The Knight — Hayden Thorne

A monster plagues the tiny kingdom ruled by King Awiergan. The dragon, left unchallenged by untrained warriors of a weak king, is pacified only through a monthly sacrifice of the kingdom's young people. Prince Caedmon, though the heir to the throne, suffers in silence as friends and innocent subjects are chosen by lottery to be the dragon's victims.

While it seems good luck has kept his name from coming up, things come to a head when his lover falls victim to the lottery, and Caedmon starts noticing strange conversations in the castle that hint at an act of betrayal. Blinded by grief and rage at what he discovers, Caedmon recklessly attempts to balance the scales through his own sacrifice -- until the unexpected appearance of a tired and soiled knight.