Nikki snorted. "Don't be modest. You look fantastic, so own it."
Zain frowned at his fellow Protector. "You seem fairly chummy already."
Nikki shrugged. "We came to a sort of understanding. Maybe you should try it, too."
He was about to growl—Nikki was far too good at riling people up when she wanted—but Bram spoke before he could do so. "Enough. Let's get the ceremony started so I can go home and helped Evie with wee Gideon."
At the mention of Bram's youngest child, guilt flooded Zain's body. His clan leader was taking time away from his family to help Zain with his task. So he wouldn't delay it any longer. He asked, "Where are the mating bands?"
Jane held up a box. "Right here. But shouldn't we wait for Kai? He'll be here any second."
"There are a few things to do first, anyway, before we start." Bram motioned toward Ivy. "Has anyone explained how this works to you, Ivy?"
Ivy shrugged. "A little. But Nikki said Zain would go first, so I could just copy him when it comes to the wording of the mate vows."
Bram grunted. "Yes, that's true. Although, feel free to change the reasons why you're mating him to your own. Everyone in this room knows the truth anyway, so no need to lie."
Kai waltzed into the room and stopped at Jane's side. He leaned over to kiss his mate's cheek before speaking. "Let's hurry up. I need to get back to my final Protector assessment drills for Dacian."
Jane opened the box holding the mating bands and handed it to Bram. Once Stonefire's leader had it, he said, "Then let's begin."
Zain faced Ivy. A blush colored her cheeks, making her seem more alive than he'd seen since first discovering her unconscious in the woods. Her eyes in particular were bright and enticing.
And yes, if he didn't know her, he'd think she was more than pretty—she was bloody beautiful.
However, this would be a mating of convenience, nothing more. Which meant he needed to stop noticing the deep blue of her eyes, or the redness of her lips.
His dragon huffed. There's no reason to. With time, we could probably win her.
No. Now hush, or I'll toss you into a mental prison.
Fine.
His dragon curled up into a ball but didn't go to sleep. A mating ceremony was a human need, but the dragon half recognized the importance and liked to witness it, too.
Zain picked up the slightly smaller silver band, one engraved with his name in the old dragon language. He slipped it onto Ivy's bicep—one that was too thin for his liking, because it reminded him of how uncertain her life was—and said, "Ivy Passmore, you were once our enemy, but you are slowly proving you're not anymore. I see potential in you, and intelligence. In exchange for your help, I will protect you with my life. Do you accept my claim?"
Not the most romantic of declarations, but then it wasn't supposed to be.
Ivy nodded. Bram then lowered the box so she could take the bigger band, the one engraved with her name in the old dragon language. He moved to give her better access to his bicep. As she slipped the band on, her fingers brushed his skin. Each tickle sent heat through his body, as well as a yearning for her to touch more than his arm.
Careful to keep his face expressionless, he didn't let on how she affected him.
He most definitely would need to keep his distance from her, or his cock might win out over his brain.
His inner beast laughed, but Zain didn't dignify him with a response.
Once the band was on his arm, he stood again, and Ivy spoke. "Zain Kinsella, when we first met, I fully expected you to kill me, torture me, or do any other number of things I was taught dragons did. However, you have slowly been helping me to understand your kind better. I hope this mating at least does that. Do you accept my claim?"
He wanted to snort at her wording but resisted. Honesty was better than her making up some pretend lies about feelings.
"Yes."
While not required, normally mating ceremonies ended with a kiss.
Zain's eyes darted to her lips, which looked fuller thanks to some sort of lip gloss.
His dragon hummed. Yes, kiss her. Then maybe you won't hate her so much.