by Sariah Skye
My mother let out a peal of laughter. “I guess so! Chances are good if you turned on one of these shows or movies—” she pointed at the nearest poster, the one depicting the cast of The Breakfast Club, “—you wouldn’t remember a single line from them!”
I covered my face with my hands, groaning; not sure whether I should cry or laugh. “Oh my god, that’s unreal!”
“We needed to give you a little bit of enjoyment, at least!” She insisted. I let my hand fall to the bed and we exchanged a humored look and burst out laughing.
It was odd, sitting here in my room with my mother, conversing civilly as it always should have been. I wasn't sure if I'd ever get over the sting of their rejection—and I of course have no idea what my father is thinking but, to at least hear an apology from my mother... Well, it meant the world.
Our joviality subsided, as I processed the levity of what she was admitting. “Must have been a lot of spells cast on a lot of people to keep this jig up,” I speculated. “Even Grandfather wasn't immune.”
“No, and because he's silver, his magic is strong anyway... He took a lot of work to forget. That's why we could never get him to act like a jackass around you either,” she said. “And, good thing too—at least you had someone in your corner that you knew of. Even though we all really were all along.”
I felt myself blush slightly at her praise. “But... Why? Why me? Why couldn't you just let me die, like all the others?”
She shook her head severely. “I just couldn't. I knew from Aleron—err, your grandfather—that Cyril wasn't all that bad. I'd heard the stories, the great things he did before he went mad. I just couldn't believe it that it was inherent that you turned out bad. It wasn't fair to automatically assume that you would. And I'm sorry, but... I'm a mother. Not a murderer! I couldn't kill my own child! I didn’t want to end the pregnancy, either. Your father was terrified, but he agreed; it was fair to let you live your own life. If something happened, we’d be the ones to deal with you—humanely.”
My lower lip quivered. “I'm sorry you were faced with that.”
“Seriously, your heart is too big for your own good,” she said, patting my knee. “I don't expect—don’t deserve forgiveness. But now that you know, from here on out I'm hoping we can just be... friends?”
I smiled. “Yeah. I'd like that.”
She returned the smile. “Oh. That reminds me why I'm here. Well, why else I'm here,” She stood, thrusting her hands into one of her large pockets and pulled out a silver, circular object and handed it to me. I gently took the fragile item and looked over it fondly, realizing what it was.
“This—this was yours,” I said, delicately fingering the silver circlet my mother wore to her own Bonding ceremony with my father. I always admired it in their portrait in the hallway to their chambers. It was meant to go around the head, not rest on top. It had two lines that swooped and swerved in delicate Celtic knotwork, coming to a point in the front. A sparkling stone—I assumed some sort of crystal—hung from it and brilliantly caught the light and sparkled on the wall nearby; it sat over the eyes, between the brows. Several small chains hung from the sides with a handful of smaller crystals of the same kind. “This is... beautiful.”
“They're diamonds, you know. I had it crafted specially for the day,” she said, remembering fondly.
“Really? Diamonds?” I fingered the hanging stone gently. It was awfully big for a diamond—bigger than I'd ever seen. “Must have been a very talented green dragon that found these.”
She nodded. “Indeed; he was known for all his metal work. A friend of your father's, not quite the caliber of Maxxus but, still quite good. He left for Zyanhei years ago, long before you were born.” She spoke, staring off beside me distantly as if remembering some fond memory. “Anyway,” she said, snapping herself back to life. “I'll tell you all about that someday. I know that you'd probably rather have your own piece, but, since it's short notice and all”
I cut her off. “I love it. It's beautiful... thank you.”
She held out her hand before me, and asked, “May I?” I set the circlet in her hand and she stood, leaning over, gingerly placing it on my head, knocking several of Kiarra's pins out.
“Oops. She's going to kill me for that,” she said, with a chuckle when it was finally in place. She stood back and admired it. I felt the cold metal and diamond rest against my skin. I reached up to touch it. “It's amazing.” I didn't have to see it in a mirror to know it was.
She wrinkled her nose, pulling out another couple of pins and tossing them on the bed. “You don't need all this mess anyway.”
I beamed up at her widely. “Thank you... For this and... Well...” I couldn't finish my statement. I raised myself to a kneel and wrapped my arms around her neck.
She returned the hug and patted the back of my neck affectionately, smoothing out the hair she had ruffled in our sob fest.
“Your father wanted to speak to you, but he is being checked out right now in the infirmary again. He’ll try to be there tonight, but, he’s so relieved, that…” she trailed off. “You saved him, with your shield. The Loremaster said he’d be long dead if you hadn’t. Thank you, Leorah.”
I beamed up at her. I tried to think of something profound to say to her words, but all that came out was a “You’re welcome.”
“I knew it. You ruined my work.” Kiarra stood in the doorway, with mock scorn. Her hands were on her hips as she clicked her tongue.
I rolled my eyes and my mother and I separated. “I'll let you prepare. I have some work to do anyhow to get... get ready.” Her voice shook. “Gods, I can't believe you're really being bonded.”
I snorted. “Neither can I.”
“Do you... Do you love him? Truly?” She asked me, with concern.
I felt my heart skip a beat at the question. I knew without a doubt I did. “I do.” I nodded earnestly.
“Because if you don't, we can forget this whole thing, we—”
“It's fine. I do. I love him very much. It will be fine.” I said, trying to convince myself more than her. “This is just...Surprising. Not the ideal way but, hey.”
She nodded in understanding. “Okay. Well...I shall leave you to it.” She touched each of us on the upper arm and smiled. She continued to grin as she left the room, carefully closing the door behind her.
Kiarra crossed her arms over her chest. “I see I need to start over again. What I was doing won't work with that.” She pointed at my mother's headpiece. “This is better, though.”
“Where's the dress?” I asked, noticing her empty arms.
“Oh, your grandfather is bringing it. Or, someone is, I don't know. It's...Hidden or something.” She rolled her eyes. “Silly secretive dragons.”
I grumbled, stubbornly crossing my arms over my chest. I didn't want to speak to him, right now. The least he could have done was mentioned this earlier, and at least Gabriel and I would have known where we stood with each other from the beginning.
Kiarra patted my shoulder comfortingly. “Finnian will get this sorted out for you; you'll see. I know you care about Gabriel and, spell or not, probably always will. But, watching you and Maxxus together, seeing how he looks at you adoringly and when you allow yourself to return it,” she sighed dreamily. “I see the love. Maybe this is how it was supposed to be.”
I couldn't argue with her, and thankfully didn't have to (not just because I didn't think I could argue with her; she was right), because another knock sounded at the door.
Kiarra threw up her hands in exasperation as Maxxus peeked his head in.
“Maxxus!!” Kiarra scolded, storming to the door and trying to push the large dragon out.
Maxxus growled. I smelled the faint smell of Earth as the door came whipping open, his arm in a wide sweeping gesture across himself and I knew he had used his dragon magic to open the door. “We don’t subscribe to silly human superstitions; we’re dragons! And I am coming in!” His other arm produced a long swath of pink fabric draped o
ver his arm. “Besides, I have the dress.”
Kiarra just shook her head. “Fine. I'll just go get myself ready and leave you to it.” She offered us a scowl each as she stubbornly stuck her tongue out at us before stalking out of the room.
I shook my head after her. “Brat.”
He chuckled. “The queen wanted me to give this to you. Apparently, someone in Castle Danger had already had the notion to make this pink dress so—Finnian brought it today when he came to tend to the queen.”
He handed it to me and I smiled fondly. “Hildie. Or maybe Becka.”
Maxxus nodded and I set the dress carefully on the bed. It was a beautiful, muted pink—the same color as me, but lighter. It was off the shoulder, dipping down into a sweetheart neckline with intricate green embroidery around the edge. Another strip of thick, green embroidery cinched at the waistline and gathered together to drape out in a single satin strip down the front. The sleeves were narrow at the top and tapered to a wide bell shape and the fabric was a delicious velour texture.
“It's beautiful,” I said in admiration. I smiled nervously, purposely avoiding Maxxus' inquisitive stare.
“Leo...Are you okay with this? I mean, we don't have to do this part, you know,” he offered.
I shook my head. “No, The queen is right. It's the best way to form a front of solidarity.”
Maxxus cupped either side of my face with his hands and gently urged me to look at him. “I know this isn't the way you wanted things to happen, and I'll understand if you only want this to be a, um...Bonding on paper only. I won't hold you to anything.”
I reluctantly allowed myself to gaze into his twinkling, ocean blue eyes. I snaked an arm up and around his neck and stroked at the ginger curls that rested along his neckline affectionately.
Slowly, Maxxus pulled us together, gently brushing his lips over mine. Instantly, I felt the butterflies flutter deep in my stomach, sending a warm sensation up my spine. Before I knew it, I pulled him closer, crushing my body against his and deepening the kiss. I knew right then, seeing the love Kiarra mentioned in his eyes, for me and the way I reacted to him involuntarily, that, this was definitely no spell. I loved him. I did not want this to be on paper only. There was no way I could handle that, or wanted to.
Feeling woozy, after a few moments I finally, slowly pulled away. He slowly opened his hooded eyes and let out a low whistle. “Okay, then,” was all he said.
I put my fingertips to my swollen, bottom lip and grinned. “Sorry. Not sure where that came from.” Actually, I did. During the despair and confusion over all this time, a certain dragon was getting somewhat restless...If you catch my meaning. Two sexy men and refusing to be with either of them?
Again, what the fuck was wrong with me?
“I'm not going to argue,” Maxxus said, with a wide, flirtatious smile. He reached down brought my hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss. “I do love you, you know.”
My heart skipped a bit. “And, I you.”
A loud chiming sound rang out from somewhere in the house, six times, from the grandfather clock that sat in the hallway, between my and my grandfather's chambers. It was now six o'clock in the evening and the Bonding was set for an hour from now. Bondings, unlike human weddings were held at night, usually around moonrise since it was claimed that's when the energy around Anarach and all the surrounding areas was the strongest; helping strengthen the bond between the couple.
Maxxus gently set my hand back in my lap as he rose. “Well. I need to dress myself; I'll leave you to it.”
As he stood before me, I allowed my gaze to travel over his tall, lean body. He wore green robes, but they fastened at his neck and trailed down his sides, remaining open, exposing his tight, black athletic tee and low-rise black pants. I smiled at the corner of my mouth and raised a brow. “Looks all right from here.”
Maxxus looked down at himself and chuckled. “Ugh. Daniel's clothing.”
I looked at him appreciatively. “It suits you.”
He shook his head with a laugh. He leaned over quickly and nuzzled his rough cheek against mine, before kissing me softly on my cheekbone. “I'll see you shortly, milady.” He spun, causing the drape of his robes to snap at the ends slightly as he casually sauntered out of the room, offering a playful wave before he finally disappeared.
I heaved a sigh and flung myself backward on my bed, enjoying the feeling of warm “fuzzies” tingling my insides and extremities. “I can't even...” I said, breathlessly, putting my palm to my forehead in a Hollywood-style swoon.
“Leo! We have less than an hour!” Kiarra came in and huffed. I sat upright quickly, cringing under her scrutinizing stare. In a flurry of hair product and curling appliances, she grumbled in dismay as she got to work on my hair once again; insisting that she'd blast the next person to interrupt us in the face with a torrent of water. And, as ticked as she was, I didn't deny she would do it for a second.
The Bonding Ceremony was to be held in our courtyard area amidst the rose gardens. Generally, these ceremonies were private in the dragon world and generally only a handful of the most important loved ones and friends to those becoming Bonded were in attendance and this one was no different though, it would be a large turnout by dragon standards.
A metal arch was placed in the center of the courtyard, strategically placed between the two wooden benches. Long vines of flowered ivy were woven in and out of its intricate, Celtic knotwork pattern, and two panels of gauzy white fabric draped from the back, billowing gently in the early evening breeze. The moon—which appeared larger here, in Anarach—hung heavy in the brilliant, starry sky. Off to the East, you could see the purple, pink and blue of one arm of the Milky Way coming into focus.
The green grass was littered with rose petals, adding to the beauty of the scene and several candles were in tall holders surrounding the perimeter, just waiting for a red or orange fire-wielding drake (or, multi-magic-Ed freak pink dragon) to light them. A small, white column containing a simple golden chalice rested on the flat surface, surrounded by two green and pink woven cords that would be used in the handfasting.
There was no fancy, attention-grabbing entrance in dragon weddings as there was in human ones. Everyone simply took their spots.
There had to be one witness for each of the Bonded standing nearby; for me, I used my brother as he'd been the one there for me the most and since Maxxus had no one else, my grandfather stood behind him, acting as a witness for the green dragon. The queen stood in the center of the arch as she was the one performing the ceremony—a huge and rare honor in dragon culture to have a member of the Monarchy officiate; normally it was an Elder or a Prelate. She wore simple blue robes again, this time with silver embroidery along the seams, reaching up to a wide hood that rested atop her head and shoulders; her black hair swooped back and tucked inside the cloak for the time being.
The benches contained everyone else, minus Finnian which was odd because Valessia said he would be here for the ceremony: Gabriel, Daniel, and Kiarra on the one nearest me. My mother and father on the opposite one. I was still surprised to see my father in attendance knowing just how bad off he had been. Mother insisted he wouldn't miss it for anything. You could see a certain relaxed air about him; his shoulders no longer had a tension they always carried; he was relieved that the secret was out. And, even though his appearance was pale even despite his shock of red hair; circles of tired blue rimmed his bright green eyes, he wore a wide smile as he clutched my mother's hand for strength and comfort. He struggled with the Shadows, you could tell, and the guilt of shunning me all those years was exacerbating their hold on him. Yet, he still beamed at me when I took my place under the arch, only inches away from my dragon husband-to-be. I guess I finally knew how he felt, after all.
I was breathless as my heart slammed rapidly against my ribcage upon seeing him. He was absolutely beautiful, dressed in a loose, white shirt that tucked into a pair of dark brown linen pants, tucked neatly into black, flat boots. The sleeves we
re wide and gathered at his wrists and the neckline was open and pulled away from his chest, exposing the slightest hint of pectoral definition and hair. His shoulders were draped in heavy velvet, emerald green robes that cascaded down his back and trailed slightly behind him. I dared to look into his handsome face and felt more stunned at his appearance than I ever had before. He'd shaved, leaving only a small goatee surrounding his mouth and chin which only seemed to further accentuate his magnetic smile; his sky blue eyes were aflame with anticipation. He wore a thick, silver circlet around his head with similar Celtic knotwork as I had on mine, but, it was more solid and masculine. A large green stone set in the middle, just above his eyebrows. His ginger hair which, ironically, was longer than mine right has now been in its usual wave, but slicked back to accentuate his high cheekbones and leave the circlet on display.
I swear his breath caught in his chest as I stood before him. I glanced down at my dress; Hildie was just amazing in her craftsmanship. It fit like a glove, sitting center at my waist, cinching in the correct spot to make me appear even curvier than I was; the bodice was comfortable and allowed for breath but gathered my breasts together and smashed them up slightly and offered support. I wore no jewelry, but the pink stone that Esmè had given me that day at the market; it was long and rested at the cleavage. My arms rested nervously at their sides, mostly hidden by the wide bell sleeves that trailed down the skirt; and the skirt trailed out behind me several inches in a dramatic train.
After all that fussing, Kiarra hadn't bothered much with my hair. She simply twisted it around the curling iron over and over and allowed it to fall where it would as she placed the dainty circlet around my head. Dragons didn't wear veils but she had placed strategically with several small moss roses around my head. I had to admit, even I felt like a Goddess.
The queen stood before us and held her arms open, signaling that the ceremony was to begin. I heard a sniffle from the spectators and peered over to see Kiarra, snuggled between the two brothers, her lip shaking as she fought back tears.