Book excerpt: A young woman begins a new life as a dragon master for a handsome earl in this tale of high fantasy romance. Melissa is a maid-in-training at the royal castle, where her greatest joy is caring for the majestic steeds of the royal Dragon Knights. Her coming-of-age ceremony is fast approaching, and with it comes the need to decide what path her future will take. Melissa shares a special bond of friendship with Commander Hubert, the handsome knight who rides the mightiest of dragons, but their relationship is about to get complicated. Newly returned from a dangerous mission, Hubert makes a shocking request: Would Melissa pretend to be his lover, and move to his country estate, where wild dragons roam?