Dragon's Fake Wedding Date (Dragons of Mount Atrox Book 3)

by Riley Storm

  “You’ll never have her,” he whispered, seeing a light flicker deep in the vampire’s eyes. “She’s mine.”

  This time he wasn’t talking about Karen. He was talking about Gayle. About his mate.

  “I love her,” he rumbled, and then he inhaled deeply.

  The vampire’s eyes shot open.

  Rann smiled and opened his mouth wide.

  Flames burst from his mouth in a howling stream. The bright blue-white flames bit deep into the vampire’s chest. Clothing vanished in a burst of ash, and still Rann poured fire into his foe.

  The creature shrieked and howled in pain. Rann flicked his wrists and abruptly reversed the grip. Now it was him holding the vampire’s arms out wide. Getting one leg under him, he rose to his feet while simultaneously driving the vampire back and down.

  Flames still billowed forth—until they burnt right through the vampire’s tough skin and burst through the far side. Rann closed his mouth and stumbled away.

  Breathing fire that hot was exhausting, and he gasped for air, sucking down huge lungfuls of it as fast as he could.

  “Gayle!” he bellowed as soon as he had the lung capacity for it. His voice was so loud, it shook dust down from the rafters. “Gayle!”

  He stumbled for the exit, leaving the smoking corpses of three vampires in his wake. There might still be one more. Until he could verify for himself that she was safe, Rann couldn’t stop. Couldn’t let his guard down.

  “Gayle!” he shouted, reaching the front doors and flinging them open, uncaring about what might be on the other side.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Gayle

  She waited fearfully in the parking lot, listening to the sounds of fighting within the church.

  Most of the guests had made it outside, many of them opting to get in their cars and flee. In the distance, she could hear the sounds of police sirens, but they would get there far too late.

  If they can even do any good.

  Gayle tried to steady her shaking hands. Rann was still in there with those creatures. She assumed they were vampires, but she’d not had time to stop and confirm. The instant Rann had told her to get out, she’d run for the exit. It felt cowardly, but what was she as a simple human supposed to do against creatures that could take on a dragon?

  “You had better be okay in there, mister,” she whispered to herself.

  She hated the waiting. It was like the night he’d gone out hunting them, but worse. This time he’d found them, and he was alone. It was just Rann against however many had shown up.

  The front doors burst open.

  “Gayle!” a figure shouted.

  “Rann?” she half-shrieked, hating the panicked sound of her voice.

  Green eyes oriented on her, and she leapt from the cover of the sports car and raced across the parking lot even as Rann came down the stairs.

  “Are you okay?” he asked as she leapt into his arms. He caught and held her like she was nothing but a football.

  “Fine, I’m fine,” she said, struggling out of his grip. “What about you? Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Do you need any help?”

  “I’ll be okay,” he said, then looked down at himself. “Though the same can’t be said for this suit. That’s twice now I’ve ruined them. You’d think I would learn.”

  She giggled. “Maybe it’s a sign that you just aren’t meant to wear suits.”

  “If I only I could be that lucky,” he rumbled, his chest rising and falling with swift breaths.

  “You’re sure you’re okay?” she asked.

  “Yes. I’m okay. The vampires are dead. The groom is going to need medical attention, but he’s alive. The bride will probably need therapy, but she’s physically unharmed. They didn’t get anyone.”

  “Oh thank god,” Gayle breathed, pressing her head against his chest, feeling the thundering of his heart. “You got them all?”

  Rann was silent.

  “Rann? You got them, right? They’re gone?”

  “I killed all the ones that showed up tonight,” he said quietly. “Including one of the originals.”

  Gayle tensed. “But?”

  “But there are still two out there that weren’t here,” he said. “And something weird happened with the original. He was turning feral. Like he hadn’t fed.”

  “What does that mean?” she asked, confused.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I don’t like it. We should go.”

  “Okay,” she said, clutching him tight. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was so worried when you were in there. I…I didn’t want to lose you.”

  Rann grabbed both her hands. “You didn’t lose me,” he said softly. “You’ll never lose me. You know why?”

  “Why?” she asked nervously.

  “Because, Gayle,” he said, looking her straight in the eye, his green orbs full of serene calm and belief. “I love you.”

  She physically shivered as he spoke the words.

  “I love you too,” she repeated and jerked in surprise to hear herself say that.

  Rann frowned. “Are you serious?”

  Gayle looked down. She’d not meant to say that…had she? It was too soon wasn’t it? They’d only met two weeks ago. She couldn’t possibly be in love with him. And yet…

  Her heart beat happily, and her soul felt…full.

  “I love you, Rann Atrox,” she repeated, the words coming easy this time. “This is insane! I only just met you. But I do…I really do.”

  Rann spun her around happily. “You are my world, and I know this is quick, but I couldn’t imagine being in the fast lane with anyone but you.”

  “This was the worst possible time for life to send me someone new,” she said, voicing her thoughts out loud. “And yet, fate seems to have sent me just what I needed most, when I was at my lowest.”

  It was true. Rann was her support, her strength. He was someone who wanted the best for her, and wanted her, regardless of everything. He’d been there as a friend, as a lover, and as a confidant. Someone she could turn to, to talk about quitting her job or to hold her when she was scared.

  She loved him.

  Gayle didn’t have any doubts about him, about them.

  Not anymore.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Gayle

  A week later, and nothing had changed.

  She was still floating on cloud nine, incredibly in love and happy with the world. Everything was going perfectly.

  For me at least.

  Not that Gayle cared all that much, but there was a tiny part of her that still wished happiness to Karen and Mikey. She didn’t indulge it much but assumed it was the part of her that claimed to generally be a ‘decent human being’.

  In the aftermath of the attack on the church, the wedding had been postponed. Mikey had gone to the hospital with a broken jaw but was otherwise okay. Karen, as far as Gayle knew, was fine. Though she wasn’t making any real inquiries into her former friend’s life.

  Why should she, after all, when the woman clearly didn’t care about Gayle. It was just easier to go their separate directions, to do their own thing, and let life go on. Gayle harbored no ill will. How could she, when everything that the pair had done to her had led her to find Rann. If anything, she should thank them, but Gayle wasn’t that mature. Or immature. She still couldn’t quite figure out which term applied.

  She’d been staying with Rann in town ever since the incident. That, she supposed, was a change, but it was a positive one, for the most part. Life with Rann was grand. She just loved being around him, being near him, and having him in her life. He treated her fantastically, and she doubted she’d ever been happier.

  It was different, being mated to a dragon.

  Even that term was something she was still coming to grips with. A mate. It wasn’t something humans usually used to describe their significant others, and yet with Rann it fit perfectly. It just felt right to call him that. Not that she had issues if other people called him her bo
yfriend, but he was so much more than that.

  Husband would be a closer term, but they weren’t married, so it didn’t apply. Besides, she liked the word mate. It had a completely different ring to it than husband did.

  She had to be wary now, and her nights were spent in. The vampires were aware of her and who she was, and until Rann’s team tracked down the remaining ones and purged them from the earth, it wouldn’t be completely safe for her to be out at night.

  In a few more days, they were going to move up the mountain for the foreseeable future. Up there in the Atrox clan compound, she would be safe. The stronghold of his clan was impenetrable to the vampires, and she could enjoy the night sky once more.

  They just had to finish packing up some of the stuff she would be moving in with her, and then they could go.

  Until then, however, they had to eat, and that’s where she was off to. Rann ate way more food than any human she’d ever encountered, and it was almost a chore to keep them stocked with food. Almost.

  She walked into the grocery store, reusable bags in hand, and dumped them in a cart.

  “Gayle? Gayle is that you?”

  Did I conjure her up by thinking of her or something?

  Plastering a fake smile to her face, Gayle turned. “Hello, Karen.”

  The other woman faltered at the cool tone.

  “I thought that was you,” she said. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you since the wedding…”

  Gayle smiled. “I’m wonderful Karen, thank you. How are you two doing?”

  Someone else wandered into her field of view, and Gayle tilted her head in greeting at Mikey. His jaw was swollen still, and she wondered just how badly it had been broken.

  “‘I,” he said, unable to pronounce the ‘h’, making it more like a grunt than anything.

  “We’re good,” Karen said. “We’re really good.”

  “I’m glad to hear it,” Gayle said.

  “You never called. I wasn’t sure how you were,” Karen said. “I tried calling everyone after to make sure they were okay, but you didn’t pick up or call me back.”

  Gayle’s face softened. “That’s because we’re not friends anymore, Karen. I wish you the best with your life with Mikey, but I’ve found what I need with my real friends and people who truly care about me.”

  Karen gasped.

  “They treat me well and don’t sleep around behind my back,” Gayle said, still smiling. “I truly wish you happiness with him. I harbor no ill will, because despite the absolutely staggering level of terribleness of what you did, you led me to a much better place. But I want nothing to do with you anymore. Goodbye Karen. Goodbye Michael.”

  She grabbed her cart and pushed her way into the store, leaving the pair staring at her slack-jawed behind her.

  “Why didn’t you say anything?” she heard Karen hiss.

  “‘ateva,” Mikey said dismissively.

  Karen said some more, but Gayle tuned it out. She’d heard that bickering before. She knew it wasn’t healthy, and she was so glad to be out of the friendship and relationship that had brought it into her life.

  Those two were perfect for one another, and she was glad to wash her hands of them.

  Best of luck, she thought, and then started whistling to herself.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Rann

  The sudden eruption of stomping feet and shrieks from the living room propelled Rann out of bed.

  He was into the living room, flames bursting from his fists, before his brain clued in that the noises he was hearing were happy shouts.

  Gayle paused, her fists in the air, as she stared at him. Her eyes locked on his then very slowly dragged down his body and back up.

  “Well, this day just keeps getting better and better,” she said, her mouth curving up in a wicked smile as she took in his nakedness.

  “Everything is okay then, I take it?” he rumbled, ignoring her crude look and remark.

  “Yes, yes, everything is fine,” Gayle said with a laugh. “It’s better than fine, actually.”

  “Is that another jab at the fact I’m naked?” he said.

  “And have morning wood,” she added, bouncing her eyebrows.

  “You are in a good mood,” he said, feeling his own emotions rise to match hers, burning away the last of the sleep fog.

  “Of course I am! I just got the job.”

  Rann stared at her blankly. Maybe the fog wasn’t quite gone yet.

  “Huh?” he said eventually. “I don’t get it.”

  Gayle sighed, shaking her head. “The job with Balance the Scales. I get to work there on the regular now. Every day.”

  Rann dropped his fists and beamed at his mate. “That’s wonderful! I’m so proud of you my darling. So very proud.”

  He hurried over to her and lifted her high into the air in a hug, spinning in slow circles. “Oh, I’m so proud.”

  “Thank you,” she said from where her face was buried in the crook of his neck. “I’m so excited.”

  “You deserve it,” he said, squeezing her tight. “You’ll be the perfect fit there. They could use someone as giving and generous as you, not to mention having a full set of brains as well.”

  “Flatterer,” she giggled, but her arms tightened a little further around him. “Thank you for being my biggest supporter.”

  “Is that a penis joke?” he teased.

  Gayle laughed. “You know what I meant,” she protested, gently slapping him on the back.

  “I don’t get it,” he fake complained. “Thirty seconds ago, you were looking me up and down like I was good for nothing else. Now I’m just what? A hug-support-stand?”

  Gayle laughed. He basked in the sound. It was something he could never hear too much of. Ever. He wanted to hear it every day. All the time, even if he knew it wasn’t feasible.

  “You’re the best,” Gayle said, slipping back down until her toes touched the floor. “Seriously. Thank you for being so supportive.”

  “Anytime,” he grinned. “However, I must admit, I may have to cash in all the goodwill I’ve built up from it.”

  Gayle stepped back from him, her expression turning wary. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, eyes narrowed to little more than slits.

  “It means that, if you’re willing, of course, I need something from you.”

  Gayle smirked. “I mean, I feel like I should be the one getting special treatment. But I don’t really mind.”

  She started to slip to her knees, and Rann realized he’d been completely and thoroughly misinterpreted.

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this,” he said, bending down and lifting Gayle back to her feet. “But not right now. That’s not what I meant.”

  Gayle slowly licked her lips. “Are you sure, ‘cause…”

  “Do not listen to that. It has a mind of its own,” he said. “I, however, am Rann, fire dragon extraordinaire, and I am in charge here.”

  His mate arched her eyebrows at him.

  “Most of the time,” he added.

  She nodded. “Better.”

  He snorted but otherwise did not acknowledge the comment.

  “I’m serious,” he said. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

  Gayle cocked her head to the side. She must have noticed that he was being earnest because she then nodded and sobered quickly. “Of course, Rann. What is it? You can ask me anything, you know.”

  He nodded, then frowned. “Wait, I’m forgetting something.”

  Without waiting he darted back into the bedroom, rummaging around in his clothing until he found what he was looking for.

  “I see it wasn’t clothes,” Gayle observed.

  Rann grinned. “We’ll have plenty of time to pick out something appropriate, I think.”

  Gayle’s smirk dissolved into confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, our whole relationship sort of started on the idea that I would be your fake date to a wedding of people I didn’t even
know, right?”

  Gayle nodded. “Sort of correct, I guess, yeah.”

  “Right. Well, I need your help on something similar now,” he said, fumbling around behind his back until he got the object oriented the way he wanted.

  “You do?” Gayle frowned. “With what?”

  “I was wondering,” he said, hating the way his nerves made his voice catch in his throat. “If you would be my real date to a wedding.”

  “Of course,” Gayle said with a laugh. “You know I will. Who’s getting married?”

  Rann hadn’t actually expected his plan to work, but it had. She’d followed his mental script to perfection.

  He dropped to one knee and pulled out the small silver box from behind his back, flipping open the top of it.

  “If you’ll have me, Gayle Anne Weber,” he said softly. “We are.”

  “Oh, Rann,” she whispered softly, tears glistening in her eyes. “Yes, yes, of course I’ll marry you!”

  ***

  ***

  Thank you for reading Dragon’s Fake Wedding Date. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review so that others might enjoy the adventure as well.

  Next Book: Dragon’s Devotion (Dragon’s of Mount Atrox #4)

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  Other Books by Riley Storm

  Thanks for checking out my other books!

  Below you can find all my novels, divided up by series. The brackets indicate which of my worlds the series is written in. So dig in!

  Dragons of Mount Atrox (Five Peaks #4)

  Dragon’s True Mate

  Dragons’ Second Chance Romance

  Dragon’s Fake Wedding Date

  Dragon’s Devotion (January 2020)

  Dragons of Mount Valen (Five Peaks #3)

  Her Dragon Guardian

  Her Dragon Lord

  Her Dragon Soulmate

  Her Dragon Outcast

  Dragons of Mount Teres (Five Peaks #2)

  In a Dragon’s Mind

  In a Dragon’s Heart

  In a Dragon’s Dream