Rosalie
“So, Dante’s crew is working on how to reverse the mutations?” Lydia asks.
“So far as they still exist for any of the Sarkarnii, and providing they admit to having them.” I sigh. “I doubt Driok is going to ask for help.”
“Did the Gonoz not keep records?”
“Yes, but you know…” I spread out my hands as Scarlett braids my hair into an elaborate up do. “Sarkarnii warlords will be Sarkarnii warlords.”
Around me, there are some sage nods.
“And your Sarkarnii warlord will never change,” Maggie says, raising a goblet of ale-wine.
I’d be the first to admit the supposed cure hasn’t really changed the behavior of Dante or his crew. They don’t get any worse, but there is a constant level of mayhem which I don’t think they’ll ever shed.
As if someone had summoned him, Dante bursts through the door into our prep area, his tail lashing and smoke billowing from his nostrils.
“Eeek!” Lydia squeaks. “Go away. You can’t see the bride before the wedding.”
“This is not a wedding,” Maggie grumbles. “He’s going to swing that cute butt and bite her. Not a wedding.”
I’m wondering how many ale-wines she’s had already, but instead I’m scooped up in Dante’s arms.
“I can’t wait,” he says. “I can’t.” His hips snap from side to side.
“You’ve got the warlords gathered and the sarkarnlings are so excited I think they’re going to burst. You are going to have to wait,” I say whilst being peppered with kisses.
“Don’t want to,” he murmurs, shoving his face into my neck, his fangs scraping over my skin where he bit me.
It seems so long ago.
“Put the female down and step away,” Dalox growls from the doorway.
Dante turns with a feral growl.
“Do as he says, or you’ll be banished to the uninhabited moon with the Gonoz,” I whisper in his ear.
“You have another five nova minutes, Dante, then you dance for your mate, claim her, and mate her,” Dalox says. “I’m sure you can manage another five nova minutes?”
Looking at Dante, especially at his pants, I’m not entirely sure he can.
“And I need to speak with you, especially as I am to be your second,” Dalox says.
“He is?” I study Dante’s face.
“He is. Dart is my third warrior,” Dante says with not a little grimace which he keeps hidden from Dalox.
“I was there when this one became a warrior. I will be there when he becomes a mated male,” Dalox says.
“I think he missed that bit,” I whisper in Dante’s ear, and more smoke comes out of my big bad Sarkarnii than he should be releasing as his shoulders shake.
“And I think you are as feral as he is,” Maggie announces. “Now get rid of him so we can start this thing. I have bottoms to photograph.”
“And of course, no one can get in the way of such a task,” Kerra says with a wry smile as she moves the goblet out of Maggie’s reach.
“Come.” Dalox beckons Dante who, having given me one last kiss, follows him out the door.
“Let’s get you dressed to slay, my dear.” Scarlett holds up something which can only be described as a cobweb with glitter.
“You are joking.” I stare at her, then at Kerra and Lydia.
“She is!’ Lydia says, swinging my actual dress from behind her back.
I’ve chosen a long, electric blue number which clings in all the right places and which I hope will make Dante’s jaw drop.
I just have to hope he can hold back on the mating until we are not in front of his entire clan.
With my friends’ help, I wriggle into the dress.
“You look stunning,” Kerra says, wiping at her eye.
“Are you crying?”
“No, it’s Dante’s smoke.” She laugh/chokes. “Of course I’m crying. You look so beautiful, and I’m so happy for you, after everything.”
“From homeless to having a ready-made family, you mean?”
“From nearly getting incinerated in an escape pod to being mated to the most unhinged alien dragon warlord,” she says, taking hold of my elbows. “I’m so happy I met you, Rosie, even under the most trying of circumstances.”
“And I’m so happy I met you too.” I sniff.
“Don’t you start, or Dante will be out for blood,” Scarlett says.
“I think it’s time we got into position,” Lydia says, beckoning me to the other door.
The one which leads out into the main atrium where everyone is waiting. Della comes rushing up, and I catch her in my arms, pressing a kiss to her cheek and making her giggle.
“Are you going to be my second?” I ask her.
“Females have seconds?” she queries.
“On Earth, we have something called bridesmaids. Do you want to be my bridesmaid?”
I see her contemplating the word and then she nods furiously. “But only if Kerra, Scarlett, Maggie, and Lydia get to be your bridesmaids too.”
I look up at my friends who are beaming.
“What do you think, ladies? Are you going to be my bridesmaids?”
Kerra looks at her naked wrist. “I guess. I don’t have anywhere else to be. Anyone else have any objections?”
Before anyone can crack any more jokes, a drumming starts up around the atrium.
“Come on, Rosie.” Della wriggles in my arms. “It’s starting.”
I put her down. She grabs my hand and pulls me into the center of the atrium where all Dante’s warriors are swaying and stomping their feet. The rest of the sarkarnlings raise a cheer when they see me, and there are some flames because some of the older ones have learnt how to flame.
“Wait here,” Della tells me and takes three solemn steps back.
I look over my shoulder at her, and she gives me a huge, beaming smile filled with sharp fangs. Scarlett rapidly motions to me to look away, and as I turn back, Dante is waiting.
With Dalox at one of his broad shoulders and Dart at the other, I cannot take my eyes off my smoking hot Sarkarnii warlord.
Dante’s hips sway from side to side in a sinuous, hypnotic motion, his tail following as he steps slowly, slowly towards me, the beat getting deeper and his strides getting longer until he is there, in front of me, a great mountain of scales, spines, and Sarkarnii.
“My heartsfire,” he rumbles, capturing my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I dance for you.”
“And why are you dancing?” I ask, as his fire-filled eyes gaze on me.
“To make you my mate,” Dante says. “And because I belong to you, little flame. Now and forever, if you’ll have me.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I reply. “Now bite me before you get into trouble all over again.”
He leans into me, those incredible eyes blazing.
“My sweet mate. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
And he sinks his fangs into my skin as all around us great cheers raise the roof.