ZS- The Dragon, The Witch, and The Wedding - Taurus

by Amy Lee Burgess

  “If you’re going to hyperventilate, maybe I ought to undo the buttons on the back of your dress so you can breathe better.”

  “Don’t touch me!” I pushed Donovan’s hands away from me. “I’m not hyperventilating.”

  “You’re panicking,” he said, without a shred of sympathy in his tone. “I resent the idea that you think I’d make you a prisoner in your own home. I merely said you have a safe place away from everyone if you wanted it. I never told you it was a prison. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t twist my words.”

  “Why not? You twist them yourself!” I flared. “You seem nice, but then you tell—” I clenched my teeth to keep from saying Val’s name aloud. “—that woman that you’re only being nice for show here in front of people who might tell the king. What am I supposed to expect once no one can see anymore how you treat me?”

  “You might pause to consider that perhaps the person I’m pretending in front of is—” his lips quirked, “—that woman, not you.”

  I stared at him, my mouth dropping open. “Are you suggesting I ought to believe you like me?”

  “I’ve liked you for twenty years,” he responded. “Did you think I forgot about our first meeting, Marley?”

  The way he said my name sent a warm shock through me.

  “I wasn’t sure,” I said stiffly.

  “Do you still like me?” he asked, smiling.

  “You flamed our field,” I said. “You made eye contact with me and looked right through me.”

  “So that’s a no?” His smile faded.

  “This situation is too complicated for a simple yes or no answer,” I told him. “I don’t know what to say right now.”

  “Then don’t say anything. Come dance with me instead. Hear that?” He tilted his head. “The music’s started. Nobody can dance until after we do. Let’s not keep everyone waiting.”

  Reluctantly, I allowed him to pull me to my feet. He was right. Nobody could dance until we did, and the villagers loved to dance. It would be selfish to deprive them of their pleasure simply because Donovan confused the hell out of me.

  As we drew closer, the spritely music grew louder, drawing me in against my will. The villagers weren’t the only one who loved to dance.

  The crowd around the musicians parted to allow us onto the dance floor. I was aware only of Donovan’s hand in mine, and the way his smile seemed to transport me to a different world—one where we weren’t on opposite sides of a decades-long feud.

  Once in the center, Donovan released my hand and gave me a slight bow. I curtseyed in response. He took me into his arms and swept me into the dance.

  “I see you know the steps.” I tried not to gasp as he whirled us faster and faster.

  “Just see if you can keep up.” The challenge in his smile made me laugh.

  “Keep up? You call this fast?” I asked. The touch of his hand on my back produced a strange shiver down my spine.

  “No,” he said. He tightened his fingers around mine. “This is fast.”

  Cheers and whoops erupted from the watching crowd as Donovan danced us in breathtaking circles, never missing a step. To my credit, I never missed a beat either.

  My skirts flared around my legs. Beneath my fingers, Donovan’s shoulder muscles shifted as we danced.

  Breathing hard, I grinned at him, enflamed by the music and the man. He smiled down at me, for a moment reminding me of the boy in the clearing, only he was all man now, and I was a child no longer.

  Heat stole into my cheeks as I wondered what he’d be like in bed. A thrill of passion seared through me.

  Villagers clapped to the beat, urging us on.

  “Faster?” Donovan asked.

  “Don’t ask me, just do it,” I told him.

  His grin widened and we danced faster still. I ignored the stitch in my side and hoped my breath wasn’t too ragged. He barely seemed winded.

  “Dragons have more stamina than witches will admit,” he whispered in my ear. “Say the word and I’ll slow us down.”

  “Never,” I vowed, tossing my head even though I couldn’t breathe anymore.

  He chuckled, sending a warm rush through my overheated body. His breath in my ear ignited desire. Would he miss a step if I kissed him?

  I lifted my face, intending to find out, only to stagger sideways when someone’s shoulder slammed roughly into mine.

  Taken by surprise, Donovan lost his balance when he tried to steady me, and we both tumbled to the ground. Dancing boots and shoes whirled around us. At some point, the villagers, witches, and dragons had joined us. Someone stepped on my hand, hard, and I cried out despite myself.

  I looked up to see Val’s lovely face as she danced with Rabb. They both grinned savagely down at me, and one of them kicked me in the ribs.

  “Get up!” Donovan scrambled to his feet, hauling me with him. His lips peeled back in fury, he dragged me off the dance floor back to the bench beneath the willow tree.

  “Are you hurt?” He scanned me up and down, assessing my appearance.

  “Just my pride,” I admitted, struggling to catch my breath. My entire side ached from the kick, but I didn’t want to admit that to him, angry as he was. The last thing this wedding needed was a fight— especially dragon on dragon. “I didn’t mean to pull you down with me, Donovan.”

  “Don’t call me Donovan!” he snapped. “I don’t want any of them hearing you call me by name!”

  I yanked my hands from his. “Why? Would it humiliate you that much?”

  “Marley,” he said, his jaw tight. “Let me lead the dance with the dragons. We’ve got to finesse this just right or the gulf between our people will widen, not narrow.”

  “Oh, why do you have to make so much sense?” I cried, bitterness coloring my tone. “I hate that you make so much sense.”

  “I hate that you can’t call me by my name. I gave it to you, and by rights, you should be able to use it in front of the whole world.” Donovan cupped my face and stared at me with such intensity everything faded away but him. “Please, little witch, only call me by name when we’re alone. Can you do that for me?”

  At that moment, my heart beating so hard it ached, I could have walked through fire for him. Unable to speak, I nodded.

  Swearing under his breath, Donovan abruptly lowered his head so his mouth captured mine. Entranced by the sweet pressure of his lips, I wound my arms around his neck. Roughly, he yanked me closer, deepening the kiss until my already overtaxed heart threatened to burst.

  “By the Zodiac, little witch, you do know how to kiss,” Donovan murmured against my mouth. He caressed my cheeks with his thumbs, and I buried my fingers in his thick, brown hair. Tall as he was, I had to go up on tiptoe as I opened my mouth and our tongues met.

  Time and place ceased to exist. Only Donovan and I mattered. I groaned when he slid his hands down to my shoulders and then the small of my back. The breeze drifted across my passion-heated skin. I wanted nothing more in the world than to keep this kiss alive, and when Donovan gently, but firmly, pushed me away, I groaned again, this time in protest.

  “We’ve got to keep cooler heads than this.” He vigorously rubbed his forehead, as if trying to remind himself to think more clearly.

  I staggered to the bench so I could sit. My rubbery legs threatened to collapse beneath me.

  “Marley!” Mother and Renata rushed around the tree, their eyes wide. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” My lips felt swollen. Could they tell Donovan had just kissed me senseless, or did I simply appear disheveled from my fall?

  Rabb and Val ran around the other side of the willow tree, followed by several other dragons, witches, and villagers. No more music drifted from the dance floor. Apparently, everything had ground to a halt.

  “That bastard dragon kicked you.” Renata pointed an accusing finger at Rabb, who flushed with fury. “I saw him do it.”

  “Did you?” Donovan’s eyes iced over as he turned to look at his best friend.

>   “I was dancing not kicking,” Rabb answered, his face sullen. “Witches’ eyes aren’t any stronger than their morals, it seems.”

  A scream of rage burst from Renata as she stamped her foot. “Liar. I know what I saw!”

  Rabb glowered at her, and villagers, witches, and dragons began muttering and shifting uneasily.

  “Where’s your necklace, witch?” Val called, causing everyone to instantly grow silent.

  Necklace? I stared at her in confusion.

  “The emerald. Your wedding gift?” she jeered. “How soon you’ve forgotten. Treasure means less than nothing to you condescending witches, I suppose. Nothing matters but your precious stolen immortality, does it?”

  Belatedly realizing, I grabbed for the emerald that should have been suspended between my breasts and grasped nothing.

  “The clasp must have broken when I fell,” I said, flushing with dismay. I rose shakily to my feet, aware of Donovan standing close. He made no move to assist me, but I knew if I swayed he’d catch me. As that was the last thing I wanted in front of all these people, I fought hard to keep my balance.

  “It must be somewhere on the dance floor.” I took three small steps and halted when Rabb yelled,

  “Her pocket! Check the witch’s pocket. I saw her slip something in there!”

  “My pocket? I have no pockets,” I whispered, confused.

  “Not yours. Hers!” It was Rabb’s turn to point an accusing finger straight at my sister.

  Renata gasped, her cheeks paling with indignation. “You’re such a liar!”

  “Check her pocket. You’ll see!” Rabb yelled.

  An angry mob of dragons surged forward, but stopped in their tracks when Donovan held up his hand.

  “Let her show us herself.” He raised his voice to be heard above the angry muttering. He gazed at my sister as if she were less than nothing. Despite my knowledge he was playing a game, anger sizzled through my veins. How dared anyone look at my sister like that?

  “Go ahead, Renata,” I called, deliberately using her name. Damn the dragons and their ridiculous customs. Renata was a witch like me, and we counted for something. “I know you don’t have it. Show them. The emerald’s on the dance floor like I said before.”

  Jutting her chin defiantly, Renata plunged her hand into her dress pocket. Horror transfixed her, freezing her like a statue.

  “But...but...how?” she murmured.

  “Renata?” Fear colored my voice. Why would she have lied about picking up the emerald? If she had it, as she obviously did, why couldn’t she have just admitted she picked it up for me rather than deny altogether ever seeing it?

  “I swear I didn’t put it in here.” Hand shaking, Renata withdrew the emerald necklace from her pocket. The crowd hissed in anger.

  “Maybe she’s the one who knocked her own sister down to get the necklace and start a fight. She had to know if the witch lost her wedding gift, it would cause a riot.” Rabb couldn’t keep the gloating triumph from his voice.

  “I don’t know who knocked her down. I only saw you kick her.” Renata spoke softly, her brow knitted with horrified confusion as she stared at the emerald on her palm.

  “Thief! Once again the witches prove their dishonest approach to life and their dislike of dragon folk!” bellowed Rabb. “She must be punished! All the witches should be made to pay for this!”

  A thundering roar split the air. Villagers screamed and broke for cover as a huge silver dragon lumbered across the green, his eyes whirling red with rage.

  “Balthasar, no!” Donovan’s face drained of color as the dragon unfurled his massive wings and beat them in the air, causing dirt, cherry blossoms, and other debris to fly through the air. I closed my eyes a second too late and was blinded by a piece of grit. I rubbed my eye to clear it, cursing at the pain.

  Renata was rooted to the spot, too terrified to run like everyone else. Only my mother, father, and grandmother remained beside her, fists clenched, mouths tight. My mother trembled, her eyes wide with fear, but she stood her ground. Papa stepped in front of Renata, his chin lifted high.

  “Step aside, human!” growled the dragon in a guttural voice that scraped against my ears. This beast must be ancient. “I only wish to incinerate the thief!”

  Renata moaned, then abruptly fell to the ground in a faint.

  “Look what you’ve done, you callous dragon!” I shouted, more angry than fearful now. My poor sister. “She’s been terrified of dragons her whole life, and you threatening to incinerate her isn’t helping. You know you aren’t going to do it, you big bully!”

  Donovan winced.

  “How dare she speak that way to our clan leader!” shouted Rabb. “Control your wife, Donovan, or we’ll do it for you!”

  “You step one foot closer to my wife, and friendship or no friendship, I will beat you down. Make no mistake.” Donovan glared at Rabb, his green eyes cold as glacial ice.

  The silver dragon gaped at me—as much as a dragon can do that sort of thing. A puff of black smoke drifted from one nostril as he extended his neck, bringing his huge head inches from my face. The silvery ruff behind his skull fanned out alarmingly, and fangs gleamed from behind his lips.

  “Why do you think I’m a bully? I’m protecting my clan, and your honor as well, witch, now that we’ve been forced into taking you into our family.” The dragon snorted more smoke, which smelled like burning autumn leaves.

  His eyes had stopped flashing red, and were now a peculiar shade of silver that sent shivers down my spine.

  “My sister meant me no dishonor,” I said, resisting the urge to push his snout away from me. “She said she didn’t put the necklace in her pocket, and I believe her. It’s my necklace, isn’t it? Shouldn’t I get to decide if anyone needs to be incinerated?”

  “You?” scoffed the silver dragon. “You can’t incinerate anyone. You can’t breathe fire.”

  “No, but I can call it up. I throw a mean fireball. It’s one of my better spells.” I drew myself up to my full height, which was woefully short compared to the giant dragon.

  Donovan made a noise; either a muffled laugh or moan of dismay, I couldn’t tell.

  “Prove it,” the silver dragon demanded. “You incinerate that cherry tree, and I will take the one next to it. First to burn to the ground wins.” He extended his neck in the direction of the two trees he’d chosen.

  Muttering an apology to the tree, I took a deep breath and wakened my magic. My palm tingled, growing warmer as the fireball built up.

  The dragon sucked in a noisy gutful of air, preparatory to breathing fire. Something in his belly rumbled, I didn’t want to know what. Donovan took a hasty backward step when I wound up my arm.

  The dragon and I both let loose simultaneously. He opened his mouth and fire burst forth. My fireball was dwarf-like compared to his flame, but much faster. It zipped across the green and smashed into the cherry tree, which went up like a torch.

  It was crumbing to ash as the dragon’s flame hit the tree next to it. It went up in a blaze of glory and collapsed, but my tree disintegrated first.

  Donovan made another smothered noise. This time it was definitely a laugh, but with a tinge of horror.

  Rabb’s mouth dropped open in shock. My mother cheered, jumping up and down, hampered by her long gown. Papa, who knelt in the grass next to my still-out-cold sister, gave me a grim smile of triumph. Magic still shocked him, even with two witch daughters.

  “Impossible,” said Val, her eyes narrowed into slits. “She must have cheated!”

  “She didn’t cheat!” rumbled the silver dragon. “I must be losing my touch. Bested by a witch no bigger than my pinkie claw.”

  “I’m bigger than that!” I protested. Sure, I was petite, but not that small!

  The dragon swiveled his head to fix me with his silvery gaze. He peered at me as if I were a bug on a pin that fascinated him somehow.

  “You are on the puny side, admit it,” he said.

  “I may be shor
t, but my magic’s pretty tall.” I lifted my chin.

  “True.” The dragon nodded. “Your sister’s life is spared. Take your wedding gift, and by Zodiac Mountain, guard it well. If you lose it a second time, someone will be punished.”

  “Get going!” Donovan gave me a none-too-gentle shove. I hastily crossed to my family and knelt by my sister. The emerald necklace rested in the grass beside her hand. I grabbed it. Papa helped me put it around my neck.

  “I have never been so scared and proud at the same time. You two will be the death of me, I swear,” Papa whispered in my ear before he gave me a hug as we knelt on the ground.

  “This celebration is over,” the silver dragon informed the people who were beginning to gather around us. “At least for dragons. To the skies!” Weirdly graceful for such a huge beast, he rushed along the green, wings flapping, until he was abruptly airborne.

  Others followed him. Dragon folk still in human form moved away so they could shift.

  Soon the sky was full of blue, brown, green, and silver wings.

  Two of the dragons bore human cargo. Their mates. The women sat astride what appeared to be a cross between saddles and chairs, securely strapped in.

  I watched, transfixed. I’d never seen so many dragons at one time. So graceful and beautiful my throat ached.

  “Stop staring and come on.” Donovan took me by the hand and led me to a clear space. A villager staggered over to us bearing the saddle chair.

  “The saddle straps beneath your belly. I see now.” I stroked the soft leather.

  Donovan winced and gritted his teeth. “It is not a saddle. It’s a chair mount. Watch the villager secure it. You’ll have to learn to do this yourself. And do not ever call it a saddle again. I am not your steed, I’m your husband. I bear you upon my back as a favor. I’m the one who controls our speed, altitude, and direction. You merely hang on. Got it?”

  “Got it.” I tried to suppress a laugh, but apparently failed if the glare Donovan gave me was any indication.

  “Something amuses you?” he inquired.

  “You’ve got to admit it looks a little bit like a saddle,” I said, and Donovan ground his teeth together audibly.