Treasure for Treasure

In the nineteenth century, the dragon Dìzhèn put the small coastal town of Everlasting under her protection. Her family was supposed to carry on the tradition, but all of Dìzhèn the Great's heirs eventually left rather than live in the shadow of such a powerful dragon, and to the people of Everlasting, the dragons are more myth than anything to rely upon. Only the youngest dragon of the current generation remains in the big house hidden among the trees: Zarrin, the softhearted disgrace of his family. He might be weak, small, and afraid, but he is determined to show the humans they have not been forgotten... and he will start with the human he has longed for since they were children. The problem is, Zarrin hasn't been around any humans much, and can barely get this one human to talk to him. A lot of the people in Everlasting think grumpy outcast Joe should love to have a dragon trying to get his attention. But Joe refuses to cower in front of the dragons or suck up to Zarrin like everyone else. Yes, Zarrin is sexy, and oddly gentle for a dragon, and stares at Joe with a gaze so hot it makes Joe shiver. But hurt, mistrustful Joe can't believe Zarrin's promises and doesn't realize he is the treasure Zarrin once let slip through his fingers. Now, to win Joe's trust, and the trust of the town, Zarrin has to learn about humans and love, so he can be as brave and strong as Dìzhèn herself. Being(s) in Love: Magical creatures known as beings emerged from hiding amid the destruction of the First World War. Since then they've lived on the margins of the human world as misunderstood objects of fear and desire. Some are beautiful, others fearsome and powerful. Yet for all their magic and strength, they are as vulnerable as anyone when it comes to matters of the heart.