To Wed a Dragon Read online

  Edriq went to Nora and pulled her quickly away from the fight. She looked more angry than frightened.

  “I'm going to help Mario,” Edriq said, but Zul stopped him.

  “Don't get your knickers in a twist.” This was Zul's favorite phrase of the month. “Stay with Nora. Mario's doing a great job, all by himself.”

  Edriq saw that Zul was right. Mario was a force to be reckoned with. He had kicked the gun free from the officer's hand and was sitting on the whimpering, sniveling cop. Mario was a big, heavyset man. The crooked, spineless cop was no match for Mario. Smoke seemed to be billowing from Mario's nostrils.

  Sweat poured down Mario's face as he hammered the cop with his large, meaty fists.

  “You murderer!” Mario yelled. “Taking gold from the Slayors. Yeah, I heard you! I heard you loud and clear, you scum!”

  Zul finally strolled over to Mario and put a hand on Mario's shoulder. “All right, big guy,” he said gently.

  Mario looked up, dazed. As Zul helped him up, Mario mopped the sweat from his brow and blinked at Nora. “You okay?” he panted.

  Nora nodded and went to take his arm. “I'm fine, thanks to you.”

  Edriq shook Mario's hand firmly. “Thank you. You saved my mate.”

  “You saved Julia,” Mario answered, still trying to catch his breath. “Thank you.”

  Mario staggered back and very nearly sat on the ground when Zul clapped him on the shoulder. “You're one hell of a fighter, man!”

  “Oh, you think so?” Mario blushed and chewed his lip. “You know, I've been thinking. And I...I was going to ask you...”

  “Ask away, my good man,” Zul said with a flourish.

  “I want to help,” Mario said earnestly. “My mom is a Dracan. And these Slayors, they don't just kill Dracans. They hurt humans too. I don't want to stand by and do nothing.” Sucking in a breath, he went on, “I don't have a dragon in me, I'm just me but I want to do my part. I want to fight, like you. I want to do my bit...”

  “You are already doing your bit, and it's a big, important bit,” Edriq said, putting his hand on Mario's shoulder. “You're a paramedic. You save lives, you help people, every single day. You are already part of the fight. Some of the lives you save are Dracan lives. Half-Dracans, human friends and families of Dracans, you've helped them without realizing it.”

  Mario nodded and smiled. “Yeah.”

  Zul was standing over the cop who was moaning pitifully on the ground. Spinning a knife through his fingers, Zul whistled. “Shall I...”

  “No,” Edriq and Nora said together.

  Zul raised a brow at Edriq.

  Edriq looked at the weak, feeble human who was trying to crawl away. There were others like him, Edriq realized. The Slayors had apparently realized the same thing, and wasted no time in recruiting these humans to their cause.

  There were humans who were willing to betray their friends and families, turn their backs on their duties and responsibilities, for gold. The planet Korra had gold in abundance. The rocks and mountains were made of gold.

  The humans took gold from the Slayors, but none lived to enjoy it.

  “Let him go,” Edriq said, turning away with Nora. “The Slayors will find him.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Nora smiled shyly over her shoulder at her two bridesmaids. Amelia and Tessa grinned back and gave her the thumbs-up. They arranged her long, lacy train and Amelia whispered to her, “You look beautiful, Nora!”

  “Yeah, you're so pretty, Aunt Nora,” Tessa gushed. “Uncle Edriq can't take his eyes off you!”

  Nora took a deep breath and looked ahead at Edriq, who was standing under the arc of flowers with his groomsmen. Rohan was holding the rings for Edriq, and Zul was busy winking at the ladies in the front row. They were having their wedding on the sprawling mansion grounds, and a grand, red carpet had been laid across the lawn.

  The guests included Nora's colleagues and some of Edriq's staff. Mario and Julia were also here with their families and friends. It was a big gathering of Dracans, half-Dracans and humans, and no one was really sure who was what. Not that it mattered. Not one bit.

  Nora saw Rohan nudge Zul when the latter kept fidgeting and tugging at his bow tie. Rohan, the king of the Dracans, was one of the groomsmen at their wedding. And the Queen and the Princess were her bridesmaids.

  She still couldn't believe it. Could any wedding be grander than this?

  Their guests included half-Dracans and humans. There were some humans who knew about them. Some accepted them and looked out for them. And some, like Officer Smith, looked out for himself. There were all kinds of people.

  Nora walked up to Edriq amid thunderous applause and looked up into his lilac eyes. Handing her bouquet over to Tessa, who was hopping excitedly from foot to foot, she slipped her hands into Edriq's and nodded.

  Together, they recited their vows. In the Dracan language.

  Everyone hooted and clapped when Edriq took her into his arms and kissed her. Some of Edriq's human employees thought that Dracan was some sort of New Age religion. They didn't understand a single word, but they nodded and cheered enthusiastically along with everyone else. Different strokes for different folks, they figured. The blond, buff receptionist was here and Nora heard him conversing with Mrs Vomae in fluent Dracan. Most of Edriq's oldest employees were present as well. They had been with the company for a long time and they were used to the diverse, open and fair culture of the company. In fact, that was one of the reasons they'd remained with the company almost all their lives. No one was discriminated against, and it didn't matter where you came from.

  Nora linked her arm through Edriq's, their wedding rings gleaming proudly on their fingers. Turning to face their guests, Edriq cleared his throat and announced, “Thank you for coming to our wedding. And now, it is my great honor to welcome you to the wedding of Mario and Julia!”

  Mario stood up and straightened his jacket. Grinning and waving, he hurried to the front, almost tripping over Nora's bridal train.

  After giving Mario a quick, one-armed hug, Edriq stood to the side and allowed Mario to take his place as the groom.

  She was still Edriq's bride but even in her white, puffy bridal dress, Nora had another job to do. It was a very important job indeed.

  Excitedly, Nora scooted to Mario's side and checked her pockets. She bet she was the only bride with pockets specially sewn into her billowing skirts.

  “Ready?” she whispered to Mario.

  He nodded wordlessly, his eyes glowing with happiness.

  Everyone got to their feet and clapped wildly when Julia appeared from the house with her two beaming sisters.

  Mario gasped at the sight of his beautiful bride. Julia walked towards him with her sisters behind her. Her two younger sisters were her bridesmaids, and Nora was Mario's groomswoman.

  Nora pulled the rings out of her pockets and held them out proudly.

  Double weddings were the best! There was double the joy and double the fun.

  She couldn't wait for the party to start!

  * * * * *

  End

  About the Author

  Natalie Kristen is a writer who enjoys mixing the sweet with the spicy, the light with the dark, the possibilities with the unimaginable. She enjoys exploring paranormal and dystopian worlds, deep desires and inspiring romances. She is hopelessly addicted to coffee, chocolate, reading and writing. She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her blog for the latest news and updates.

  Facebook:

  www.facebook.com/NatalieKristenBooks

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  nataliekristen.blogspot.com

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  @NatKristenBooks

 

 

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