Saved By Her Dragon (29 page)

“I can promise that his overbearing
tendencies will lessen the longer you are together, but they will
never completely go away, and if you or your children are in
danger, the beast within our Devon will roar and defend you all to
his dying breath. His dragon simply will not allow him to hang back
and think of your feelings or wishes–it will demand he act and do
so quickly.”

Anya’s musings were cut short by a knock at the door. There,
standing just outside her bedroom door were Sam and Sydney, holding
a large, light grey gift box bound with shimmering pearlescent
ribbon and beautiful matching bow. Syd danced on tippy toes and
squealed, “Happy Mating Day! We brought a present for you Anya and
you’re gonna love it!”

“Come on in. Let’s see what it is.”

She moved to the side while they entered, Sydney dancing all
the way to the bed, singing, “Anya’s getting mated” at the top of
her lungs to the tune of Ring Around the Rosie. Sam laid the box on
her bed and Sydney climbed up beside it, bouncing on her knees and
switching to an “Open it. Open it” chant. The child continued as
Anya carefully untied the bow, lifted the lid and then stood
speechless, completely overwhelmed by the gorgeous gossamer gown
delicately folded within. With shaking hands, she lifted the gift
card with her name perfectly scripted across the front. The world
around her slipped away as she read the words
inside…
Today we begin our lives together.
Now…always…forever, Devon.

Lifting the garment from the box, Anya marveled at the
attention to detail and the absolute beauty she held in her hands.
The fabric shimmered in the sunlight. The same sunlight that
highlighted the opalescent flames exquisitely embroidered in a
sporadic patterned the full length of the skirt. She spun towards
the full length mirror, holding the dress in front of her, stunned
at her reflection. It had thin, white satin straps, delicately sewn
into a sweetheart neckline with a corset type bodice she was sure
would show off her full bust to perfection.
Damn man truly thinks of everything.

The vision before her seemed unreal. There had never been a
time she could remember thinking of herself as pretty. Cute,
maybe…cleans up nice, probably…never pretty. But standing there
holding what would be her wedding dress, her makeup expertly done
and her hair in a loose twist secured with the combs that had been
her mom’s, wavy tendrils hanging loosely around her face and
cascading down her back, she felt truly beautiful.

“Anya, you look like a princess,” Sydney squealed behind
her.

“You are gorgeous, girl. Now, let’s get you
into that pretty frock and on your way to the ceremony. I know a
very nervous dragon that can’t wait to see you,” Sam agreed,
grinning.

Reality set in as Sam zipped her into her dress and wrapped
the thick pearlescent satin ribbon around her waist. It was as if
her life had been pulled from one of the books she’d read as a
child. She was the princess that had been saved by her knight in
shining armor. He had battled the forces of evil to bring her back
to life and they were going to live happily ever after. The only
difference was her knight was also the dragon, and that plot twist
was just fine with her.

One quick look in the mirror and a swipe of lip gloss was all
she had time for before Sydney announced, “Jace and Liam are
here.”

Walking down the hall, she accepted hugs and wishes from all
the girls. Siobhan had told her no one but the Elders, Devon’s
Force, Devon, and she were allowed at the mating ceremony but she
knew her friends were getting ready for the party following their
nuptials.

Just as Sydney had said, the younger Guardsmen stood right
outside the front door in full dress uniform. They looked like they
had stepped right out of a Knights of the Round Table movie, which
she guessed made sense based on their heritage. Black pants tucked
into the top of their polished knee-high black boots and a
long-sleeved black undershirt gave the perfect backdrop for the
shining white of their surcoats. She was amazed by the almost exact
match to the color of Devon’s dragon’s scales. The fabric even had
an opalescent glow in the waning light of the sun. Black and gold
braiding trimmed the top and sides, but it was the dragon in the
throes of battle embroidered on the front that made their uniforms
complete.

Both turned toward the walk when they saw her, putting their
arms out for her to grasp. Once she was settled between them, they
escorted her down the steps and toward three majestic Palominos,
not unlike the ones she had helped her pops train for most of her
life. Tears filled her eyes at the continued thoughtfulness of her
mate, and the stunning way flowers had been woven into each horse’s
mane and around the reins. Even the blankets under their saddles
matched the men’s surcoats.

The young men helped Anya onto the most decorated of the
horses and stood by while she got situated to ride side saddle
before climbing upon their own mounts. Their ride to the ceremony
took them through the woods behind Siobhan’s home and past the home
she would share with Devon. Each tree along their path was wrapped
with a twinkling white ribbon and a huge white bow holding a spray
of three large white Calla Lilies. It was one of the most striking
things she had ever seen.

As they exited the trees, another young man, also in dress
uniform, stood holding the largest bouquet of white roses she had
ever seen. Her horse slowed, as if the animal knew something she
didn’t, and then she heard the young Guardsman communicating with
her mount mind-to-mind. He approached with a huge smile, handed her
the flowers and bowed, before returning to his post. The card
attached read…
Only a few minutes and you
will be
mine …now… always… forever,
Devon.
She sat still for only a moment and
then she, Jace, and Liam continued on their way.

They circled a small lake and stopped at the base of the
mountain on the other side. Jace turned, and for the first time
during their journey spoke, “Devon said you were an expert rider, I
just want to make sure you can maneuver the trail to the first
ledge.”

Anya’s eyes followed his gesture to a narrow path carved into
the side of the rock and she nodded, “Not a problem. Lead the
way.”

Grinning, Jace turned forward in his saddle, made a clicking
noise with his mouth to signal the horses, and led the way up the
side of the mountain. The trip was slow but extraordinarily
beautiful. Not only was the natural scenery breathtaking, but large
white bows with white Calla Lilies that matched those from the path
were attached to vines and outcroppings sporadically along their
trek.

They stopped on a landing that led to the mouth of a huge
cave. Moving faster than her eyes could follow, Jace dismounted and
was at her side to help her down while Liam took the reins and kept
the horse still. Once her bare feet touched the white patterned
carpet strewn with red and white rose petals, the young Guardsmen
escorted her to the mouth of the cavern. Her hands slid from their
arms and Jace presented her with her bouquet. Once the flowers were
secure in her arm, he and Liam took their positions on either side
of the entrance.

She took a few steps and stopped, overcome by
the splendor of one of the most magnificent places
she had ever seen. The raw power of the cave spoke to Anya. She
listened with her heightened senses to the story it had to tell. It
was remarkable that the longer she spent with Devon and his clan,
the more acute normal everyday things like hearing,
became.

The
minerals, rocks, and gems embedded in the walls and ceiling
glittered and glimmered in the light of the many candles hanging in
sconces throughout the cave. There were huge stalactites hanging
from the ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor that seemed
to be standing guard, protecting the sanctity of a place she could
feel held great significance to the dragons, and therefore to her.
Following the white carpet, she made her way deeper into the cavern
and soon heard the sound of water flowing and gently splashing into
what she imagined to be a pool.

Only a
few feet ahead, Anya saw an entrance brightened by several
candelabras and knew it was where she was to go. Stepping over the
threshold, she saw the stream she had heard flowing down the wall,
the water tinkling like little bells as it made its way into the
lagoon covered with white water lilies. She looked around the
grotto at the huge white Grecian planters filled with bunches of
the enormous white roses and flowers from lily of the valley
plants. A raised platform stood to the side of the pool with four
chairs loosely resembling thrones upon it and a circle with an
archway strewn with white ribbons and flowers in the
center.

She
spotted a small white chair to the side of the platform, remembered
what Siobhan had told her, and walked to it. As soon as she was
seated the Elders Devon had introduced her to a few days ago
appeared on the platform, reminding her how quickly dragon shifters
could move, even the older ones. The Head Elder, Carrick, gave her
a nod while the others smiled serenely in her direction. A rustling
to the right drew her attention as the men of Devon’s Force filed
out, dressed to the nines in surcoats that she knew matched the
color of each man’s dragon.

Rayne
was at the head of the line, standing tall and proud in the reddest
of reds, looking every bit the Commander he was. Then came Royce,
whose beautiful royal blue surcoat with green accents truly fit the
man and the beast. Next, Aaron and Aidan, dressed in a silvery gray
that shined in the waning light, stood tall and dignified. Aaron
winked and grinned, making her giggle just a bit. Lance was at the
end of the line in a stunning golden surcoat that she had to
imagine depicted his beast perfectly.

The butterflies in her stomach were throwing a serious party
as silence filled the chamber and just when she was sure she would
faint, Devon appeared from the same direction the others had come.
He smiled from ear to ear, looked better than a man had a right to,
and winked when he took his place in front of the other Guardsmen.
Anya stood, placed her flowers on her chair and waited. Only the
sound of Devon’s voice in her head kept her from
hyperventilating…
You look absolutely
gorgeous
…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Devon
watched Anya across the chamber, both man and beast ready to have
her as theirs for all time. She looked like a goddess in the gown
he had commissioned. It fit her like a glove, accentuating all her
attributes and making his mouth water with the need to taste every
inch of her luscious body. He saw on her face and heard in her
thoughts how much she enjoyed all his preparations on her most
special of days. When he looked into her eyes, he felt the last
piece of the puzzle that was his life click into place. The
electricity that was always present when they were together snapped
to life and he watched her eyes widen in recognition of their
magical connection.

He held her eyes as he strode towards her, falling more in
love with every step. Stopping in front of her, the scent of sea
and sand filled his senses and wrapped around him, making his
dragon chuff loud and long in his head. Taking her hands in his, he
led Anya to the center of the Sacred Circle and watched as she held
her breath.
“Breathe
mo ghra’
, just breathe,”
he whispered into her mind and was rewarded a
stunning smile.

Carrick
cleared his throat and his voice rang out loud and clear through
the chamber. “Long ago, when knights and dragons fought side by
side for King and Country, it became apparent that dragon kin was
no longer safe from those that would expose and destroy them. They
sought to join with the knights that had fought so valiantly by
their sides for centuries. Thus, through magic, and the will of
both dragon and knight, the Golden Fire Clan of the Dragon Shifters
became a reality. It was through the joining of many different
clans that we have become the strong and powerful Clan we are
today.”

“We are
here at the Healing Caves, a place long blessed by our ancestors
that went before us, to honor what the Universe put into place all
those many years ago. To acknowledge and bless the mating of Devon
Reid Walsh to the one the Universe made for him, Anya Brynne
Sloane. Will those seeking to witness this union please step
forward?”

From
their place next to the Elders, the men his heart knew as brothers
stepped forward. These men had trained with him, fought with him,
bled with him, and now shared the happiest moment of his life. They
knelt as one, and bowed their heads. Rayne then stood, and
addressed the Elders, “We, the five of the MacLendon Force, wish to
witness and offer our blessing to the union of these two souls, two
halves of the same whole. May they live long, fight hard, love
harder, and produce many young to flourish in this world when their
souls have gone to the Heavens.” He knelt next to his men, and
bowed his head once again.

Carrick
began again, “Your witness and blessing have been acknowledged and
accepted MacLendon Force.” The Guardsmen stood and stepped back to
their original position.

Only the
sound of the water flowing into the grotto could be heard as he
stood staring into the eyes of his very own angel. Thoughts of her
body against his flooded his mind until he was sure no amount of
self-control would keep him from taking Anya in his arms and
running to their home.