Firebreather 1: Firebreather by Marie Harte Read Free Book Online Page A

Dracons’ existence, the king has to find a mate, not only to procreate, but to make sure the rest of the Dracon don’t suddenly become infertile, dying out one by one. Kill the king or his mate, you kill the Dracon.
    End of story. The fact that Meredith died and the Dracon continued may mean one of two things. Either she wasn’t his mate, or a Dracon king may have more than one possible love.”
    “ Or a king may follow his chosen mate into death’s kiss, in which case a new king, one of royal blood, would be appointed. In Meredith’s case, once she died, her lover, King Stowen, launched himself off a cliff and deliberately fell to his death. His younger brother, Rafael, assumed the throne and took a mate. So the royal line stayed true.” She nodded. “I knew Meredith was Stowen’s true mate. A lot of the garbled stuff she wrote I still can’t understand. I think she wrote in code to protect the Dracon. It looks like a phonetic rendition of Drac, which I’ve never understood. If I had the journal, I could show you.” At his bright look, her eyes narrowed. “Why do I get the feeling you have it here?”
    “I had a few Dracon clean up your study after we left.”
    “Nice.”
    He had the grace to wince. “It wasn’t about stealing your things. I brought them here to keep them safe. And for you.” He walked over to an ornate armoire covered in detailed dragon carvings and opened a door. Several items of her clothing appeared. “This, too, is for your comfort.”
    She stared from her clothing to him, stunned. “You brought my things to your home? Your fortified castle?” A thought struck. “Are you kidnapping me?”
    “Of course not.” He rolled his eyes. “You’re overly dramatic, Draka. I simply wanted you to be happy while we spent some time getting to know one another. While I love your body, it’s also your mind that intrigues me.”
    “Don’t you mean S. M. Ryans who intrigues you?” Her mind? So that’s what he wanted. To know what she knew about the Dracon.
    Disappointment welled within her, along with an absurd need to cry.
    “Stop what you’re thinking right now.” Ferin growled, looking uneasy. “Don’t you dare cry. Whatever you’re thinking is wrong. I want to know you, Lea Venlay. I’ve read as much as I need to know about S. M. Ryans. I want to know Lea’s favorite color. What makes her laugh. Why she was always so annoyed whenever I showed up at the gallery. Wooing you has never been so hard.” She immediately brightened. “You were wooing me? I thought you were pestering me for info on my family.”
    “Like you, I’m tired of the animosity between the Venlays and the Dracon. A tragic happenstance several hundred years ago should be buried. I didn’t kill anyone, and I know you didn’t. I’d rather make love than war.”
    The look on his face promised delights her body was more than ready to handle.
    “Love, hmm? Just you and me?”
    He smiled, male satisfaction blazoning. “If that’s what you’d prefer.”
    “Last night was incredible, but I’m a little worn out from so much attention.”
    He laughed and leaned in to kiss her. Like before, she melted into him and met his tongue with her own. Her heart did that funny little dip again, and she accepted the growing affection easily, her mind on other things.

CHAPTER 5
    Ferin groaned and lowered her into the bed.
    “I can’t help projecting my pleasure to my brothers. It’s a sibling bond we share, a sharing of emotions.”
    “Fine. As long as I get to be on top.” Lea shimmied out from under him and trapped him under her body.
    He returned her kiss wholeheartedly, his hands cradling her breasts with callused palms, the contact making her wet and needy. She squirmed over the bulge in his jeans and sucked on his neck, much as he had the day before. She couldn’t explain it, but being with Ferin quelled her inhibitions, and she felt like a woman without restriction.
    Anything and everything with him was