Call of the Dragon (Return to Avalore Book 1) (34 page)

Yeah, she’d ticked the woman off. Well, too bad. This was her entire life they were talking about. “I’m more certain of this than I’ve ever been about anything.” She kept her eyes on the woman, not wanting to see the disapproving looks from her people.

“So be it. I hope, for all of our sakes, you know what it is you’re doing, my Queen.” The woman faced Broderick once more. “Broderick Gardiner, do you accept your mate’s request to invoke Elyssa’s Clause, knowing the risks involved in granting such a request?” Her disapproving tone made it clear she expected his answer to be no.

Silence stretched like the tension between them, thick and heavy until she was about ready to scream. His gaze searched the crowd, settling a short distance to Drake’s right before he straightened and answered. “I understand the risks involved, and though I have some very strong reservations, I do grant Queen Rhiannon the consent she seeks in order to invoke the clause.”

She could barely stand as relief washed over her. One stipulation down, and how many more to go? Her gaze locked with Drake as he made his way to the front of the crowd. The look on his face told her he wasn’t enjoying this any more than she was.

“It’s all right. We knew this was going to happen, remember? They’re going to try to join the two of you now.
” His jaw clenched even as he sent the reassuring message.

Swallowing hard, she turned to face the man who’d just given her the world, or at least the chance at getting it. What if The Elders were right and she ended up joined to this man? Her stomach turned, making bile rise in her throat.

“Very well. Please join hands.” The confident tone of the woman’s voice made Rhia’s heart race. The Elders were wrong. They had to be.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she placed her trembling hand into Brody’s larger one. Try as she might, she couldn’t manage a smile for the man who was going against his long-held beliefs in order to make her happy.

“It’s all right, my Queen.” He gave her fingers a little squeeze as he whispered for only her to hear. “If it’s any consolation to you, I don’t believe I’m your true mate either.” When her surprised gaze found his, he winked at her.

That
had
to mean something. He had to be telling her there was someone else he wanted to join. Her heart sped up and her stomach settled. She just had to figure out who it was.

Standing before them, the woman started weaving her hands in an intricate pattern starting at their heads and ending at their feet. The gold filigree on her tunic shone bright as she began to speak.

Rhia tried to concentrate on the words the woman was saying, but all she could hear was the deep rumble coming from the crowd. She wished she could reassure Drake, but nothing short of the failed joining would do that.

Colors swirled around her, encompassing Brody and the elder into the same cocoon of light with her, making her head spin and her stomach roll. Everyone and everything else disappeared, leaving the three of them alone for the remainder of the ritual. The woman’s hands wove more quickly, making the energy around them pulse and brighten. A bright flash left the woman’s hands, as her eyes rolled back and she muttered words in some ancient dialect Rhia had no hope of understanding, searing the back of Rhia’s right hand.

When she finished, the woman, her face serene and confident, took both of their hands and turned them to face the people of Avalore. The swirling light slowed and faded until Rhia was able to see the people around them again. Drake stood close to the platform, flames dancing in his eyes as he struggled against both Evan and Markus’ restraining hands. His deep guttural growl resonated loud over the din of the murmuring crowd.

“It’s okay, Drake. I don’t feel any different
.” The people closest to him took a few steps back as the rumbles continued.

“Show me your hand.”
The gravelly voice of the dragon slid into her mind.

She wasn’t the only one on the stage who heard the wicked sounding rumbles. The elder woman took one look at him, and without further delay held both Rhia and Brody’s hands up for all to see.

The loud gasp from the crowd followed immediately by disbelieving mumbles told her what she already knew. She and Brody weren’t joined. There was no marking on either of their hands, though the back of hers burned as though it had been kissed by fire.

Her eyes never left Drake as he looked from her hand to her face, and then back again as though needing reassurance that what he was seeing was right.

The woman, whose face had paled when she’d heard Drake growling, stepped forward to speak again. “Rhiannon, Queen of our people, the clause has been invoked. You may proceed in your attempts to find Broderick Gardiner’s true mate. Be advised, this is your task alone.”

“I understand. Thank you.” She couldn’t help but smile at Drake before she started trying to figure this out. He wasn’t smiling yet, but the fire in his eyes was gone.

Looking over the crowd, she realized what a monumental task she’d taken on. People, as far as she could see, stood watching and waiting. Many of them were women, most of which she knew were single, but they were too scattered for her to see if anyone stood out. And what if Brody’s mate wasn’t even there? Her heart pounded and her palms grew damp. Many Avalorians had moved from the city when her mother died. What if Brody’s mate was one of them? Her heart stuttered, but she pushed the fear aside.

Wanting to be closer to Drake, even though she couldn’t seek his help, she stepped to the edge of the platform nearest him. Taking a deep breath, she addressed the people—her people. “I thank you all for your patience as I try to sift through all of this. I ask for your understanding and cooperation as I try to find Brody’s real mate. The first thing I’d like to ask is for all the single women to please come forward. I have to be able to see you and speak to you in order to make my decision.”

Drake, along with the other men present, stepped aside to allow the women to come close. When the last woman arrived, Rhia studied each one before continuing. “As you all know, I’m pretty new to Avalore. Where I was raised, there was no such thing as a predestined mate, or at least if there was, it wasn’t something anyone knew of. We had the freedom to choose our husbands and whether or not we wanted to be married, or
joined
to them.”

All the while, her eyes moved from one woman to the other as they gathered at the front. “When I was found and returned to Avalore, it was that belief system which was ingrained in me. I don’t mean to disrespect the Avalorian traditions. I want everyone to understand
why
I’m doing this, and I hope when all is said and done, I
will
be joined with my true mate.” Her gaze drifted to Drake. “You see, when I was found in the land of men, my heart and soul, my very spirit knew I had found a part of myself which had been missing since the day I was born. It had found my true mate for me, and I fell in love.”

Watching the women as she spoke, she noted their posture and expressions. She pointed out six women, including Katie and Chantelle. “Would you please step aside? I don’t believe any of you ladies are meant for Brody.”

Katie winked at her, and Chantelle smiled as they rejoined the men.

“I’d ask at this time, for all of you to look deep into your hearts. If you do not feel this man, Broderick Gardiner, is your true mate, please step back. If there is even a
shadow
of a doubt, please remain where you are.”

Some of the women stepped back immediately while others took a few moments. One woman who had hesitated finally stepped back, eyes cast down, drawing her attention.

“Miss, please step forward.” The young woman lifted her gaze for a moment, the dropped it to the ground again. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name. If you don’t mind, I’d like for you to stay with the group before me.”

“My name is Monica, my Queen.” She spoke so softly Rhia almost didn’t hear her. She had no jewels around her neck or earrings to adorn her, but the pale blue dress she wore made her eyes stand out.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Monica.”

Seven women remained. One of them had to be Brody’s mate. Four of them she was able to dismiss without too much thought, and did so. They’d been more preoccupied with everything going on around them than what was actually happening. She took another deep breath. Her brothers and father all stood on the platform watching in silence. Had it not been for Markus, she might have had a hard time eliminating the fifth, but the look he gave the brunette standing beside Monica told her she wasn’t the other half of Brody’s soul.

Turning back to the women, she addressed the pretty brunette tying her brother up in knots. “Miss, thank you for your assistance, but I don’t believe you’re the one.”

The woman smiled and turned, glancing at Markus before rejoining the crowd.

In her heart, she knew whom she’d choose for Brody, but she had to be sure. The longer the moment stretched, the more the blonde woman’s smile strained, while Monica kept her gaze to the ground, her fingers twisting before her.

Rhia turned to look at him. Arms stiff at his sides, his jaw clenched. The tension radiating from him was palpable. She smiled at him, knowing what she had to do to determine which of the two women his true mate was. “I have two more questions and then I’ll be ready to announce my choice for Broderick’s mate.”

The elder woman nodded and waited as she continued.

“My first question is for you.” She addressed the blonde woman. “What’s your name, miss?”

“Lilly, my name is Lilly McNorton, my Queen.” Her fingers were white as she clasped them before her.

“Lilly, do you love Broderick Gardiner?”

The woman’s eyes grew wide. “I don’t know, Your Highness. I’ve never met him before.”

She turned to Monica, who trembled as she fought to keep her eyes from dropping to the ground. “Monica, your question is the same. Do you love Broderick Gardiner?”

Her small sob cut through the noise around them. Her wide eyes shot up to Brody. “Yes, your majesty, I love him.” Her words made Rhia’s heart soar.

“It’s settled, then. Lilly, I thank you for your help, but Monica is my choice.”

Lilly wasted no time in stepping away. Rhia could almost feel the woman releasing the breath she’d been holding.

“Please come onto the platform, Monica.” She wished she could have spent some time reassuring the timid girl, but time was not a luxury allowed during this process.

Instead of coming to stand with Rhia, she stepped over to where Brody stood, her fingers lost in the folds of her simple dress. His eyes shone as he smiled down at the woman. “Do you think you could be happy with a common girl like me instead of a queen, Brody?” Her fingers played with the pleats of her dress.

His bark of laughter surprised everyone. “Happy?” He grabbed her and kissed her hard, oblivious to the hooting and hollering coming from the crowd. Even one of The Elders grinned before he regained his composure.

“Please, Mr. Gardiner, restrain yourself. You are not yet joined.” The elder woman scowled and then tapped Brody’s shoulder when the kiss went on.

“I’m sorry. I got a little carried away.” He didn’t sound sorry. Rhia couldn’t help but snicker.

“Very well, let’s carry on.” She shooed Rhia to the side of the platform to stand with Drake who’d joined her father and brothers. He laced his fingers through hers as the ceremony began once more.

Both Monica and Brody smiled as the ritual words wove their magic around them. Their colors blended harmoniously as the woman weaved her hands before them. When all was done, a beautiful symbol shone on the backs of their joined hands, proving they were true predestined mates. Brody’s smile was contagious. He hooted, drawing laughs from the crowd, before taking his new wife in his arms, sealing their joining with another passionate kiss.

Rhia smiled at Drake who’d remained silent throughout the ceremony. “
So, Mr. Sperwell, are you ready? You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

“Changed my mind?”
He grinned down at her.
“Not in a million years. You look incredible, Rhiannon.”

Monica smiled and hugged her before she lost her nerve, and Brody shook Drake’s hand.

“Thank you, my Queen.” Monica whispered.

“Good luck.” Brody smiled as he took his new mate’s hand and headed down the stairs into the waiting crowd.

The elder woman took the center of the stage once more. “Queen Rhiannon. You have fulfilled the stipulations of the clause. If you have chosen a candidate to attempt a joining, now is the time to proceed.”

“I’m ready.”

“Come forward then, child.” The woman gestured for her to take her place where she’d been standing with Brody. “Please name your intended mate.”

“I name Drake Sperwell of the Dragon lineage, ma’am, as my chosen mate.” Her voice quivered as she spoke the words.

“Please step forward, Mr. Sperwell.”

Joining her, Drake lifted her right hand to his lips for a tender kiss before turning to face the woman.

“I love you, Drake.”
Excitement made her entire body tremble. This was it. She was going to marry the man of her dreams.

“I love you, too. More than you could ever imagine, Rhia.”