Read The Dragon's Treasure, Part 3 (For Love of Dragons) for Free Online Page B

chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip before answering him. “They were smooth, like a snake’s skin. Is that normal?”
    “Their scales harden and form as they mature. Once he reaches his prime those soft scales will turn into the hard plating you are more familiar with,” he answered quickly.
    “May I see him again?”
    “Of course you can,” he replied with a slight chuckle.
    “How?”
    Faolan moved closer to her, his fingers tentatively coming up to brush against her bare shoulder. When she didn't move away from him, he laid his palm out flat on her back, his thumb rolling in soothing circles against her damp skin.
    “Picture him in your mind, down to the smallest detail. If he is close enough at the time to hear your call he’ll come to you,” he said softly.
    “Why would he come to me?”
    He smiled widely at her. “You are my wife, they all listen to you. All you have to do is call one of them.”
    “Thank you Faolan.”
    “There’s no need to thank me,” he said quickly.
    He gently brushed his knuckles over the curve of her arm. There was a few comfortable moments of silence before Faolan hesitantly said, “Isabelle, I’m sorry but I must ask you a question. Would anything that happened between you and Andrew require the attention of Kylin ?”
    As he feared, Isabelle went pale and pulled away from his hand. “I… I don’t think so,” came her shaky reply. “But would it be possible to have him come check me over just in case?”
    He smiled gently at her. “Of course. Let me go let a guard know to get him.”
    “Thank you.”
    He nodded and then left the room. A few moments later he returned to her side, helped her step gingerly out of the bath and then wrap a long robe around herself. By the time Kylin came in she was sitting on the bed with a cup of warm tea in her hand.
    “Hello Kylin ,” she greeted the elderly man.
    “Good evening my dear. Would you like Faolan to leave the room while I examine you?” he began to shoo Faolan away towards the door as the young man glared at him and remained seated nearby.
    “No, that won’t be necessary. I would like him to stay,” Isabelle said with a small smile to Faolan, which he quickly returned.
    With a scowl at the prince Kylin turned back to her. “Very well then. I understand you went to see your brother Andrew tonight?”
    “Yes,” Isabelle replied shortly.
    “And he gave you these injuries in a fight then?”
    Isabelle looked down at her wrists, the purple circles clearly visible against her pale skin. “It wasn’t exactly a fight.”
    Kylin blanched at her words. Beside them Faolan leaned forward slightly. He had not been able to clearly see them before. “Oh, I see,” Kylin told her.
    Isabelle's gaze went to Faolan. “The dragon… he saved me… before…”
    Kylin and Faolan exchanged a look, ending with the older man nodding quickly. “Very good. You will have to give him a special treat , Faolan.”
    “It has already been done,” he replied, his voice almost too soft to hear.
    “I see. Well then, will you remove the robe so that I can get a look at your injuries please?” Kylin asked.
    Isabelle nodded slowly and rose from the bed. While keeping her eyes on the floor she quickly untied the loose knot on her robe, letting the thick fabric fall to the floor around her ankles. Across the room she heard Faolan hiss loudly and felt even worse than she had before. She looked down at the purple blotches forming over her pale skin, tears brimming in her eyes.
    “Well my dear, from what I can see the dragon was able to save you from being badly injured. Your bruises will be sore for a while and your face will probably stay swollen for a few days. But I will leave a salve with you to rub into your skin whenever you feel pain. It should help with the swelling as well,” Kylin told her.
    Very quietly and while still keeping her eyes to the floor, Isabelle said, “Thank you. Do you think… is the baby alright?”
    Instead of