Page 94 of To Match A Dragon's Fire

Ember

Be Careful Where You Stand…

“Let me get this straight…” Riley took a deep breath. “He chained your ex-husband to a wall and tortured him, bit you with venom-filled fangs, tattooed you without your knowledge, and now you’re marrying him?”

“Technically, it’s not a wedding. It’s a binding ceremony,” I said. It was a dragon tradition to show off your mate during a little ceremony after the bond had fully cemented.

The last few weeks were a blur of connection and smiles and more of a honeymoon than I’d ever had with my first marriage.

I liked this version of tradition better.

“And let’s not forget that she’s somehow attached to an ancient apocalyptic prophecy.” Willow finished curling my hair and fluffed it out around my shoulders, covering the small black rune on my neck.

I brushed my hair back to look at the mark in the mirror. “We don’t know that yet. Kieran called a meeting for after the ceremony and we’re going to study what all this means.”

I still didn’t understand the whole prophecy thing, but I was anxious to meet Kieran’s cousins and learn about the world we’d been kept from.

Dragons and prophecies and ancient text…

Not going to lie, I was excited to see how it all would play out.

“If you’re happy, then I’m happy.” Willow stood back to admire her handiwork.

We were all dressed in soft gauzy dresses made from material that Grace had dragged out from old crates. Willow wove flowers into her and Riley’s hair—which was getting longer again.

Riley rested her arms on the back of the chair, sighing. The bruise on her face was gone. “We do want you to be happy. But also, safe.”

“Kieran’s not going to hurt me,” I swore.

“I know that.” Riley rolled her eyes. “What we’re worried about is the magical ancient prophecy carved into your neck.”

“I think it’s pretty.” Harper crawled onto my lap, wearing a dress that matched ours, in a lilac color like her mother’s. “You’re beautiful, Auntie Em.”

“Aww, thanks.” I snuggled the girl. “What’s the catch?” I whispered. “Who do I need to bribe to get you out of trouble?”

“No one.” Harper giggled.

She couldn’t do anything wrong here anyway. All of Kieran’s flock adored and spoiled her rotten.

“Come on.” Willow sighed as she helped Harper to her feet. “I think they’re ready for us downstairs.”

“The real question is, are you ready?” Riley stood beside me, locking her pinky with mine in silent support as she waited to make sure I was okay.

“More than ready.” I winked at my friend, sending up a prayer that one day she’d find someone to make her as happy as my dragon made me. “Now come on. Let’s not keep the beast waiting.”

∞

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I stepped out on the front walkway, looking at the trucks parked in the driveway of Kieran’s house. They were the same vehicles that’d been here the first night I’d had a… date with my mate.

“Want me to cut a bitch?” Riley reached for her purse. She’d started carrying my old pocketknife around.

“I thought you were a nurse.” I put my hand on her arm.

“I’m a CNA.” Riley shrugged. “And I didn’t say I wouldn’t stitch them up after.”

“Let me handle this.” I sighed, reaching out with my telepathy because it was my new favorite party trick.“Kieran, sweetheart, who all did you invite to this thing?”

---