Read Dragon Heat (Dragons of Perralt Book 2) for Free Online

gentle cough brought him back to reality. A faint flush touched her cheeks, and he knew she was perfectly aware of what he was thinking.
    Flustered, he reached over to his desk and grabbed a piece of paper.
    “I’ve found your prince,” he said.
    Her eyes shot open in surprise. Like a new born lamb seeing its first sunrise. God, she had that whole innocent look down to an art. How had she ever survived on the streets?
    “A Prince Jeffery, of Caylan,” Flint said. “The seventh son of a minor king. He doesn’t have a great fortune, but he does have a castle and enough lands to support it.”
    “Why would he marry me?” Laila asked with a deep frown of doubt.
    “Because you have what he wants.”
    Laila scoffed. “He’s a prince, he can get that anywhere.”
    Flint smiled, “No, not that. Although, once he sees you … No, what he wants is to marry someone with a royal title. It would set him above his brothers. At least in his mind. They’ve all married to women of lesser birth. If he could marry a princess. Maybe even his father would be impressed.”
    Laila’s eyes clouded over as she thought about what he had said. “Why will he think I am a princess? How will you convince him? It’s not like it’s tattooed on my forehead, Princess Laila, available to the highest bidder. Only royals need apply.”
    Flint chuckled. “No, but when the ambassador of Lushcany introduces you to him as Princess Laila from the distant mountain kingdom of Perrault. He will believe it. Especially once he sees you.”
    Laila’s face blanched. “The Ambassador of Lushcany. You know him. I must say, you are a man of many secrets.”
    Flint froze in place for a moment. “More than you will ever know,” he said, as he reached for the small vial.
    “And this,” he said, as he handed the small clay jar to her. “This is for your wedding night. Pig’s blood. Sprinkle it on the sheets the next morning and it will confirm what he already wants to believe.”
    Her face turned a deep crimson as she examined the small jar. She looked up and stared into his eyes. A look of disappointment on her face. For a brief moment, he believed she might be disappointed in him. Why? What had he done?
    “That won’t be necessary,” she said, as she slowly slid the jar back to him. Her hands shook as she quickly brought them back together in her lap.
    Now, it was Flint’s turn to blanch. How was this possible? She was still a virgin. After all these years on the streets. With no protector. No family. The girl truly was remarkable.
    He looked at her. Yes, it was the truth. He could only shake his head in disbelief as a small pang of regret passed through him. Don’t underestimate her, he told himself. This young woman was not like most.
    Studying her for a moment longer, he thought of what it would be like to introduce her into the ways of love. To teach her how to enjoy life’s greatest pleasures. An urge to hold her in his arms and make her moan with happiness washed over him.
    He sighed and took the jar back.
    “Very well,” he said. That was all. It seemed more than enough.
    “So, I meet the prince, he asks me to marry him.” She gave a weak smile. “I don’t think your plan has a chance in hell. Two people do not fall in love like that.”
    Flint threw his head back and laughed before he could stop himself. “What does love have to do with it? This is a merger of titles. One of them as false as a fairy tale with a happy ending. No, do not expect love. Don’t forget, beggars cannot be choosy.”
    Her face fell with the realization of what he was saying. His heart went out to her. Like most girls, she had dreamed of wealth and love. Flint knew full well that such things were impossible.
    “I’m sorry, Laila,” he said. “I can do many things. Making you fall in love with the prince, or he you, is not one of them.”
    She looked down at her hands for a long moment, then nodded her head. “Of course, I understand. Girls like me