Page 67 of Tempt the Dragon
Epilogue
Burgess
July
Mel wanted a real human wedding. Not the Drakon ceremony Bleu and Theo had spoken of, but a traditional human wedding, complete with bridesmaids and a maid of honor, tuxedos, gowns and a huge meal prepared for their reception. In the past few weeks she’d talked nonstop about it to Aiken. Even when they were on new assignments she still found time to pull out abridal magazine or show him pictures on her phone of some cake design, or another bouquet of flowers that looked the same as the last. If someone had told him when he met her that the gun-and-knife-carrying fighter would want a unique wedding with all the lavish trimmings, he wouldn’t have believed them. Not for one second.
Yet each day he cherished her enthusiasm, he listened and made choicesfor things he couldn’t care less about like tablecloth colors, flowers and bows for the arch, because he’d almost lost her twice. She was going to be a stunning bride. By day and sometimes at night, she fought by his side, taking all the same risks he did while protecting the humans from unimaginable danger. They’d been assigned to specially supervise the magickal beings—witches and faeries—whosepowers had, up until six months ago, been underestimated. After their time in the Congo and all they’d learned from the witches and witch doctors there, they now knew how dangerous conjured evil could actually be in comparison to the beasts or beings who were born into their destinies.
“You ready for this?” Reese clapped a hand on his shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts.
Straighteninghis tie for the billionth time, Aiken looked over his outfit once again. The black double-breasted tuxedo jacket was a classic style he’d always favored over the single-button slim fit design. Shirt was a crisp bright white, tie the palest blue the French designer Bleu had commissioned could find. It was the color of the wind that Mel had decided on and he was more than pleased with how it lookedwith the dark tuxedo and blue boutonniere designed to resemble all the shades of blue flowers she’d selected.
“Readier than I’ve ever been.” It was the honest truth. When he’d awakened this morning all he could think was that he’d been waiting for this day his entire life. The day when he would be made one with the woman specifically selected for him.
“Never, never would’ve believed you’dbe the one doing this.” Magnum wore the same tuxedo, but his tie—like the other groomsmen’s—was black.
“Come on now, I had to come up with some way to get you to dress properly. Your usual worn jeans and tight T-shirt is a sore fashion statement.” Keeping things light would keep him from caving in to the emotion that had lumped in the center of his chest.
Reese chuckled. “He’s got a pointthere, Mag. You never wear anything other than jeans and shirt. But I gotta say you clean up nicely.”
So did Reese. The tuxedo looked good on his wrestler’s body and he’d let Shola do something with the curly long portion of his hair that reminded Aiken of the African tribe leaders they’d met while in the Congo.
“Kiss my ass, both of you,” Mag snapped, but Aiken watched with amusementas the Drakon moved in front of the mirror to check himself out as if they hadn’t been telling the truth.
These guys were his family. They knew everything there was to know about him now and they didn’t look at him any differently. When he’d decided to come clean about his past, Theo had been the one Aiken had felt might understand the most, but Magnum and Reese, these guys walked a straightline. When you looked at them you knew exactly what you were getting, they wore the good and bad about their personalities like badges of honor and didn’t give a shit who didn’t like it. But he’d dressed his faults up in fancy suits and shoes and never gave anyone the chance to look beyond that. He wasn’t proud of what he’d done, but today, with the members of his clan standing behind him, he wasgoing to start a new life, with the most amazing Drakon he’d ever known.
“Aiken’s gonna swallow his tongue the moment he sees you.” Ziva stood to her right the moment she turned away from the mirror. She was feeling better, Mel could tell because she was here. For weeks after they’d returned from the Congo nobody had seen her. She hadn’t been in her suite, nor at the Tower with Isla. She’dleft, and for a while they’d all been afraid she wouldn’t come back.
“You’re gorgeous and that dress is phenomenal.” Shola came up to her, extending her hand. “This in no way competes with any part of your outfit but you wanted to be traditional, so these were my grandmother’s. I’m letting you borrow them for today.”
“They’re gorgeous.” It was the only thing she could say when staringdown at the gold, diamond and sapphire earrings in the palm of Shola’s hand.
“You have to put them on, not stare at them,” Shola said with a shake of her head.
She grinned nervously when Shola moved to her side and put the first earring into her ear.
“They’re part of a set. My grandmother gave it to me as a wedding present and I haven’t really had anywhere to wear them. But today seemslike the perfect time for somebody to show them off.” It was just like Shola to do something so considerate. Since the first day she’d showed up at the Office this woman had been nothing but nice to her, and after six months and all they’d been through, the bond between them had only strengthened.
“Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much having the three of you on my side for the pastmonths has meant to me.” She’d never had sisters before and that’s what they were to her. It’s what she hoped she could be to them.
Ravyn was next, wearing the deep navy off-the-shoulder gown Mel had selected for her. Each one of these women was beautiful and despite some of the myths of traditional weddings, she didn’t mind if they looked just as terrific as she did. In fact, she’d been goingfor exactly that effect when she’d selected each bridesmaid dress in three different shades of blue. Shola’s was a lighter blue, like the shade of Theo’s human eyes, and was a simple V-neck, side slit, A-line dress that made her look regal and elegant, while Ziva’s royal blue gown was a strapless mermaid design that emphasized every sexy curve of her body.
“There, now you’re perfect.” Sholastepped away after putting in the second earring. “Here, look.”
Touching her shoulders, Shola turned her so that once again she was staring at herself in the mirror. The designer had taken two months to craft what she could only call a masterpiece as she stared at the two-piece wedding outfit. The cropped top was white lace, held together by twin straps that circled around her neck like achoker and the skirt was a simple wrap style with the slit that went straight up her right thigh when she walked. The soft flowing material fell straight to the floor trailing behind her for four additional feet. Her shoes were white platform peep-toe pumps and her hair was pulled up with a nest of springy curls on top.
“I never thought I’d be here.” A hand went to her stomach, where she feltthe steady circling of her beast. “Not in Burgess, but here, in a clan of Drakon, about to marry a man who was selected for me.”
“The Selection process isn’t an easy one to navigate.” Ravyn spoke from experience. There was no way to thank her for all the nights she’d sat on the patio outside the Office, talking about what the process had been like for her and Steele and how she’d come to termswith the choice being out of her hands. “But you’re where you belong. You know that now and that’s all that matters.”
“She’s right,” Shola added. “It’s not just an acceptance of the mate fated for you, it’s also you standing in the truth of who you are and what life you’ve chosen to lead. Because you did choose, Mel. Despite all the things you felt were out of your control, you did decideto step into this life and to make it what you want.”
She had. She remembered the exact moment she decided she was a chameleon Drakon and that she would use those combined powers to save lives. And there was nothing that would ever make her forget the instant she’d finally let Aiken and his beast into her heart and her soul.
“Are we gonna get moving or what? Because if we stay here anylonger your guy’s gonna be standing out there all by himself.” Months ago Mel would’ve thought the sound of Ziva’s curt voice would break such a precious bond as the four of them had built. Today, she knew that Ziva’s personality was as much a part of their connection as the preternatural powers living inside each of them.
“I’m ready,” she said. “I’m so ready.”
