Page 131 of Happily Ever Witch
Dragons didn’t care about some wizard or religious authority actuallydeclaringthem legally wed, though. Hell, no. What gave some outsider the power to tell a dragon anything?Theydecided when they were married.
And Trevelyan decided he was married.
“You think I should keep you, huh?” Esmeralda grinned, oblivious to the fact she was now his wife.
“I think you might as well, since I’m not going to leave.” He wound her shiny green hair around his finger. It looked almost as pretty as the black curls. “It’ll save us both a lot of trouble.”
“You like causing trouble.”
“I like waking up with my True Love in the same kingdom. So, I think we’re going to need to make a deal. I’m offering an even trade: You for Marrok.”
She blinked.
“It’s very fair.” Trevelyan pressed, ready to sell the idea. “I help you save the wolf. I won’t burn the Four Kingdoms to cinders. I’ll give up my revenge… And in exchange you accept me as your mate.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve never stopped you from calling me your mate.”
“You need to decide I’myourmate.” He stressed. Why should he be the only one married in their marriage?
Esmeralda frowned suspiciously, like she was looking for loopholes in the deal.
Trevelyan smiled, as if he had nothing to hide. Given the fact that she’d refuse to go along with his plan if he explainedit, he saw no upside to explaining it. The only time she’d ever brought up marrying him, it had been to scoff at the very idea. It seemed far smarter to make the deal that secured him as her husband and then fill her in at some later date. Sometime far, far in the future.
He arched a brow. “Deal?”
Esmeralda stared at him. “Sort of a lopsided agreement, isn’t it?”
He made a face. “Alright, you’re clearly doing more. But, I detest your useless family. Also, it’s cold here and I hate the cold. So, I am givingsomethingup.”
“No, I mean, I’m going to keep you either way.” She leaned up to kiss him smartly. “I’ve been looking everywherefor you, Trevelyan. For years and years. Youaremy family.”
Something within him relaxed. “Finally,you realize that.”
“I’ve realized it from the first moment we met. I told you right then: family sticks together.” She pulled back to frown at him. “You wanted me to pick you or Marrok and that’s not how this works. I’m sticking with every single one of you lunatics.”
Trevelyan considered the arrangement. “But you like me best of everyone?”
Crimson eyes rolled. “Yes, Trev. I like you best.”
Excellent. “I like you best, too. In fact, you can be Esmeralda of the Green Dragons, if you want.” He offered that with studied nonchalance, even though his heart was pounding. “Being the last of my line gets tedious. You can join.”
She happily nodded. “Okay. I’ve never been part of a line, before.”
“Okay.” He drew in a deep breath, relief and excitement filling him. He was winning. He knew he would. “So we have an agreement, then? You for Marrok?”
“Of course! It’s win/win for me. But, you don’thaveto help Marrok. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. ”
His brow furrowed. It was unsafe for her to be so trusting. “No. You shouldn’t make this deal without getting something in return.”
“Iamgetting something, dummy. I’m getting you.”
Trevelyan realized he didn’t have a response to that. The woman was so sweet it left him defenseless, at times.
“You can come along with me to the Club Kingdom, if you want. But you don’tneedto.” Esmeralda went on, ignoring his confusion. “And you don’t need to get involved in the actual rescue process.”
That idea was ridiculous. “Iamthe actual rescue process. It would be best if you went back to the Heart Kingdom and let me go after the wolf myself. I swear I won’t kill him. Maim him…?” He seesawed his hand. “No promises. But not kill him.”
“Nah.” Esmeralda said easily.
