Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,59
the skies. I will be your knight and I will work the rest of my life to be worthy of you.”
Nellin trumpeted his joy, his movements dislodging Mace and Krysta, who stood and came to Drake’s side.
“Does this mean what I think it does?” Krysta asked breathlessly.
He pulled her close and kissed her while Mace laughed. “We’ve just witnessed the making of a knight. And about damn time too.”
Mace pounded Drake on the back and congratulated Jenet too, his eyes bright with what Drake suspected were tears. Drake knew there were tears of joy running down his own cheeks, but he didn’t care. The moment was too special.
“Brace yourself now,” Jenet warned, a split-second before the rush of her power hit him like a wave, cresting and breaking over him, reshaping his very soul. He felt the pathways that had always joined them snap into place even more firmly and blow wide open. He didn’t know for a moment where she began and he ended, so close was the bond between the dragon and himself.
Drake would have dropped to his knees if Mace and Krysta hadn’t been there to prop him up. He was stunned by the well of power within the dragon, now shared with him in that blinding moment of revelation. He had only a glimpse of her vast strength and it humbled him. It was something he would remember all his life.
“Drake?” Krysta asked, concern in her lovely gray eyes.
“I’m all right. But I think I know a little bit about how you felt earlier when the gryphon’s magic bowled you over. Damn, baby!” He turned to Jenet and hugged her with the arm that wasn’t still holding Krysta. “You pack a wallop.”
They all laughed then, joy bubbling over as the three humans hugged, surrounded and embraced by the dragons’ twining necks.
“Now comes the hard part,” Krysta said as their exuberance died down a bit. “How exactly do we all bond and what does it mean?”
“That’s really the easy part, my dear.” Drake wiggled his eyebrows. “And the most fun. If you’re willing.”
“You mean—?”
Mace wrapped an arm around her waist. “The dragons will seal their troth. They will take to the air in a mating flight, bonding them—and us—fully, as we join them, by joining with you. Both of us, at the same time, will make you our mate.”
“You want to marry me? Both of you?”
Krysta’s breath caught in her throat.
“I know most women prefer to have the full ceremony, surrounded by friends and family, but I regret we haven’t the option. If you bond with us now, we can always have a party later, when we return home, if you wish it.” Mace was so serious, so earnest, she reached up to kiss him.
“You’re forgetting, I’m Jinn. My family will give you a party whether you want one or not.”
Drake joined in her laughter. “She’s right about that. The Jinn will throw a party on any excuse.”
“Then we can marry now, among ourselves, and seal our bonds.” Mace was still serious, but that was his way. “I could not love you any more if we had a hundred witnesses to our vows.”
“You love me?” Her heart nearly melted at the tenderness in the fierce knight’s eyes.
Mace dropped to one knee before her. “That I do. Forgive me, but I didn’t have the courage to tell you before. My heart is yours, Krysta, if you’ll have it. For the rest of my days.”
“Oh, Mace!” She reached down and kissed him, tears of joy mingling between their lips.
When she drew back, Drake was there, his expression sheepish. “I know it’s sudden, and a giant step to take when we’ve never even been intimate—”
“You haven’t?” Mace interrupted with a cocky grin.
Drake looked over at him, annoyed as Mace got to his feet. “No, we haven’t. Not that it’s any business of yours.”
“Hot damn! I finally came first at something.”
“Hey!” Krysta objected, but laughingly, at being a point of contention and competition between the two men.
“No disrespect intended, my dear.” Mace was quick to assure her, though the grin hadn’t left his face. “It’s just such a novel experience.”
“Would you shut up, please?” Drake shot Mace a pained look. “I’m trying to propose here.”
“What do you know? I beat you to that as well. My luck is looking up!” Mace shied away from the fist thrown negligently in his direction and wisely closed his mouth though his lips still curved in a wide smile.
Drake dropped to one knee, holding Krysta’s