Hannah hefted the knife in her hands, amazed how it immediately molded to her palm. It bonded to her as though it lived. She raised her head to meet Septamus’s knowing gaze.
“It will protect you, Guardian.”
“Thank you, Septamus.”
“And now for the joining,” Isla said, her voice ringing like a bell. “Taggart and Hannah, please face each other.”
Esme took the knife from Hannah and tucked it into the side of her dress against her ribcage. “It must always touch your skin to keep you safe. You must always keep it with you.”
“Thank you.” Hannah gave Esme a solemn smile, then turned back to Taggart.
“Taggart, reveal the mark for all to see.” Isla tipped her snout toward her son.
Reveal the mark? What mark?Hannah arched a brow at Taggart. She didn’t know if she liked the sound of that or not. Just what did revealing it entail? After a glance at the expectant faces, she backed up a step. “Reveal what mark?”
“Shh, easy now, m’love. Watch.” With a reassuring smile, he caressed her cheek with his thumb, then bent closer and blew a warm breath along the base of her throat and bare décolletage while tracing his fingertips along behind it.
Dark whirls and icons of an intricate, ornate script appeared across her skin. Much like a tattoo. Black-patterned writing. It felt as though it started at the base of her left ear, flowed down her throat and collarbone, and ended right between her breasts. Another mark, a black outline of a Draecna in flight, appeared on her right upper arm close to her shoulder.
She eyed the markings, blinking twice at the artistry appearing on her skin. “What is that?”
“My mark.” He opened his shirt to reveal identical symbols on his chest.
“I never saw this before.” She touched his markings, then ran her fingertips across hers, frowning at the raised edges running across her flesh.
“It is only visible if we wish it to be. Like today,” he explained.
“Beloved Guardian and now my daughter, this sacred mark of joining is Draecna tradition,” Isla said. “We Draecna only mate once. That is why it is called Eternity’s Mark. This is how Taggart implanted his DNA into your system so all know you to be his. It is irreversible. There is no question of fidelity with him.” Isla expanded her chest with pride and smiled at her son.
Its meaning made Hannah feel more loved than she ever felt before. She eyed Taggart, suddenly wondering what else he hadn’t told her. At least with her extended lifetime, she had an eternity to discover all his secrets.
He looked more pleased and proud than she ever remembered.
Isla looked over the couple’s heads to the gathered Draecna. “Do those gathered here accept the proof of Taggart’s mark?”
In unison, each Draecna in the room lifted their snout and blasted a brief burst of flames.
“Taggart of the bloodline of Cair Orlandis, your proof has been accepted.” Isla nodded in his direction and raised a golden brow when he failed to move. “Taggart?”
“William!” He hissed to the young Draecna sitting on the pew closest to the platform.
“Now?” William jumped as though Gearlach had just elbowed him in the ribs.
“Yes, William, now.”
William stumbled up the steps and planted a good-sized rock in Taggart’s outstretched hand. “Sorry,” he mumbled, turned back around, and tripped back to his seat.
“Bless him.” Hannah inwardly cringed as his scales flashed a bright shade of red. Her poor little Draecna, younger and more innocent than all the rest, he was having such a hard time growing up.
Taggart crumbled the rock and revealed two polished bands of a dark, lustrous metal. He slid one of them on her ring finger, smiling as it fit perfectly. “Draecna steel. Indestructible and pure. Just like my love for ye.”
The metal warmed around her finger and sent a surge of energypulsating through her. Fingers trembling, she blinked back the tears as she reached for the other ring and slid it on Taggart’s finger. As the ring settled in place, she lifted her gaze to his. “I never thought I would ever be happy again. I don’t know how you found me. But I am so very glad you did.”
Taggart leaned forward and accepted the gift of her kiss just as the ceiling exploded.
Taggart pushedHannah to the floor and covered her. “Septamus!” he roared as chunks of the cavern rained down all around. He couldn’t see through the clouds of exploding crystals. Another blast shook the platform as he assumed his Draecna form. Wings outspread, he shielded her from shards of gemstones pelting down like hail.
“How did they get into the caverns? I thought we were safe here?” She clung to him, cringing as debris bounced off his wings and covered the floor.
