Dragon Down (23 page)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

We spent two weeks in Carndonagh making plans for the wedding
, while Traygen abdicated his right to the throne to his brother Trevor. Then we were back in L.A. to make plans for our wedding which was in two weeks. I had to buy a dress and order anything that couldn’t be done or made in Carndonagh. Traygen was making plans for our honeymoon and he steadfastly refused to tell me anything. Prince Trevor and Tokem would be his ushers and his father would be his best man. Xena would be the ring bearer. I asked my uncle and Jason to attend. Otherwise, my family was already present. My Uncle Dan would walk me down the aisle. He was my father’s brother and since my dad couldn’t be there Uncle Dan would stand up for me.

Now all I needed was a maid of honor. Now as you can imagine I don
’t have a lot of female friends. Let’s face it there aren’t many women in my line of work. I couldn’t ask someone that wasn’t because part of the wizarding community. I am bound to protect the World Council’s anonymity. Still, there was someone I could ask.

I made a lunch date with Corbin. I wanted to let him know the council had given their approval
for hiring him. He would be working with Traygen, Tokem and me. The guys were excited to have him with us. Now all I had to do was convince him to join us. I had no idea if he would be interested or not. He had an apartment in West Hollywood. We were meeting for lunch in Santa Monica. I found a parking space about two blocks from the restaurant and I walked in right before Corbin. I got us a table and motioned for him to join me.

“I see you
’ve been to see Steve. It looks great Lauren. Are you getting nervous for the big day?”

“Not nervous, I wasn
’t sure this day would ever come. However, I am a little overwhelmed by all the pomp of a royal wedding. Traygen’s family has so many traditions. I just know that I’ll forget to curtsey or something.”

“You
’ll do fine and you will be wearing a Lazaro, how could you miss. Traygen won’t be able to keep his eyes off you. See what a little time locked at the bottom of the ocean will do.”

“Very funny. He was already hooked before he got amnesia. How are you settling in? Do you like your apartment and L.A.?”

“I love L.A. and the west side it is a far departure from where I grew up. People are so accepting and I can be myself. Don’t frown you’ll get wrinkles. I am taking it slow because I don’t want to miss a minute.”

“Glad to hear it. You
’ve got many lifetimes to enjoy it all. What have you been doing with your spare time?”

“Lauren, gentlemen do not tell tales. I am shocked you would ask?”

I threw my napkin at him, which he nimbly plucked from the air. Vampires had reflexes so fast I barely saw him move.

“You know that wasn
’t what I was asking. I spoke with Jason and I wanted to know if you would like to join our team and work for the World Council of Wizards. Tokem and Traygen are in favor of it and you know I would like nothing more than to have you as part of our team. What do you say?”

“Let me
see if I can get this right, the team would be comprised of a wizard, a changeling, a tykili, and a vampire. The Fantastic Four wouldn’t have a prayer. How could I turn down such an honor? Yes, I would like that very much.”

“
That’s fantastic, I’ll let Jason know. You won’t regret it. We actually do a lot of good when we aren’t fighting for our lives. There was something else I wanted to ask you. And Corbin please feel free to say no if you do not want to do this. I would certainly understand.”

“Now you have me worried. What is it you want to ask me? Out with it
already, you are killing me.”

“Would you stand up for me at the wedding? No, let me finish. The bride
’s maid is supposed to be family or a best friend. I don’t have any family except my uncle who is giving me away and you are my best friend except for Traygen. It would mean a lot to me. If I am asking too much let me know.”

“Lauren I am gay but, I am not a transvestite. So, I would not be comfortable dressing up as Barbie.”

“Stop it. You know that isn’t what I was asking.”

“Okay, okay I would be honored.
However, it is a tux for this ‘Bride’s man”.”

“Corbin thank you this means more than you know.” I said as I brushed a tear from my eye.

“Hey, you know I was kidding about the drag thing right? Lauren, you mean the world to me too. I mean how many people would traipse through the sewers and dungeons of half the Paradise Islands with me. If I liked girls, I would fight Traygen for you.”

“No matter what anyone
else says, you sure know how to show a girl a good time Corbin, thank you.”

We finished our lunch and I headed home. I couldn
’t wait to tell everyone the good news. Corbin was now officially a member of our team and my bride’s man. How lucky could a girl get? When I got home Traygen’s car was gone. He had been sneaking around trying to find us a home. He wanted it to be a surprise and I told him what I thought was essential. I mean I would need a walk-in closet that was at least five hundred by five hundred square feet. Yes, I am shallow but, I am consistently shallow and I could live with it.

Since Traygen wasn
’t home, I got Xena and headed to the beach for a run. We ran to the pier and back and were cooling down when Traygen pulled in.

“Lauren, how are you my love?” He asked as he gave me a great big hug.

Since his near death experience, he wasn’t taking anything for granted, especially not me. Nearly losing him, also made me realize I never wanted to live without him.

“So what have you been up to my handsome fiancé? Is there anything you want to tell me or show me?”

“Lauren, you know I will not show you our new home until we come back from our honeymoon. There is no way you will weasel it out of me. So, how was your day? Oh, and did Corbin agree to become part of our team?”

“He did and that reminds me I need to let Jason know. I also ask
ed Corbin to be my bride’s man. Thankfully, he graciously agreed although he firmly told me that he was not a transvestite and would not come in drag. I assured him his Armani tux would be fine. What do you think?”

“It is a novel approach and I am proud of you. If I am not mistaken brides maids are usually close friends of the bride. So, he is your closest friend besides me and Tokem. I think it is great.”

“I do too. You know since my father died my only close friends are you and Tokem. My uncle will give me away and that is a Godsend. However, Corbin is a friend and a man that saved my life and yours a number of times. What is that look for?”

“My life
? I mean I know he helped you find me. Still, can you tell me how he actually save my life?”

“Well
, if he hadn’t knocked you overboard to get you to change into a dragon, for you to get your memories back, I’d have killed you if you hadn’t known me. We went to hell and back, I crawled through more sewers and icky things than you can imagine. No showers. Like I said if you hadn’t recognized me, you were a dead man.”

“I think you are right I do owe him my life. I
’ll have to make it up to him. Maybe we can name our first boy after him.”

“How many children ar
e we planning on having? Well, I am not sure about Corbin but Aran has a nice ring.”

“Indeed it does and along those lines maybe we should go practice. What do you say?”

“Practice is always good and we have a lot of missed time to make up for.”

We practiced well past dinner time and if the truth be told
, if our growling stomachs hadn’t gotten so loud, we might not have stopped for dinner. We got up, showered, changed and I hopped a ride with my favorite dragon for a night on the town. There is nothing like leaving the grid lock of L.A. behind by flying right over it. We got our usual water front table in Malibu. It was dark enough to land on the beach and it was only two blocks to the restaurant. We enjoyed a wonderful meal and a few turns on the dance floor. When it was time to head for home, we walked along the beach until, I hopped on my dragon for our ride home.

Once we were in the air Traygen swung us out over the water and flew along the coast enjoying the moonlight shining off the water
’s surface. There were occasional dolphins and seals moving along the waves. It was magical and the waves shimmered with an almost iridescent sheen. By the time we returned home I was ready for bed. I guess the last few weeks had finally caught up with me. I didn’t move again until I awoke to the heavenly aromas of bacon frying and coffee brewing. I could get used to being spoiled in this grand manner. I got out of bed threw on my robe and headed to the kitchen.

“A girl could get used to this. That smells wonderful
,” I said as I hugged Traygen from behind and rested my forehead on his back.

“Th
is is the least I could do for all the hard tack you ate looking for me. Did you sleep well?”

“I did
, once I closed my eyes I was a sleep in minutes.
I think I got too much exercise before dinner and then our beautiful ride home made me sleepy. Thank you for that. You know how to treat a woman.”

“I try and I am glad you enjoyed it. So, what is on your schedule today?”

“I need to swing by the office and make sure everything is going well and see if Jake needs me to do anything. Then I have the final fitting for my gown. I have to get shoes and several outfits for before and after the wedding. I’ll also need to make a stop at the lingerie department to buy something for you.”

“For me? You know I don
’t need you to wear anything,” he offered with a wink.

“I might be able to change your mind on that.
Think of it as Christmas, you’ll have lots of presents to unwrap.”

“You might be onto something there. I have some appointments in town and then Corbin and I are getting our
tuxes. He has promised to help me find suitable attire for my pre and post wedding duties.”

“Then you are in good
hands, the boy knows how to dress. Tokem already has his tux and my uncle is bringing his. So are you getting nervous?”

He walked over to me and pulled me up from the table and into his arms. “Do I seem nervous to you. I have waited my whole life to marry you Lauren Simon. After this last ordeal
, I thought I had lost you forever. So, bring it on baby.”

“Good to know. Have you heard anything from your father and Trevor? How are arrangements going on their end?”

“I am afraid my father is going overboard. I believe the entire kingdom will be in attendance. When we get there next week we will have to learn all the etiquette and traditions. This is to be a royal wedding and trust me Kate and William will have nothing on us.”

“I have to admit it all sounds a little bit daunting
. Still, I would swim over there through shark invested waters to marry you my handsome prince. Come to think of it, I’ve already swum the sewers of The Paradise Islands for you, my love. Besides, I dreamed as a little girl of marrying Prince Charming. So, honey you have fulfilled my wildest dreams. Have you got time for a shower?” I asked as I called over my shoulder.

He was there before I could drop my ro
be. Gallantly turning on the shower and holding the door. I let him wash my hair and then soap up my body. He was very attentive and detail oriented. Just the way I like it. Then I took over. I scrubbed and rubbed every inch of my beloved. Needless to say we were squeaky clean and relaxed by the time we left the house.

I drove to my office and
as usual Jake was hard at work. He had been running things non-stop in my absence, which is why after all these years I told him about my life with the council. He assured me he suspected for some time that my frequent absences had more to do with my secret life than tourism conferences. I scanned through my mail, while I waited for him to get off the phone.

“Lauren, it is good to see you. How have you been? Congratulations on your engagement
. Have you set a date yet? Will the wedding be here or in Ireland? Details girl, out with it.”

“Jake the wedding is in ten days and it is in Ireland at the Castle of Carndonagh. Traygen has abdicated the thrown and we will be living in L.A. Traygen is buying
us a house and we will be spending time in L.A. and Ireland. You’re coming to the wedding aren’t you?”

“I wouldn
’t miss it for the world. I have everything up-to-date at the office and a temp to cover for me while I am gone.”

“That is wonderful and of course you will stay at the castle and fly over with us. My uncle has chartered a jet for the occasion. Would you like to bring
anyone?

“Lauren, Zach and I broke up about the time Traygen went missing. I am dateless and okay with it for now.”

“Maybe not, my bride’s man, Corbin, will be there and he is currently unattached. He has moved to L.A. from the Black Court and he will be working for the World Council with our team. He saved my life to many times to mention while I searched for Traygen. I wouldn’t be here today without him.”