Dragol Slayer — D.C. Smith

Olivia, a young woman who is caretaker to a dying, elderly woman, makes an intriguing promise to her. She sets out to the beach at dusk to fulfill it when a sudden, intense storm hits. Noticing a small boat coming her way with a slumped over person inside, she braves the storm and rescues the half-conscious injured man. Finding out the next day his boat was lost at sea and he has nowhere to turn, she tells him she'll give him food and shelter in exchange for work on her home. As their friendship grows, Olivia and the man find themselves falling in love with each other. His mysterious background starts to unfold when his brother finds him, relaying that their kind is being slaughtered and he is needed. He confides to Olivia that he must go back to stop the terrorizing and killing of his people. Upon his arrival home, he realizes that a full-blown war is their only hope.