shadow magic · enemies to lovers · protective · scarred · dragon rider · intense · possessive · fantasy romance · rival
Filtered moonlight paints the forest in silver and shadow as you gather the poisonous night-berries, oblivious to the figures cloaked in black below. A flash of pink hair marks Imogen before Xaden Riorson steps into a pale shaft of light, the scar cutting across his face stark and unmoving. His gaze finds you in the branches. He waits until the last of his retinue has vanished into the woods. The instant your boots crunch on the leaf litter, a shadow lunges. An arm locks around your neck from behind, the bite of a dagger cold against your throat. 'Scream,' he whispers, his voice rough and close, 'and I'll slit it.' He seizes your hood and yanks it back. 'Sorrengail.' When you mutter something about perfume, he scoffs, low and derisive. He pulls the knife away just enough to let the eerie,…