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

And I already love him.” There was a catch in her voice, and Rachel’s tears let loose. Arabella hadn’t seen her cry since… well, she couldn’t remember ever seeing Rachel cry. Not out of sadness or love—occasionally out of anger or fear. Arabella hurried across the room and threw her arms around Rachel’s neck.
    She latched on like she was drowning. “It’s not fair!” she sobbed into Arabella’s hair. “I lose you either way.”
    “No, it’s me who loses you.” Arabella squeezed her tighter, and she could feel Rachel relax, just a little. “You’re staying with me through this—I need you, Rach. I need your support. And God, I so need a place to come that’s not Lucian’s lair because I’m going nuts in there.”
    Rachel sniffed and pulled back, grasping hold of Arabella’s shoulders and staring her in the eyes. “Is that damn dragon shifter keeping you prisoner? I swear to God, I will kick his ass—”
    A crazy laugh erupted deep inside Arabella. “He’s right outside the door if that tells you anything. And I’m sure he can hear every word we’re saying.”
    Rachel wrenched her head toward the door and threw her words at it. “Fuck you, Lucian Smoke! Fuck you for knocking up my best friend!”
    Now the giggles were seriously getting hold of Arabella. She fought them down.
    Rachel turned a mournful look back to her. “Well, of course, you have me for support during this whole…” She gestured to Arabella’s body. “… dragon pregnancy thing. But you’re not going to want me around after that. There’s no place for me here.”
    Arabella’s humor died completely. “Yes, there is. You and I—we’re sisters. We stick together, remember?”
    Rachel’s face pinched up again, and it looked like the tears were coming back. “You’re mated now. And if you don’t die from this whole crazy-ass thing, you’ll be too busy raising the baby.”
    “I better not be! Who do you think is going to run the business?” Arabella gave her an incredulous look. “What about all the women we help? All the ones who need us to save them from the assholes in their life? I’m not going to give that up, Rach. I’ve work too hard for it.” She gave her best friend a stern look. “Don’t you go wimping out on me. I’m having this baby, and I’m going to take care of him, but our work is too important to let fall by the wayside. The only way to make that happen is with your help. Are you with me?”
    Rachel scowled at her. “How is that even a question?”
    Arabella nodded. “That’s more like it.” She glanced at the door. “Besides, staying here might not be too bad. What about Cinaed?”
    Rachel’s scowl got darker. “What about him?”
    “Have you slept with him yet?” She arched her eyebrows.
    Rachel drew back, her expression filled with disgust. “That dragon? No. What are you even talking about?”
    Arabella found herself rolling her eyes for the second time in as many minutes. Why did the people she loved have to be so stubbornly obtuse? “Oh, come on! He’s super hot, and I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I know he wants to do you, Rachel.”
    “Well, of course, he does!” She looked offended. “What’s not to love here?” She gestured to her ample chest and curvy figure. The truth was that Arabella’s best friend was super hot herself—one reason why she always had drop-dead gorgeous guys after her. That wasn’t the problem. It was that Rachel had been burned pretty much every single time. And not by dragonfire… just the regular human-asshole-type burn.
    Rachel scowled. “Cinaed is hot and nice and, yes, I can tell he wants me bad—and yet he hasn’t made even the slightest move. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?” She threw an accusing finger toward the door. “If he just wanted to fuck, I could do that. But he doesn’t. It’s like… like he’s holding out for something more. And you know I can’t do that. I am not making that mistake again.