Bram projected his voice. “Evie Marie Marshall, today I take you as my mate. You are clever and brave with an inner strength rivaling any dragon-shifter. I offer you my mate claim today in front of the clan. Will you accept it?”
Evie stood tall and offered her upper left arm. “Of course I accept.”
Good lass. Grinning at his brave mate, he slipped the silver cuff around her arm. The sight of his name on her arm satisfied a primal need deep inside him. Later, he would claim much more than her arm.
Evie reached behind them to take the large silver cuff engraved with “Evie’s” in the old language. Holding it up, her voice was loud and steady as she said, “Bram Moore-Llewellyn, I love you and not just because you’re clan leader, although that is a bonus.” A chuckle went through the room. Leave it to his lass to lig
hten the mood. She continued, “I love you because you are a strong, caring, and stubborn dragonman who never gives up. I accepted your mate claim. Now, will you accept mine?”
He turned his arm without the tattoo toward her. “Of course, bloody woman, now hurry up. I want everyone to see your name on my arm.”
Evie grinned as she placed the cuff on his bicep. His dragon crooned. I approve of our mate’s name on our arm. We should never take it off.
We’ll discuss that later.
Bram took Evie’s hands in his, brought them to his lips, and kissed each one in turn. Then he tugged her close and stopped a hairbreadth away from her lips. His whisper was meant only for her as he said, “Shall we put on a good show and convince them how in love we are?”
“Oh, Bram, there’s no need for a show. One taste of me and you lose your mind.”
He squeezed her tightly. “I rather thought it was the other way around.”
“Just kiss me. I love you and want this to be over so we can celebrate both with the clan and with each other.”
Bram whispered, “I love you,” before taking her lips in a possessive kiss. Uncaring about who was watching, Bram made sure everyone in the room knew Evie was his.
Or, at least, he claimed her as thoroughly as possible while they both still had their clothes on. That possession would come later.
Epilogue
Two days later
Evie was typing out a chapter on her current work in progress, Understanding the UK Department of Dragon Affairs, when Bram came into the room carrying Murray in one arm and a stack of newspapers in the other.
Her heart rate kicked up. The articles about their mating ceremony had finally arrived.
She rubbed her hands against her trousers before turning from the computer. “Did you read them? What did they say? Are riots breaking out in the streets?”
The corner of Bram’s mouth ticked up. “Riots in the street, love? It’s just some bloody newspaper articles about our mating.”
“Now is not the time to tease me, Bram. I’m pregnant and my hormones are not amused.”
He shook his head as he bounced their son in his arm. “You need to come up with a better excuse. That one is becoming a tad old.”
With a sound of frustration, Evie stood up and took the papers from Bram’s hands. “I’ll find out myself, then.”
As she scanned the first newspaper, her stomach churned, warning her that if she didn’t sit down, she’d be losing her breakfast.
When Bram’s look turned into one of concern, she knew she must be pale. Her mate’s teasing tone was gone. “Are you all right, love? Should I get the trash bin?”
Shaking her head, she moved toward the sofa. “I just need to sit down.”
Plopping down on the sofa, she closed her eyes and breathed in and out until the queasiness subsided. Once she no longer felt like throwing up, she opened her eyes to find Bram standing in front of her. He asked, “Are you better, love?”
She waved a hand. “I’m fine. Just let me read the papers.”
She barely noticed Bram sitting down next to her as she read the first few paragraphs:
Saturday saw a monumental event in modern British history. For the first time, journalists were welcomed onto a dragon-shifter’s land to witness a mating ceremony, which is the equivalent of a marriage between humans. The event took place near the Lake District, on the lands belonging to Clan Stonefire.