Page 73 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
She laced her fingers through mine and I felt her joy through the bond. Her happiness at seeing me eased something I hadn’t known was wound so tight. It wasn’t the first time I cursed myself for ever wanting to mute this bond between us, but it was the first time I realized just how much would be lost if I’d done it.
Not only her pain, I’d lose her snippets of joy too.
“Does it look like you imagined?” Willow’s eyes sparkled as she stepped back, letting me see more of the dress.
“Beautiful.” I couldn’t stop staring at her face, seeing the true smile she gave.
“You’re supposed to compliment the dress you picked.” That vulnerable softness would be my undoing.
Maybe it would damn the world too.
Because Lucan was right. There was a fate worse than death. If it got to the point where I couldn’t be healed, we all knew Willow would die trying.
She gave too much without any concern for her own comfort. Protecting her would mean protecting her from herself.
And I wasn’t sure how to do that.
It was my curse as well.
“The dress is perfect on you,” I said, offering her my arm.
“I’m just glad it’s not red.” She winked as she held onto me. “Ember and Riley are obsessed with their dresses too. You really outdid yourself this time.”
I blinked, just noticing the other two women who were on the stairs with Willow and now were in their mates’ arms. It felt good to feel their happiness. To know that I gave them something special. For my mate and her friends and for…
“Where’s Harper?” I asked.
“Oof.” I caught the little one in a pile of red tulle and blonde curls as she leapt from the stairs.
“Thank you, Malachy,” Harper gushed. “Thank you so, so, so much. It’s soooo pretty!”
I made a mental note to ask the staff to dust better because a speck of something must’ve gotten caught in my eye.
“Let’s see it,” I said gruffly, trying to keep my face serious as the little princess did an exaggerated twirl and bow.
Harper stood straight and swished the tule skirts from side to side. “I told Mom I wanted a red dress and she said it’d be too grown up, but this one fits me, right?”
“Right.” I nodded, looking around for the two bears she’d made playmates with. They’d be in their cabin tonight, but I still wanted to keep an eye on things… just because.
“Can we eat yet?” Harper grabbed my hand.
“Not yet.” Willow stopped Harper from pulling me away. “But you can go sit in the chair I showed you. There’s a little snack on your plate. Malachy and I will be right here welcoming guests if you need anything else.”
“Okay, Mother,” Harper adopted a funny accent, curtsying so low to the ground that she almost fell over.
I barely held back my laughter as I took the place Willow suggested at the open doors so we could keep an eye on everything in both the reception hall and the grand room. It gaveme a clear view of all the little details. The folded napkins and flower arrangements and place settings perfectly laid out.
I hadn’t hosted much in the last century, but before that, I’d tried to keep up the appearances required of the guardian. Before me, my mother and father had been a team for events such as these. I didn’t realize how lonely it’d been handling all the details by myself.
“Everything looks amazing,” I told Willow as she took her place by my side.
The blush on her cheeks made my cock twitch and I pictured taking her out of here, laying her on my bed in that dress.
“I hope you don’t mind,”she said through our link as the doors opened and the first of the guests arrived.“But I set things up differently. Instead of putting you in a separate room like some dusty artifact, I figured you can greet everyone on the way to their seats. Hopefully the promise of food makes the line move faster.”
Silent laughter rumbled in my chest as I pulled her closer to my side, inhaling her calming scent.
“Did anyone ever tell you how perfect you are?” I growled into her ear.
