There was a time when the king of the human world raged war between humans and dragonkind, forcing their rulers to seal the portal between both worlds and leave the one thing they loved above all else behind. Now, in a land full of turmoil, one huntress learns of her bloodline and how she alone has the ability to harness her dragon's power and save both lands. Will she be able to free the human citizens from their tyrant leader and save her own people from extinction? Or will she fall prey to those wanting to use her powers for their own greed? *Currently working on re-writes of this story. Will be awhile* -3/14/23 *Cover is made by Christina aka Surehuinel from deviantart.com, her work is amazing please check it out http://surehuinel.deviantart.com/

This novella was a Hugo and Nebula nominee twenty years ago. I lost both to Charles Sheffield -- whom I married five years later. Life sometimes really is just as strange as fiction.

As the only daughter to one of the most powerful Mafia families, Shay has sought to figure out her own path despite the overbearing pressures from her Family. After a family dispute leads to Shay and her mother to go into hiding, Shay attends Elite academy--her own perfect Hell. With an incredibly awful (or ingenious) disguise, Shay's new identity is going well until Jacob Smith shows out of nowhere. Not only does he seem to know every right button to push, but he also seems to know everything about her. Shay's seemingly normal school life explodes with a new set of problems. Old and new enemies are coming for her and she needs to choose whether she will carry the Ricca name. Goodbye Nerd Disguise, hello old identity, old life, old friends, and new enemies. It's the Family business, where plotting someone's assassination is just part of the daily duty. (Unedited first draft) FYI title may be misleading at first.