Book Three in the award-winning Dragon's Heir series
In the dragon kingdom of Djarera, Lara Southerlin has at last found her life-mate in the handsome rebel, Zendar. But the four clans, still furious over Zendar's rebellion, refuse to accept him as heir to the throne.
Zendar can see no other way to save Djarera from all-out warfare than to leave, even if it means losing the woman he loves. And Darrek, badly scarred and left half-blind by the battle to save Lara, believes he wants nothing more than to be left alone. Together, they disappear, leaving Rand and Lara frantic.
Now Lara and Rand must put everything on the line to find them, and in a last, desperate struggle, each of them must finally acknowledge their own deepest desires. But will the result be ruin for the dragon kingdom, or the dawn of a whole new era?
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Reviews
Best Fantasy Book of 2007! -- Love Romances Cafe Readers Poll
5 Kisses! "Vivid imaginative world-building interwoven with dragon lore, steamy intimacy, and character delineation combine to make this another winner and definite must-read from this accomplished author." -- Two Lips Reviews
5 Hearts! "Her characters leap from the pages and reach into the heart of the reader. This has been a wonderful continuation of this exciting series..." -- Love Romances & More
5 Stars! "Sierra Dafoe ends the story of Lara Sotherlin with this tale of love lost and the lengths the dragon's heir is willing to go to reclaim it..." -- ECataRomance Sensual
5 Nymphs! "These characters almost leap from the pages, they are so realistically portrayed..." -- Literary Nymphs
Rand stepped away from the wall, where he'd been hidden in the shadows, moving instead to one of the arches overlooking the small inner courtyard of Wind Castle. Leaning against the molded column, he folded his arms and gazed at Darrek.
Darrek cursed silently. The damned Aurorean followed him like a puppy these days. Everywhere he turned, there was Rand, hovering over him like a nursemaid. No matter how he lashed out, the massive redhead would not go away.
"What are you, my keeper now? You don't even know where I went."
"I know whatever you said to Elara, she didn't deserve it."
Darrek stared at him contemptuously. "She left you standing at the altar, Aurorea. Don't you even have enough manhood to be angry?"
Rand shrugged. His casual indifference only infuriated Darrek further. Whatever he said, however much he insulted him, Rand ignored it -- as if Darrek's fury was simply beneath his notice. Damn him, anyway!
Darrek slammed his fist against the cold marble of the wall. Pain shot through his bruised hand, and he welcomed it -- the tangible sensation made the room seem less shadowy, less insubstantial.
"Why don't you go welcome your lady and her lover home, then? I'm sure she'd be happy to make room for you in their bed."
"What's wrong with you? After everything she's done for you, Dar... "
"Don't call me that!"
His screech ripped at his throat, and he crouched back against the wall, panting, glaring at the looming shape that was all he could see of Rand.
Rand had frozen at his cry, and a long moment passed before he spoke. When he did, his voice was softer, as if he were speaking to a wild animal. "You should be in bed. You're going to push yourself right into another relapse if you don't rest."
Darrek chuckled mirthlessly.
"I'm serious, Darrek. You're never going to heal if you don't -- "
Impatiently, Darrek gestured toward his blind eye. "How much rest will it take to heal this? Tell me that, Aurorea!"
Rand didn't answer. Shoving past the larger man, Darrek limped toward the sleeping pit and heard, as he'd known he would, Rand's footsteps following.
Wheeling, he snarled, "Go climb in Elara's bed, Rand. You're not getting in mine."
He could see Rand stiffen at that, the outline of his bull-like shoulders growing tense. Sneering, Darrek pursued his advantage. "She does so enjoy sharing her lovers, after all."
"Darrek, stop it! You'd have been exiled if it weren't for Elara! "
"And what makes you think I wouldn't prefer exile?"
The words hung between them, sharp as ice, and as cold. Then Rand said, "You don't mean that."
Darrek laughed. "Don't I? What makes you think this is so much better?"
He was being monstrously unfair -- he knew it. But that knowledge only reinforced the bitterness inside him. "Ask me, Aurorea," Darrek taunted, his voice brittle with rage. "Ask me if I'd choose exile over this."
The silence spun out, and he sneered, feeling a twisted, ugly triumph.
He was broken, more deeply than even Rand had realized yet. The damage done him would never heal. He was condemned for all eternity to be half a man, half a dragon -- and if Rand didn't have the sense to leave, then damn him, he would break him, too.
Darrek turned, and stumbled in the darkness. Immediately, Rand was there at his side, supporting him, guiding him to the sleeping pit, murmuring softly in warning when they reached the edge of the shallow declivity.
"I don't need your help!" Yanking his arm from Rand's grasp, Darrek felt blindly for the rim of the sleeping pit, stepped down into it. He was irritably aware of Rand dithering behind him, wanting to join him, afraid...
Darrek was half-tempted to send him away. More than half-tempted. But inside him, a familiar struggle was going on between his fury and the loneliness he couldn't acknowledge, even to himself. Not even exile could have sundered him so cruelly from his own kind.
"Do you still want so badly to be in my bed, Aurorea?"
In the darkness, he couldn't see Rand's nod, but he didn't have to. "Then come, damn you."
A flicker of motion as Rand stepped down into the pit, and then Darrek felt him behind him, the warmth of the Aurorean's massive chest against his back, those huge arms encircling him so gently, so hesitantly...
That gentleness infuriated Darrek. He spun, grabbing Rand's thick, wavy hair and yanking his head down. Raking his mouth over Rand's full, soft lips, he whispered harshly, "Don't think this means anything, Aurorea. Don't think it means that I..."
