The kingdom of Ariva has lived in the shadow of Thunder Mountain for generations, the citizens forbidden to trespass there for fear of an ancient black dragon sealed within. Princess Casiondra is convinced that magic and all things related to it-including dragons-are nothing but superstition, and aims to prove it. When she's cursed by a wizard and transformed into a dragon herself, there's nowhere else she can run to but Thunder Mountain, where she soon discovers that the black dragon is all too real. Convincing Tolmac that she's an orphaned dragon who never learned how to "dragon" properly is the easy part. Protecting herself from falling for the noble beast who takes her under his wing to teach her the ways of dragonkind might be a task beyond her abilities. As her subterfuge with Tolmac guarantees her safety with him, there's the question that hangs over her head. Just how long will the wizard's curse last? When the southern kingdoms unite to conquer Ariva, Sondra must choose between the devoted knight she'd left behind and the enigmatic dragon who doesn't know she's really just a human princess in disguise.