To save her dying kingdom, Princess Inara makes a desperate bargain: her hand in marriage to a terrifying dragon prince in exchange for his mighty army. He is a creature of scales and shadow, more monster than man, and she is terrified. With war looming and no common language, their fragile alliance must grow into a love strong enough to survive the battles ahead. ~~~~~ Excerpt ~~~~~ She looked up at her husband's features and couldn't help but be mesmerized once more by the sheer magnificence that was his jawline. She had never seen a more symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing face before and she supposed she could be considered lucky that she was marrying him. If only she wasn't so terrified. He set her down onto the bed, untangling her hands from his neck gently but firmly and there she sat obediently, too frightened and ignorant to do anything else. She knew what was supposed to happen. It was impossible to have lived so long without hearing the whispers and gossip on bed performances. It was one thing to giggle about these things when it was happening to other people, but to be subjected to it herself had her heart racing in her chest, her palms sweaty with anxiety. The man slowly lifted the hems of her veil and revealed her face in it's entirety. She searched his face for signs that he was disappointed in what he saw and saw the same hungry eyes that she had seen in their first meeting. Perhaps he would have a heart, she thought to herself. Perhaps he would be able to tell that she was inexperienced and frightened and would not take her this first night. She was, after all, not given much warning about- about anything, really. The whole wedding had been a surprise to her as well, as she had been whisked from her home just that morning. It didn't help that her husband had not yet spoken a word to her. Was he mute? Surely not. She had heard him bark orders to someone before and growl low warnings to anyone who had overstepped. Was it that he didn't want to speak only to her? He thumbed at her cheek, wiping away tears that she hadn't realized she had been shedding. His strong gaze seemed to soften at the sight of her tears. His tone was low and controlled when he uttered a soft, "No." "No?" she echoed. "No," he repeated firmly. "No, what?" she asked, exasperated. "Do you speak the common tongue, like your brother?" she asked, gazing up into his eyes and trying to convince herself that this was going to be fine. She could make out the faint outline of his dragon scales. She wondered if they would be cold to the touch- if they would slice her soft skin open if she rubbed at it the wrong way. "No," he answered. "Is that the only word you know?" she asked in defeat. He did not reply. He had his hands under her arms and he was tugging her extravagant outfit off piece by piece, starting with all the jewelry that had been placed on her. Gold bangles and bracelets, elaborate pieces of gold pins in her hair and all those ornate gemstone-covered jewelry on her fingers. He was beginning to disrobe her, evidently because she wasn't doing it herself. "Did you not learn the common tongue?" she demanded. "Or are you just refusing to speak to me?" "No," he said again. She wondered if he knew what it meant. His hands never stopped moving. He was unlacing her bodice, tugging it open and sliding the soft material down her shoulders. She had been worried about him not liking her, but it was all-too-clear that he desired her body, if nothing else.