Spark of Desire (The Dragon's Virgin Tribute) by Madelene Martin Page A

birth.
    The princess had been treated with great honor and prestige. She had toys from the best toy-makers, dresses from the most exclusive seamstresses, ponies from the realm's best breeders as soon as she was big enough to ride them. She had been taught by the realm's most renowned tutors. In fact, Faith had had everything a young girl desires.
    Huge feasts were thrown for her on each name-day, and on these occasions all the vassals of the realm would come and present her with gifts.
    Each passing year was a cause for celebration, because each year brought Faith closer to her eighteenth name-day - when she would be sent off to her dragon mate, and the truce would be fulfilled for another hundred years.
    Faith had also been kept carefully under guard every day of her life - and especially once she grew to an age when she began to talk and think about boys.
    "You must remain pure." Her governess, her mother, and her ladies-in-waiting would say. "The kingdom depends on it."
    Faith grew out of the awkwardness of childhood and into a dark-haired, curvaceous beauty. She was disallowed any contact with the opposite sex whatsoever, except for her guards, who wouldn't even talk to her, other than to give orders.
    She understood that she was to remain a virgin - the fact was repeated to her often enough - but was unsure exactly what that meant, and what she would be expected to do with her future dragon mate.
    The dragons were also men, she knew - but not quite like human men. The tales she read painted them as wild, fierce and ugly. Would she be expected to lie with some monstrous beast? No one knew - or if they did, they wouldn't tell her the details.
    As she grew, so did her frustration, and her overall opinion that all of this was quite unfair . She tried to accept it all with grace, but the gifts, the feasts, the adoration from the people, began to rankle.
    She was just a girl - unlucky enough to be the fourth of her father's daughters. Why did it have to be her? If the gods had rolled their dice otherwise, it could have been her older sister. Her younger sister might have volunteered - she who went endlessly on and on about how lucky Faith was, and how heroic her sacrifice would be.
    It might be heroic indeed, Faith thought, had she any choice in it.
    The answer to all her questions was always the same: Because this is the way it is done. This is the way it must be.

2.
    F aith held her breath and tried to hold steady while her maid tugged firmly on the laces of her corset, trying to coax the stiff garment even tighter. Her arms were held awkwardly out to the sides, her gaze unfixed as she became lost in her own thoughts.
    Finally she was fully dressed. Her white gown was the most adult clothing she had ever been allowed to wear, and under any other circumstance she might have been thrilled.
    The tight bodice emphasized her waist and pushed her full breasts together in a pleasing manner, her cleavage revealed at the low neckline. A beautiful gossamer shawl was wrapped around her shoulders lending her warmth and modesty. Her feet were clad in white slippers, and a silver circlet was set in her dark hair.
    The maid finished fussing, bobbed a curtsey, and left. Faith looked in the mirror, and saw a stranger, beautiful in her bridal gown.
    "It's time, my lady." One of her ladies-in-waiting said.
    Putting a hand to her stomach in an attempt to quell her nerves, Faith nodded at the woman. "Will you give me a moment alone, please?"
    The three ladies exchanged doubtful glances, but must have decided the gravity of the situation allowed their mistress extra leniency. They curtseyed and left the room.
    Immediately, Faith went to her dresser. She urgently yanked open drawers until she found what she sought - a small blade in its sheath.
    She had found it on the ground once while walking in the garden, and had kept it for some unknown purpose. It wasn't big enough to cause damage to a dragon - but it might help her in some way. Regardless,