Ice Dragon by Bianca D'Arc

wing. She was asleep almost before she settled fully against him. Roland sighed in relief. Tomorrow he would tell her his secret and see how she reacted to the very real human male holding her safe and warm in his arms.

    Roland woke Lana just before dawn when the pearly gray light grew bright enough for human eyes to see. Tor was still fast asleep and Roland knew the young dragon would sleep on for at least an hour or more. Now came the moment of truth for Roland…and his lady.
    Lana? Sweetheart, wake up. There’s something I have to tell you.
    Is it morning yet? She yawned, answering him in the quiet of her mind as she rubbed her eyes, coming awake slowly like a newborn kitten. He loved that about her. Her innocent femininity was just one of the many facets of her that inspired new, tender emotions in his heart.
    Nearly. Lana, there’s something important you have to know.
    She looked over at him and he knew she was coming fully awake.
    What is it? Is something wrong?
    No, nothing’s wrong. There’s just a secret I need to share with you and you can’t tell Tor. He’s too young yet to keep this secret, and secret it must remain—at least for now.
    Her expression grew troubled. I don’t hide things from Tor.
     
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    For the safety of my kingdom, you must hold this one secret close to your heart for a short while. More than just my own life depends on it.
    Then why in the world do you want to tell me?
    You’ll understand when you see... He blew out a hot, frustrated breath. Oh hell, just watch.

    Lana gaped in awe as the black wing around her transformed into a muscular, human arm. She nearly shrieked when, instead of a black dragon, she was being held close to the hot body of a tall warrior clad in tight-fitting, black leather breeches and little else.
    “Sweet Mother of All!” Her whispered words were caught by powerful, male lips as he captured her mouth with his in the first kiss she had ever known. It was hot and sweet, faintly smoky and pure. Something inside her shifted as the incredibly handsome man laid her back on the soft grass, hovering over her small body with his large, muscular form.
    “Do you understand now?” His words sounded near her ear as he pulled slightly back. Dark green human eyes watched her carefully, a slight smile playing about the hard lips that had just kissed her breathless.
    “Roland?”
    He nodded. “In the flesh.”
    “But how?”
    “I’m of the royal bloodline, Lana. All the males of my line are both human and dragon. Black dragons, to be precise. Only the royal blacks can change form from human to dragon at will. It’s part of our heritage, part of our birthright, part of the agreement between human and dragonkind to peacefully coexist as they coexist in the males of my line.”
    She ran one hand over the sharp angles of his face, marveling at how the dragon resembled the man. Though in completely different form, she 52

     
    recognized him. He was not a stranger to her. And he was so good-looking, he took her breath away.
    His green eyes sparkled just like the emerald dragon eyes she had come to know so well over the past days. The arch of his eyebrow was so similar in shape and angle to the eye ridge of the dragon. The curve of his cheek was in the same proportion as the angular jaw of the dragon.
    “You are Roland.” Her voice was a breathless whisper of awe as her eyes lit up with discovery. She gasped as another thought occurred.
    “Sweet Mother! Are you a prince or something?”
    His smile deepened, revealing sexy dimples. “Or something. You’ll find out all the grisly details when we get to the palace and meet my family, I’m sure.”
    “You’re taking me to the palace?” The thought struck fear into her heart.
    “If I’m right, you too are a member of one of the royal bloodlines. You must learn about your heritage and claim your birthright, Lana. By right of your birth, you’re also part of the royal court.”
    “Are we related?”