The Dragon and the Pearl. Jeannie Lin

       Praise for Jeannie Lin:

      THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL ‘Beautifully written, deliciously sensual, and rich with Tang Dynasty historical and political detail, this exquisitely crafted, danger-filled, and intriguing story redeems the ruthless villain from Lin’s Butterfly Swords (a remarkable feat in itself), pairs him with a smart, resourceful heroine, and lets them play cat and mouse for much of the book before joining forces for a well-deserved romantic ending. Exceptional.’ —Library Journal

      BUTTERFLY SWORDS ‘Exciting debut … especially vibrant writing …’ —Publishers Weekly, starred review

      ‘If Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon merged with A Knight’s Tale you’d have the power and romance of Lin’s dynamic debut. The action never stops, the love story is strong and the historical backdrop is fascinating.’ —RT Book Reviews

      ‘In BUTTERFLY SWORDS Jeannie Lin

      tells a classic tale of courage, adventure and

      impossible love—and she sets it in a fascinating

      new world: Tang China, where a warrior princess

      must fight for her family and her country with

      only a barbarian swordsman to help her.

      Jeannie Lin is a fresh new voice in historical romance,

      and BUTTERFLY SWORDS rocks!’

      —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of Never Less Than a Lady

      ‘Swords, warrior princesses, and a barbarian to love!

      BUTTERFLY SWORDS was a delight!’

      —Jade Lee, USA TODAY bestselling author

       She wouldn’t cower before him.

      The rulers of the empire devoured the weak. She waited until he came forward to pull the curtain aside with a sweep of his arm. The tiniest of concessions.

      ‘Tell me, Governor.’ She ran a fingertip across her own cheek. ‘How did you get that scar?’

      His eyes narrowed. ‘A woman,’ he said after a pause.

      Her lips teased into a smile. ‘Fascinating.’

      His hand tightened on the curtain, the material clenched between his fingers. At once his pupils darkened, his breathing grew deep. The signs were there and she could read them like lines of poetry. How else was a woman to protect herself in the world of men? Li Tao, for all of his supposed cunning, was just another man.

      ‘You do not disappoint,’ he said in a low voice.

      He dropped into the familiar form of address. The spark in his eyes showed the first hint of any heat beneath the cold exterior.

      For a dark moment she was caught in the call of his gaze. They were close, nearly touching. She had provoked him on purpose, but regretted it as an alarming awareness unfurled itself within her, prickling just beneath her skin. The regiment of soldiers surrounding them faded. There was only one man here she had any fear of.

      ‘And here I had thought the game was over for me,’ she murmured.

      About the Author

      JEANNIE LIN grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart^®-winning manuscript, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, was sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon.

      As a technical consultant, backpacker, and vacation junkie, she’s travelled all over the United States as well as Europe, South Korea, Japan, China and Vietnam. She’s now happily settled in St Louis, with her wonderfully supportive husband, and continues to journey to exotic locations in her stories.

      You can visit Jeannie Lin online at: www.jeannielin.com

       A previous novel from the author:

      BUTTERFLY SWORDS

      THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL

      features characters you will have already met

      in BUTTERFLY SWORDS

      Available in Mills & Boon Historical Undone! ebooks:

      THE TAMING OF MEI LIN

      THE LADY’S SCANDALOUS NIGHT

       Did you know that these novels are also available as ebooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

      The Dragon and the Pearl

      Jeannie Lin

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      Acknowledgements:

      In the process of writing, this story both evolved and changed, yet it always stayed true to its original heart and spirit and emerged an even stronger tale than the one I envisioned. I have to thank my talented and dedicated editor, Anna Boatman, for her guidance. Thank you to my agent, Gail Fortune, for always being a protective lioness. Also a special acknowledgement to three talented writers: Bria Quinlan, Inez Kelley and my sister Nam, for always being there with a keen eye or a sympathetic ear—whichever was needed at the time.

      AUTHOR NOTE

      In BUTTERFLY SWORDS my hero and heroine spent the first part of the story wondering about the warlord Li Tao—a man they would eventually have to confront. In truth, I spent half of that book wondering about him myself. What kind of villain would he be? Would he be self-serving and power-hungry?

      By the time Li Tao finally did stride onto the page he emerged as someone completely unexpected. I knew before BUTTERFLY SWORDS was finished that I would have to write another story featuring this cold-hearted and calculating warrior, if only to answer for myself how a man who has set himself up against an empire, and has done so without apology, could ever find redemption. More importantly, what woman would be his match in love and war?

      The later eighth century was a time of political upheaval in China. Military governors called jiedushi grew in power enough to challenge the imperial throne. THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL allowed me to imagine and explore the underworld of spies and assassins as well as the art of war in the fall of the Golden Age. The characters are not based on any specific persons from history—rather they’re drawn from the spirit of the many colourful and larger-than-life figures of the Tang Dynasty. I hope you enjoy the journey and find the setting and characters as addictive as I have.

       Chapter One

       Tang Dynasty, China—ad 759

      Lady Ling Suyin waited in the parlour at the edge of the Snake hour, her house rendered silent except for the buzz of dragonflies outside. The tea before her had long gone cold. The last servant had brought it that morning before fleeing.

      The boldest of them had begged her to join them, but the warlord who was coming for her would burn every village along the river to find her. She wouldn’t add to her growing collection of debt. Another stone on the scale.

      She straightened at the crunch of boots over leaves at the front of the house. They were steady and deliberate. Her heart pounded harder with each impending step. He’d come alone. Her breath caught as the imposing figure