What heat burns beneath the scales of the dragon's heart? Thalia of Tarkin is the last dragonslayer of a long and noble line. When dragons return to their ancient lands in the kingdom of Oghast, the crown prince offers her a proposition. Slay Malik, the Dragon Lord, and he will make her his princess, his bride. Fail or refuse, and she will die. But Malik is by far the largest and fiercest dragon Thalia has ever encountered, considerably more cunning than a common wyrm and infinitely more cruel. He is more than any animal and a much greater threat to the prince and his crown than she could ever guess. When she faces him in combat, Thalia discovers that she and Malik share an ancient bond that goes far beyond the battlefield. He is the dark prince of her dreams.