Read Fire of a Dragon (Fallen Immortals 3) - Paranormal Fairytale Romance for Free Online Page B

his head into the bedroom. Technically, it was the guest room, but it was doubling as her prep room for the ceremony. Lucian didn’t want her leaving the lair any more than necessary.
    “Is there anything you need, my lady?” Cinaed asked.
    “For the fourth time, Cinaed, I’m fine. Beat it.”
    His head disappeared from the crack in the doorway, and the door shut behind him.
    “That guy can seriously be a pain in the ass,” Rachel snarled.
    “I’m sure it’s not him,” Arabella said, wincing as Rachel tugged another hot roller up tight against her scalp. “It’s Lucian—he’s sending Cinaed in to check on me every five minutes because he knows I’ll just yell at him if he dares poke his head in here. But you know he hates for me to be alone.”
    “What the hell am I? Furniture?” Rachel tucked the last of the curlers in and crossed her arms.
    Arabella reached up to squeeze her best friend’s hand. “You are awesome. It’s just that you’re not a super strong dragon shifter with foot-long razor-sharp talons.”
    “Yes, because that would be useful for curling hair.”
    Arabella examined her friend in the mirror as they waited for the curlers to cool. “I keep thinking about Leonidas and Leksander, Lucian’s brothers. How they’re basically doomed and can’t mate.”
    Rachel frowned and uncrossed her arms. “I suppose that’s kind of sad. But people can live without having a lifelong lover.”
    Arabella was pretty sure Rachel was talking about herself as much as the two dragon shifters. “Maybe. But it’s different for dragons. If they mate, it extends their lives. That’s at least half of why I’m carrying Lucian’s child.” She caressed the baby in her belly who responded with a little wiggle, which in turn sparked a tiny sizzle of magic deep inside her. It was like a little party going on inside her belly all the time with the baby growing so fast.
    “You decided to do this death-defying baby thing just to save Lucian’s life?” Rachel asked skeptically. “What about the treaty?”
    “Well, there’s that, too. But honestly… it’s mostly because I’m just so damn in love with the guy.” She turned to face Rachel, and the curlers pulled a little painfully at her hair. “If you love a man, and by mating with him you can extend his life—save his life—wouldn’t you do it? Isn’t that what love is?”
    Rachel snorted. “As if I know what love is.”
    But Arabella wasn’t going to let her get away with that. She put her hand on top of Rachel’s, which was tucked up tight and hidden in her folded arms again. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. You love me.” She scowled at her best friend. “Don’t say you don’t.”
    “That’s different.”
    “No, it’s really not.” Arabella scanned her friend’s eyes because this was so important, not just for Cinaed, but for her friend too. “If you mate with a dragon, you extend his life. Think about it, Rachel… if you care for Cinaed… if he’s the kind of man you could love…”
    Rachel unlocked her arms and leaned back. “Oh no. You’re not talking me into that man’s bed! I’ve got my hands full just trying to take care of you and that baby of yours.” She gestured to Arabella’s belly. The baby seemed to sense the unease and gave a little lurch. An almost painful lurch.
    Arabella’s hand automatically went to her tummy. She rubbed it right where a little baby dragon foot was poking her. “Leonidas and Leksander can’t have mates,” Arabella said. “Leonidas has a curse and Leksander is in love with an angeling and, I don’t know, apparently that’s not a thing that happens between angels and dragons. Cinaed’s just an ordinary dragon with none of those issues. And he’s a good man, Rachel. He could be good for you. If you give him a chance.”
    “No way. End of discussion. We’re done talking about this.” She took Arabella's shoulders and twisted her back around to face the mirror, then she started