The Dragon Prince's Bride

Theysayoppositeattracts,that'salie.Oppositeskilleachother!Whenahotbloodmeetsanotherhotblood,thingsareboundtogetburnt.Thatisexactlywhathappenswhenthepompousandpridefulelvenprincess,NeriahoftheAvelahKingdomisforcedtomarrythebrashdragonPrince,BarakoftheTragoKingdom.Neriah'sgoalistosomedaybreakawayfromhermarriageandrunawaywiththeloveofherlife,LyleoftheNiles.WhileBarakwilldoeverythingtokeepherasawife.Neriahiscertainshe'sinlovewithanother,butshe'salsocertainthatnoonecanignitethekindofpassionherhusbandbrings.Herhusbandwhoshehatesmorethananything.Cantheflamesofpassionbedrawnfromhate?Canthatsamepassionburndownthewallsoflies,betrayal,andhurt?Canitsashestranscendintolove?Excerpt“Iamarose,abeautifulflower,delicateandprecious!Butyoumydearsirarenothingbutthethornystem!Prickly,dangerousandveryharmful!”rantedNeriahwhilepokinghischestwithherindexfinger.“Wellyouseemtoforgetoneimportantdetail,mylove.”Hecalmlygrabbedherpokinghand.“Andwhatwouldthatbe,myfinesir?”“Thatthethornystemandtherosegrowtogether.Thedelicateroseandthepricklythorn,theybelongtogethermydear.”“You—”“Andnoamountofrantingandragingwillchangethat.YouthinkIwanttokeepawitchlikeyou?Youareapainintheneck.IfIamathornthenyouareapieceoffishbonestuckinsidemyneck.IcannotswallowandIcannotspititout!Ijusthavetobearit!”“Youinsolentbastard!DoyoumeantosayIamaburden!”“Wellyouarenopreciousprize,areyou?”Andthatwasit,shethrewherselfathimwithherclawsreadytomarhisface,buthewasquickerandhecaughtbothherhandswithoneofhisownandpressedherheavingchestuponhis.Goldeneyesstareddeepintohers.Theywereasgreenasthefreshleavesonanorangetree.Hisfingerscaressedherface,“Youmightnotbeapreciousprize,butbytheheavens,youaremine.”Andhislipsfellonhers,andonceagain,anotherargumentwasdrowned.