Page 41 of Rurik
“The problem is, your people close ranks and vanish whenever we try to get close,” sheadded.
“It is hard to blame us. It wasn’t that long ago that we were hunted down by your people for the mere crime of existing,” Rurik countered. “And it wasn’t that long ago that the name MacQueen meant death forshifters.”
Charlotte’s head dropped. “I know. But things have changed in the last fifty years. My parents and my brothers have made sure of it. My grandfather’s way was half a century ago, born out of the same fear as McCarthyism at the time. The rules have changed. They don’t kill anymore. Not without cause. They observe. Hell, my brother has even helped negotiate peacetreaties.”
“Still,” Rurik said slowly. “It makes trust for dragons difficult. Half a century for you is half your life, but it’s merely an instant of mine. We have long memories. And who’s to say your brother’s successor won’t fall back on oldhabits.”
Charlotte was silent a long moment. “I don’t know, but we have to start somewhere. Will your brothers help us figure out what todo?”
“Yes.” He nuzzled her cheek before pressing his forehead to hers and closing his eyes. “But they won’t be happy about it. Do you think you can make your brothers seereason?”
“I hope so,” she said with a sigh. “We’re a little like Romeo and Juliet, aren’t we?” The smile that stole across her lips was tinged with sorrow. He hated knowing that mating her had caused thatpain.
He tried to tease her. “Yes, if the Capulets carried flamethrowers while the Montagues were trained Special Forces. And I, for one, would prefer to avoid their fate if at allpossible.”
Charlotte sighed and kissed his lips. Her sweet taste was the only reassuring thing about this mess of asituation.
“Promise me you will help protect my brothers and their mates.” He would never have asked that of anyone else. But if there was a chance she could help protect them from the Brotherhood, he had toask.
“I’ll do everything I can, but you have to promise me that my brothers and the other hunters won’t get hurt. They’re myfamily.”
“We are your family now as well,” he corrected as he lifted her chin with his fingers. Their gazes locked, and he dove into the warm hazel pools of her eyes. “You’re not just a MacQueen now. You are Barinovtoo.”
“And that makes you a MacQueen,” sheadded.
He winced. “That will set my brothers in anuproar.”
Charlotte’s face reddened. “So…me being a Barinov, does that mean… Er… Do dragons get married like humans? You know, with a fancy ceremony and everything?” Her voice was slightly husky, and it made him wish he had hours to listen to her moan his name in bed with that low, breathlesstone.
He nodded, keeping his eyes on her. “We do. The mating was enough in the old days, but we marry now in the human world in order to secure property and protect our loved ones. We adapt to local and regional customs as they change overtime.”
She traced the seam of his T-shirt collar around his neck, her lashes fanning up so he could see those lovely eyes ofhers.
“So…does that meanwe’llget married?” He sensed her unease and the lack of trust that came with the idea of marrying a stranger. He couldn’t blame her. They’d only known each other for two days. And while the mate bond was in place, they didn’t truly know each other or completely love each other. Not yet. But love would come, he knew it. A dragon could sense such things within its mate. The bond wouldn’t have occurred otherwise. He measured his response carefully before hereplied.
“We will, when the time is right. I want us to have a chance to bond, to develop the feelings that we share for each other. I want to earn your love fully and give youmine.”
When she sighed in relief, he knew he’d said the right thing, so he couldn’t resist teasingher.
“We also have to make sure the wedding party doesn’t try to kill each other. A great wall built down the aisle,perhaps?”
She giggled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her face in his neckagain.
“Can you hold me, just for a little while?” sheasked.
He could sense her emotions beneath the surface, like listening to a muffled conversation. She was a strong woman, but she’d been through much in the last twodays.
“As long as you need,” he whispered, kissing her temple. Then he rested his cheek against her hair, and they both breathed together. His dragon stirred, cautious, but alsohopeful.
She raised her head, and her eyes flashed with a new light. “How long before the planeleaves?”
“About two hours.Why?”
“Could we see a palace or two before we go? I really wanted to take sometours—”
He smirked playfully. “You don’t need tours. You haveme.”
Her eyes widened. “Because you lived through all this…Holy cow. I keep forgetting. You seem so modern most of thetime.”
