by Alisa Woods
Then he looked back to them and smirked. “I’ll be the debauched uncle that teaches him how to drink hearty and chase women.” He gave a mock look of shock to Arabella. “I’ll wait until he’s of age, of course.”
Arabella was stifling a laugh behind her hand.
Leonidas’s humor fled, and a serious expression took its place. “It is fortunate that this child will not be female because I am sure to love it, and that might spell disaster for me personally.”
The humor dropped away from Arabella’s face as well.
Lucian doubted she really understood the full measure of what Leonidas meant. “She’s our princess now, Leonidas,” Lucian said, gently. “She should know the truth of your situation.”
“Yes, I suppose.” Still, his brother seemed to hesitate.
“If you do not wish it…” Lucian was doubly a fool for bringing it up. It was bad enough that he flaunted his own love in the face of his brother’s tragedy. He really didn’t need to poke at old wounds as well.
Leonidas held up a hand to wave him off. “No, it is after all four-hundred-year-old news.”
“Is this about your curse?” Arabella asked, her eyes keen upon Leonidas.
He gave her a bemused smile. “Yes. My curse.” He drew in a breath and let it out slow. “Once upon a time, there was a witch who loved me. Sadly, I was a young and stupid dragon, hardly ready to settle down but very enthusiastic in bed.” He was scowling as he said it, but then he lifted both eyebrows and smirked at Arabella. “My princess, now that you are a mated woman, you might understand my fascination with sex with a witch. I’m told it’s much like mated sex in its rather… enhanced features.”
Arabella’s eyebrows lifted as well. “Oh. It’s the…” She gestured between herself and Lucian. “It’s like that?”
Leonidas nodded. “Oh yes. It’s like that.” He shook his head, becoming serious once more. “Unfortunately, I experienced all of that way too young in my somewhat doomed dragon lifetime. And in my youthful stupidity, I failed to see that this young woman, this young witch…” He went back to staring out the window for a moment and seemed to be mustering words.
Lucian felt a stab for his brother’s loss. And what he would never gain.
Leonidas cleared his throat. “Well, let’s just say that she deserved better than me. And she was well aware of that fact.” He looked back to Arabella. “She put a curse on me such that I will never be able to love another woman. If I do, I’ll turn wyvern, just as Lucian was threatening to do before you saved him, my dear princess, from that fate. You and my little nephew.” He dropped his gaze to Arabella’s belly. He reached out a hand and gently held it to her womb.
Emotion surged through Lucian again as the runes on Leonidas’s arm scurried down to his hand. He was bringing his healing magic to bear on the child.
“Forserum transpara thas sharon et sutta es. En domini et domini et domini.” It was dragontongue. With a little bit of fae thrown in. An ancient spell. A healing spell. A protective spell. Leonidas lifted his hand free and smiled at Arabella.
“I don’t have much to give you that you don’t already possess. This small protective spell might ease this young dragonling into the world. That is my hope, at least.” Leonidas’s eyes glittered with what Lucian feared might be tears.
He turned to face Lucian. “My brother, you have found a treasure indeed. My happiness for the two of you knows no bounds. You and your princess and your beautiful son will live long past me. I hope you will understand if I spoil him mercilessly in the time I have left.”
Arabella looked stricken, but Lucian was compelled to pull his brother into a fierce hug. “He will be as your son as well,” Lucian choked out.
Then he roughly shoved his brother away as the two of them worked to get their raging emotions under control. The struggle was made infinitely harder when Lucian saw Arabella’s face streaked with tears.
“Oh, for the love of magic,” Lucian complained. “These rituals will be my undoing.”
Leonidas laughed, but it seemed a little choked. Then he reached out and grasped hold of Lucian’s shoulder. “My brother, just wait until you go before our mother.”
“Waiting sounds like an excellent plan. Perhaps until after the birth.”
Leonidas truly laughed then. And when he hugged Arabella this time, there was not a shred of jealousy in Lucian’s body. Nothing but love and heartache.
His brother exited quickly, leaving Lucian alone with his treasure once more.
“My heart hurts for him,” Arabella said after he was gone, her tears still flowing.
“One of the many reasons I love you.” He was struck dumb with the realization that he had never actually uttered those words before.
He gathered her gently in his arms and held her for a long time after that.
Arabella had been pregnant for three weeks.
It was both the longest and shortest three weeks of her life—it stretched with endless rounds of mind-hazing sex, and yet, suddenly, she was halfway through what might be the last six weeks of her life.
If she even made it to the end. But right now, the most threatening part of her life was how she would make it through the next hour without her dress falling off in the most epically awful wardrobe failure of all time.
“I still think you should put your hair up,” Rachel said she wound a curler into Arabella’s hair. She had invited Rachel to Lucian’s lair to help get ready for the big presentation in front of the king and the queen and the entire House of Smoke.
Her and a barely-there dress that was held on mostly by magic.
Lucian had conjured it for her, and it seemed like a cross between French haute couture and medieval royalty. It was snug in the front, shoving up her breasts and making her look twice as endowed as she actually was—and the pregnancy had already pumped her up in that department. She appeared ridiculously voluptuous up top, then it was snug right down to her baby bump, then it flowed long, white billowing layers to the floor. A million of them, light as feathers floating in the breeze yet woven with crystals that sparkled in the afternoon sun. The sleeves were skinny and long, draping across the tops of her hands and then sporting long wing-like things that dropped to the floor. And the back… the back was basically non-existent. She was bare all the way down to her butt. If she moved the wrong way, she was certain she’d be mooning everyone in the royal court. Lucian said it was to show her seal—his mark on her, the writhing magical dragon tattooed on her back. It showed she was mated and carrying the baby prince. She got that, but she was both encased in fabric and bursting out of it.
And constantly afraid of falling out.
“This dress is insane,” Arabella complained as Rachel tugged another roller into place. “I mean, it’s beautiful, but damn, could my breasts be any more huge? I need my hair down to cover them up.” In truth, even with her hair loose, it wouldn’t provide anywhere near enough coverage.
“At least now we know which part of you Lucian likes best,” Rachel said with a smirk.
“Oh, trust me, that’s not his favorite part,” Arabella deadpanned.
Rachel snorted and then laughed outright. “You guys still going at it like rabbits? I mean, Jesus, you’ve already made a baby. You can stop practicing now.”
Arabella grinned. “I’m pretty sure Lucian will be banging me right up until the moment the baby is born. Something about it being good for the baby’s health.”
“Sure, sure.” Rachel looked thoroughly unconvinced. “At least one of us is getting some action.”
Arabella scowled, but before she could say anything, Cinaed poked 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 to pull out the curlers. None too gently, either. Arabella knew she was just trying to avoid the fact that Cinaed was always around, always taking care of Arabella… and Rachel, too. That he was nothing like all the men who had been assholes in her life before. Her best friend was having to work overtime to pretend like she didn’t have feelings for the good, decent man who was caring for both of them. It was starting to annoy her. No, more than annoy her, it was starting to make her angry. Rachel knew how good things were with her and Lucian. Why did she have to be so stubborn and pretend it couldn’t be that way for her and Cinaed?
Then Arabella wouldn’t have to watch her best friend grow old and die while Arabella lived on and on. They were supposed to be best friends for life… why wouldn’t Rachel even consider it?
Arabella’s anger was really starting to get under her skin. Her face heated up.
“Ouch,” she said as Rachel pulled a little too hard on the last curler, yanking it free. “You don’t have to be so rough!” Her face suffused with even more heat. Arabella ran a hand across her forehead to wipe away the sweat. She lurched up out of her seat so she could turn around and give Rachel shit for hurting her… but then she was suddenly dizzy and had to grip the chair just to keep from tumbling to the floor.
Alarm lit up Rachel’s face. “Are you okay?” Her hands were on Arabella’s arm, holding her up.
“You just… you shouldn’t pull… so hard.” It was becoming hard for her to breathe, and she was hot—so hot. She gasped in air, and it felt like fire backdrafting through her lungs.
Rachel stared at her arm where she had an iron grip on her. “Oh my God, Arabella, you’re on fire!”
“Fire?” Arabella looked dazedly at her dress, trying to find the flames Rachel was talking about. That must be why she was so hot. But how could there be flames on a magical dress? It was pretty but just too hot. Too hot. Arabella clawed at the dress, ripping the arms off and pulling the corset down. Her breasts flopped out just like she knew they would. Fuck. But it was just too hot… she wrestled with it, trying to get it off.
Rachel swore colorfully and left her alone, running off somewhere to do something that wasn’t being helpful. Arabella staggered into the chair, gripping both arms to sit down and continue to battle the dress. If only she were a dragon and could magic these things away. She kept wrestling with it, half naked, and suddenly Cinaed appeared next to the chair.
“Oh my God!” Arabella flailed to cover her naked breasts. “What you… what you… doing?” For some reason, her mouth wouldn’t work right.
“Oh no,” Cinaed breathed. “Stand back!” he shouted to someone, but Arabella didn’t know who. Her? No, she didn’t think so.
Cinaed scooped her up in his arms. “Come with me!” he shouted. Arabella couldn’t understand—why was he yelling at her?
“Where are you taking her!” That was Rachel. Somehow her best friend’s voice seemed both distant and panicked.
Cinaed didn’t answer, he just whisked her away to the bathroom attached to the guest bedroom. He set her on her feet, but Arabella could barely stand. Rachel appeared and held her up while Cinaed waved his hands at the bath. It was suddenly filled with lumpy water. How could water be lumpy? The question ricocheted around in her brain with no answer. Cinaed reached for her filmy dress and basically slashed it off her body.
She shrieked in shock and embarrassment.
Cinaed picked her up again and gently laid her in the bath.
Holy fuck, it was cold!
The cold shocked her system, running through and chasing after the fire that had been raging through her body. Her toes and fingers went numb almost instantly, then the icy coolness slowly seeped deeper and deeper into her system. Her teeth chattered, but her mind cleared. She felt the baby thrashing inside her, burning up in the same heat that was consuming her.
“No, no, no,” she said as she rocked in the water, sloshing it and waving it across her belly so that the coolness would reach her baby inside. She could barely breathe, much less speak, and all of her focus was on getting the baby cool. It took a long, agonizing minute, but it happened. The baby started to settle, not thrashing the way he was before. She was stark naked in the ice bath, Cinaed kneeling at her side and Rachel standing over her with clenched fists and a look of terror on her face.
“I’m okay,” Arabella chattered out between clenched teeth, mostly for Rachel’s benefit. “I’m okay, okay.”
“The fuck you are!” Rachel knelt down to feel Arabella�
��s hands and then her arms and finally pressing the backs of her fingers against Arabella’s cheeks. She was cold enough that even Rachel’s fingers felt warm.
“S-s-see?” Arabella said. “The baby’s okay too. I can feel it.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Rachel turned an accusatory eye to Cinaed. “What the hell was that?”
He just shook his head. “I don’t know.” He stood, frowning. “If my lady is all right for the moment, I’ll summon the prince—”
“No!” Arabella thrust a hand out to stop him, even though she couldn’t reach him. “Don’t tell Lucian. He’ll only worry.”
Cinaed face twisted up as if she’d suggested lopping off his own arm. “My lady,” he gasped in pain. “Do not ask me to lie about this.”
“If you love your prince, do not tell him that his lady love almost just died.” Her voice shook, and she couldn’t tell if it was more from anger or the cold. Or perhaps fear. “It was just a hot flash. Just a… a passing thing. It’s gone now.” She didn’t know what she was saying. She didn’t know anything about dragonlings or pregnancies or what could really go wrong. But she knew for certain that if she told Lucian about it, he would never let her out of his sight again, even though there was nothing he could do about it, no more than Cinaed could. And the worry would weigh him down with darkness. She didn’t want anything to make him think she was Cara—she wasn’t. She was going to survive this.
Cinaed’s level of distress was epic.
Arabella couldn’t do anything about that while she was naked in an ice bath. And she had to stay there until she was sure the last of the heat had died away, and her baby was okay.
“Rachel.” Arabella’s teeth chattered again. “Tell him.”
Rachel recovered from her frozen look of horror and panic and jumped to her feet, whirling on Cinaed. “Don’t you breathe a word!” She jabbed a finger at him. “You swore your allegiance to her, too!”
Cinaed’s face crumpled at that. He returned his gaze to stare helplessly at Arabella.