The Dragon Finds Forever
Pandora nodded to the chapel ushers. In one graceful motion, they opened the double doors.
Monalisa drew in a breath when she saw Van. She couldn’t imagine a man looking better in a tux than he did right now. So handsome and strong and perfect. And that man was about to become her husband. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. It was almost impossible to comprehend.
He turned, and when he saw her, he swallowed hard. The muscles in his jaw tightened as if he was trying to rein in his emotions. A second later, he smiled and let out a soft, happy laugh as he shook his head like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
She wanted to remember the look on his face for the rest of her life. She walked slowly toward him, smiling through a thin veil of happy tears, the only veil she wore because she hadn’t wanted one between them. Everything about the moment felt wonderful and surreal. Pandora and Willa went off to the left, and Monalisa stepped up onto the small dais to take her place beside Van.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered. “So beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She took a breath, inhaling the comfortable smokiness that wafted off him. It calmed her almost as much as him being at her side. “You’re very handsome.”
The officiant cleared his throat, beaming an indulgent smile at them. “Are you both ready?”
Van glanced at her, and she nodded. He stared up at the officiant. “We are.”
“Then let us begin.” The music softened. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to wed this man and this woman in the bond of—”
“Like hell you are.”
Monalisa spun around at the same time Van did, her blood cold at the sound of an all-too-familiar voice. “Father. What are you doing here?”
“Stopping this sham.” He strode toward them, eyes blazing in anger. The head of his security team, Sean, stayed by the door. “What kind of a trick do you think you’re pulling?”
“No trick.” Rage and fear stormed inside her, causing her to tremble. “I am marrying the man I love.”
“No, you’re not.” He didn’t even look at Van. “You’re coming home with me. Where you belong.”
Van stepped off the dais and into Padraig’s personal space, giving her father no choice but to notice the dragon shifter. “She belongs wherever she wants to belong. And right now, that’s with me.”
Her father was much shorter than Van and weighed a significant amount less, but that didn’t seem to bother him. Of course, her father was used to people doing whatever he told them, regardless of their size. “Get out of my way.”
Van crossed his arms. The tuxedo jacket strained against his back and biceps. “Nyet.”
Padraig threw his head back and let out a chilling laugh. “Big and dumb. You fighters are all the same, but then, I don’t know why I expected different.” He tried to wave Van away. “Enough. You’ve made a valiant effort. Now move.”
Van stared the man down. “Get scorched.”
Monalisa shook her head. “I’m not going with you.”
Padraig glared at her. “I can make you. I will make you. This is your last chance to come under your own power.”
“Touch her and I will touch you,” Van said. Wisps of smoke curled from the sides of his mouth, and little shimmers of heat wavered off him. “And not gently.”
Another short laugh broke from Padraig’s throat, this one with a nervous tremor that hadn’t been there before. “I don’t need to touch her.” He reached out his hand toward her. “Let’s go, Monalisa.”
“No.” The back of her head started to ache. She braced herself for it to get worse.
“Bollocks.” He rolled his eyes. “What a right mess you’ve made of everything.”
“You made the mess by refusing to give me my freedom.”
“You wouldn’t know what to do with it. Look at you now, in that silly dress in this tourist trap of a chapel. You couldn’t look more desperate if you tried.”
A deep, feral rumble vibrated out of Van’s chest. His lip curled back. “Apologize.”
Padraig snorted, but that was the extent of his answer. “Monalisa, I command you to come home now.”
The pain in her head increased. She stepped off the dais, her arm brushing Van’s. She planted herself directly in front of her father in the hopes that she could keep Van from doing something they’d regret later. The last thing she wanted was for her father to have reason to detain Van. “You are a horrible little man. I hate you.” The words barely made it out between her clenched teeth.
Her father grabbed her elbow and tried to guide her toward the door. “You’ll thank me in the morning when you realize what I’ve saved you from.”
She jerked away from him. “No, I won’t. I won’t ever thank you for anything. Do you hear me? Because I don’t think you do.” She pointed at Van. “That man right there loves me more than you ever have and more than you ever will. You’re not saving me from anything, you’re ruining my life. Again. But that’s what you do best, isn’t it? Destroy things.”
He stared at her, the hard glint in his gaze a sign of his anger. “I destroy things? Girlie, you’ve forgotten who you are and what you do best.”
He looked at Van. “You know that about her, don’t you? That’s what she does. Destroy people. Lead them to ruin. And you, fool that you are, were about to marry her. Sure, it’s all very cute, the dragon saving the princess, but in the cold light of day, regret is all you’d be left with. Come to think of it, maybe it’s you that should be thanking me.”