Page 25 of Burn Dragon Burn

“Great to meet you,” the bald Dragon whose voice was deep and rumbly, Abe, she was sure Gil had said grinned. “I can’t tell ya’ how long we’ve been waitin’ for somebody who can jerk a knot in Rafe’s tail.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Her mate pretended to be offended, but she could see the brotherly love and comradery he shared with the very special group of men.

Looking to her Nona as the older woman cleared her throat, Nat started to speak but instead had a fit of coughing that had Rafe scooping her out of the bed and holding her in his arms. Once she could once again speak, she batted at his chest and half-heartedly chastised, “Put me down, you beast. You can’t just pick me up whenever you please.”

Narrowing his eyes and leaning so close she could see the silver flecks in their icy blue surface, her growled, “I can and I will. You are my mate, Donatella Hale, now and forever.” Giving her a quick kiss on the lips, he pulled back and added, “And I love you with all my heart.”

“But not more than I love you, Rafe O’Rhordan,” she whispered, lifting her head just enough to lay her lips to his.

“Okay, okay, okay, enough of that,” Nona’s voice broke the spell being in Rafe’s arms created. Going on, she added, “Let’s give the couple some privacy.” Rising to her feet, Angelique crossed the room and stopped right next to where Rafe stood still holding Nat and while patting her granddaughter’s arm smiled brightly, “Get better, Dearheart. We have a mating ceremony to plan.”

Hiding her shock until she was alone with her mate, Nat let herself be laid back in the hospital bed before she asked, “What happened to Norman? Did you get him?”

“He died in the fire.” Rafe’s answer was quick and clipped, anger springing to life in his eyes.

“That’s it? He died in the fire? That’s all you’re going to tell me?” Each word louder than the last, her voice raspy and her throat burning, she demanded, “Tell me what happened or get the hell out.”

Returning Rafe’s glare, refusing to back down, she watched a myriad of emotions cross his face until finally he sighed. “Alright, if you insist. Max caught him coming out of the tunnel, running like the coward he was, and leaving you to die.”

Pulling a chair up to the side of her bed, he took a seat, and wrapped his hands around hers before continuing, “Once I knew you were okay, I killed him and Max threw the body into the burning fallout shelter. It’s as simple as that.”

“So, the girls’ murders go unsolved.” She knew she was sulking but couldn’t help it. All she could think of was six families, six sets of parents who would never know peace.

“Not exactly.”

Sitting up, gripping his hands as tight as she could, she hopefully asked, “What do you mean ‘not exactly’?”

“I mean, that after an anonymous tip, the Tarrant County Sherriff’s Office found a storage unit full of incriminating evidence proving that one Dr. Norman Batterfield was indeed the Yellow Ribbon Ripper.”

“Really? We closed the case?”

“Yes, ma’am,youclosed the case, and according to Captain Rogers, when you return to work –after our honeymoon– you will be receiving a commendation for your tireless pursuit of justice.”

“But, I…I mean, I was…well, I was unconscious. How…?”

Opening her mouth, she threatened to bite his finger when he dared to shut her up by laying his index finger to her lips then quick as a whip, she was laughing out loud when he pretended to be scared. Swatting his arm with her free hand, she begged, “Tell me,please.”

“Alright, since you asked nicely,” he chuckled. “According to my report and that of Special Consultant Maximillian Prentice, you only collapsed after you received the anonymous tip and sent us to check out the storage unit.”

Never in her entire life had she felt more loved and most importantly, more understood and respected. That old book of Nona’s was right, the Universe makes no mistakes. Yes, she still wondered why Norman had done what he’d done, but that would wait, right now her happily ever after was staring her in the face and there was no way she was letting it get away.

Happy, thrilled, and overjoyed, unused to feeling so much because of one special person, she batted her eyes and teased, “So, what was that Nona said about a mating ceremony?”

18

The day had finally come. It had been two weeks since he’d rescued Nat. She was healed, thanks to his Dragon and ready to become his mate, as Fate and Destiny required.

All of his very long life, Rafe had heard about the grandeur of an official Dragon Guard Mating Ceremony, but when it came time for his, he decided it should reflect he and Nat. Besides, he had no clue where his surcoat, woolen pants, and knee-high boots even were.

Standing in the garden behind Angelique’s home, he waited alongside his Brethren for Nat to appear. Nearly as excited as he was, Ben loudly whispered, “She’s here. She’s here. Max is showing her and her grandmother to their seats.”

Grinning when Gil’s hand landed on his shoulder, Rafe snickered as his brother quipped, “See ya’ on the other side.”

Waiting as Abe, Ben and Oz, dressed in jeans and matching deep gray shirts nearly the color of his Dragon, walked out from behind the bamboo screen, Rafe took a deep breath, slowly let it out then followed in their footsteps. One look at Nat dressed in a knee-length, pewter silk dress, her long dark tresses held up oneither side of her head with jeweled barrettes, and he wondered if anyone would mind if he simply threw her over his shoulder and took her to their new home where they could be alone.

Fighting the temptation to be alone with his mate, he took his place beside his brother and waited until Gil began…

“Long ago, when Knights and Dragons fought side by side for King and Country, it became apparent that Dragon kin was no longer safe from those who would expose, exploit, and destroy them. Seeking to remain hidden but also needing to continue the mission of the Universe to preserve not only their species but human kind, they sought to join with the Knights who had so valiantly fought by their sides for so very many years. Thus, through magic and the will of both Dragon and Knight, the Dragon Shifters were born.”

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