The Shadow of Tiamat

The Dragon's Blood Chronicles Book 1:
The Shadow of Tiamat
by Sean T. Poindexter

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Genre: Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-937254-19-3
E-ISBN: 978-1-937254-20-9
Length: Novel
Publication Date: December 2011
Cover art by Jeannie Ruesch

On a dark Ozark highway, two souls meet in tragedy and find their lives are connected to things bigger than them both. Megan Crunk, a social worker from Joplin, uncovers vampires preying on a small community. That same day, she meets Garrett, a fascinating stranger who is clearly more than he seems. But, as Meg slowly learns, so is she...

Garrett Terago is an ancient dragon, and until now, content with the secluded Ozark mountains. Disguised as a human, but rarely paying them heed, until he meets Megan. He offers her love and protection from the vampires but can he keep her safe from his own kind?

War looms between the dragons. Some long for a time lost to prehistory, when they were worshiped as gods, masters of the world. Somehow, Garrett is instrumental to their plans and Megan is in their way.

Excerpt

"Are you human?”

Meg was impressed with how confident she sounded asking such a ridiculous question.

“No.”

Garrett didn’t seem shaken by the question—or she by the answer. His mood seemed to lighten a bit. She thought maybe he was amused by her.

“So I’m not crazy?” She looked away, not sure whether she should be relieved.

“I don’t think you’re crazy.”

Was that a joke? Whatever it was, it pulled her back to him.

“I’ve just been doing some research.” She rolled her eyes at how silly that sounded. “I’ve been reading—”

“On the Internet?”

“Yes, the Internet.” She rolled her eyes again. “About vampires. It started making sense.”

“That I was a vampire?” Now he looked surprised.

“Yeah.”

Garrett was stunning. It was hard for her to stay focused when he was this close.

“I am not a vampire.”

The way he said vampire was comforting: no hint of mockery. He still seemed like he was biting his lip to stifle a laugh.

“Vampires are real, though? I mean, about the things I’ve been reading. Are they accurate or just written by loons?”

“I don’t know if everything you’ve read on the Internet is accurate.” Garrett leaned back on the couch they shared. “But you’re right, vampires are real.”

Meg shook her head. “But you’re not one?”

“No.”

She slid against the cushion with a deep sigh. The leather creaked—her body barely made a dent in the supple padding. Garrett always seemed heavier than he looked. The way the black leather sank under him made her envy the couch. Meg started picturing him naked as he relaxed, imagining his long body covered with warm, perfect skin stretched over lean muscles. She had to look away to stop.

He was still watching her.

“I appreciate you not being a dick about this.” She was trying to work up the self-control needed to look at him. “But I prepared this whole thing to explain why I thought you might be a vampire, and for my own sanity, I’d like to justify my suspicions.”

“You don’t have to justify anything to me, Megan.” He used her full name. He always did. She suspected he always would.

“I feel like I do.” She held her hand up, like she was pressing her palm against a wall. “I know you’re being totally cool about this but I can’t always tell if you are really that nice or just good at making it seem like you’re that nice.”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand you.”

It was a deeper statement than she guessed he meant.

“You’re rich.” Meg gestured around the massive room to the expensive furniture. “Really rich and you don’t work. And I read that vampires live a long time so they sometimes have a lot of money.” She looked at him again.

His expression hadn’t changed. He was still looking at her the way he always did, with that little, fascinated grin.

“That would also explain why you’re so…”

“So…yes, what?” he prodded when she didn’t continue.

She enjoyed the look on his face, wide eyes and parted lips. She’d never seen him so confused. “Astounding!” she answered.

He crooked an eyebrow.

She had to look away. It was just too hot when he did that. “Like how smart and good looking and healthy and strong you are! ‘Astounding’ is the only word I could put to it. Just calling you handsome wouldn’t really get at it, because it all seems to be part of one big thing. The way you talk, the way you look at me, the way you look at everyone, at everything… It just seems too disconnected from the world, like you’re looking at it from the outside.

“At first I figured it was because you’re so, you know…rich. And since I’ve never been around a really, really rich person before, I thought maybe you just act differently.”

“Does it bother you?”

“Sometimes, maybe…but not really.”

“But it makes you suspicious about what I am.”

“It isn’t only that. There’s the wreck.”

“What about the wreck?”

“You shouldn’t have survived! I crushed you! You should be dead and I should be in jail.” Meg almost cried. “I’ve never gotten over that.”

They sat side-by-side in silence until he touched her shoulder. She eased around to look at him, biting her lip and brushing a tear from her eye. He leaned forward and took her hand. “I am far too fond of you to keep hiding the truth.”

“‘Kay…but you’re not a vampire?”

“No, I am not a vampire.”

She imagined him losing patience, but he didn’t sound like he was. She sighed, preparing.

“I’m a dragon.”

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