Kellan smiled when he noticed the curve-hugging dress in a bronze color. The gown was strapless and floor length with a split up her right leg.
It was customary for Con to give the females a gift, a sort of welcome offering. Kellan was about to get angry until he saw a gleam of something through her hair. That’s when Kellan saw the long dangly earrings with large-faceted, smoky-quartz stones.
Kellan glanced at Con to find him looking. Kellan gave him a small nod to show he approved of the gift.
And then, finally, Denae reached him.
Kellan took her hand and they shared a smile as he walked her into the cavern that was used solely for binding ceremonies. He watched her eyes look upon the walls where the light from the torches reflected. He inwardly beamed when he heard her soft gasp as she spotted the intricate etchings of dragons of all sizes on the walls.
He brought her to a stop as they faced Constantine who stared at them for long moments while the others fell into place.
“We lived through eons without finding our mates, and yet here we are in another binding ceremony with Kellan and Denae. Denae has proven she is worthy of being mated to a Dragon King by her fighting a Dark Fae—and taking his arm.”
There was a loud cheer that made Kellan squeeze her hand. Denae beamed at him, her love shining in her eyes.
“Now, we will officially welcome Denae as mate to Kellan.” Con’s voice rang out in the cavern.
Kellan faced Denae and took both of her hands in his. It still boggled his mind that he had found Denae. What might have happened had she gone into another cave instead of his? He didn’t even want to think of it.
“Kellan, do you bind yourself to the human, Denae Lacroix?” Con asked. “Do you vow to love her, protect her, and cherish her above all others?”
“Most definitely,” he answered, causing Denae to flash him a bright smile.
“Denae,” Con said. “Do you bind yourself to the Dragon King Kellan, lord of the Bronzes? Do you swear to love him, care for him, and cherish him above all others?”
“I dare anyone to try to stop me,” she vowed.
Kellan wanted to kiss her right then, but he held her gaze instead. A second later, Denae’s eyes widened and her left arm jerked as the tattoo only a mate of a Dragon King bears was seared upon her flesh.
Denae looked down at her arm. Kellan couldn’t wait to run his fingers over the eye of the dragon and the flames surrounding it. The tat was about the size of Denae’s fist and done in the same red and black ink as his own tat.
“The proof of your vows and your love. There’s no turning back now,” Con told them. He then raised his voice to the crowd. “Denae is officially marked as Kellan’s!”
They were deafened by the cheers. Kellan pulled his mate into his arms. “There’s no escaping me now.”
“I never wanted to escape you,” she whispered seductively.
Kellan sealed their binding with a kiss that left her clinging to him.
EPILOGUE
MacLeod Castle
Charon strode into the castle and paused long enough to find Ian sitting at the long table with his wife, Dani. Ignoring calls of hello, Charon hurried to him.
“I need to talk to you,” Charon said as he stopped in front of Ian, the table separating them.
Ian’s brown gaze landed on him, a frown marring his features. “What is it?”
“It’s something private. Something you may want to hear without the others around.”
Ian rose and pulled Dani up beside him. “She comes.”
“Of course,” Charon said as he turned and retraced his steps. He only got halfway to the door when Fallon MacLeod stepped in front of him. It was but a beat later that the two other MacLeod brothers, Lucan and Quinn, stood on either side of Fallon.
“What’s going on?” Fallon asked.
Charon ran a hand down his face. The castle was the MacLeods’, and had been opened by them for any Warrior and Druid. Because of that, Fallon was the unofficial leader of the group.
“Charon,” Quinn urged.
Damn, but Charon didn’t want to lie. He had done enough of that to Quinn while they had both been in Deirdre’s control. But what he had to say was for Ian’s ears first. Afterward, it was Ian’s decision what he did.
Lucan put his hand on Charon’s shoulder. “You look like you have no’ slept in days. Is everything all right with Laura?”
“Aye,” Charon said and looked at the torc Lucan wore. All three MacLeod brothers wore the ancient necklaces given to them by their parents. “Everything is fine with Laura.”
“Then what is it?” Quinn asked.
Charon glanced over his shoulder to find Ian and Dani approaching. “I must tell Ian first. It’ll be his decision after that.”
Lucan’s sea green eyes were filled with worry. “Is there anything we can do?”
“Be here for him,” Charon said before he walked around the brothers and out the door.