Free Kiss of a Dragon (Fallen Immortals 1) - Paranormal Fairytale Romance by Alisa Woods Page B

quantity.
    “Perhaps the Summer Court is involved,” Leksander said, coolly.
    Lucian shot him a glance. Those were fighting words. Why was he trying to rile up dissent between the courts? That could only cause trouble for the House of Smoke trying to keep the peace. Besides, Leksander knew the Summer Court didn’t traffic in demons, even in ancient times.
    Zephan pulled a face at that insult. Which was a genuine accomplishment on Leksander’s part. “As if the Summer Court could do anything so subtle as conjure a demon that could escape your notice for the better part of three centuries.”
    Lucian narrowed his eyes. Was the fae prince bragging now? “What the hell, Zephan? Are you admitting you’re in violation of—”
    Zephan’s eyes flashed, and a pulse of magical energy stronger than anything Lucian could generate emanated from the fae—a wave that nearly knocked Leksander from the ledge. “I am in violation of nothing.”
    “Fuck, Zephan,” Leksander muttered as he shifted to claws to keep hold of the narrow ledge.
    “A little touchy on that subject, are we?” Lucian asked. The fae were never more dangerous than when they were possibly being caught out on something.
    “You forget your place, dragon.” But Zephan was regaining his icy fae coolness. “It’s best that you have an occasional reminder.”
    Lucian didn’t need a reminder that the fae were far more powerful in magic than dragons could ever dream of commanding. It was the fae blood which ran through his veins that gave him any powers at all, beyond common dragon magic. It was the treaty, and the treaty alone, that kept the fae from running roughshod over the mortal world.
    “Is that why you’re here?” Leksander asked. “To remind us of our place?”
    “In fact, I came because I hear you have a new human lover, Lucian.” Zephan’s eyes drilled into him, and that icy coldness flushed straight to his core.
    “Word travels fast.” How the fuck did Zephan know about Arabella? Lucian steeled himself from throwing a glance at his brother. He knew Leksander would never breathe a word of anything to the fae. Ever. Under any circumstances. That left Leonidas, but Lucian couldn’t imagine his more loose-tongued brother blasting out information about Lucian’s bed partners to the Winter Court. Not to mention Arabella hadn’t even made it into his bed. Well, at least not for the kind of activity his lusty dragon side desired.
    Which only made him think that perhaps the demon he destroyed actually had been part of the Winter Court. Had it somehow communicated with its fae master before its demise?
    “Lucian’s lovers are none of your concern,” Leksander threw out, making Lucian cringe.
    Because of course, that wasn’t true at all.
    “Is that so?” Zephan asked, his icy stare still trained on Lucian. “Because if you’re on the cusp of renewing the treaty for another five hundred years, well, that interests me very much. It would be a shame, my dear prince, to have another tragic loss in the House of Smoke. You don’t have much luck with mates, do you?”
    Lucian had to restrain himself from shifting and taking a bite out of the fae. “We’re done here.”
    He turned his back on Zephan and shifted, spreading his wings as he leaped off the perch.
    “Do let me know if there’s a birthing ceremony I need to attend!” Lucian heard Zephan calling behind him. Then, thankfully, the wind was in his ears, and the scent of the dark fae was behind him. He heard a whisper of wings coming alongside, Leksander quickly catching up. Lucian thought briefly about running ahead to the keep. That horrible twitching feeling was back—the one that said he needed to be by Arabella’s side. It was a bad sign.
    Do you think he’s telling the truth? Leksander’s thought floated past the angry and agitated part of Lucian’s mind.
    The fae never tell you a lie, but they sure as hell never tell you the truth, Lucian answered. His brother knew this.
    You