Secrets of the Dragon’s Heart (Mysteries of Dragon’s Island #6)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

***CAMERON***

C ameron helped Kennedy down the ladder from the cabin's porch, then took her hand and led her down to the beach, hoping they could find some privacy. The sand was deserted when they stepped out of the trees, but further down by the marina, he could see a lot of activity and at least ten boats bobbing out in the water. Leading Kennedy the other way, he gave himself a few minutes to let the sound of the waves and the fresh salty breeze relax him.

“Marie and I had a long talk while you were sleeping last night,” he said. “She brought up some interesting things about the clan that I didn’t know, and it got me to thinking about us.”

Kennedy looked over at him, her face full of apprehension. “Don’t tell me that you’ve changed your mind,” she said. “I thought your brother coming here was a good thing.”

“It was, I couldn’t be happier that he’s here,” he said, then pulled her closer. “I haven’t changed my mind, but she and I did talk about us. In fact, that’s all we talked about. She was pretty blunt about the fact that science wasn’t going to help me. She thinks history is the key to not only us being together but Zach taking over the clan instead of me.”

“That’s why all those books suddenly appeared this morning,” Kennedy said, shaking her head. “I don’t know why you were being so secretive about it.”

“I had to figure out a few things before I shared all of this with you,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that we could find what we needed because this is going to be a big decision for you, and I know how much you like to be informed.”

She studied him for a second. “Cameron, you lost me somewhere,” she finally said, shaking her head. “What are you trying to say?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. “I want you to marry me, Kennedy,” he said. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I don’t want to wait. I want to do it right now, today.”

“You want to get married today?” Kennedy asked, a look of shock on her face. “I was thinking that we would…maybe…someday…”

“I know this is sudden, I know you weren’t expecting it so soon, but Marie pointed out that I was thinking with the wrong part of my body,” he said, then laughed at the look on Kennedy’s face. “She meant I needed to start thinking with my heart instead of my head. Once we’re married, there’s nothing the clan or my father can do about it. We’re bonded, Kennedy, and that trumps everything else. And as it turns out, up until a few generations ago, regular humans were accepted into the clan as long as they were bonded to their mate.”

“This is real, you’re not kidding?” she asked, hope in her eyes. “We could really be together officially, and the clan couldn’t punish you?”

“This is no joke, but there is one thing I haven’t told you about,” he said. “We’ll have to pass a test to prove that we’re bonded. Zach and I haven’t been able to figure out what it is yet, and that information might be lost to time. The council might have to decide what the test is, and I have no idea what they might think is a good test. I know how much you hate surprises, but Zach is still trying to figure it out.”

Kennedy was silent for a second, then she looked up at him, a smile slowly spreading across her face. “It doesn’t matter, I’ll marry you, I’ll take the test. I’d walk across hot coals if it meant we could be together,” she said, throwing herself into his arms. “We belong together, I know it, you know it, even the island knows it. We’ll pass that test, and then we’ll never have to worry about being separated again.”

With trembling hands, he slid the ring onto her finger, laughing when he noticed that she was shaking as much as he was. “It fits perfectly. I should have known that it would,” he said, smiling at her. “This ring was my grandmother’s. She gave it to me right before she died. She told me to save it until I found the perfect woman for me and not to let tradition stand in the way of my happiness. I think she knew then that you were in my future. She was special that way, she could see things before they happened, and she knew that you were out there waiting for me.”

“Oh, Cameron, do you really think so?” she asked, tears in her eyes. “Do you think she would have approved of me?”

“She would have adored you, the two of you are a lot alike,” he said. “She was smart and tough, she never let my grandfather bully her, and she usually got her way.”

“I don’t always get my way,” Kennedy said, pretending to be insulted. “But I am tough and smart.”

He laughed. “And I wouldn’t want you any other way,” he said, then kissed her until the heat between threatened to sweep them away. “Now, I think we have a wedding to plan.”

“The dress,” Kennedy said, her eyes widening. “That’s why Marie gave me the dress. She knew that you were going to propose.”

“It was kind of her idea,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “She’s dressed every bride on this island. I believe you make number four or is it five, I’ve lost track.”

“What about the ring?” she asked. “How did you get the ring?”

“My brother brought it with him. After he talked to Max, he decided I might need it,” he said. “It all just came together perfectly, Kennedy, I think it was meant to be.”

“Like us,” she said, smiling up at him. “Let’s not make a huge fuss about the wedding. Let’s just do it quietly. I don’t want everyone on the island there for our special day.”

“It’s already been arranged, a small wedding with just a few special people, then a quick lunch afterward to celebrate,” he said. “Max can perform the ceremony, Stella can be your maid of honor, and Zach will be my best man…”

***Kennedy***

“Oh, Kennedy, you look beautiful, that dress is perfect,” Stella said, walking up behind her and carefully placing the ring of flowers in her hair. “This is going to be a lovely wedding. Just wait until you see what the staff has done with the gazebo and they went all out with the food for lunch. We’re so lucky to have such giving people in our lives.”

“I can see why you love living here, it’s like one big family,” she said. “I won’t want to leave next week when it’s time to go home.”

“I’m going to hate to see you go, we’ve barely gotten to know one another,” Stella said. “Promise that you’ll come back to visit. We have an extra bedroom in our cabin, and Keith is already talking about adding another one and a second bathroom. ”

“I’d love to see your cabin, I never made it over there,” she said. “Maybe when this is all over, we can have that coffee we talked about.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Stella said, giving her a hug. “Welcome to the family, Kennedy. We’re a crazy bunch, but I think you’ll fit right in.”

“Are you two going to stand around gabbing, or are we going to a wedding?” Marie interrupted from the doorway, then gasped when Kennedy turned around. “Absolutely perfect. Every eye will be on you today, just as it should be. Now come along, Cameron is waiting for you.”

She followed Marie down the hallway and out the back door of the community center, then paused when she saw Montgomery waiting for her, a big smile on his face. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “I know it was a lot to ask, but you’re the first one who popped into my head.”

“It will be my pleasure to give you away,” Montgomery said, bowing to her and then taking her arm. It will be good practice for when my daughter gets married. She and my wife came over from the Big Island for the day. I’ll introduce you later.”

“I’d like that,” she said, smiling at him. “I think I’m ready if you are.”

But she wasn’t as ready as she thought she was. Her knees buckled when she saw Cameron standing with Max at the end of the aisle. It wasn’t doubt or fear that overwhelmed her, but a feeling of love so intense it made her dizzy, and she understood as clearly as she ever had the power of the bond between them. An instant later, her body filled with warmth when Cameron’s eyes met hers across the distance separating them, and only one thought filled her mind.

He was hers and would be for the rest of their lives. They would forever be joined by the love they shared and the bond it had created; nothing could tear them apart. Strengthened by this knowledge, she walked confidently up to Cameron, gave Montgomery a kiss on the cheek, and then let him take her hands as they turned to face Max, who looked very handsome in a black suit.

The words of the ceremony washed over her, the feel of Cameron’s big hands wrapped around hers warmed her from the inside as no one else could, and when the moment came she was ready. In front of the small gathering of people, she pledged her love to the man she’d always dreamed of but never imagined was real, then listened as he spoke the same words, tears streaming down her cheeks. Before he kissed her, Cameron reached up and brushed them away with his thumbs, his eyes sparkling with moisture.

Lunch flew by in a storm of good food, well wishes, and congratulations that left her slightly breathless by the time Cameron finally led her away from the gazebo. “We did it,” he said, lifting her up and spinning her around when they were out of sight. This time, when his mouth came down on hers, his kiss was demanding, igniting the passion between them.

When they finally pulled apart, chests heaving, Cameron groaned. “I don’t know if I can wait until tonight, but I don’t want our first time as a married couple to be a quicky in the bathroom,” he said. “We’d better go get changed and get down to the beach before we don’t make it there at all. Tonight seems like a long time away from now.”

“What’s wrong with a quicky in the bathroom?” she asked. “I can’t get this dress off by myself, you know. I can’t reach the zipper. If something happens, it wouldn’t be our fault.”

Cameron swept her into his arms and started for the door to the community center. “Where did you leave your clothes?” he demanded. “There had better be a lock on that door. ”

When they finally emerged from the dressing room, they found everyone waiting for them in the lobby, and she felt her cheeks turning pink. “Kennedy’s zipper got stuck,” Cameron said, but the grin on his face said it all, and she wanted to disappear into the floor. “Let’s go get this hot air balloon thing over with. I’ve got a honeymoon to go on.”

“We’ve been waiting forever, that must have been one stubborn zipper,” Zach said, slapping his brother on the back as he walked by. “I’m sure Marie could have helped with that.”

“Can we please stop talking about my zipper?” she asked, her face flaming with embarrassment. “We have other things to worry about.”

“Kennedy’s right,” Max said, getting to his feet, a look of amusement on his face. “We’ve got an audience out there waiting for a show. We’d better not let them down.”