The Raven Prince (42 page)

There’s no such thing as an “ex” dragon slayer.
If he’s got slayer genes, he’s going to have the all-consuming need to kill any dragon he meets . . . even if it’s his beloved cyber-lover whom he needs to protect from an assassin that he accidentally set after her. Protect the dragon, kill the dragon—it’s all so confusing for a man. And the harder he tries to deny his heritage, well, it’s like trying to hold back floodwaters with a paper towel. The pressure’s going to keep building, and eventually . . . let’s just say the dragon better be up-to-date on her slayer self-defense techniques.

Slayer pheromones.
Talk about a ladykiller! All a slayer has to do is release a wee little bit of his pheromones, and bam! Instant dragon aphrodisiac. Makes it really, really difficult for a girl to say no. Pheromone-induced sex is definitely something to write home about . . . if you survive it.

Flames take on a whole new meaning.
On the plus side, dragons aren’t defenseless against those sexy slayers. Dragon flames will bring a slayer to his knees . . . and suddenly he’s at the dragon’s mercy. Which can be fun. Heh, heh, heh. And if you mix some flames with some pheromones . . . watch out!

His pesky friends.
Ex-dragon slayers attract other dragon slayers, who aren’t trying to deny their heritage. Nothing like having a team of slayers on her tail to ruin a dragon’s day. Especially when her ex-slayer protector has a life debt to the slayers that requires him to turn the dragon over to them. Life debt vs. love of his life. How does a slayer decide?

That slayer/dragon attraction.
It’s that whole “I need to kill you, but first I must make love to you until both of us are unconscious” thing. Literally. How is a dragon supposed to tell whether the sparks flying between them are the result of centuries-old instincts or old-fashioned true love?

Sincerely,

www.stephanierowe.com

From the desk of Elizabeth Hoyt

Gentle Reader,

I have noticed over the years that there seem to be unwritten rules for the Romance Hero. Rules that all romance heroes appear to know and follow unconsciously. All romance heroes, that is, save my own, Edward de Raaf, the Earl of Swartingham and the hero of
THE RAVEN PRINCE
(on sale now). Sadly, Edward apparently never received the Romance Hero Rule Book, possibly due to the unreliability of the postal system in Georgian England. Below, I have listed a few of the rules and,
ahem
, Edward’s own response.

1. Heroes are always handsome.

Edward: (
snort
) Well, that one is just plain ludicrous. Who wants to read about pretty boys and macaronis, I ask you? A scar here and there lends a certain gravitas to a gentleman’s countenance.

2. Heroes should never fall off their horse.

Edward: Libel, sirrah! I have never,
ever
fallen off my horse and I will meet in the field of honor anyone who dares say so. It is true that, upon occasion, I have been
unseated
, but that could happen to any gentleman and is an entirely different matter.

3. And if they do
fall off their horse, they do not swear.

Edward: I was not swearing. I merely called the beast a revolting lump of maggot-eaten hide, and—follow my reasoning closely here—
the horse did not know what I was saying.

4. Heroes do not start brawls in brothels.

Edward: I did not actually
start
the brawl. Besides, what would you have me do when attacked by four men? Note: I did
end
the brawl.

5. Heroes do not have trouble keeping their secretaries.

Edward: I am not sure what you are getting at . . .

6. Heroes always keep their temper.

Edward: I do not have a temper and anyone who says so—(
censored
)

7. Heroes should not fantasize about the breasts of their female secretaries.

Edward: What kind of namby-pamby novels are we talking about here? I should think—

8. Heroes should be romantic.

Edward: Ha! HA! I have you there! I will have you know that Anna found absolutely no fault with my lovemaking. In fact—

9. Heroes do not confuse romance with lovemaking.

Edward: (
censored
)

10. Heroes should be transported by true love.

Edward: With that I have no argument.

Yours Most Sincerely,

www.elizabethhoyt.com