Dragon Bound (Elder Races, #1) by Thea Harrison

Dragon Bound (Thea Harrison)

SUMMARY

Half-human and half-Wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the Wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful—and passionate—of the Elder Races.

As the most feared and respected of the Wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they've ignited in each other.

Pia knows she must repay Dragos for her trespass, but refuses to become his slave—although she cannot deny wanting him, body and soul.

MY REVIEW

Dragos and Pia

“You took a 1962 penny,” Dragos said. His teeth were gritted. “You left a 1975 penny. It’s no replacement.”
She stared at him. “Oh my God, it’s scary you noticed that.”
“I know everything in my hoard and exactly where it is,” he told her. “Down to the smallest piece.”
“You could go to a doctor, get checked out for OCD,” she panted. “There might be medication for that.”
His chest moved in a silent laugh.

My God! I love Dragos! And Pia. You cannot find easily a couple so well matched in PNR.
And how can you not love a book about a powerful dragon?
A book which starts with the stealing of a penny.

Pia managed to infiltrate Dragos’ hoard and to steal a penny from him. She did that in order to save her douche ex-boyfriend by someone powerful (unknown in the beginning) who wanted something (anything) that belonged to Dragos Cuelebre, i.e.
*The most powerful being on Earth.
*A multi-billionaire tycoon.
*The boss of all the Wyrkind.
*Someone who used to be considered a god by many old civilizations.
*Born when the earth was formed and the sun shone with a different light
*The Great Beast.

And now twenty-five years old Pia Giovanni has managed to draw the ancient Great Beast’s attention to her.

“No one takes what is mine.” His growl reverberated through the ground. He bared his teeth and bent down until he was nose to nose with her. “No one.”

What Pia needs to realize really soon is that Dragos has already included her in his collection:

“She is mine.” Dragos bared his teeth, gold eyes flaring to lava. His growl shivered through the ground at her knees, and long fingers clenched on her wrist. He tensed and began to rise.

The chemistry between Pia and Dragos is explosive:

“There is not another entity in the world who would dare to act that way with me.”
She froze and the blood drained from her face.
His expression changed. He held a stiffened finger under her nose and said, “No! I did not mean that as a threat.”
Her lips trembled. “What did you mean then?”
He laid a hand on her cheek. It was so long it almost covered the length of her head. “You’re mine,” he said. “You can deny it, argue, throw fits, try to run away. But. You’re. Still. Mine.”
“That’s insane,” she whispered. “I have no idea what that means. I don’t belong to you or anyone else.”
“Yes, you do,” he told her. His thumb stroked her lips. “You are mine and I will keep you. I will not hurt you and I will protect you. And you’re beginning to trust me. All of that is a good thing.”
“I am not a piece of property, damn it!”
“But you are in my possession.”
She enunciated, “I think you are a lunatic.”
“Since you are too, that works well enough.”

Pia has many secrets. Mainly she needs to trust Dragos enough and tell him what she really is. And then Dragos will help her.
Dragos starts as a stubborn scary monster with OCD and as the book proceeds, he will melt for Pia.

So this is an alternative world full of magic. A world where the Elder Races and humankind had lived together openly since the Elizabethan Age.
The Elder Races comprises of the Wyrkind, the Elves, both Light and Dark Fae, Vampires and Djinns. Every book more or less introduces an Elder Race.

An amazing series. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
If you love PNR, or Urban Fantasy or Fantasy in general, you need to try this series!!!