“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. “OfcourseI’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.”
