Lord of Chaos (The Dragon Demigods #7) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,88

like that plan.” We kiss again. I can’t believe this is happening. What if Rage is doing this just to make me happy? He’s sweet like that. “Then again, maybe we should wait until morning. Sleep on it.”

He chuckles and starts up the engine.

“Why are you laughing? This is a big decision.”

“We can do the whole wait and think on it thing.” He nods.

“It’s just that I want you to be really sure,” I tell him.

“I’ve been sure for a long time, Nia. Almost from the moment you first stalked me.”

I gasp, “I did not stalk you!”

“You so did. Then you begged me for sex. I’m glad you continued the trend of pushy behavior and asked me to marry you.”

“Rage!” I’m laughing. “Stop! If you weren’t behind the wheel, I’d hit you.”

“I might enjoy a little spanking.” He winks at me.

I laugh harder. “I’m sure you would.”

His demeanor softens. “I love you.”

My heart is bursting. I don’t think I could be happier.

29

Rage

Three months later…

The fire is burning. We’re all squeezed around a huge table that is still somehow too small. “Newlyn,” Nia’s father says. “Pass me the tatws. Hey! Newlyn!” He cups his hands over his mouth, still holding his knife and fork.

Everyone is talking among themselves. Newlyn is talking to…Iwan…is that Iwan next to him? I’m pretty sure it is. He’s in the middle of a story. His accent is so thick and littered with so much Celtic I have no idea what he’s saying. I’d better learn, since Nia and I are going to be married in two days. The rest of my boys are here too. Everyone who matters most in the world to Nia and me. They’re staying in town. We’re getting married on the cliff next to the ocean. The reception will be held at the Hound’s Tooth.

“Here, Tad.” One of the others leans over and grabs the bowl of potatoes, passing them to his father. I can’t remember his name. Nia and I have been here for a day already, and I’m still getting it wrong. I’m grateful that only six of her nine brothers are here, or I’d be in even more trouble. Although three of them are here with their girlfriends, and one of them has a wife. The room is packed.

“Thank you, son,” Nia’s dad says. His name is Danial, which is easy enough…thank god.

I glance at my fiancée. I see the ring glinting on her finger. Having her say yes was the best day of my life. I know, I’m a sap. It can’t be helped. The good news is that we’ve never been happier. Nia looks up. I smile at her and give her a wink. She smiles back, but I can see she’s tense. She hasn’t been herself for the last day or two. I’m not sure why.

Nia’s mother is sitting next to her. She’s beaming. She insisted I call her Mam even though Nia and I aren’t married yet. She reminds me a lot of Nia, only there are a few strands of gray running through her hair, her hips are a little more flared, and her breasts are ginormous. I told Nia that if she looks anything like her mother when she gets older, I have a lot to look forward to. I was rewarded with a dirty look, a slap, and then a giggle. We proceeded to have silent sex on account of the house being full of people. My mind was blown. I’m so deeply in love with this woman that it’s scary.

Nia and her mam exchange a few words while I try hard to understand what the others around the table are saying. I’m catching bits and pieces of conversation. Nia stands and excuses herself. I see she hasn’t finished eating. Instead of heading for the bathroom as I expected, she disappears into the kitchen.

“Nia was saying that you’re back at school, Rage.” It’s the youngest of the brothers by a whole hour. I can’t imagine a woman having to give birth to six babies, all within an hour. It boggles my mind.

“Yes.” I nod. “Law school, actually…I started a couple of weeks ago.”

“Clyfar dyn,” Nia’s dad says.

“Danial says you’re intelligent,” Mam says. “Our Padrig is at the University. He’s studying to become an engineer.”

I smile, panicking a little inside because, despite my photographic memory, I’m never going to remember all of these names. I might be a little on the nervous side. To think that I grew up with only my mom.