Revealing the Dragons (Stonefire Dragons #2.5) Read Online Free Page A

highlighted too. I don’t like it.
    His mate sighed. “I see your flashing dragon eyes. Tell him I’m wearing this and that’s final. These clothes make me feel important, and I desperately need the confidence.”
    Tristan snorted. “Right, love, you lack confidence.”
    She poked him in the chest. “Sometimes, yes, I do. And since I’m about to represent our entire clan, I think you’d be a little more supportive.”
    “Agreeing with everything you say or do is boring. You wouldn’t like it.”
    She sighed. “You’re right, but matching wits with you is a wonderful stress reliever.”
    “So does that mean I have a free pass right now to tease you?”
    “Most definitely not.” The frown between her brows eased. “Are the twins still asleep?”
    “Yes. Samira and Evie are in the living area, keeping an ear open.”
    “Where’s Arabella?”
    He shrugged. “She had things to do.”
    Tristan agreed with the look of confusion in his mate’s eyes. Arabella spent most of her free moments with her niece and nephew. Maybe the humans gathering in front of Stonefire’s main gate for the press conference had spooked her. He only hoped it hadn’t reversed any of his sister’s progress.
    His mate took the last step down and patted Tristan’s chest. “I bet Ara’s afraid of how things could change. If humans and dragon-shifters eventually learn to interact freely with one another, she might feel the need to hide away again.”
    He growled. “I’m not about to let that happen.”
    “Me neither, but it explains her absence.” Mel walked toward the living area. “I really wish she’d take up the foster position with Lochguard. A break from the clan might be good for her.”
    Tristan kept pace with his mate. “If she decides to go, then I’ll allow it. But I’m not about to encourage it.”
    Mel glanced at him with raised brows. “Allow her? Tristan, love, remind me to tell Arabella about that the next time I see her.”
    “Aren’t conversations between mates private?”
    They reached the living area and Evie was grinning. “Maybe, but we heard it too. I’m going to make sure I’m here when Melanie tells your sister what you said. I might even bring some popcorn.”
    His dragon growled. There are too many females in this house. Let’s hurry.
    I couldn’t agree more.
    Tristan touched Mel’s upper arm. “Say goodbye to the twins and let’s go. Bram’s waiting for us.”
    Moving to the playpen used as a crib, Mel shot him a look. “I’m ready five minutes early, so hold your horses.”
    He fought a smile and lost the battle once Mel brushed the cheek of each of their babies in turn. He was a lucky dragonman, and he knew it, too. He only hoped the world would change for the better after the press conference instead of for the worse.
     
    ~~~
     
    Standing behind the front gates of Clan Stonefire, Melanie struggled to keep her jaw from dropping. Bram had agreed to host a press conference just outside their land, but she had never expected the sight before her eyes.
    There had to be at least a hundred people standing near the stage with the podium. Sure, the sunny July day was part of the reason, but the other had to be curiosity. She refused to believe it was to express their hatred or disdain, no matter how much Tristan seemed to think it would rear its ugly head sooner rather than later.
    Bram stood to her left and Tristan to her right. Bram looked down at her. “Kai has his Protectors in position. So, are you ready, lass? Say the word, and we’ll send them packing.”
    For a split second, Mel wanted nothing more than to hide away in her cottage with her mate and two children and forget all about the outside world. But what sort of life would that be? The thought of her children never embracing or getting to know their human halves helped chase away some of her nervousness. She was doing this partly for them, Murray, and all of the other dragon-shifter children in the world. They deserved a chance