“The humans are nervous of her. The women we pass are pushing their children behind them as if Jenny might bite.”
“Do they have problems with wolves?”
“It’s possible those who farm struggle to keep their livestock safe from wolves. We’ll keep Jenny close to err on the safe side.”
“What will we do with her while we visit the castle? I don’t expect a wolf roaming the halls will excite your parents.”
“I’d considered that already,” Leo said. “Allen and his family might keep her. They fenced their yard to keep the children safe, which would work for Jenny. If not, one of my friends will mind her. This is the church,” Leo said, ushering her onto another cobblestone road.
“Are we sure the minister will keep our secret?” Gwenyth asked. “What if one of your family questions him? If they discover our lies, everything we’ve done will be for naught.”
“The minister is my friend. I did him a favor several years ago, and if we explain, I believe he’ll help.”
Gwenyth sucked in a quick breath, her imagination conjuring the minister’s appalled reaction and worse… “What if your parents kill me? They could. Right?”
Leo’s jaw tightened. “They might try,” he conceded. “Which is why I’ll never leave you alone while we’re inside the castle. If I’m unable to protect you, I’ll leave you with a trusted friend.”
“What if your friends disapprove of me?”
“It’s none of their business.” Leo grasped her arm and led her through a hip-high wooden gate.
The church was a stone building and similar to many of the English churches on the mainland with a bell tower and stained glass windows. Its square angles and towers reminded her of the medieval era.
“Have the humans been here as long as the dragons?”
“Most are descendants of the original humans. Some of them come from Viking stock, and others descend from sailors who wrecked their ships during smuggling runs. Once the Druids helped us to protect our islands and made them invisible, the humans became trapped here.”
“Didn’t that worry them?”
“Most were outlaws in their own countries or ran businesses outside of the law,” Leo said. “From my experience, the humans seem happy with their lot. There is plenty for them to do and keep busy. Most of them work hard.”
“Could the human sector have anything to do with the break in the invisibility?”
“I’ve pondered reasons. It was a small window.” He frowned. “At least, that’s my supposition. The break might have existed for some time, or it might have occurred for mere minutes, and my finding you was sheer luck.”
“Excellent for me.” An involuntary shudder shook Gwenyth’s shoulders. “I would’ve drowned. You said I was unconscious.”
“Maybe we’re meant to be together. Fate.” Leo knocked on the large wooden double doors. When nothing happened, he opened the door on the right and tugged Gwenyth inside.
The interior of the church seemed dark, and it took seconds for her eyes to adjust enough to spot the altar. Her gaze lifted to the colorful rose window in teal, blue, and violet with a yellow center depicting a robed woman.
“Allen, are you here?” Leo called.
Footsteps sounded, somewhere from her left, and a tall, thin man appeared from a doorway. He wore black trousers, a plain white shirt, and a minister’s collar. “Leo? What are you doing here?”
“This is Gwenyth Jones, my fiancée,” Leo said, giving her a surname without a blink. “If you have time, we’d like you to marry us.”
Allen cocked his head and stared from Gwenyth to Leo. “Rumor says you’re betrothed to a dragon from Smoking Isle.”
“Rumor is wrong. Gwenyth and I met, and that was it for me. I’ve always scoffed at love at first sight, but Gwenyth…” Leo’s face softened, and even she believed he adored her. “We fell in love, and we’d like to formalize our relationship.”
The furrows in Allen’s forehead deepened. “We haven’t called the banns.”
“I’m a dragon,” Leo countered. “We don’t adhere to human rules.”
The minister turned to Gwenyth, his gaze drilling into her as if to ascertain her genuine opinion. “What say you about the banns business? You are a human, are you not?”
Gwenyth straightened. “I love Leo. I’m no longer a youthful woman, and until Leo came along, I’d almost given up on finding Mr. Right. Leo is an admirable man. He’s honest and hardworking. He’s a decent dragon who never treats humans as if they’re inferior. I’d need to search a long time to discover a man of Leo’s equal.”
