Bride of the Dragon King

By Ann Drighton

For most of her life, Elisabeth has had a recurring dream in which she is abducted by a dragon who has fallen for her and who forces her to be his forever. She has no idea what the dream means. Elisabeth and her fiancé, Josh, are on a backpacking trip in Ireland, a place that has always called to her. After a heated argument, she storms off into the wilderness. In the dark, she trips and falls, and then she has another dragon nightmare—one that seems more real than any previous dream. When Elisabeth wakes up, she’s in a strange village untouched by the modern world. Because of her injury, the village healer, a handsome stranger named Constantine, persuades her to stay until after the night of the town’s annual festival. But it soon becomes clear that she has stumbled into a world beyond anything she could have imagined. In this erotic novel, a young woman who dreams of a dragon finds herself drawn to a mysterious man whose connection to her transcends time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: May 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781684702114

Book preview

again!"

Prologue

Her Recurring Dream

"Well, it seems I have an uninvited guest. Tell me, human—would you like it if I were to enter your home without a proper invitation? Why are you shaking? You act as if you’ve never seen a dragon before … Then again, you probably haven’t; after all, I am the last of my kind. It seems your kind feared us, and I am the only one left. I was able to avoid humanity’s genocide against my species.

"Don’t be frightened. I’m not the kind to hold one human accountable for the atrocities that her kind committed long ago.

"Mmm … You do smell divine. Don’t worry; I meant that you are giving off a lovely fragrance. I’ve already had my dinner. Anyway, I rarely eat humans. You’re not exactly the tastiest of morsels.

"Come closer, my dear. I want to get a better look at you. There’s no need to be afraid; I promise no harm shall come to you. A dragon’s word is as good as his bond. Just let me see you better …

"My, my, aren’t you the pretty one? Tell me, my pretty human. Why would someone as lovely as you be alone and end up in my home on a night such as this? … You were hiking in the woods? By yourself? These woods are not the safest place for a woman to be alone. One never knows what dark creatures may be lurking … Oh, I see. You were walking in the woods with your betrothed, and you had a fight … And he just let you wander off by yourself?

"Forgive me, my pretty human. It seems that your lover isn’t that bright. He obviously can’t appreciate a woman of your beauty; nor does he seem to care about your well-being … I see. Yes, the thunderstorm did come on quite strong and rather quickly. I suppose I cannot blame you for seeking shelter in my cave.

"What is your name, my pretty human? … Ah, a lovely name for a lovely girl. Sorry. I suppose that one is a bit of a cliché.

"Actually, I think the rain is getting worse. If I were to turn you away, I doubt you could survive the night. You may stay here tonight, my pretty human. After all, I would not be a very good host if I sent you away on a night like this. Also, I would not be much of a gentleman either … But I warn you, pretty human, there is a price … No, don’t worry. Even if I had a taste for human flesh, I would never harm a creature as lovely as you.

"As I said before, I am the last of my kind. That does get rather lonely. I would be honored if you could grant me the pleasure of your company—well, among other things … Oh, my dear, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.

"Why would that surprise you? Why would I not want the same thing that any man would want in the company of a beautiful woman? … Oh, I see, we’re not the same species. A dragon’s mind is not as limited as a human’s. I can recognize true beauty in any form. It’s been a long time for me, and you don’t know how long I’ve dreamt of a creature as enchanting as you.

"Just the thought of running my fingers through your silky, cascading hair … the touch of your soft yet delicate skin, your warm body pressed to mine, and even the taste of your luscious lips …

"You’re wondering how? You see, my pretty human, dragons are more than they appear. We are also immortal beings, capable of changing our form for short periods of time. I can take the form of anything I wish or anything you wish.

"Perhaps that’s why humankind feared us so. What he didn’t understand he just destroyed. That is why I must hide in these caverns. As long as no one uses a sharp weapon against me, I can live forever.

"Now be a good girl and close your eyes … Yes, I am entering your mind. I know your own thoughts before you do.

"Now you may open them. Is this the form that pleases you? Come here, my fair beauty! I have complete control of your mind; you cannot resist me even if you want to. Your will belongs to me now, and you are mine to do with as I please.

"As I said before, my pretty human, my word is as good as my bond. I promised that you may stay here tonight, and I promised that no harm shall come to you. But I never promised I’d let you go.

"For you, my love, are the perfect companion, the one I’ve been longing for all these years. You are my perfect mate. Any creature who stays by my side can share in my immortality. Oh, and I wouldn’t worry about your betrothed, my dear. As I said, I already had my dinner. Unlike most humans, he was rather … tasty.

"No, stop trying to struggle. Don’t try to run. You cannot escape me. For you are in my arms, and I am in your mind. I shall never let you go.

For you see, my love, you are mine and mine alone. You, my pretty human, are mine forever.

1

A Lover’s Betrayal

Wake up, sleepyhead! said Josh. Time to rise and shine.

Go away! Elisabeth groaned. Just five more minutes She held on to her pillow as she continued to rest her head.

Come on now, said Josh. This was your dream vacation. You knew we would have to get up early every morning. That’s what happens when you go backpacking, especially in a place you’ve never been before—not just that but a foreign country.

Fine! she said. I’ve just never been a morning person.

She reluctantly got out of bed. It was true; this was her idea. There was something about Ireland that seemed to call to her—the hills in particular. Neither one of them wanted to do any camping. So they had planned the trip around different towns they could stay in for the night. That meant getting up early to reach those towns by nightfall. They had stayed at a small inn before beginning their journey.

Her fiancé, Josh, had surprised her with the trip for her birthday a year earlier. She knew they needed this trip. Ever since he had proposed, he had seemed distant. Sometimes she worried that he was hiding something from her, but he always said that everything was okay.

They took turns in the shower. After she toweled off, she ran a pick through her curly blonde locks. Josh sat on the bed and just watched her.

Your hair was the first thing I ever noticed about you, said Josh. Well, maybe the second. He flashed her a playful smile.

I already know what the first thing is—or are, she said with a smirk. She straddled his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. With that, she gave him a passionate kiss.

Oh! What was that for? he asked. He looked at her with a slight grin on his face.

Oh, I don’t know, she replied. For this trip, for being you, for last night. She then gave him a devilish smile.

Well, who could forget last night? he asked. He then gave her a small kiss, which became a passionate openmouthed kiss. She got off him before they reached the point of no return.

We have a long day ahead of us, remember? she asked.

Just five more minutes? he said jokingly.

The day it only takes five minutes is the day we start to abstain from sex. She giggled.

Oh, by the way, he said, speaking of last night—that must have been some dream you were having. You were mumbling in your sleep.

Oh, I’m sorry, she replied. I didn’t keep you up all night, did I?

No, he answered her. But I might worry that you were dreaming of another man.

Well, kinda, I guess, she said. It was the dragon dream again.

Oh, the one where he kidnaps and seduces you? he asked. I assumed you had crushes on movie stars growing up. I just never dreamed any of them would be Godzilla.

"Godzilla was not a dragon; he was a T. rex, she responded. He just happened to breathe fire."

How long have you been having that dream? he asked.

The earliest I remember is age six, she said.

He furrowed his brow.

You were having a dream about a dragon seducing you at age six? he asked. Aren’t pedophilia and bestiality kind of heavy subjects for a six-year-old?

The dream didn’t become sexual until I hit puberty, she said. When I was a child, he just kept me as a companion. Now I have a question.

What’s that? he asked.

Are you really interested in my dreams? she asked. Or was that all a ruse to keep my mind occupied so that I wouldn’t notice that I was doing all of the packing? She laughed and then playfully threw a pair of his boxers at him.

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A few hours later, they stopped by a waterfall to rest a bit. Elisabeth couldn’t get over all the natural beauty around her. There was just something about this place that called to her.

Do you want a picture in front of the waterfall? he asked as he grabbed his smartphone.

Sure! she replied.

She stepped in front of the waterfall, and he snapped her picture.

I bought a selfie stick, he said. We can get one of us together.

Oh my God! She laughed. You didn’t buy a fanny pack too, did you?

No, he replied and playfully slapped her on her backside.

She gave him a wide-eyed look. Now you’re going to get it! she said.

With that, she smashed her lips into his, and they shared yet another passionate kiss. When the kiss broke, she looked at him and smiled.

I love you, Josh, she said. I can’t wait until we are married. The smile on his face began to fade.

Um, yeah, he replied. Let’s just take the picture.

He turned his head away from her to face his phone. She looked at him with doubt and confusion upon her face, but she soon turned around, and he snapped their picture.

Josh, can we— she began, but he interrupted her.

Now you can take my picture, he said, handing her the phone.

Um, okay, she replied. As she was trying to get Josh in the frame, a peculiar text alert sounded, and a window also popped up.

Wait! Elisabeth! Josh said in a panic, but it was too late. The message was staring her right in the face.

Melinda94: Josh, it’s been six months. When are you finally going to end it with Elisabeth?

Elisabeth looked at Josh, and tears welled up in her eyes. She could tell by the look on his face that it wasn’t a mistake or even a bad joke. Warm tears began to stream down her face.

Oh my God! she cried, still in disbelief. She threw his phone at him.

Here! she yelled. Your girlfriend wants to talk to you! Don’t forget to tell her that you fucked me last night!

Elisabeth! Wait! cried Josh. Let me explain.

Explain what, Josh? Huh? she asked in a sad rage. Which one of us you are lying to? Is it her, is it me, or is it just the both of us? Oh my God! No wonder you seemed so distant lately and changed the subject when I brought up our wedding!

Elisabeth! I love you! he proclaimed. I guess I just got scared and started having an affair. I know this sounds terrible, but I lied to her about being single. When she found out the truth, I lied again. I said that you and I were having problems. That I was just waiting for the right time to tell you. But I swear it’s you I love. I don’t love Melinda.

How long, Josh? she asked angrily.

Elisabeth, look— he started to say.

"How long?"

He tilted his head slightly forward with a somber look upon his face. Ten months, he replied.

She stared at him with a look that was a cross between anger and disbelief. "Ten months! she cried. What was the six-month deal then?"

After I had been dating her for four months, she saw us out together, he said. That’s when I lied and said that I was going to leave you for her.

You know what, Josh? cried Elisabeth. "You’re not the man I thought you were! In fact, I think you’re just too chickenshit to dump either one of us. So you lie and have your fun! Then when one of us would end it, tired of waiting