Page 127 of Hoarded By the Dragon

Stoneheart’s half of the church is watchful as well. The gargoyle keeps an interesting mix of people as his inner circle. A lizard man stands beside him in the position of best man. They look to be conversing about business in the same manner that Ben and I are. The rest of his crowd are less wide-eyed than the Leonids and more tense in anticipation of a fight, but there will be no violence today.

This contract is neat, and by the end of it, the Council will be unable to blame me for any of it.

Councilor Moon glares at me from the end of the aisle, but I’m unconcerned with his ire. He loves to officiate weddings. If any of the other Council members invited are glaring at me as well, I don’t notice it.

The wedding is large and formal by necessity. Almost every pew is filled in the grand building. This union is a statement of Stoneheart’s power as much as it is of my influence.

Each Council member was invited, but I think only a few shifters have turned up. Probably to see if there can be any way of invalidating the mating agreement between Stella and Stoneheart. Moon reported that a good portion of the Council wants me drawn and quartered, but they must follow their own laws.

News of what I did to Lorenzo Leonid has become common knowledge, and none of the attendees around us dare to catch my eye. If the engagement hadn’t been signed in blood, the Council would have attempted to take my head by now.

The success of destroying a territory leader who meant my family ill should be a moment of triumph, but I barely register it. This victory is hollow if I cannot succeed in making my amends with Katarina.

With that thought, I glance at the closed door to the room where Katarina is helping Stella get ready.

To say that my mate is upset with how I circumvented the Council’s rules is an understatement.

“Do you think she’s okay?” Ben asks.

“Who do you mean?” My voice is cold toward my second-in-command.

“Katarina, obviously.” Ben looks away, and his cheeks flush.

It will take some time to forgive Ben for putting Katarina and our daughter in danger. His plan worked, and there were few other options for a good outcome, but that doesn’t stop my anger.

That this wedding seems to be tormenting him feeds my vicious nature some. Ben has denied all interest in Stella, but that doesn’t change the way his jaw clenches or the look of hate he casts toward Stoneheart.

The gargoyle has picked up on his animosity, but luckily for Ben, seems to find it amusing rather than take offense.

My friend has fucked himself with this plan of his, and eventually I’ll be sympathetic about it, but not at this moment.

“Katarina is… healing,” I finally say. I don’t know how else to phrase it. I’ve spent as much time as she’ll allow me holding her, feeding heat to our daughter, and sharing whatever energy I can through our thread-thin mating bond that is perceivable now that I’m not suppressing my dragon.

Physically, my mate is fine. She was tired and spent much of the interim sleeping in our room. I had a ward master place a special ward where the dome will rest until it’s repaired. I’m hoping that Katarina will want to choose the new design. She loved the previous one, but I want our home to be one that she feels invested in.

Because she may physically be fine, but emotionally… she’s distant. I mourn that with the state of our bond, I can’t feel her emotions. I can only wait for her to sort through her feelings and present to me what she wants to expose.

I’m helpless with how lost inside herself she is, but I do my best to draw her out in little ways. I care for her like a mate who deserves her should.

I fear it won’t be enough, but I hold hope at the words she confessed.I love you.She loves me, and I will prove my own feelings to her. Remembering her words helps with the sentiment of the rest,and it hurts so deeply.

I don’t want to cause her pain, but I can’t help myself from wanting her to choose a life with me. Now that I’m more whole and balanced, I want to be the one who comforts her.

Ben straightens when Katarina exits the door. They exchange a look, and Ben gestures to the harried fae wedding planner. The wedding march music begins.

Everyone stands. Katarina takes her position next to me, and I place my hand on her lower back. The move is an open declaration to the crowd.

I will not hide my mate and young anymore. I will do everything else in my power to protect them, but every instinct I have demands I be open about what they mean to me.

They are everything.

Stella strides forward. Her wedding dress is an elegant lace number that covers much of her skin but fits like a glove. It’s beautiful and a marvel that Ben found something that fit so well in such a short amount of time.

Ben’s shoulders crash down when she passes by us without a backward glance.

Katarina takes in that and watches her friend walk the rest of the way down the aisle to Stoneheart, his face wiped of all expression.

“What have we done?” she murmurs to me.

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