Her Mad Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 15) (16 page)

“Sorry. Did I wake you?”

“No. Yes. Well, the alarm was going off but I was ignoring
it,” she gave her best tired chuckle and moved out of the way. “Sorry about
that. We were out late decorating. Come on in. I hear Dell starting the
coffee.”

“Oh, I don’t want to be a bother. I was just sent with
this.”

Walking around the breakfast bar, she looked at the small,
blue velvet box and card Niall placed on the granite surface. She immediately
recognized the handwriting on the front as Maddox’s and asked, “What has he
done now?” as she looked up at the Elder Healer.

Shrugging, Niall winked. “I have no clue. I am merely the
messenger. And I’m to tell you he will see you as soon as the sun sets.” Then
looking over her shoulder he called to Della, “But I would take a cup of
coffee, please, ma’am.”

Calysta smirked as Della blushed. It was obvious she had
feelings for Niall and that those feelings were reciprocated, but the two of
them were acting like teenagers who’d never been on a date.

Deciding to worry more about her mating ceremony and less
about her sister’s love life, the Priestess took the mug Della handed her,
added cream and sugar, and after blowing a bit of the steam away, took a long,
luscious sip. Closing her eyes as the wonderful liquid made its way through her
system, she sighed. “Thank you, Dell. You’re a lifesaver.”

When no answer came, Calysta opened her eyes to find herself
alone in the kitchen with the sound of whispered voices coming from the dining
room.

None of my business…

Looking back at the counter, the Priestess picked up the
card, opened the envelope, and read the heartwarming inscription from her mate
.
I would mate you a thousand times over, Calysta St. Kroix-MacQueen. Today,
tomorrow, forever, I will love you until the sun no longer shines, the stars
fall from the sky, and the angels call us home to the Heavens.
Is tú mo
chroí, mo ghrá, mo gach rud.
Maddy

Opening the velvet box, Calysta gasped when she saw a pair
of aquamarine and diamond earrings, exact matches to her ring. The exquisite
princess-cut stone was surrounded by smaller diamonds and set in a spectacular
platinum post setting. Tears ran down her cheeks as she quickly put them on,
vowing to never take them off for as long as she lived.

Making her way upstairs, the Priestess called to her sister.
“Dell, sorry to bother you, but can you come help me with my hair.”

“Be right there, Cal,” Della immediately replied, sounding
perturbed but trying to hide it.

Calysta knew they had about six hours until they needed to
leave and hated to interrupt what sounded like a serious conversation, but she
really did need her sister’s help and most of all, didn’t want Niall upsetting
Della. She’d been watching out for her younger sister for over a century and no
one got to mess with her. If they did, they answered to the Grande Priestess.
About thirty minutes later, Della appeared in Calysta’s room with a bright
smile and twinkle in her eye. 

“So, anything you need to tell me?” the Priestess inquired
while watching her sister pick pretend lint from her gown and avoid eye
contact.

“Nope, everything’s good.” Then quickly changing the
subject, Della asked, “What are you doing with your hair.”

Okay, she needs some space…

Moving on but making a mental note to revisit her line of
questioning when Della was more relaxed and maybe had had a few cocktails,
Calysta explained, “I was thinking long and full with the simple crown of
butterfly blue delphinium buds and baby’s breath you made for me. How does that
sound?”

Her sister hugged her shoulders from behind and squealed,
“Oh, that’s sounds beautiful and thank you for wearing the crown.”

Smiling and holding Della’s hands where they were clasped
just under her chin, Calysta breathed, “You are so welcome, Dellie. Thank you
for making it.”

The next few hours flew by and before the sisters knew it,
it was time for them to leave. Hand in hand, they walked out the door and into
the carriage Maddox had sent for them. Calysta had told him at least ten times
it wasn’t necessary but he would not hear of her walking to the garden, so
she’d finally relented.

They arrived just as the sun disappeared behind the
mountains and waited until Kyra and the girls lit the candles before exiting
the carriage. Walking to the gate at the very back of the garden, Calysta saw
all their family and friends sitting on the benches Royce and his brothers
placed earlier in the afternoon. She grinned as she saw the bows on the end of
each bench and imagined the O’Reilly brothers complaining about having to
‘decorate’.

Della kissed her on the cheek and walked into the garden,
taking her place just outside the arch. Calysta noted the six other witches of
the Council sitting on the front row with their backs so straight and stiff
they looked like statues. She envisioned their scowls and smiled to herself.
Today was her day with her mate; not even Agatha Montage could ruin it.

The sound of footsteps alerted the Priestess to Maddox’s
arrival. Looking to her right, she caught sight of her mate and had to struggle
to breathe. During their first ceremony, he’d looked absolutely dashing in his
surcoat and dress blacks, but today he wore a black Armani suit she’d had
tailored just for him with a stark white dress shirt which, at her request,
he’d left open at the collar and a smile that was so full of love, Calysta
thought her heart might burst on the spot.

He’d pulled his long dirty blonde curls away from his
ruggedly handsome face and secured it with the black leather cord she’d given
him just last week. His expertly trimmed beard accentuated his very kissable
lips and strong jawline that she knew for a fact was absolutely edible. His
suit outlined the amazing physique Calysta knew lie underneath with such
precision that her heart raced and her body warmed with the need to be near
him.

Solomon appeared at his place inside the archway and gave
her a single nod. Claire and Olive began to sing
When I Fall in Love
by
Nat King Cole. Calysta hadn’t thought she needed music but the girls insisted,
and she had to admit they had beautiful voices and the song they’d picked
perfectly described how she felt about her dragon.

Making her way down the aisle, she finally noticed Kayne
standing beside Maddox, serving as his best man just as Della was her maid of
honor. She smiled at the demi god but immediately looked back to her mate, the
only man she would ever have eyes for.

Taking the last step separating her from her dragon, Calysta
breathed a sigh of relief when Maddox took her hands in his. Solomon’s low
melodic baritone filled the garden as he began to officiate. “We welcome the
Goddess of All the Universe and all other benevolent deities to this ceremony
of love and tradition that will bind together Calysta Angelica St.
Kroix-MacQueen and Maddox Christopher MacQueen in body, mind, heart, and spirit
for the rest of eternity.”

“We in what you call the Earth Witch or Wiccan community are
of a long and royal bloodline. We believe in the balance of the light and the
dark. The love of two souls designed by the Universe to complete one another
and the truth, honor, and fairness of all the Goddess’ creatures. We welcome
each of you to this sacred place of peace and tranquility where we are
surrounded by the flora and fauna and the elements of our world. Today, you
will serve as witnesses to the majesty that occurs when a couple becomes one.” 

“This ceremony is a celebration of the joining of two souls
already attuned to one another by the Universe who gives us all life. The true
bond between these two souls is so powerful, so all-encompassing, that it is
only fitting they make an outer acknowledgement, as well. Each of you, the
people this couple holds most dear, are here to bear witness to the vow of love
and commitment Calysta and Maddox, who are already one in spirit, make to one
another.”

“I now ask, who has the honor of presenting this woman to be
joined with this Guardsman?”

“I do, as her sister and with the blessing of her daughter
and the Council of Witches to which we all pledge our loyalty and allegiance,”
Della answered, the abundance of pride in her voice making Calysta turn and
smile at her.

“Thank you, Della St. Kroix and Kyra St. Kroix-O’Reilly.
Your love and blessing will lift this couple up and hold them tight against any
and all storms they may weather,” Solomon smiled to the audience then looked
back to Calysta before continuing and speaking to both her and Maddox.

“Your lives are irrevocably intertwined. You have formed
ties between one another. Know that you are not only declaring your intent to
be bound together forever before your friends and family, but you speak that
intent to the Universe and the Goddess with the full conviction of your hearts.
The promises made today and the ties that you bound will only strengthen your
union. They will cross the years and lives of each soul’s growth. Is it my
understanding and that of this gathering that you seek to enter this union?”

Looking into one another’s eyes, they answered in unison,
“Yes, with all our hearts.”

Solomon beamed as his voice took on an even richer, more
loving tone as he went on, “In times past it was believed the soul shared
characteristics with all things divine. This belief assigned virtues to
elements of the East, South, West, and North. Today we give this couple and
their bond the Blessing of the Four Corners. Blessed be this union with the
bounties of the East. Communication of the heart, mind, and body between this
man and this woman. Fresh beginnings with the rising of each sun and new day.
The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences and the blending
of homes. Blessed be this union with the bounties of the South. Warmth of
hearth and home and protection of one’s mate. The heat of the heart’s passion
to light love’s fire. The light created by both these souls forever joined to
lighten the darkest of times. Blessed be this union with the bounties of the
West. The deep commitments of the waters of the lake. The swift flowing
excitement of the rapid river. The refreshing cleansing power of the rain from
above. The all-encompassing passion of the bold and boundless sea. Blessed be
this union with the bounties of the North. Give them a firm foundation on which
to build their home. Bestow fertility of the fields to enrich and nourish their
lives. A stable home and hearth to which they may always return and always find
comfort. Each of these blessings from the Four Corners emphasizes what is
fundamental to build a happy and successful union. Remember they are only the
tools that you, Calysta and Maddox, must use together in order to create what
you seek in this life and the next.”

“Calysta, daughter of my heart, please present the rings.”

Her hands were shaking so badly that it took two tries for
her to get the platinum bands from her silk pouch. She grinned at the surprised
look on Maddox’s face when he saw them and chuckled under her breath when he
teased,
“You are a very sneaky little witch,”
directly into her mind. 

“Circles represent eternity,” Solomon said, “love – the
creative force that binds us together, the force that gives new life – is
everlasting. I cleanse and bless these rings.”

Solomon passed the rings through the smoke of the eternity
candle that was burning on the stand to his right. Then he said, “Maddox, mate
of the daughter of my heart, I have not the right to bind thee to Calysta, only
you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your
ring on her finger.”

Calysta held her breath as Maddox took her band and said
with a conviction that made her knees weak, “It is my wish,” and slid the band
on her finger just above the ring he’d given her a few months ago.

Solomon’s voice brought her back to the present when he
asked, “Calysta, if it be your wish for Maddox to be bound to you, place the
ring on his finger.”

 She slid the ring on her mate’s left ring finger, thrilled
that it fit, and smiled up at her handsome dragon as she said, “It is my wish.”

Her godfather looked out on their guests and said, “Do you,
the ones Calysta and Maddox hold most dear, witness and acknowledge this
union?”

Tears filled her eyes as everyone, even Agatha said, “We
do.”

Nodding, Solomon whispered and winked, “Only a few more
questions, you two.” Then for all to hear he asked, “
Do you, Maddox, take Calysta to be your mate? Will you be her constant
friend, her partner in life, and her one true love for all time? Will you love
her without reservation, protect her from harm, comfort her in times of
distress, grow with her in mind and spirit, and give your life to save hers
should the need arise?” 

“Yes, always and forever, I
will do all these things. With all my heart I love and cherish you, my one true
mate, Calysta Angelica.” Maddox’s voice cracked, which made one of the tears
she’d been working so hard to hold back roll down her cheek.

Her dragon’s eyes grew big
and he squeezed her hands, but Calysta only shook her head and smiled before
answering through their bond,
“Happy tears, my love, all happy tears.”

She felt as much as saw his relief when Solomon began again,
“
Do you, Calysta, take Maddox to be your mate?
Will you be his constant friend, his partner in life, and his one true love for
all time? Will you love him without reservation, protect him from harm, comfort
him in times of distress, grow with him in mind and spirit, and give your life
to save his should the need arise?” 

Opening her mouth to speak,
Calysta had to stop and take a calming breath before the words would come out,
but when she did, it was with all the love in her heart. “Yes, always and
forever, I will do all these things. With all my heart I love and cherish you,
my one true mate, Maddox Christopher.”