.    "God, I missed you," The Prince murmured against her lips. But he didn't give her time to respond, immediately re