Sid smiled and came over to give one of her rare hugs. “I’m so glad you’ve found your mate, Emily. I always sensed he wasn’t on Stonefire, but knew better than to meddle.”
Gregor also gave her a hug. “Aye, well, she was waiting for her own Scot. We make the best mates, after all.”
Sid rolled her eyes. “There are plenty of fine dragonmen elsewhere, Gregor.”
“Few and far between, Cassidy.”
He winked, and Sid battled a smile.
Someone else knocked on the door, and as soon as Emily said enter, her friend Alice Darby rushed in.
Emily and Alice had known each other online for a long time, but had rarely spent time together in person. They’d both been in the same dragon appreciation groups back in the day, and even if they rarely got to hang out in real life, they still kept in touch. That she was here in person made the day that much more special.
Alice grinned at her. “Look at you, getting a dragonman of your own before me.”
She shrugged. “It’s not like I planned it this way.”
Her friend hugged her. “Of course not, but I’m allowed to tease you. I hear there’s a charming dragonman here looking for a mate. Maybe he’s meant for me?”
Gregor snorted. “Roman Baillie, no doubt. That lad has a reputation, even on Lochguard.”
And since Gregor was originally from Clan Lochguard, Emily guessed he’d heard of Roman before.
Alice waved a hand in dismissal. “There’s no harm in flirting and dancing with him. Besides, I don’t have time for a mate right now. The Department of Dragon Affairs is running me ragged.”
She was about to ask what Alice was up to now—she was usually pretty cagey about her jobs over the years, although had shared they were all related to dragon-shifters—but there was another knock before Seahaven’s clan leader, Euan, poked his head inside the room. “It’s time, Emily. If you’re ready?”
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “More than ready.”
He smiled and offered his arm. “Then let me take you to the gathering.”
Since Seahaven didn’t have a great hall, like on Stonefire or Lochguard, they’d constructed a big tent to host the visitors and for the celebration.
She looked at Sid, Gregor, and Alice. “I’m glad you’re all here. I’ll see you at the celebration afterwards?”
Sid bobbed her head. “Of course. Now, go mate your dragoman, Emily, and start the next chapter of your life.”
Alice nodded. “I can stay for a bit before I have to leave. I wish I could stay longer…”
Emily shook her head. “Don’t worry about it, I know how busy you are. Just be careful with Roman and the other single dragon-shifters.”
Alice winked. “Not too careful, because where’s the fun in that?”
Emily laughed and then took Euan's proffered arm. They walked out of the cottage she’d used to get ready and headed toward the large, white tent in the distance.
Thankfully, Euan didn’t fill the time with small talk. She liked the clan leader, but as her heart pounded and her palms sweated a little, she knew she wouldn’t make for a good conversation partner right now.
Mainly because she kept wondering if Cam would still be as excited to have her if they weren’t true mates.
Stop it, Emily. He loves you, and you love him. Cam’s shown it over and over again, leaving zero doubt. He won’t care.
Before she could fret too much more, they reached the tent. And when she spotted Cam waiting for her on a small dais, her worries melted away. The way he looked at her, as if she were precious and loved and beautiful, made her grin at him.
This was her dragonman, no matter what fate said.
And given how she was becoming part of Clan Seahaven, who all liked to steer their own fates, she thought it rather fitting.
She barely noticed those in attendance, not even the clan leaders and their mates in the front row, as her eyes were solely for her dragonman. And when she was nearly to the small, raised dais, Euan released her so she could walk up to Cam.
