Danielle is ready to challenge a twisting, turning road known as
Tail of the Dragon on her Ducati sport bike. Forced to stop because
of a violent unpredicted storm, she parks near the dam where the
eleven-mile stretch of road begins. Another challenge bursts from
the weird, purple lightning storm.
Garnith, a changeling/dragon, emerges in the twenty-first century
over the Fontana Dam in North Carolina. Swooping down to drink
from the fresh water of the dam, he accidentally touches a power-
line, and, injured begins to change. He lands on the overlook where
Danielle has taken refuge. Garnith passes out.
Danielle is terrified but entranced with the creature changing
before her eyes into a handsome, incredibly built, naked man.
Garnith wakes to see Danielle. Where and when is this strange
place the wizard has sent him?
Danielle and Garnith realize chance has little to do with their
meeting. Destiny has played her hand and soon both learn the evil
wizard has discovered his way into the future and another life to
exact revenge on Garnith. The wizard discovers Garnith’s attraction
to Danielle and will use her to his ends. Unless Garnith can stop
him.
Tail of the Dragon on her Ducati sport bike. Forced to stop because
of a violent unpredicted storm, she parks near the dam where the
eleven-mile stretch of road begins. Another challenge bursts from
the weird, purple lightning storm.
Garnith, a changeling/dragon, emerges in the twenty-first century
over the Fontana Dam in North Carolina. Swooping down to drink
from the fresh water of the dam, he accidentally touches a power-
line, and, injured begins to change. He lands on the overlook where
Danielle has taken refuge. Garnith passes out.
Danielle is terrified but entranced with the creature changing
before her eyes into a handsome, incredibly built, naked man.
Garnith wakes to see Danielle. Where and when is this strange
place the wizard has sent him?
Danielle and Garnith realize chance has little to do with their
meeting. Destiny has played her hand and soon both learn the evil
wizard has discovered his way into the future and another life to
exact revenge on Garnith. The wizard discovers Garnith’s attraction
to Danielle and will use her to his ends. Unless Garnith can stop
him.
Garnith saw fright and distrust building in Danielle’s entrancing blue eyes. He’d seen that look before in the
eyes of those who witnessed him change, and he hated it, especially in the eyes of a beautiful maid. He’d
never harm her, though she saw in his dragon form, and it could be a problem.
His eyes narrowed, contemplating her and the strange clothing she wore. She dressed in leather, like a
warrior, but he saw no sword or other weapon. Her garments hugged every part of her body revealing far
too much of the beautiful woman beneath, if she showed it, he would appreciate it. A slight smile softened
his stern countenance. Tall compared to the females in the time he came from, she wouldn’t meet him on
eye level. She would be about chin level and her strength impressed him. Unassisted, she pulled his sword
from the pack while it was tangled and caught with a heavy piece of his armor. His gaze travel over her and
settled on her boots, admiring the craftsmanship.
When she swung her leg over the seat of the thing she rode, he realized she was attempting to escape him.
In a quick movement, he lunged for her instead of his sword and succeeded in reaching her.
“Where do you go, maid? I’ll not harm you. I need yer help!”
Garnith kept his voice even to calm the girl but when Danielle stiffened in his arms, he knew she’d
panicked. His huge arms wrapped around her petite waist and pulled her from her bike. Despite the surge
of liquid heat the contact with her body sent rushing through his veins, he felt her terror, too. Using the
heavy boots she wore to her best advantage, she fought like wild creature kicking whatever body part her
foot came in contact with. Garnith noticed she’d slipped on her riding gloves before he grabbed her, and
they were made from a material far sturdier than leather. Danielle balled her fists and used them as
punishing weapons striking his jaw with a well-placed punch. He turned her loose, amazed at her strength
and ability as a fighter.
She tried to gain her feet but quickly, he again wrapped her in his iron grasp. This time she lay on her back
with him atop her. Garnith watched Danielle draw a great breath to scream but covered her lips with his
own to silence her, praying no one would happen by. Subdued with the tussle and his embrace, he held
her down but drew away, to look at her face.
“Calm thyself, Danielle, I mean thee no harm.”
Taught by his changeling father, when his changes first occurred to control his many powers Garnith knew
his eyes glowed in times of emotional pressure. Garnith learned to recognize those times and control each
trait. He looked down into Danielle’s terrified blue eyes, wide and fearful, and worked to suppress his eyes
luminosity. Garnith understood she was near hysterical from fright, he tried to restrain her least she harm
herself.
“You’ll never get me out of my leathers, dragon, not without cutting them off. I won’t willingly take them off!
If rape is your plan, are going to carry me away? I’ve heard the old tales of dragons!”
To his credit, he felt the heat of an embarrassed blush creep up his face but a mischievous smile touch his
full lips. Even as strong as she was, he knew his strength was greater and eased his hold somewhat.
“Serves me right for being so entranced with your physique, after all, you are, a dragon. Maybe you’ll eat
me later. To you I’m similar to a roast wrapped in bacon.”
Her words cut him in a way only Shannon could when they quarreled. Nevertheless, they seemed to
invigorate her, and she again fought for freedom. Garnith tightened his hold and glowered down into her
face.
“Let me go please…. I swear I won’t tell a soul I saw you change from a dragon. No one would believe me
anyway, they’d think I was crazy.”
Garnith grew serious. He looked into her frightened eyes seeing her calm a little.
“Little damsel, do dragons not live in this time?”
“No! A few people believe there were once dragons, but no more. Now let me go!”
“Not just yet.”
Garnith felt a stirring in his body, one he only felt for a certain type of human female, such as Shannon.
Fully human females didn’t usually sway him but this fierce little damsel was different. He lowered his lips
to hers, for a gentle taste. Sweet, like clover berries in the spring.
“Tell me, ah Danielle, what time is this?”
“What do mean? I can’t see my watch.”
“What is a watch?”
“A watch tells what time of day it is. Don’t they have watches where you come from?”
Her bravado impressed him, and he smiled revealing gleaming white teeth. He felt the shudder that passed
through her.
“Nay, we don’t have watches, and I am inquire’n what year it is , and for that matter, where I am?”
“The year, dragon, is 2012 and this is North Carolina, in the United States of America. Now let me up!”
“Not yet. What is that thing you and the others ride?”
He eased his hold, a little, distracted and amazed at the distance the wizard Llud had sent him. He noticed
Danielle tilt her head quizzically. Her long hair, having come unbraided, spread on the grass.
“It’s called a motorcycle, an 848cc Ducati to be exact. What did you think it was?”
“Where I am from we have no motorcycles. From the air I thought they were a strange type of horse.”
“In some ways it is.”
Danielle pulled away from him a little but he wouldn’t totally yield his grip. He allowed his eyes to resume
their mystical glow and enjoyed the little shiver of fear it produced in Danielle.
“How so?”
Garnith dipped his face closer to hers again, not quite touching her mouth. She moistened her lips out of
either anticipation or fear, he couldn’t be sure which. The temptation to kiss her again was too great resist.
Tenderly his lips met hers, a little longer this time.
“Ah, the engine’s power is measured in horsepower.”
Her answer came out soft and slow. Her tone had nothing to do with the power of one horse or many.
Garnith held her gaze captive noticing the deepening color change his kiss caused in her eyes. His kisses
seemed to have a resounding effect on her, possibly being kissed by a knight or a dragon wasn’t an event
often experienced in this world.
“An engine?”
“Where did you come from, dragon?” Danielle’s voice caressed the word dragon.
“My name is Garnith, and I came from 1055 as time was measured then, in the high in the most rugged
northern part of Scotland. A thousand years? I’ve no idea where this North Carolina in America is.”
“I guess not. When you came from, America hadn’t been discovered – yet. How’d you get here?”
The shocked look in her eyes amused him. Garnith surmised by her tone that she was growing less
fearful. She seemed more interested in him as their awkward conversation progressed.
“I was battling an evil wizard named Llud who pretended to be a priest of the new religion and used it as a
disguise to gain power. He killed my future wife, Shannon, and terrorized our village. I failed to breathe on
him fast enough before he finished his incantation sending me here. He hadn’t the power to kill me, only
banish me. I knew it was far into the future but not how far It’s been over a thousand years but only a
small time span to me. Here I stay, I have no way back, but he’ll not bother anyone again.”
Garnith couldn’t keep the sadness from his voice or a tear of grief from his eye as he explained. He
watched Danielle’s eyes soften, and she seemed to listen carefully. He felt Danielle relax. Feeling
foolhardy, Garnith drew a sad sigh, released his grip on Danielle’s arms and rolled away. Exhaustion
screamed from every muscle, and he lay back on the silky grass. For a second, he closed his eyes. He
relived the violent, iridescent lightning that had danced around him and booming base thunder
reverberated in his sensitive dragon ears. Each event of his timeless, endless flight into the future flashed
against his closed eyelids.
Slowly, opening his eyes, he expected to see to Danielle attempting to flee him again. Garnith realized if she
were going to leave he couldn’t, in clear conscious, stop her. His actions were motivated out of panic
before. Stopping the only person he’d met in this time. Fearful because she’d seen him change and
knowing her knowledge might cause him great difficulties. He just didn’t know what else he could do.
Garnith couldn’t blame her if she did flee. He hadn’t acted honorably but was relieved to see Danielle sitting
next to him. She wasn’t astride her little horse attempting to leave. He remained laying on his back drawing
in the force of the Earth with every pour of his body. Reaching for his sword, he drew it close, the emerald
in the hilt promoted healing and he could use its benefits. His side hurt where the lightning line struck. In
his dragon form, it was a wingtip.
eyes of those who witnessed him change, and he hated it, especially in the eyes of a beautiful maid. He’d
never harm her, though she saw in his dragon form, and it could be a problem.
His eyes narrowed, contemplating her and the strange clothing she wore. She dressed in leather, like a
warrior, but he saw no sword or other weapon. Her garments hugged every part of her body revealing far
too much of the beautiful woman beneath, if she showed it, he would appreciate it. A slight smile softened
his stern countenance. Tall compared to the females in the time he came from, she wouldn’t meet him on
eye level. She would be about chin level and her strength impressed him. Unassisted, she pulled his sword
from the pack while it was tangled and caught with a heavy piece of his armor. His gaze travel over her and
settled on her boots, admiring the craftsmanship.
When she swung her leg over the seat of the thing she rode, he realized she was attempting to escape him.
In a quick movement, he lunged for her instead of his sword and succeeded in reaching her.
“Where do you go, maid? I’ll not harm you. I need yer help!”
Garnith kept his voice even to calm the girl but when Danielle stiffened in his arms, he knew she’d
panicked. His huge arms wrapped around her petite waist and pulled her from her bike. Despite the surge
of liquid heat the contact with her body sent rushing through his veins, he felt her terror, too. Using the
heavy boots she wore to her best advantage, she fought like wild creature kicking whatever body part her
foot came in contact with. Garnith noticed she’d slipped on her riding gloves before he grabbed her, and
they were made from a material far sturdier than leather. Danielle balled her fists and used them as
punishing weapons striking his jaw with a well-placed punch. He turned her loose, amazed at her strength
and ability as a fighter.
She tried to gain her feet but quickly, he again wrapped her in his iron grasp. This time she lay on her back
with him atop her. Garnith watched Danielle draw a great breath to scream but covered her lips with his
own to silence her, praying no one would happen by. Subdued with the tussle and his embrace, he held
her down but drew away, to look at her face.
“Calm thyself, Danielle, I mean thee no harm.”
Taught by his changeling father, when his changes first occurred to control his many powers Garnith knew
his eyes glowed in times of emotional pressure. Garnith learned to recognize those times and control each
trait. He looked down into Danielle’s terrified blue eyes, wide and fearful, and worked to suppress his eyes
luminosity. Garnith understood she was near hysterical from fright, he tried to restrain her least she harm
herself.
“You’ll never get me out of my leathers, dragon, not without cutting them off. I won’t willingly take them off!
If rape is your plan, are going to carry me away? I’ve heard the old tales of dragons!”
To his credit, he felt the heat of an embarrassed blush creep up his face but a mischievous smile touch his
full lips. Even as strong as she was, he knew his strength was greater and eased his hold somewhat.
“Serves me right for being so entranced with your physique, after all, you are, a dragon. Maybe you’ll eat
me later. To you I’m similar to a roast wrapped in bacon.”
Her words cut him in a way only Shannon could when they quarreled. Nevertheless, they seemed to
invigorate her, and she again fought for freedom. Garnith tightened his hold and glowered down into her
face.
“Let me go please…. I swear I won’t tell a soul I saw you change from a dragon. No one would believe me
anyway, they’d think I was crazy.”
Garnith grew serious. He looked into her frightened eyes seeing her calm a little.
“Little damsel, do dragons not live in this time?”
“No! A few people believe there were once dragons, but no more. Now let me go!”
“Not just yet.”
Garnith felt a stirring in his body, one he only felt for a certain type of human female, such as Shannon.
Fully human females didn’t usually sway him but this fierce little damsel was different. He lowered his lips
to hers, for a gentle taste. Sweet, like clover berries in the spring.
“Tell me, ah Danielle, what time is this?”
“What do mean? I can’t see my watch.”
“What is a watch?”
“A watch tells what time of day it is. Don’t they have watches where you come from?”
Her bravado impressed him, and he smiled revealing gleaming white teeth. He felt the shudder that passed
through her.
“Nay, we don’t have watches, and I am inquire’n what year it is , and for that matter, where I am?”
“The year, dragon, is 2012 and this is North Carolina, in the United States of America. Now let me up!”
“Not yet. What is that thing you and the others ride?”
He eased his hold, a little, distracted and amazed at the distance the wizard Llud had sent him. He noticed
Danielle tilt her head quizzically. Her long hair, having come unbraided, spread on the grass.
“It’s called a motorcycle, an 848cc Ducati to be exact. What did you think it was?”
“Where I am from we have no motorcycles. From the air I thought they were a strange type of horse.”
“In some ways it is.”
Danielle pulled away from him a little but he wouldn’t totally yield his grip. He allowed his eyes to resume
their mystical glow and enjoyed the little shiver of fear it produced in Danielle.
“How so?”
Garnith dipped his face closer to hers again, not quite touching her mouth. She moistened her lips out of
either anticipation or fear, he couldn’t be sure which. The temptation to kiss her again was too great resist.
Tenderly his lips met hers, a little longer this time.
“Ah, the engine’s power is measured in horsepower.”
Her answer came out soft and slow. Her tone had nothing to do with the power of one horse or many.
Garnith held her gaze captive noticing the deepening color change his kiss caused in her eyes. His kisses
seemed to have a resounding effect on her, possibly being kissed by a knight or a dragon wasn’t an event
often experienced in this world.
“An engine?”
“Where did you come from, dragon?” Danielle’s voice caressed the word dragon.
“My name is Garnith, and I came from 1055 as time was measured then, in the high in the most rugged
northern part of Scotland. A thousand years? I’ve no idea where this North Carolina in America is.”
“I guess not. When you came from, America hadn’t been discovered – yet. How’d you get here?”
The shocked look in her eyes amused him. Garnith surmised by her tone that she was growing less
fearful. She seemed more interested in him as their awkward conversation progressed.
“I was battling an evil wizard named Llud who pretended to be a priest of the new religion and used it as a
disguise to gain power. He killed my future wife, Shannon, and terrorized our village. I failed to breathe on
him fast enough before he finished his incantation sending me here. He hadn’t the power to kill me, only
banish me. I knew it was far into the future but not how far It’s been over a thousand years but only a
small time span to me. Here I stay, I have no way back, but he’ll not bother anyone again.”
Garnith couldn’t keep the sadness from his voice or a tear of grief from his eye as he explained. He
watched Danielle’s eyes soften, and she seemed to listen carefully. He felt Danielle relax. Feeling
foolhardy, Garnith drew a sad sigh, released his grip on Danielle’s arms and rolled away. Exhaustion
screamed from every muscle, and he lay back on the silky grass. For a second, he closed his eyes. He
relived the violent, iridescent lightning that had danced around him and booming base thunder
reverberated in his sensitive dragon ears. Each event of his timeless, endless flight into the future flashed
against his closed eyelids.
Slowly, opening his eyes, he expected to see to Danielle attempting to flee him again. Garnith realized if she
were going to leave he couldn’t, in clear conscious, stop her. His actions were motivated out of panic
before. Stopping the only person he’d met in this time. Fearful because she’d seen him change and
knowing her knowledge might cause him great difficulties. He just didn’t know what else he could do.
Garnith couldn’t blame her if she did flee. He hadn’t acted honorably but was relieved to see Danielle sitting
next to him. She wasn’t astride her little horse attempting to leave. He remained laying on his back drawing
in the force of the Earth with every pour of his body. Reaching for his sword, he drew it close, the emerald
in the hilt promoted healing and he could use its benefits. His side hurt where the lightning line struck. In
his dragon form, it was a wingtip.
JUST RELEASED from
Sultry Summers and
Decadent Publishers
Sultry Summers and
Decadent Publishers