Dragon Night
Dragon Night
A Dark Kings Novella
By Donna Grant
1001 Dark Nights
Dragon Night
A Dark Kings Novella
By Donna Grant
1001 Dark Nights
Copyright 2018 Donna Grant
ISBN: 978-1-948050-00-5
Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose
Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
Book Description
Dragon Night
A Dark Kings Novella
By Donna Grant
New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant brings you another sizzling Dark Kings novella.
Governed by honor and ruled by desire
There has never been a hunt that Dorian has lost. With his sights sent on a relic the Dragon Kings need to battle an ancient foe, he won’t let anything stand in his way – especially not the beautiful owner. Alexandra is smart and cautious. Yet the attraction between them is impossible to deny – or ignore. But is it a road Dorian dares to travel down again?
With her vast family fortune, Alexandra Sheridan is never without suitors. No one is more surprised than she when the charming, devilish Scotsman snags her attention. But the secrets Dorian holds is like a wall between them until one fateful night when he shares everything. In his arms she finds passion like no other – and a love that will transcend time. But can she give her heart to a dragon??
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
About Donna Grant
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s the author of more than eighty novels spanning multiple genres of romance. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features dragons, the Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible.
She lives with her two children, one dog, and four cats in Texas.
For more information about Donna, visit her website at www.DonnaGrant.com or www.MotherofDragonsBooks.com.
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COLLECTION ONE
FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black
CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham
CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom
DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake
AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione
NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones
SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair
ROPED IN by Lorelei James
TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
THE FLAME by Christopher Rice
CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner
COLLECTION TWO
WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham
EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby
MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair
CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner
ADORED by Lexi Blake
HADES by Larissa Ione
RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton
DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout
STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James
RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
DRAGON KING by Donna Grant
PURE WICKED by Shayla Black
HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye
STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham
KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice
DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster
TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti
THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
COLLECTION THREE
HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham
SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst
DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice
ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey
DEVOTED by Lexi Blake
Z by Larissa Ione
FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige
EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby
UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton
HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye
DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant
KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
STRUNG UP by Lorelei James
MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian
TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti
DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black
THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely
SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
COLLECTION FOUR
ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley
ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg
SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde
RAZR by Larissa Ione
ARRANGED by Lexi Blake
TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti
HOLD ME by J. Kenner
SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst
TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey
HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton
EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye
BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant
TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James
STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely
MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian
HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham
PRINCE ROMAN by CD Reiss
THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan
DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige
NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby
DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
COLLECTION FIVE
BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti
ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley
HAWKYN by Larissa Ione
RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye
ROME’S CHANCE by Joanna Wylde
THE MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Jennifer Probst
SURRENDER by Elisabeth Naughton
INKED NIGHTS by Carrie Ann Ryan
ENVY by Rachel Van Dyken
PROTECTED by Lexi Blake
THE PRINCE by Jennifer L. Armentrout
PLEASE ME by J. Kenner
WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James
STR
ONG by Kylie Scott
DRAGON NIGHT by Donna Grant
TEMPTING BROOKE by Kristen Proby
HAUNTED BE THE HOLIDAYS by Heather Graham
CONTROL by K. Bromberg
HUNKY HEARTBREAKER by Kendall Ryan
THE DARKEST CAPTIVE by Gena Showalter
Also from 1001 Dark Nights:
TAME ME by J. Kenner
THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice
SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair
TEMPT ME by J. Kenner
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Table of Contents
Book Description
About Donna Grant
Also from Donna Grant
Discover 1001 Dark Nights
Foreword
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Epilogue
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Six
Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights
Discover More Donna Grant
Dragon Claimed by Donna Grant
Special Thanks
One Thousand and One Dark Nights
Once upon a time, in the future…
I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.
I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.
I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.
I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.
But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.
One afternoon, curious about the myth of the
Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar
(Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.
Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.
Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.
Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.
And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.
And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.
As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.
Prologue
Dreagan
February
How Dorian wanted to ignore the command, to pretend that he was too deep into the dragon sleep to hear the King of Dragon Kings.
But Con’s voice penetrated even the deepest cloud of slumber.
“I promised I’d only wake you if there was no other way,” Con said.
Dorian looked down at his hands—human hands. He’d never wanted to be in this form again. It was a reminder of all that he’d lost.
“We need you.”
His head lifted to meet Con’s black eyes. The last time they had stood thus, Dorian had been in a rage, inconsolable, and filled with vengeance. Several millennia had passed since, but to him, the pain was still unbearably raw.
Agonizingly visceral.
The King of Kings blew out a breath and absently turned a dragon head cufflink at his wrist. “I delayed until I couldna wait any longer, old friend.”
“I know.” Dorian’s voice sounded odd to his ears. Rusty and rough from lack of use.
For the ones who slept, Con would visit each of the Kings every decade and use the special link between the dragons to fill each in on what was going on with the Kings, Fae, Druids, and mortals.
When the Dragon Kings’ enemies began closing in, Con came to see Dorian every day to keep him up to date. Dorian had known then it would only be a matter of time before Con demanded that he wake and join them.
But Dorian still wished there was another way.
Yet, these dragons were his brethren. They had all suffered in one way or another, each believing their pain superceded all others.
Out of all the Kings, there were only two who didna wake every few centuries—V and Dorian. It was better this way. Everyone knew it.
V because he couldn’t cope with the theft of his sword—a sword that was detrimental to the Dragon Kings.
And Dorian because he could never forgive the humans. Seeing one would likely result in their death.
Con’s gaze lowered to the floor of the cavern before sliding to the large pool of water. He took a deep breath and met Dorian’s eyes. “Take a day or two. Talk to the other Kings, walk the grounds, and learn the technology that governs the mortals.”
“You didna tell me to meet the mates.” Dorian was pushing Con, but he couldn’t help himself. He was angry, and he needed to lash out at someone.
Better Con than a human.
“Nay, I didna. There are some at the manor who have yet to undergo the ceremony.”
“Like Ulrik’s mate, Eilish.” Dorian watched Con closely to see if there was even a hint of worry in his old friend’s eyes.
Con gave a single nod. “Aye.”
“You think I would harm them?”
“They are humans.”
Dorian dragged in a deep breath before slowly releasing it. “But they’re the mates of my brethren.”
“Can you distinguish between the two? We both know how deep your hatred runs.”
“And yet you wish to send me out into a world filled with them.”
When Con didn’t immediately reply, Dorian took a step toward him, his stomach churning with apprehension.
Con slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “It’s worse than that.”
“What are you no’ telling me?”
“The object we want you to retrieve is in a private collection. I’ve tried to buy it, but I’ve been refused.”
Dorian shrugged. “So? Any King can use their magic to retrieve it. You doona need me.”
“If it were that easy, old friend, I would’ve gone myself.”
Dorian crossed his arms over his chest. “I want to know all of it.”
“Fine. You know about these new enemies of Fae and Druids aligning against us. Ryder scoured the web and found an artifact that dates back to our war with the humans.”