Tangled in Tinsel

by Julia Mills

  Grabbing the phone from her hand, Lizzie snapped, “Oh, hell no. You’re not playing matchmaker. You’ve got enough on your plate. Just leave my love life, or the lack thereof, to me. Got it?”

  The witch leveled her gaze and narrowed her eyes, making Belle squirm in her seat.

  “I’m not gonna stop staring until you agree and swear on your Fairy Honor.” Lizzie crossed her arms over her chest for emphasis.

  “Oh, great Goddess in the sky. I swear. Okay? Happy?” Belle conceded, getting to her feet, only to be pulled back down when Lizzie grabbed her wrist.

  “Swear it on your honor, or there’s gonna be one really pissed off dragon when you don’t show up for your mating ceremony.”

  “You wouldn’t…would you?”

  “In a New York minute and you know it. Now swear.”

  “Okay, okay, geesh, I swear on my Fairy Honor that I will not meddle in your love life.” She raised her eyebrow and waited, adding under her breath, “Today.”

  “Alright,” Lizzie reluctantly agreed, letting go of Belle’s wrist and grinning, “Thanks. Now, let’s get you ready. You don’t want to be late to your own ceremony.”

  Pushing all thoughts of anyone’s romance but hers own with Chance, Belle hopped off the bed and began getting ready, chatting away as she fixed her hair and applied her makeup.

  “I am so glad Kris and Jessica made up. Could you imagine Christmas without Santa and Mrs. Claus? Talk about tragic.”

  “Yeah,” Lizzie answered dreamily. “It was so romantic how he whisked her away in his sleigh.” Getting up and helping Belle with the curls at the nape of her neck, the witch went on, “I’m so glad all the reindeer were okay.” Laughing out loud, she added, “I will never forget the way Dancer kicked Ellis right in the family jewels. Suffice it to say, reindeer always get the last word.”

  “Yeah, well, only because he beat me to it. It wasn’t enough that they kidnapped us and left us hanging upside-down like sides of beef, but then we had to wait three hours for them to fall back to earth,” the Christmas Fairy huffed. “And the whole time Candy and Ginger sat between Chance and I so we couldn’t even hold hands.”

  “Oh, poor Belle,” Lizzie faked a pout. “But it was your own fault. Did you have any idea what you were doing when you threw your fairy dust into Chance’s dragon fire?”

  Slowly shaking her head, careful not to mess up her hair, the Christmas Fairy admitted, “Not even a clue. I just knew there was no way I was gonna let Ellis and Crazy Cordelia get away.”

  “You never were one to follow the rules.”

  “Nope,” Belle snickered. “So, why start now. The gruesome twosome are locked up in Tipperary, aka the Fairy Queen’s dungeon, and I’m going to be mate to the sexiest man alive at the stroke of midnight.” Turning in her seat, she looked up at her best friend, “All’s well that ends well, wouldn’t ya’ say?”

  “Yes, yes, and yes,” Lizzie nodded, biting the corner of her mouth before asking, “But do you love him, Belle?”

  “Oh yeah, and then some,” the Christmas Fairy blurted out without a second thought, just letting her heart do the talking. “I never knew it would be like this. I mean Granny always told me about finding my mate. She said it would be like a bolt of lightning to the soul, but I never really believed her. Ya’ know she was always one petal short of a whole daisy.” Taking Lizzie’s hand, she continued, “But in this case, she was right.” Laying her free hand over her heart, the fairy added, “I can feel it to the bottom of my heart and soul, in e very fiber of my being. I was made to love Chance, just like he was made to love me.”

  Smiling sweetly, Lizzie leaned down and wrapped Belle in a hug the fairy hadn’t expected. “I am so freakin’ happy for you. I can see it in your eyes every time you say his name, you really do love that dastardly dragon.”

  “I sure do.”

  Leaning back from Lizzie’s embrace just as Ginger and Candy burst into the room, Belle looked into the mirror one last time, only half listening as the gnomes prattled on and on.

  “Remember to be safe,” Ginger reminded.

  “Fly straight to Lullymore. No detours, Girlie,” Candy repeated for at least the tenth time. “And no dilly-dallying. There’ll be time for dat after yer properly mated.” Coming up beside Belle and patting her knee, the gnome added, “I mean it, my girl. Donnae keep the Fairy Queen awaitin’ or they’ll be fire and brimstone to pay.”

  “And you’ll no be mated with the blessing of da’ Goddess,” Ginger interjected, coming up on her other side and patting her arm.

  “I know,” she smiled at them both. “I’ll do as you say. I promise.”

  “Well, that’ll be the first time ye e’er listened,” the gnomes teased in unison.

  Laughing and talking, Candy, Ginger, and Lizzie left the room with Belle bringing up the rear. Stepping off the bottom step, she heard nine chimes of the antique grandfather clock in the library. Fluffing her hair and straightening her red gossamer skirt and satin sash, she turned to her very best friends in all the world, the people she called family, and nodded, “This is it. I have to go meet Chance in the valley.”

  Swallowing past the lump in her throat, the Christmas Fairy rushed forward, knelt down and pulled Candy and Ginger into a hug. “Thank you for everything. I wouldn’t be the fairy I am today had it not been for you two. I love you guys.”

  “And we love ye like ye were our own,” Ginger sniffed, barely holding back her tears while her sister could only smile and nod.

  Standing, Belle turned to Lizzie, who practically fell into her arms, gushing, “Be happy, kiddo. I mean it.” Leaning back, the witch added with a wink, “And don’t forget to tell that dragon of yours about ‘Thirsty Thursdays’. He may be your mate, but I knew you first and I still get to hang out with you.”

  “You know it,” Belle quickly agreed. “And ya’ know I love ya bunches and oodles.”

  “And I love ya’ right back.”

  Stepping back, Belle headed for the door. Stepping out onto the porch, she looked over her shoulder one last time at the people who meant so very much to her and with a wrinkle of her nose and a wink of her eye snickered, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  Closing the door, she laughed out loud as Lizzie’s voice echoed through the wood, “Oh damn, then the sky’s the limit.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Pacing back and forth, waiting for his mate to appear, Chance prayed Belle hadn’t changed her mind. He hadn’t seen her for forty-eight hours because of some stupid superstitions the gnomes kept going on and on about. All he knew was that if he didn’t see his Christmas Fairy soon, he was going to lose his mind. The last week had been nothing short of miraculous. He’d never thought he could love someone like he loved Belle. All the old stories were right, she was the other half of his soul, and he would cherish her for all of eternity and then some.

  Walking past the same clump of heather he’d marched past at least fifty times since arriving at the appointed spot in the Valley of Hope, the Guardsman was just about to scream to the Heavens when the gentle whisper of fairy wings floated towards him. Spinning like a top, Chance could hardly believe his eyes. Belle looked beautiful with no makeup, in sweatpants and a T-shirt, but on this night, the night they would be officially mated in the eyes of the Fairy, she looked nothing less than stunning.

  Walking forward, reaching for her before her feet even touched the ground, Chance wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her to him and slammed his lips to hers. Sliding the tip of his tongue against the seam of her lips, he groaned low in his throat as she opened both her mind and body to him.

  Arousal thickened in his blood, growing by leaps and bounds as their tongues moved together. Her whimpers spurred him on, fanning the flames of desire. Holding her closer, rocking his hips against hers, Belle moaned into their kiss as the scent of ginger and cloves filled his senses.

  Growling as her nails raked down his back, Chance reluctantly pulled away, grinning at the lust
in her eyes and the sight of her kiss-swollen lips. “If we don’t stop, we’ll be late to our own mating.”

  Closing her eyes, Belle leaned her forehead against his chest and sighed, “I know you’re right but damn…just damn.”

  Laughing aloud, Chance wholeheartedly agreed, “I’m with ya’ there, mo fairy milis.” Massaging across her shoulders, he added, “Let’s get this show on the road and then,” he kissed the top of her head and leaned back, waiting until she looked up to finish, “We can be alone forever.”

  “I like the way you think, Dragon Man.”

  Letting go of her arms, Chance walked backward until he was sure he could let Dafydd come forth without injuring his mate. Keeping his eyes locked with hers, the Guardsman gave a single nod as from one heartbeat to the next his human body was replaced with that of his Dragon King’s.

  Watching Belle’s excitement at his transformation was like experiencing it for the first time. Through her eyes and through their bond, he could feel her excitement, her wonder and most of all, her adoration.

  Speaking through their unique link, he asked, “Wanna climb aboard, my Fairy Princess?”

  “I would love nothing more.”

  Dropping his underbelly to the ground, Chance instructed, “Use my toes, knees and the phalanx, those spiny fingers of my wings like a ladder.”

  The mere touch of her hand to his glittering emerald scales sent shockwaves of their connection racing through every cell of his enormous body. Bracing himself, holding as still as possible, Chance could barely contain himself until Belle was seated at the base of his neck.

  “Hold on, mo chroí,” he breathed as his giant body shuddered and shook from the intensity of their connection.

  “Did I do that? Are you okay?” Belle asked her voice little more than a whisper.

  “I’m better than okay,” he answered, pushing visions of what having her riding atop him conjured within his mind, chuckling as he felt her desire grow. “Soon, mo ghrá, very soon.”

  “Let’s get a move on, Dragon Man. Time’s a wastin’.”

  Doing as he was told, loving that his mate was as affected by their connection as he was, Chance, lifted his colossal body from the ground, spread out his wings and with one mighty push was airborne. Climbing higher and higher, he leveled out just under the clouds, using the darkness and the shadows along with his magic as cover.

  Flying along, he listened to Belle’s thoughts just as he knew she was keeping up with his. Over the last week, they’d spent every waking moment getting to know one another. They’d shared their pasts, what they were doing now and their dreams for the future.

  Chance was shocked to hear that twins also ran in Belle’s family. He would never forget the look on her face when he announced, “Maybe we can have a set of girls and a set of boys.”

  It had taken a lot of kisses to soothe her rattled nerves, which he didn’t mind in the slightest. In the end, they had both decided to wait and see what Fate had in store for them before deciding how many kids to have. Whatever happened, Chance had no doubt their lives would be full of love, laughs and more passion than he could ever imagine.

  “We’re almost there.” Bella’s voice smoothly flowed through his mind, as she showed him the exact spot they were to land.

  Descending from the clouds, the Guardsman watched the lights of the Shimmering Light Fairies dancing around a beautiful candlelit garden. Changing back to his human form, Chance landed a few yards away with Belle safely in his arms. Kissing her passionately before letting her slide down his body, the emerald dragon snickered when it took Belle an extra second to get her balance.

  “I like the way you rattle my brains,” she chuckled.

  “Oh, baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Walking arm-in-arm with Chance towards not only the Royal Guard and Handmaidens and all the Fairies of the Court, but also Queen Siofra and King Aenghus, the butterflies in Belle’s stomach decided to throw a rave without first consenting her. Taking deep breaths as she took in the Queen’s pure white, gossamer wings, their brilliant ethereal glow combining with the robust, deep radiance of the King’s golden wings, cast a soft iridescent rainbow across the entire Garden of Faith.

  Stopping just before the toes of her glittery red ballet slippers touched the carpet of ivy, Belle looked up at her mate and smiled. Blinking twice, she nearly pinched herself to be sure she wasn’t dreaming. Everything between them had happened so fast, there were times she was sure it was all a figment of her imagination or at the very least a really cool dream, but then Chance would touch her, or whisper in her ear, or even smile in her direction and the Christmas Fairy knew beyond all doubt, they were meant to be together forever.

  “Now is the time,” the Queen’s high, reedy voice sounded like the tinkling of silver bells as she called the fairies to order. Opening her wings wide, she smiled at Belle, nodding for the Christmas Fairy to do the same thing.

  Standing tall, the Belle let her wings flow outward from the markings on her back, shaking her shoulders when they had fully unfurled. Looking up at Chance, she nodded, “And you, my mate, the one created for me by the Universe and blessed by the Goddess of All, the gift of my heart and soul that I accept unconditionally, please present the color of your dragon to the Queen, King and Fairy Court.”

  Holding her breath, excitement racing through her veins, Belle could barely stand still as the elegant emerald scales of Chance’s dragon flowed from under the rolled up short sleeves of his green linen shirt, down his arms, and covered the back of his hands. Watching closely, she gasped, “I will never get tired of watching you do that,” as the glowing green armor also climbed the corded muscles of his neck, ending just shy of his chiseled jawline.

  Sliding her fingers through his, she looked back to the Monarchs and waited until the King raised his arms, commanding, “Members of the Royal Guard, ten-hut.”

  At the utterance of the order, those with sabers raised their swords into a high arch, the tips of their blades nearly touching with the razor-sharp edge facing up and away from the intended couple. Stepping under the Saber Arch, Belle and her dragon slowly approached the dais where the Queen and King had taken their seat in two of the most opulent thrones ever constructed.

  Shoulders back, head high, the Christmas Fairy knelt facing Chance who was already on his knees and winked as he whispered, “I sure hope this doesn’t take long. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out. I want to kiss you so badly, I can think of nothing else.”

  Thankfully, Siofra began to speak, “Today, King Aenghus and I are pleased to have you all in attendance to witness the mating of the one and only Christmas Fairy left in our Frollick. I was there the day Belle was born, there the day she took her first flight and there the day she discovered the wish of the Goddess for her to protect the Spirit of Christmas. I am honored to have watched this proud Fairy become the wonderful woman that she is and so incredibly honored to officiate her mating to one of the Universe’s chosen warriors, a true Dragon Guardsman and part of the illustrious Emerald Dragon Clan.”

  Shining white stars shot from the end of her golden wand, filling the sky just above the garden with millions of sparkling gems, as the Queen stood and continued, “From the day the Milesians arrived on our shores, slaughtered our ancestors, the Tuatha de Danann, and stole their land, we fairies have lived in the shadows, kept to the periphery and lent aid to those in need only under the cover of magic.”

  “Today, we stand proud, out in the open, here for all to see, to celebrate what Destiny has commanded and Fate has abided, for when a fairy mates another of the Universe’s chosen, not only the couple, but their offspring for generation upon generation are blessed beyond measure.”

  Looking down, the Queen smiled so brightly the Christmas Fairy could feel the love and acceptance all the way to the bottom of her soul, as the Monarch asked “Do you, Belle Angelica Silvers, accept the honor, love and total adoration of your mate, Chance N
ichols of the Oileán Iathghlas na hÉireann Dragons? Do you promise to stand by his side during light times and dark? To join him in battle and in celebration and to love him as you have never loved another from this moment until the end of time?”

  Unable to look anywhere but her dragon’s eyes, Belle smiled at the love she saw reflecting back at her as she affirmed, “With all that I am and all I will ever be, I promise to be everything my dragon needs, today, tomorrow and always, with all my heart and soul and the magic of my kin.”

  Bending down the Queen kissed Belle on the forehead and whispered, “To you, your children and the children after them until the end of time, know that the Blessing of Queen Siofra, the Ruler of the one true Fairy Court, will forever be engraved in the annals of our history.”

  “Thank you, mo Bhanríon. I will forever remain true to you and your crown.”

  Standing upright, the Queen looked to Chance and asked, “Do you, Chance Nichols, Elite Dragon Guardsman, and honored warrior, accept the honor, love and total adoration of your mate, Belle Angelica Silvers? Do you promise to stand by her side during light times and dark? Will you join in her battle and in celebration and love her as you have never loved another from this moment forward until the end of time?”

  Chance’s emerald eyes shone with so many emotions, Belle didn’t even attempt to decipher them, she simply let everything she felt for him fill their mating bond as he wholeheartedly acquiesced, “With all that I am and all I will ever be, I will be everything my fairy needs, today, tomorrow and always, with all my heart and soul and the magic of my kin.”

  “Like the dragons of old when they joined with the Knights of King Arthur’s Court, so will I pledge my undying love, loyalty, and allegiance to my Belle. As the scales of my beast, the legendary Dragon King Dafydd, are the color of the hills of my homeland where Erin first rose, I too am as true as the Spring.”