Firebreather 1: Firebreather (12 page)

“Oh, yes, you can. If you’re the king, that is, and the woman you love is human.”

She gaped.

“And not to totally shock you, but even now my seed swims in your belly. We’ve just made a baby.” The satisfaction saying that afforded knew no bounds. He’d found his mate, and he’d gotten her pregnant with his child. The Dracon rejoiced, and his heart found heaven.

“But, you didn’t come inside me.”

“I did.”

“In my mouth.” She blushed, and he found it charming that after seducing him to mindless need, she could still feel embarrassed by talk of sex.

“For a Dracon, the seed goes as it’s meant. Mouth, ass, pussy, wherever and whenever.” He cupped her mound, sliding his fingers inside her. “But for the record, this is what I love most about your body.”

“And my mind?” she said breathlessly.

“I love your strength and your ability to accept.” Lea curled into him, and though his body wanted more of her wet and willing channel, he felt as much comfort as arousal in holding her.

“Then let’s pray my family will be as forgiving. I love you, Ferin.

But I love them too. Be patient with them, okay?” He groaned. “I suppose I’ll have to be. They’ll be here tomorrow for the wedding. Your mother and sister, and your brothers. Oh, and your Uncle Rick. The other Venlays refused to attend. So your family’s presence here will be small.”

“Wedding? Here? Tomorrow? I don’t remember even being asked.” He laughed at her pique and quickly soothed her anger with a soul-stealing kiss. “Will you marry me and bear my sons, oh love of my life?”

She punched him in the arm, a twinkle in her eyes. “Well, I suppose so. Yes,” she said on a laugh as he tickled her. “How could I resist my very own fairytale come to life?” She paused. “Did you say sons?”

“There are three of them growing even now within you. But don’t worry. You’ll have the hang of transformation and breathing fire before then. And I’m sorry to say you’ll need it. Dracon young are a handful.” She didn’t speak, merely stared at him in shock. And he held her tight, promising a future his people had been waiting for the past three decades.

* * *

“You’ve made a mistake, Lucas.”

Emmaline alternately whimpered and snapped at Lucas as she fought the guards throwing her from the castle. She’d been banished to the Greenland site not only for her traitorous attempt to sever the royal bond, but for her plans to poison Lea at the wedding banquet the following day.

Shino was beyond furious. “I’m so sorry, Lucas. She certainly is not the daughter I once knew.”

“You bastard!” she shrieked. “You don’t like her any more than I do. You want her out. She’s dirt, scum. She’s
human
.” Shino shook his head sadly, aware Lucas watched his every move.

“Emmaline, my every concern has always and ever been about our people. I’m an old Dracon, but even I can see that the time for change is now. Our king loves a human, a woman who has brought the Dracon new life. She betters us, my dear. I’m only sorry you couldn’t let Ferin go. You’d never have made a proper queen anyway. Too hungry all the time.”

“You can say that again,” Lucas murmured. He nodded and the others hauled her away. “I’m sorry, Shino. I know that had to be hard.

But our new Draka must remain as calm as possible for the next twenty-four months.”

“What do you mean?” Had Lea somehow stalled the transformation? And if so, did he have the heart to finish what Emmaline had started? A true Dracon might eventually sit on the throne, and hopefully give birth to new young. As it was, no new Dracon had been born in over twenty years. The future queen
had
to lead the way.

“Lea’s carrying, Shino. Surely you heard the joyous news last eve?”

“Carrying?” Shino swayed, shocked and suddenly exhausted. All of his schemes, his plans to rebuild the clan came to a halt. As much as he disliked the humans, he would never, ever, harm the royal bloodline.

And if Lea was indeed carrying Ferin’s young, she was no doubt his true mate. Hell, they’d barely had time to bond and already she was pregnant?

Just like his time with Rowena, he thought, and jolted to realize the truth. Love, no matter in what class, form or gender, existed as meant.

Rowena would never have wanted her daughter to behave as she had.

Nor would she have wanted him to encourage such behavior. He reddened with shame. Lea wasn’t a bad human—far from it. She’d seemed to like all she saw while here. And her intelligence, not to mention obvious attraction, would only serve the Dracon better.

“Shino, are you feeling unwell?” Lucas practically carried him to a nearby bench.

“Lucas, I think I’m feeling better than I have in ages.” He wiped away a surprising tear. “So she’s carrying, eh? Already?”

“Yes.” Lucas spoke with pride, and Shino could see she’d already won his trust. “According to Ferin, she carries three sons. Future firebreathers.”

“By the fire.” Three more to carry the Dracon into tomorrow. “Do you think she’d be averse to a visit from a humble old man?” 

“She’d probably welcome it.” Lucas snorted. “Her family’s here, currently battling with Adrian and Matthias while Ferin tries to play peacemaker.”

Shino frowned. “She shouldn’t be around that at all. Her seedlings need time to root inside her womb. Has her family no care for her then?”

“She won’t let Ferin tell them she’s carrying yet. ‘One shock at a time,’ she said.”

Shino stood, new life surging through his blood. He could almost hear Rowena’s triumphant cry as the Dekkers’ oldest protector reclaimed his purpose. “Enough time has passed with all this feuding nonsense between the Dracon and the Venlays. Take me to them, Lucas. And let
me
smooth the way.” Lucas grinned and led him into the visitor’s wing.

* * *

Lea stared, unhappy. Her mother and sister were overjoyed by the match. Though if Cora touched Ferin’s arm one more time she might snap her sister’s hand off. She breathed hard and felt a burst of steam leave her nose.

The bane of her existence, David and Blane and Uncle Rick, stared at her in shock.

“Holy shit, Lea. Your eyes are red!”

“And you’re blowing smoke,” David rasped. “What the hell did they do to you?”

Shino entered at that moment, followed by a smugly grinning Lucas. Ferin sighed, muttering under his breath.

“
Enough
. You three, come with me. The time’s come to set the record straight. A little shared history between the Venlays and Dracon is long overdue.”

Lea blinked in surprise as mild-mannered Shino took control with a snap of his fingers. Her brothers and uncle followed slowly, but with determined strides as they left the room.

“Don’t worry, Draka. Shino’s going to tell them what they should have known long before now,” Lucas offered.

“That both the Dracon and a
Venlay
poisoned Gran Meredith,” Lea’s mother said quietly, shocking them all.

“You knew?” Ferin asked.

Her mother nodded. “So did Lea’s father. But that stubborn fool refused to see reason, or to ever tell the rest of the family the truth. My sons only cling to the hatred for the Dracon because Rick and his brothers continually pressure them to ‘show respect’ for their father’s last wishes.” Gina Venlay paused. “Complete bullshit.” Cora and Lea gasped.
“Mom.”

“Well, it is. Meredith never wanted anything but to love Stowan.

But her family and his had issues with it. We’re no Romeo and Juliet waiting to happen.” Her mother shook her head with the stubbornness Lea often associated with her brothers. “I’m sorry, Ferin, Matthias, and Adrian, for having let this bigotry continue for so long. Don’t worry, Lea. Between me and your friend Shino, everything will be perfect for your wedding.”

“Which is today,” Cora murmured under her breath. “Neat trick.

Where did you find a dress in so short a time? You’ve been holding out about Ferin haven’t you?” Cora flushed. “Oh, and I told you all about his hot body. Lea, you should have said something.” Ferin had a devilish glint in his eyes. “Hot body?” Cora blushed again, and her mother laughed.

“Have I mentioned how fondly I’ve always held the Venlay women?” Ferin smiled, his grin positively lethal. “Such beauty and wisdom, and such incredible artistic talent.” Cora smiled prettily, stealing Matthias’ attention. Lea blinked in surprise. Now that she and Ferin were expecting, his brothers had no need to take a mate. They could if they desired, and the way Lucas and Adrian constantly looked at one another, she assumed the two would declare themselves in the near future. But now Matthias was making eyes at her baby sister…hmm.

“You just make sure you treat my girl right,” Gina Venlay demanded. “And I want to be here when the babies are born.”

“How do you know?” Lea stared at her mother in awe.

“Adrian whispered it the moment we arrived. I have to say, two years is a long time to be pregnant. And with triplets. But don’t worry, honey. I’ll be here for you.”

“And so will I,” Cora said, her cheeks rosy as she tried hard not to stare at Matthias.

He grinned. “We’ll ready a few rooms for you, for whenever you’d like to visit.”

Lea’s heart felt full, near to bursting. And later, when her mulish brothers and uncle returned with a beaming Shino in tow, she laughed with sheer joy. A flutter of gladness settled in her belly, and she knew her sons felt her happiness as well.

“How did I get so lucky?” she asked Ferin, who hugged her tight, kissing her mouth leisurely.

“She gets Ferin, this castle, and a ruby the size of a mountain,” Cora shrieked. “Look at that, Mom! It’s huge.” Ferin took an aster ruby from Lucas and placed it in Lea’s hands.

“You hold in your hands my heart, my love, and our future. Accept this symbol of my affection, and wear it forever close to your heart. I love you, my treasure.”

Lea sniffed and pulled the golden chain holding the ruby over her head. “I love you too, Ferin. You’ve made my dreams come true.”

“Even if it means foregoing your side business?” he asked, his voice low but serious.

Sighing, Lea snuggled into him. “Oh, I’m sure that part of me’s not done yet. But I’m thinking more along the lines of some Dracon romance. The nonfiction side of me has had it’s due. Now it’s time for some all-out fantasy.”

He grinned and mentally shared several more interesting positions they’d try as soon as their mating ceremony, their formal joining in front of her family and the Dracon, finished.

“I’ll definitely have to make it an erotic romance,” she whispered, struggling not to show her family how aroused Ferin was making her.

“Cut it out.”

Lucas and her future brothers-in-law stifled laughter.

“What?” she asked, a bit peeved.

“The stone around your neck is on fire, my treasure,” Ferin explained with a grin. “The moment I met you, I knew you’d be a real firebreather.”

Her mother laughed. “Funny, Ferin. But that’s what we used to call her as a young girl. She had such a temper with all that red hair. Our little firebreather.”

Lea pictured her first transformation, wondering what her family would think of it. She glanced at her brothers, who had begun to settle down. Blane winked at her, then returned to looking fierce as he studied Ferin.

David, however, gave Adrian a second, confused look. Adrian’s glance, by contrast, showed interest and more than a little attraction—

causing Lucas to glare and Matthias to laugh. And she couldn’t help her own glee.

“Firebreather, hmm? Then do I have something to show you, Mom.…”

MARIE HARTE

Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic. Reading romances since she was twelve , she fell in love with the warmth of first passion and knew writing was her calling. Twenty-two years later, the Marine Corps, a foray through Information Technology, a husband and four kids, and her dream has finally come true. Marie lives in Georgia with her family and loves hearing from readers.

For more information about Marie, you can visit her website: http://www.marieharte.com

* * *

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The lands of Soloria are rich and fertile, the envy of all who seek
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