This month we're celebrating the release of Book 3 of my Dragon Knights series, The Ice Dragon on August 29th. While Book 4 is a ways off, I'm happy to report it is also contracted with Samhain and due out in February of 2007. I'm already writing Book 5, which will be quite a bit longer and more involved than any of its predecessors. So far, it's really good. At least I think so. ;-)

In other dragony news, the first two books of the series, Maiden Flight and Border Lair, will be released together in one print volume in September. The title for the print volume is Ladies of the Lair and it will be available online and in local Borders and Waldenbooks stores across the U.S.

I'm also proud to say that my short story, One & Only made the Fictionwise Erotica Bestseller list within its first week of being on sale there. Thanks to all those who bought it and rated it. The reader ratings have been very good, and it really means a lot to me.

I also have a new cover to show off. The cover for Rare Vintage was approved last week and I'm just thrilled with it -- especially since I made it myself! Yes, I dabble in digital art and enjoy the challenge of coming up with a few of my own covers. The folks at Chippewa/Lady Aibell have been very kind about letting me try my hand at my own covers for them. This is the second cover I've done and I'm even happier with this one than I was with the cover I did for One & Only. So what do you think?

When a royal black dragon falls under enemy fire, only the wild Northern Ice Dragon and his unlikely female rider can save him. Half wild, like the baby Ice Dragon she calls friend, Lana is a rare and powerful dragon healer. She saves the life of the royal black, only to learn this most sacred of dragons is half-man, able to shift from one form to the other at will.

Roland is king of all dragons and humans in his land but he’s far from home, mortally wounded, and his only refuge is the incredible woman who has saved his life and her young wild dragon friend. Lana is the purest form of magic to him, heaven to his senses in both dragon and human form. He knows almost from the first moment that he wants her for his very own.

But a warlord plots in the north, seeking to kill the dragons, who protect the northern border, and overrun Roland’s peaceful kingdom. Lana and her incredibly skilled Ice Dragon friend are the only ray of hope for the knights and fighting dragons of the Northern Lair. Just as Lana is the only love Roland will ever know. He can reunite her with her lost family, but can he win her heart and make her his queen?

...For Border Lair...

5 Angels & Recommended Read from FAR! Serena said: "With her usual flair, Bianca pens an amazing story of heroism, loss, love, and renewal. Weaving together the lives of three unique people and making it believable is an enviable talent and I cannot wait until the next books are out."

5 Cups from Coffee Time Romance! "All I can say is wow, or at least it was the first thought I had as I reached the end of this highly erotic and glorious fantasy. It has been a long time since I felt compelled to finish a story with great urgency. I feel cheated in knowing that I missed the first book in this tantalizing tale, and will be anxiously awaiting the final chapter in this sweet saga."

5 Stars from eCataromance! "...Border Lair is another amazing installment from Bianca D'Arc...The world Bianca D'Arc has created is mystical and highly addictive...If you love reading about dragons and their knights then go out and get your copy of this series because flying high is only one aspect of their flight, the other is the love they create with the woman lucky enough to conquer them."

5 Pink Hats from The Pink Posse! "'Border Lair' was everything I was hoping for...hot and steamy love scenes and the deep emotions between the three quickly enthral the reader...I am eagerly waiting for the next in this series later this year."

4 Stars from Just Erotic Romance Reviews! "Dragons Kelzy and Sandor were magnificent creatures with personalities that matched their size … big. If I closed my eyes, I could almost see them now flying through the sky."

Romance Reviews Today says: "New and old readers alike will enjoy the latest adventures of Draconia’s human and dragon inhabitants. Don’t miss this sensual tale of dragons, knights, and maidens fair."

Salomar threw the useless girl in with the egg. He had no care for the girl, but the egg, now that could be profitable if he treated it right. Tall as a full-grown man and then some, the egg was near maturity, or so he'd been told. He and his men had run off the wild dragon guarding the egg. It hadn't been easy, but with the help of his pet witch, it had been done. The great wild Ice Dragon took to the skies, blinded and without memory of the egg she left behind, thanks to the enchantments of the North Witch, Loralie.

Salomar fancied himself king of the northlands. He had an army, a pet witch, and many slaves to do his bidding. That the northlands were little more than frozen crags of rock in between mountainous glaciers didn't bother him. He was king of it all. Or so he thought.

* * * * *

The slave girl was older than she appeared. Half-starved from years of deprivation, still she managed to cling to life and the illusion of youth she cultivated. It protected her somewhat from the brigands Salomar called his knights. The word was wasted on the ruffians muffled in furs and stinking to the heavens. The men rarely washed and most were as foul mouthed as they were foul smelling. A few tried to corner her, even as skinny and unassuming as she was, but some quick thinking and agility had helped her evade them. So far.

Lana remembered a time before, when she lived with her mother and sisters. There were two, she remembered, a girl her own age who was her mirror image and a little baby, just beginning to walk. They had called the toddler Lora and her twin was named Riki. She thought of them once in a while and wondered what had become of them. The last thing she remembered was being caught in rough hands and knocked senseless.

When Lana woke days later, she was already in the northlands. Her clothing was inadequate for the freezing temperatures and snow, and her memories were clouded by drugs. At least at first. She realized now, with years of hindsight, she'd been drugged into unconsciousness while being transported to the frozen north. Where her true homeland really lay, she did not know.

Sold into slavery, she was beaten for the first time soon after waking. Crying didn't help and after the first few beatings, she gave in and went meekly about her tasks. She was a slave in Salomar's house, assigned first to tending the fires, then later she was given tasks that demanded more skill and strength as she grew older. She helped with the washing, sewing, cooking, and whatever needed doing.

Apparently the latest thing that needed doing was caring for a dragon egg. She'd been frightened out of her wits when Salomar threw her into the dragon's nest and locked the metal bars newly installed across the entrance to the lair. Locked in with the dragon egg, Salomar taunted that she'd be the dragonet's first meal. Fearing he was right, Lana had no choice but to make her home with the dragon egg for as long as Salomar wished it.

She tended three massive fires placed strategically around the egg, designed to keep it warm. The fires burned night and day and for the first time since she'd been transported northward, she was completely warm. A few times when she was alone, she found herself wanting to touch the silvery, almost luminescent eggshell, but was too scared to actually do it. Still, she was tempted, and one night when the guard who sat outside the barred entrance was snoring loudly, she steeled herself, went behind the egg out of the guards' sight and touched the smooth, iridescent shell.

Her hand darted back at the plaintive cry echoing loudly through her mind. Cautiously, she brought her fingers back to the smooth surface. Again a fear-filled cry echoed through her mind, like nothing she'd ever heard before. Sweet Mother of All, it was the baby dragon... crying inside the egg.

It sounded so scared-almost as scared as she was-and she felt pity for the poor little creature.

Baby dragon, don't be afraid, she thought instinctively as she placed her palm on the smooth surface of the egg. The plaintive cry stopped, replaced by a feeling of cautious curiosity that somehow communicated through the shell into her mind.

Where mommy?

Sweet Mother, the baby dragon in the shell was talking to her! Marshaling her spinning thoughts, she tried to send a reply to the dragonet, though she'd never communicated in such a way before.

I don't know. Somehow the dragonet picked up on her thoughts. She felt its hopes deflate as it received her message. It was the most amazing thing.

Why warm then? The dragonet seemed puzzled, showing her images of warmth on the three sides of its fragile home where she tended the huge fires.

I've been keeping fires lit so you would be warm, she admitted.

You new mommy?

She chuckled then. No, I'm human, not a dragon like you.

But you feel like me. Inside.

She had no idea what the dragonet meant, so she just shrugged. I'll keep the fires going until you come out of your shell, then you can see what I look like. I'm very small compared to you, even now.

You stay with me?

She felt the insecurity of the little dragon who had already been abandoned once by his mother. Lana stroked the shell with some affection though she still feared the emergence of the dragonet. In all likelihood, it would eat her as soon as it was born. But that's what Salomar wanted. That's why he'd put her in here and she'd never be let out until the dragonet was born and either ate her or not.

If the dragonet didn't eat her first, she thought privately. Still, the little thing seemed eager to play and very friendly. Maybe it wouldn't eat her, and wouldn't that be a surprise to Salomar?

* * * * *

When the first crack appeared in the egg, the guards summoned Salomar. He came with his vicious dogs, to watch the emergence of the dragon. The girl tried to stay out of his line of sight as much as possible, her mind silently encouraging the little dragon who struggled with the heavy weight of the thick shell. Over the last week, the dragon had grown much stronger. She didn't even need to be in contact with the shell in order for them to communicate now. The dragon reached out to her with its young mind wherever she was and could pick up on her thoughts anywhere in the large nesting chamber.

Lana was grateful to have experienced the dragonet's friendship even for this short a time. It almost felt like having her sister back at her side. The ache of losing her twin had been a constant since first awakening in the frozen north. Her sister had shared her mind on rare occasions and now this dragon was there full-time. It was comforting, in its way.

The eggshell was much thicker than she thought it would be. Half a foot thick, it took all the dragonet's great strength to break through it, bit by bit. She wondered what he would look like. She knew he was male from his thoughts, but she didn't know what color he might be. She remembered hearing tales of many colored dragons from her mother when she was little, though she'd never seen one.

Now, it seemed, was her chance. Slowly, a fragile wing emerged from one side of the shell. It was so reflective in the light of the fires. At first, the shiny scales seemed to glow with every color of the rainbow, reflecting and refracting the light of the fires, but then she realized the true color of the dragonet. He was silver! Like smooth, clear, reflective ice, almost.

They had talked about different colors, though the dragonet really had no concept of what color was yet. Still, he seemed curious. You're a beautiful icy silver color, I think. Like a mirror. Very reflective and shiny. Wait 'til you see yourself.

Soon. The baby dragon puffed. Must rest now.

She realized the effort it took the little dragon to get out of the armor-like shell. Can I do anything to help you?

No. Must do myself.

Again, she felt him mentally steeling himself for another effort. With a little mewling growl, the head of the dragonet popped through the upper portion of the huge egg. Slowly, the great diamond-like eyes blinked for the first time, looking around the cave, then settling on her.

A tear came to her eye at the thought of this little orphaned dragon. He shouldn't be alone, but then, neither should she. Warriors had ruined both of their lives. My mother called me Lana. It's a shorter version of my name.

Lana. His diamond-like eyes blinked down at her. You're small.

I told you! She smiled up at him, careful to keep her back to the bars where Salomar still watched. I'm human. I don't have wings.

Wings?

She spread her arms out to the sides and the dragon did the same, bursting through the shell on either side in a great shower of pearly silver. The rest of the shell fell away as baby Tor stood on shaky legs for the first time. He flapped his sticky wings, fanning the flames still roaring all around him.

The fire did nothing to tough dragon skin. Fire was his friend. In fact, the baby dragon seemed to know instinctively to polish his wings and the rest of his sticky skin in the flames.

Feels good, he said, bathing in the flames. The sight had her staring in awe. She'd had no idea dragons were so impervious to fire. Oh, she had heard as a child that they breathed flame, but she'd never thought much about it, having never met a dragon before.

When he was clean and shiny he turned back to her, his huge head looming over her small body as he moved closer and closer. She heard the jeering yells from behind the bars. Salomar and his men were taking bets on how the dragonet would eat her. Would he play with his food or devour her quick? The thought sickened her.

Why afraid? The dragonet's head cocked in an attitude of puzzlement.

She would be brave, she decided. If this was her last moment of life, she would face it with courage.

Are you hungry?

Yes! The dragonet's stomach growled. His head swiveled as the noise from Salomar and his men grew. The hounds were barking loudly now as their jaws snapped at the bars.

I don't mind. She steeled herself.

Good.

Turning from her, the dragonet moved toward the bars and the snarling dogs Salomar held on long chains. The bars were meant to keep the dragonet in but were wide enough in places for the dogs to scurry through. When Salomar leapt back in fear of the approaching dragon, he loosed the chains and the dogs dashed forward.

Tor snapped at them happily, their teeth and fierce growls meaning nothing to him. Within moments, all but one was eaten, the crunch of their bones deafening in the silence of the cave. The remaining dog fled the dragon and began menacing Lana. She backed away in fear. Salomar had often used his dogs to savage other slaves and they were used to the taste of human flesh.

She focused on the dog, unaware of the great silver dragonet coming up behind the beast until it was plucked from the ground in a taloned paw, run through and eaten like the others. She sighed in relief as Tor grumbled happily. When he'd finished with the dogs, Tor curled up into a sinuous ball almost at her feet and started to snore. He was sated and sleepy and apparently would not eat her that day.

Salomar seemed a little shocked at the dragon's behavior and kind of mad about losing his favorite attack dogs, but his eyes shone with avarice as he gazed at the dragon. Evidently a few dogs were less important to him than having a pet dragon at his disposal. He looked at Lana with a sinister smile.

"Seems he likes you. Good then. You can be his caretaker for now. If he comes to any harm, it'll be your head on a platter." Lana trembled as the warlord stalked away, taking his minions with him. Only one guard was left to watch over them both so they wouldn't try to escape.

A reprieve, she thought. She would make good use of it. Already a plan was forming in her mind. First, Tor would need to grow and get strong. Once he could fly and breathe fire, nothing would stand in his way. She would find a way for him to escape and maybe, just maybe, he would take her along. For the first time in over a decade, things were looking up.