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Ross waved a hand. “Call me Ross. If I’m ever knighted, then you can call me Sir Ross. Not before.”
Holly lightly hit her dad’s arm. “Dad, not now.”
Fraser grinned. “I think you’re going to fit in just fine here, Ross. Just fine indeed.”
Ross winked. “I reckon so, too. But I think my daughter has waited long enough to marry the lad of her heart. Take good care of her, son.”
Fraser straightened his shoulder. “Aye, I will.”
Holly raised an eyebrow. “Are you two quite done? I’d like to give Fraser my answer now.”
Ross kissed his daughter’s cheek again and then moved to take a seat. As soon as he did, Holly looked back up at him. “Yes, Fraser, I’ll be your mate.”
Fergus whistled as Lorna shouted, “Thank goodness.”
Fraser ignored all of that to place his hands on Holly’s waist. “Normally I’d offer you a silver band engraved with my name in the old dragon language, Mersae. But we’ll just have to exchange the arm bands later.”
Holly nodded, but then Fergus snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute.”
Fraser scowled at his twin, who was picking up the large black box. “Can’t you wait two bloody minutes, Fergus?”
Fergus raced over with a twinkle in his eye. “No, I can’t.” He opened the box to reveal two traditional mating bands. “I had these made for you, brother. Just in case.”
Fraser touched the smaller one, engraved with his name. “You did this?”
Fergus nodded. “Aye. I didn’t want there to be any doubt of my support for your mating.”
Holly whispered, “Oh, Fergus.”
Fergus moved his gaze to Holly. “I meant what I said yesterday, about wanting you to come home safe and sound. I can see how you make my brother happy, and that makes me happy. Just take car
e of him, aye?”
Holly nodded. “Of course.”
Fergus winked at Holly before handing the box over to Fraser. Just this once, he’d let the wink slide.
Fraser’s dragon growled. As long as he doesn’t wink at our female again.
Next time, I’ll let you out and you can tell him.
Content, his beast settled down. That was Fraser’s cue to take the smaller silver band out of the box and hold it out. “With this band, I take you as my mate, Holly Anderson. With your stubborn, clever self at my side, I can face anything and anyone. I love you, Holly. Will you accept my claim?”
She smiled and took the band. “Yes, I do. Although I’m not sure I can wear it right now over my jumper.”
He leaned close and whispered, “Just promise me you’ll wear it later, when we’re alone. That’s my name in the old dragon language engraved on its surface and I want to see my name on your naked arm.”
He watched her trace the symbols. “I should be offended, but I’m assuming the other band has my name on it, aye?” Fraser nodded. “Then I want to see my name on your arm, too.”
“Good.” He kissed her gently. “But first, you need to claim me in front of my family to complete the mating ceremony.”
Holly lifted the larger silver arm band from the box and looked into his eyes again. “With this band, I take you as my mate, Fraser Moore MacKenzie. Aye, you’re attractive, but the reason I love you is for your humor, dedication to those you love, and stubbornness. Life will never be boring with you and I look forward to whatever adventures may lay ahead.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Anything else you’d like to add? Maybe about love?”
Holly rolled her eyes. “Of course I love you, you bloody man. Though I sometimes wonder why.”
Fraser tossed the box aside and plucked the band from Holly’s fingers before drawing her close. “Just ask me if I accept your claim and then I can kiss you properly.”
