Once Upon a Fiery Christmas (Return to Avalore Book 3) by Elianne Adams Page B

I’m irresistible. Don’t mind me. I’m just an emotional fool today.”
    “Okay, you two. The hug-fest is going to wrinkle your dresses,” Rhia piped in, smoothing the soft fabric over her belly with a tender smile on her face.
    “I’m just going to go freshen up one last time before the ceremony begins.” Katie sniffled again and headed out the door.
    “Are you kidding me?” Chantelle blinked fast, staring at Rhia.
    “What?” Rhia dropped her hand and nibbled her lip.
    “Seriously. I’ve noticed the amount of times you’ve stroked your belly. Are you expecting?”
    When Rhia gave her a wobbly smile and nodded, Chantelle couldn’t help but squeal. “Does Katie know?”
    “No, no one knows. Not even Drake. I just found out this morning. I noticed a little light inside where there never had been one before. Aiken confirmed just before I came over, and I swore him to secrecy.”
    Chantelle hugged her tight. “Why? This is wonderful news.”
    “Chantelle, this is your special day. I don’t want the attention drawn to me, not today. And if I told Drake, he’d get even more protective and overbearing, and everyone would figure it out before you were joined.”
    Katie rejoined them, shutting their conversation down in an instant. “Are you guys okay? You both look a little funny.”
    Laughing, Chantelle hugged them both again. “Don’t worry, Rhia. Your secret is safe with me.”
    Why hadn’t anyone come for them yet? Chantelle glanced at the clock, shocked to see that the time had barely moved since she had last checked.
    Rhia had told her of some of the practices of the humans in their joining ceremonies and Chantelle wanted to incorporate some of them into her own. Both women had agreed to stand with her on the dais. She had left Sebastian in charge of asking for two of his friends to stand as groomsmen. The matching bright red dresses Katie and Rhia wore fit them like gloves, and were exactly what Chantelle had imagined.
    Had it not been for the added preparation of getting two identical dresses made, along with her own and some floral bouquets, she would have been joined a few weeks ago. She couldn’t complain because the seamstress had done a wonderful job on such short notice. It wasn’t the woman’s fault that Chantelle’s phoenix was becoming harder and harder to control. Her phoenix wanted her mate, and she wasn’t shy about trying to lure Sebastian’s dragon out either. The only reason Chantelle managed to keep from giving in to her baser instincts was because Sebastian was strong enough to pull away when she would have given in. In fact, she had tried convincing him she’d changed her mind on more than one occasion, but he wouldn’t budge.
    Chantelle’s heart fluttered at the thought. After the ceremony, they wouldn’t have to wait anymore. She’d be able to mark him, or rather, allow her phoenix to mark him, and finally make Sebastian hers in every sense of the word. “Is it time yet?” Her eagerness must have shown on her face, because both Katie and Rhia burst out laughing.
    “Are we going to need to clear out the gardens as soon as you’re joined?”
    Chantelle’s cheeks heated. “Am I that obvious?”
    “No more than I am when it comes to Drake. And I’m sure Katie will be the same when she decides to be joined,” Rhia reassured her.
    “Besides, we know you better than most. No one else will suspect a thing.” Katie grinned. “Unless you start growling again.”
    “I was not. I was merely clearing my throat.” Chantelle tried to keep from snickering. “Okay, maybe I was growling, but that woman had no business near my mate.”
    “Mrs. Wilson has to be at least a hundred years old, and she was fitting him for his joining day tux.” Rhia gasped the words out through her laughter.
    “The poor woman’s eyes bugged out of her head.” Katie doubled over, laughing at the memory.
    A soft rap at the door sobered them up. “Five more minutes, ladies,” Rhia’s father