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Rafe took his place in the center of the stage, next to a stool where the two mating bands lay in a box.
As was his custom, he took a quick scan of his surroundings. He barely paid attention to the prime minister, Rosalind Abbott, or even his sister. Rafe was more concerned about unknown threats.
The location had been one of three proposed, and the decision had been made at the last minute to hold it near Keswick, which was more accessible than Rafe cared for.
Still, Kai and all of Stonefire’s Protectors, in addition to many of Rafe’s comrades in the army, were in attendance and keeping an eye out for trouble. He’d trust them to watch his back.
Just as he finished his last survey of the crowd, Nikki walked out of the little partition in the back of the giant tent, and he stopped breathing. The dark purple of her dress made her skin glow, and her soft, tumbling black curls around her shoulders softened her face and highlighted her eyes.
Nikki was always beautiful to him, but right at that moment, he could barely string two thoughts together.
As if reading his mind, Nikki smiled slowly. He barely kept himself from frowning. No doubt, his bloody female would tease him about his reaction later.
Not that he cared. He was minutes away from legally tying himself to Nikki forever.
She approached, and Rafe put out a hand. After placing hers in his, he brought it to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. He was vaguely aware of some people “ah”-ing, but all his attention was on his dragonwoman. He murmured, “You’re beautiful.”
Nikki winked and he tried not to chuckle. She whispered, “The world is watching, Rafe. You’d better get your act together.”
“Ungrateful woman,” he murmured back.
Nikki grinned and he did the same.
Someone cleared their throat rather loudly from the front row and broke the spell. He should get the ceremony started before anyone changed their minds. The special license wouldn’t be issued until after the ceremony.
Releasing Nikki’s hand, Rafe picked up the smaller of the two silver mating bands. While he couldn’t read the strange script, he knew it was his name written in the old dragon language, Mersae.
Taking a deep breath, he projected his voice. “Nikola Helen Gray, you are clever, caring, kind, stubborn, and beautiful. I love all those things about you and more. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect woman if I had dreamt one up. I love you and will always love you. In front of everyone, I wish to make my claim. Will you be my mate?”
Nikki nodded and Rafe slipped the cuff around her tattoo-free upper bicep.
She picked up the larger silver cuff engraved with her name in the old dragon language. Never taking her gaze from his, she said, “Rafe Daniel Hartley, you are brave, intelligent, strong, and determined. Oh, and stubborn enough to outdo an ox.” There were a few chuckles and Nikki continued, “You bring out the best in me and showed me the world in a way I never thought possible. I love you, Rafe, and treasure the fact I can take a human for my mate. Will you accept my claim?”
“Yes.” He turned his bicep toward her. “Hurry up.”
With a mini-eye roll, Nikki slid the silver band around his muscled bicep. Pulling her close, he kissed her slowly.
He was tempted to hike her leg around his waist but knew the world was watching. He would just have to claim Nikki properly later.
Breaking the kiss, he laced his fingers through hers and faced the crowd. Cheers and applause broke out. Glancing at Nikki, he and his mate shared a private smile.
Despite the odds against them, a human male and a female dragon-shifter had found love and a way to stay together. The next step would be changing the world for their children and with Nikki at his side, he didn’t doubt they would find a way to do so.
Epilogue
A little less than eight months later
Rafe wiped the sweat from Nikki’s brow. “You’re doing brilliantly, love.”
His mate growled at him as her pupils flashed. “If this baby is as big as it feels trying to come out, then I will win the bet. Only a male would be this fucking huge.”
“Maybe, maybe not. We’d have settled this bet long ago if it weren’t for the dragon-shifter tradition of waiting to find out the gender upon birth.”
Nikki grunted,
and it took everything he had not to coddle her. His mate hated it. Not only that, it would signal his worry.
He’d prod her instead. “But you’re a soldier who can handle anything. Remember?”
