Sharon Schulze - Heart Of The Dragon

Cover Page

Excerpt “Who are you?” Ian snarled. He jerked his head to the side as Lily’s hand traced streaks of fire down his left cheek. Grabbing her arms, he forced her back until her legs pressed against the bed frame. “Don’t you know who I am? Have you not heard of Llywelyn’s Dragon?” Lily’s gaze darted toward the bed, and her resistance increased. “Leave me be,” she shouted, squirming against his hold. Did she think he meant to bed her now? All he wanted were answers. Cursing, Ian wrapped his arms about her and pulled her flush to his body. Their eyes met, the heat of their breaths mingled between their lips. Suddenly the fight seemed to leave her. She slumped against him, lowering her head until her hair veiled her face. “I cannot tell you who I am, milord…because I do not know.”

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Every year at this time, the editors at Harlequin Historicals have the unique opportunity of introducing our readers to four brand-new authors in our annual March Madness Promotion. These titles were chosen from among hundreds of manuscripts from unpublished authors, and we would like to take this time to thank all of the talented authors who made the effort to submit their projects to Harlequin Historicals for review. Our choices for the month include Heart of the Dragon by Sharon Schulze, the medieval tale of a young woman in search of her identity, who must rely on the help of a fierce warrior willing to give up his freedom in order to protect her from harm, and Emily’s Captain by Shari Anton, a story about a heroine whose desperate father sends a dashing Union spy to get her safely out of Georgia against her wishes. The Phoenix of Love by Susan Schonberg, a Regency novel with a marriage of convenience between a reformed rake and a society ice princess who must overcome tortured pasts and present enemies before they are free to love, and The Wicked Truth by Lyn Stone, a second-place finisher in the 1995 Maggie Awards, about a woman with a ruined reputation and a straitlaced physician who join forces to discover a murderer in Victorian England, round out a terrific month. Whatever your taste in reading, we hope you’ll find a story written just for you between the covers of a Harlequin Historical. Sincerely, Tracy Farrell Senior Editor Please address questions and book requests to: Harlequin Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Title Page Heart Of The Dragon Sharon Schulze www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author SHARON SCHULZE is a confirmed bookaholic who loves reading as much as writing. Although she has a degree in civil engineering, she’s always been fascinated by history. Writing about the past gives her the chance to experience days gone by—without also encountering disease, vermin and archaic plumbing! A New Hampshire native, she now makes her home in Connecticut with her husband, Cliff, teenagers Patrick and Christina, and their miniature dachshund, Samantha. She is current president of the Connecticut Chapter of RWA; in her spare time she enjoys movies, music and poking around in antique shops.

Dedication With love and thanks to my husband, Cliff, and my children, Patrick and Christina. I couldn’t have done it without you. To Julie Caille, Ellen Keefe and Nancy Block, for encouragement, faith and steel-toed boots when I needed them. And with love to my parents, Colleen Towle and Howard Cottrell. You raised me to be stubborn—thank you!

Prologue Prologue They called him Llywelyn’s Dragon. A warrior bold as the creatures of Welsh legend, his temper as fiery, Lord Ian ap Dafydd was the prince’s right hand. Men of power quaked at word of his arrival, for he was the sword to carry out Llywelyn’s judgment. ‘Twas rumored he’d do any deed at the prince’s bidding, avenge any slight to his master’s name. Only Llywelyn had the might to direct the Dragon’s fury, to shape the form of his vengeance. Or so the prince believed. But shrouded deep beneath that scaly hide, the Dragon’s true nature slumbered. Obscured by fire. Hidden from harm. Buried beyond the reach of pain. Until he met her. The woman with the power to free the heart of the Dragon.

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

Epilogue

Copyright

He jerked his head to the side as Lily’s hand traced streaks of fire down his left cheek. Grabbing her arms, he forced her back until her legs pressed against the bed frame. “Don’t you know who I am? Have you not heard of Llywelyn’s Dragon?”

Lily’s gaze darted toward the bed, and her resistance increased. “Leave me be,” she shouted, squirming against his hold.

Did she think he meant to bed her now? All he wanted were answers. Cursing, Ian wrapped his arms about her and pulled her flush to his body. Their eyes met, the heat of their breaths mingled between their lips.

Suddenly the fight seemed to leave her. She slumped against him, lowering her head until her hair veiled her face. “I cannot tell you who I am, milord…because I do not know.”

Dear Reader,

Every year at this time, the editors at Harlequin Historicals have the unique opportunity of introducing our readers to four brand-new authors in our annual March Madness Promotion. These titles were chosen from among hundreds of manuscripts from unpublished authors, and we would like to take this time to thank all of the talented authors who made the effort to submit their projects to Harlequin Historicals for review.

Our choices for the month include Heart of the Dragon by Sharon Schulze, the medieval tale of a young woman in search of her identity, who must rely on the help of a fierce warrior willing to give up his freedom in order to protect her from harm, and Emily’s Captain by Shari Anton, a story about a heroine whose desperate father sends a dashing Union spy to get her safely out of Georgia against her wishes.

The Phoenix of Love by Susan Schonberg, a Regency novel with a marriage of convenience between a reformed rake and a society ice princess who must overcome tortured pasts and present enemies before they are free to love, and The Wicked Truth by Lyn Stone, a second-place finisher in the 1995 Maggie Awards, about a woman with a ruined reputation and a straitlaced physician who join forces to discover a murderer in Victorian England, round out a terrific month.

Whatever your taste in reading, we hope you’ll find a story written just for you between the covers of a Harlequin Historical.

Sincerely,

Tracy Farrell

Senior Editor

Please address questions and book requests to:

Harlequin Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

is a confirmed bookaholic who loves reading as much as writing. Although she has a degree in civil engineering, she’s always been fascinated by history. Writing about the past gives her the chance to experience days gone by—without also encountering disease, vermin and archaic plumbing!