Page 35 of Having the Dragon's Baby

“Soak up what you can of me in this dress, handsome man,” Rachel told Marcus. “I have already eaten a horse, and I am still hungry. It’s going to be a long time coming before you see me in something so small again.”

“I like seeing you in the dress and out of the dress. But I like seeing you out of the dress best.”

“So how are we going to do this?” she asked, blushing from his words.

“Do what?”

“You know, the announcement part,” Rachel answered. “I’d rather you announce, and I will stand beside you and be supportive.”

“As soon as I get the vibe that most of the guests have eaten, at least eighty percent, I’ll call everyone together.”

“I like that,” Rachel told him. “You know, it kind of looks like at least eighty percent of the guests have eaten already, doesn’t it?”

“You are dead-on correct,” Marcus replied.

Marcus pulled a long and hollowed-out ram horn that had been attached to his belt. The horn was long with a gentle curve. When he blew through the horn, the sound was lovely and a loud key of F. Perfect for reveille and rallying crowds.

Marcus blew and blew until all eyes were on him.

“This is what I know,” Marcus told the gathering. What a large and beautiful group. He felt chills on his arms and on the back of his neck. Chills from the love he felt for Rachel. Chills from the love he felt for his thunder of dragons. Two different types of love. Both from that gap between the shadow and the soul where the dragon lived down deep.

“Those who have never loved at first sight have never loved at all,” Marcus told the crowd. “This is an axiom that is as old as dirt. Up until five weeks ago, I would have told you it was poppycock.”

“You still do say that,” someone wisecracked out from the audience.

“I suspect you can all tell what I am about to announce,” Marcus continued. “I found my fated mate, Rachel, standing here beside me.”

There was loud applause and plenty of hoots and whistles. Marcus waited for the accolades to subside.

“These last few weeks, the way that you have loved and accepted Rachel makes me sure the announcement I just made was no surprise. You, my loving den, knew she was a great fit from the start. This next announcement, I hope, makes all of you proud and happy as well. Rachel and I are expecting.”

The cacophony of cheers and applause and whistles took longer to die down than the previous announcement.

“One final thing. This night is not over. Things are just getting started,” Marcus told the group. He looked out over the many smiling faces and got the craziest butterflies in his stomach.

Such a tribe, such a family. Rachel would lead by his side. Together, they would make the den bigger, happier, and more self-actualized. “Come on up, team. Let them see who you are,” Marcus yelled and waved at a small group of teens gathered at the border between the house and the lawn.

The group of three teen boys and three teen girls walked up to Marcus. Each was carrying a different instrument.

“Here’s the deal,” Marcus roared out to the group. “We have the best little bluegrass band here at my side. Small band, big sound. These folks are going to serenade us through the rest of the night. Thank you!”

As soon as Marcus said, “Thank you,” the banjo and mandolin kicked in. The other instruments followed.

“I appreciate you giving me a pass tonight,” Rachel told Marcus. “I know we’re celebrating. I just didn’t have the juice.”

“You feel okay, though, right?”

“Oh, babe, I am the happiest of happy. All my dreams have come true. This life with you brings out love I had no idea lived inside of me.”

“I feel the same way,” Marcus told Rachel. “Your fans are waving you over,” he added, nodding with his chin toward the group of her family and friends gathered just behind Rachel.

Rachel waved and then walked over. Her parents and Luna were so happy for her, they couldn’t stop hugging her! The ladies of the den reacted the same way.

And it had broken his heart open at how welcoming the den was to Rachel since the day she was first introduced.

Two of the den members came up to talk to Marcus. They offered congratulations and joked about dirty diapers. The strangest sensation stirred when this happened. The dragon, from way down deep, began to stir and pace and move its giant tail.

Marcus gave the perimeter of the gathering a good once-over. All the enforcers were in place, smiling and laughing yet still very alert.

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