FireDrake by Bianca D'Arc

was female and not of this land she’d come to call home. It was highly unlikely she would discover a rogue gift of dragon speech at this late date, and even if she did, women were never chosen to be knights, no matter how skilled with a sword.
    All in all, she didn’t mind, though upon meeting Nellin, Mace’s dragon partner, she felt a pang of longing for the close bond she could sense between the two males.
    Wherever Mace went, Nellin was not far behind. Even now, while Mace and she enjoyed lunch in the small cafe, Nellin lounged outside in the square, entertaining curious children with puffs of warm air and waggling his wings to make them laugh. He was good with little ones in a way she hadn’t expected. Who knew a fearsome fighting dragon could have a playful, almost paternal side?

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    Bianca D’Arc
    “Nellin gets silly around children,” Mace said, following the path of her gaze out the small window to the dragon. Mace seemed almost embarrassed, misunderstanding her interest.
    “I think it’s charming. I mean, it’s obvious he can be fierce with such sharp talons and his large size, but I had no idea he could be gentle like that. I’m frankly amazed and altogether enchanted by him.”

    “You hear that?” Nellin said into Mace’s mind, clearly eavesdropping with his keen dragon senses. “She finds me enchanting.” Smug satisfaction filled his playful tone.
    “Now if only she found you at least interesting, we might make a go of this.”
    “Leave off, Nellin. Let me court her in my own way.” Mace fought to suppress the annoyance he felt at Nellin’s interference from showing on his face. Krysta didn’t know how closely he and the dragon were linked, and he didn’t want to scare her off just yet.
    She was far too lovely, too intriguing, too sexy, to let her scurry away from him and his dragon partner on the first date.
    “Courting? Is that what you’re doing? Could have fooled me.”
    “Everybody’s a critic.”
    The serving boy came over to ask if they wanted a sweet roll to follow their meal and Krysta declined, opting instead for a hot drink. Mace held up a finger to indicate he’d have the same and the youngster left. Seizing the moment, Mace thought himself daring when he leaned across the table and took Krysta’s hand in his.
    “I’ve really enjoyed this lunch with you, Krysta.”
    “Whoa, a little too intense there, friend,” Nellin coached him from the square. “Ease off before you scare her.”
    But Krysta smiled and folded her other hand over his. “I’ve enjoyed it too, Mace.”
    He rubbed his thumb lightly over her skin, liking the way she shivered and her smile deepened. He could have sworn her eyes even twinkled, but perhaps that was a trick of the afternoon sun, and his own overactive imagination.
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    FireDrake
    “Enough to do it again? I mean,” he stumbled a bit, “would you share another meal with me? Tomorrow, or the next day, perhaps? I really want to see you again.”
    She nodded, the lovely smile still in place on her plump lips, and his heart lifted. “I’d like that, but I’m on duty all day tomorrow. How about the day after? I could meet you for lunch again. Or dinner.”
    “Dinner!” Nellin counseled. “After dinner you can take her for a moonlit stroll or a night flight, if she’s game.”
    “Dinner would be perfect. Shall we come for you at sunset? Nellin and I know a great little inn on the outskirts of Castleton where he can have as good a time as us, chasing his dinner with the other dragons who frequent the place.”
    “Pushing it, don’t you think?” Nellin’s worried voice sounded in Mace’s mind.
    “What if she’s still afraid of me?”
    “She’s not. You should see the way she looks at you. She wants to keep you as a pet, Nel. Trust me on this.”
    “You mean…ride on the dragon’s back with you?”
    Mace liked the way her eyes lit up as she shifted her gaze back to where