New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: CONSORT OF THE DRAGON KING by Ariella Zoelle writing as Zarina Aston (Bonded Hearts #2)

Consort of the Dragon King
By Ariella Zoelle Writing as Zarina Aston

Bonded Hearts, Book 2

At long last, King Kitsuki’s fated mate returns. Can they overcome the dangerous threats and form a mating bond before it’s too late?

After six hundred agonizing years, Kitsuki’s intended has finally returned to him. Their reunion is full of joy and sorrow, as the once light-hearted prince is now a stoic, battle-scarred king. The chasm between who they were in the past and who they’ve become threatens to shatter their reclaimed love.

As rival suitors seek to destroy Kitsuki’s tentative new relationship with his beloved, it has never been more important for him to claim his bondmate in a Royal Consort Fatebonding ceremony.

In a world on the brink of war, can Kitsuki and his fated mate overcome the heartache of the past and the perils of the present to finally find happiness together?

Consort of the Dragon King is the second book of the Bonded Hearts series and part of the Talwyn Saga universe. Please do not read this until you’ve finished Mage of the Dragon Prince first, as this series must be read in order to fully understand it. Full of dramatic twists and turns, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. The story continues in Lord of the Lone Wolf and concludes with a happily ever after in Fury of the Fated Mates.

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Excerpt

Chapter 4: Auslin

Auslin’s words spilled out of him in a rush. “I’m so sorry! I don’t know what I was thinking going through Fate’s Gate to help Roltan. I never wanted to leave you and—”

Kitsuki cut him off with a gentle kiss, which was more reassuring than words. He embraced Auslin tightly with his one arm. “All that matters is you’re here with me now.”

Auslin’s heart ached for what his moment of stupidity had caused Kitsuki to suffer. “I never meant—”

“Unbeknownst to us, it was the Day of Ascension,” Kitsuki interrupted Auslin to say. “I had ascended the rankings as Father’s heir. Fate pushed you through Fate’s Gate. It was not your fault.”

Tears welled up in Auslin’s eyes. “But you had to suffer for so many centuries because I did such a stupid thing. How can I ever make that up to you?”

It made Auslin’s heart stutter in his chest when Kitsuki lovingly caressed his cheek. “I once told you I would wait a thousand years if that was what it took for you to return to my side. That was not a lie,” Kitsuki said. “I would have waited an eternity for you to be mine once more.”

While it was sweet, it was also heartbreaking to hear. He threw his arms around Kitsuki, hiding his face against his chest. “I never wanted to spend a single moment of my life without you, let alone inflict six hundred years of you wondering why I disappeared.”

Kitsuki kissed Auslin’s temple as he hugged him back. “You have returned. That is all that matters to me now.”

“But I left you,” Auslin insisted in an anguished tone.

“Yes, but you have returned to me,” Kitsuki countered. “You are mine once more. That is all I have ever asked of fate.”

“I’m never leaving your side ever again,” Auslin swore while hugging Kitsuki tighter.

Auslin didn’t know how long the two of them embraced in silence, but Kitsuki eventually gestured for them to sit on the enormous bed. Once they were comfortable, Auslin dared to ask the hard question. “What happened after I left?”

“I tried to follow you through Fate’s Gate, but it refused me, as Satsuma said it would,” Kitsuki told Auslin. “Kizoshi assured me that all was as it was supposed to be, but that was little consolation. Father also promised I would reunite with you someday in the future.”

“I’m so sorry,” Auslin apologized again, feeling like he could never say it enough. “I don’t know how you can ever forgive me for what I did to you.”

Kitsuki brushed Auslin’s hair from his eyes. “It was fate’s decision to push you back through the gate to your own time on that day. You bear no blame for what happened.”

Auslin didn’t understand how Kitsuki could be so forgiving for such a horrible thing. He hid his face against the shifter’s broad chest. “I’d feel a lot better if you were mad at me.”

The comment made the corner of Kitsuki’s mouth turn upward in a hint of a smile. “And what would that accomplish?”

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Enter the Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Consort of the Dragon King, Zarina is giving away an e-set of the Bonded Hearts Series so far (3 eBooks)!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

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Check out the Prequel:
Enchanter of Dragons

Bonded Hearts, Prequel

A unicorn shifter is the last of his kind. Can a royal dragon shifter save him from being hunted?

Captured by a cruel king, Fersen is close to succumbing to the shadows of despair. But hope flickers to life when General Jaega is his unexpected savior.

After Jaega’s mate was murdered during the Necromancer War, the dragon prince had given up on love. The last thing he expects to discover is his new fated mate is the last living unicorn shifter.

Fersen is finally free, but the danger isn’t over yet. The sudden arrival of his heat makes a bad situation even worse.

Jaega knows he should keep his distance like a gentleman, but how can he resist his instincts demanding they consummate their mating bond?

Enchanter of Dragons is the prequel to the Bonded Hearts series and part of the Talwyn Saga universe. It is a complete story that can be read as a standalone.

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Bonded Hearts, Book 1:
Mage of the Dragon Prince

A twist of fate brings a human mage to the past to fall in love with a dragon shifter prince. But will it also tear them apart before they can bond as fated mates?  

Auslin accidentally steps back in time, where he crosses paths with Kitaro, a charming dragon shifter prince. Forced to rely on the alluring stranger, Auslin places his trust in the hands of Prince Kitaro.

When they embark on a perilous journey to return Auslin to his rightful era, the fated mates discover a love that transcends time. But dangers lurking in the shadows conspire to keep them apart, threatening to unravel their fragile bond before it fully forms.

As they navigate treacherous challenges and powerful adversaries, Auslin and Kitaro must confront the ultimate question: can their love withstand the twists of fate that brought them together, or will it ultimately be the force that tears them apart? 

Mage of the Dragon Prince is the first book of the Bonded Hearts series and part of the Talwyn Saga universe. Full of dramatic twists and turns, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. The story continues in future books, which will lead to a happily ever after.

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About the Author

With a pen as her wand and a heart full of mischief, Zarina Aston conjures up fantasy worlds where queer love knows no bounds. Her stories are like a kaleidoscope of emotions, filled with passionate encounters and heart-stopping adventures with shifters. From the first page to the last, Zarina's books are a whirlwind of dramatic twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning pages long into the night.

But sometimes Zarina’s in the mood for something with a little less angst and drama. If you’re craving light-hearted fluffy works of heart, then check out her Ariella Zoelle books as well.

For real time updates on Zarina’s writing progress, please join her Facebook group for exclusive teasers or follow her on Twitter or Instagram. You can also sign up for her newsletter to gain access to bonus chapters, previews of upcoming books, and more.

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