Fire of a Dragon (Fallen Immortals 3) - Paranormal Fairytale Romance by Alisa Woods Page A

was there more to it than that?
    Cinaed looked back to the front, this time plainly fixed on Rachel standing off to the side while Arabella held court with the king and queen. “I’m holding out for the rare human woman capable of loving a dragon such as myself.” Then he turned back to Lucian. “Knowing the price she might pay for that love.”
    Lucian’s heart squeezed. Cinaed had been at his side through everything with Cara, from the first blush of love through to the tragic and bloody end. And that dark time when Lucian had banished himself to the dim forests of Europe, seeking a redemption that would not come. It was only through the forbearance and steady love of his friend that Lucian had found his way out of the wildness once again.
    “Any woman who wins your heart,” Lucian said, “is a treasure indeed. And you’re still a young dragon. What have you, a hundred years under your scales? Mating now would cut your life short, and I want to see you live a long and full life, my friend.”
    Cinaed grimaced. “I care not for that. I care for finding the right woman. The one who wins my heart would have it forever, or as many years as the fates grant me.” Cinaed’s gaze drew forward again, but this time, it landed on Leonidas. “The House of Smoke has blessed me. I’ve learned the lessons of your brother well. He was unwilling to mate as a young dragon, and he paid the price for it. With all due respect, my prince, I am not that foolish.”
    Lucian smiled. “You are the wisest dragon I know, Cinaed. Woe to the woman who crosses you.”
    Cinaed just shook his head and stared at the floor. “Woe to me with my foolish tendency to fall in love all too quickly.”
    “Love, you say?” Lucian examined Rachel once again, standing at attention by Arabella’s side. Even from this distance, Lucian could see the tears trickling from the corners of her eyes, clearly with love for her friend.
    “It makes no sense,” Cinaed said with a grimace. “She’s quarrelsome and angry and far too quick to tell me where I’m wrong.”
    Lucian barely stifled his laugh. “Sounds perfect for you.”
    Cinaed drew back. “Surely my lord jests.”
    “Not at all.” Lucian smirked. “It’s the ones you cannot possibly stay away from, the ones who irritate you the most… those are the ones who find their way deep into your heart and never let go.”
    Cinaed briefly squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “That’s what I fear.”
    Leonidas rested a hand on Cinaed’s shoulder. “Don’t fear love, my friend. Learn that lesson from me.”
    Cinaed bit his lip and seemed to be conceding the point, but then he said, “I fear giving my heart to the wrong woman. I’m willing to wait for the right one. I’ve no need to jump at the first one that makes my blood boil and my irritation swell and who inspires me to more than simply drag her off to my bed.”
    Lucian smiled. “Anyone who loves my Arabella cannot be all bad.”
    With that, Cinaed’s face opened in recognition. “My lord may be on to something there.”
    “Indeed.” He clapped his hand again on Cinaed’s shoulder, but the time had come for him to approach the throne. Silence reigned throughout the room, heavy with expectation.
    Lucian led the way with Cinaed and Leksander trailing behind him. Arabella had stepped to the side with a radiant expression awaiting him. He fought to shove away the sensation of déjà vu, that he had been in this moment before with Cara. Instead, he focused on Arabella’s beaming face, letting her draw him in as she always did. Only when he reached the front did he turn his gaze to his mother, who was likewise beaming, and his father’s wide smile.
    “Your majesties,” he said with a low bow. “What is your decision?” It was a formality, but formalities and ritual had power. Their approval would cement Arabella’s place in the House of Smoke and in the eyes of every dragon present.
    “Your mate’s love is True,” his