Dragon Kiss by E. D. Baker

Audun is a northern dragon, with breath of ice. Audun has finally fallen in love, but not with another dragon. At least, not entirely. Audun has fallen in love with the very human Princess Millie, who is able to become a dragon, and it was in her dragon form that Audun fell in love with her.

She was there to learn how to control her temper, but she certainly didn't expect to fall in love, much less with a Dragon. But both families think it's a horrible idea. So to get permission to Marry Millie, Audun will need to convince the King of the Dragons that he is special enough to deserve to be allowed to take human form- and many of the councillors who serve the King don't think any dragon as young as Audun deserves the power or the privilege.

Luckily, Audun has someone on his side, his Grandmother, Song of the Glacier. Song thinks Audun is audacious, but there are some conditions. To sweeten the mood of the King, Audun is going to have to perform some missions to not only help the King, but all dragons.

First, he's sent to the desert of Aridia to obtain a special bird called a Dessica bird. But along the way, he stops to help some children who are lost in the desert. He takes them to their aunt's village and agrees to help them find their brother, Owen, who was carried off by a Roc.

Audun finds their brother Owen, distracts the parent Rocs and takes Owen to his family. Owen gives him some advice for finding a Dessica bird, and is able to capture a baby bird in its shell.

This he must take to the mermaid witch Nastia Nautica in exchange for a special flute. There, a group of sea snakes help him obtain the flute without giving Nastia the flute. He returns the baby to her mother in the desert and returns to the King.

The King and the Council are impressed with Audun, and it seems as if he is close to getting what he wants. But there is a young female dragon who wants him for her own, and a young female dragon who wants him as merely a companion. How can he leave behind those who know him best- the dragons, to marry a human? And what kind of human will he be when he changes? Even if he's able to stay true to Millie, will she forgive him for being gone so long, and can he get the agreement to have her family accept him, or is he in for a battle before he claims his bride?

I loved this book, which was a wonderful complement to the rest of the series. Though most of the book focusses on Audun as he goes around doing jobs for the Dragon King and Council. Partway through the book, he learns that he didn't really need to do those jobs- the council sent him to do them because they needed to be done and didn't have anyone else available.

But they served another end- to see what kind of human he would be when and if he changed into a human. But no worries. Based on the things he did and the way he tricked the bad people out of items they would have used to cause havoc, the Dragon Council knows he will be the best kind of human, strong and kind.

Baker skillfully weaves a second story into the trials of the first, where a wizard is attempting to aquire dragon parts. But for what end? Audun attempts to interfere in the wizard's business, but in the end, he returns to plague Audun at the exact worst time. Or is it?

I liked this novel especially, for it explored Audun's character in the guise of his adventure, so skillfully, you never realize what is happening until it is explained to you. Best of all,we get to see Audun's character in action, and know he'll be a good husband for Millie without being told this. It's just too bad that this seems to be the ending of Millie and Audun's story. I rather wish they'd had more adventures together, like Millie's mother and father, Emma and Eadric. Recommended.