Dragon in the Dark (Kindred Tales)

“You broke my heart.” Iyanna could hear her voice trembling but she couldn’t seem to stop it. “I thought you cared for me.”

“I do—I fucking love you!” Dra’vik growled. “I was just too much of an idiot to say it.”

“Excuse me!” Ian exclaimed, frowning up at the huge Drake. “But this is our wedding you’re interrupting. Do you mind?”

“Yes, I do fucking mind, little man,” Dra’vik growled. “I know I don’t deserve her—neither of us do. But at least I’m willing and eager to pleasure her properly! You only think of your own pleasure when you take her to bed! You won’t even taste her!”

“Dra’vik!” Iyanna gasped.

She wanted to sink into the ground. Her parents were hearing this! And Great Aunt Coreen really did look like she was going to faint. She was moaning and fanning herself as she leaned back in the pew and Iyanna could hear her muttering,

“Oh my Sweet Lord, save us! The Devil…the Devil’s in the church!”

Ian’s face was red as a beet and he was glaring at Dra’vik now.

“Did Iyanna tell you that?” he demanded before rounding on her. “Did you?” he demanded. “You talked to some strange demon alien about our intimacy?”

“It was after you dumped me two days before our wedding, okay?” Iyanna snapped. “And yes, I talked to him. We went on a covert mission together to another planet for the Monstrum Kindred and we had to get to know each other.”

Ian’s face got even darker.

“How did you get to know each other, exactly?” he demanded. “Did you cheat on me, Iyanna?”

“Cheat on you?” She stared at him in disbelief. “You mean while we were broken up? After you basically left me at the altar?”

“I left because you wanted all those weird, kinky things in the bedroom, okay?” Ian shouted at her. “Because you wanted me to spank you and call you ‘good girl’ and lead you around on a leash—”

“I never—” Iyanna began, feeling a blush of anger and shame rise on her face. Then she changed her mind. “You know what? I can’t do this. I’m sorry.” She pulled the veil out of her hair and handed to her mom, who had a shocked look on her face.

In fact, everyone had a shocked look on their faces—except for several of her younger cousins who were grinning and recording the whole scene on their phones. Doubtless this mess was going on social media later.

Great, just great.

“I’m leaving,” Iyanna informed them all. “This is over.”

“Come here, little girl.” Dra’vik, who was still standing at the end of the chapel, opened his arms.

Without thinking about it, Iyanna ran to him.

He lifted her easily and swung her around—which was certainly something Ian wasn’t able to do. Then he carried her out of the chapel.

A last glance behind her showed Iyanna that everyone had turned to watch her go, stunned expressions on their faces. All except her Granny, that was.

Granny had the biggest grin on her wrinkled face—it showed every bit of her bright, white dentures. When she caught Iyanna’s eye, she gave her two thumbs up and nodded, the flowers on her hat bobbing.

“Go get that monster, child!” she shouted.

Iyanna waved at her and felt a bubble of laughter rise in her throat. This was doubtless the craziest thing she’d ever done in her life…and yet it felt like the rightest thing too. Whereas marrying Ian had seemed extremely wrong.

Be careful though, Iyanna—Dra’vik broke your heart too, whispered a little voice in her head. Should you really give him a second chance to do it again?

Iyanna wasn’t sure, but as the big Drake carried her to the parking lot, where his golden shuttle gleamed in the sun, dwarfing all the regular cars, it seemed like she already had…

FIFTY-SEVEN

“I’m a fucking idiot and I don’t deserve it, but will you give me another chance?” were the first words out of Dra’vik’s mouth as soon as his shuttle took off and they were in the air.

Iyanna turned to him, putting a hand on her hip.

“Tell me why I should,” she said coolly, determined to remain neutral despite the giddy feeling in her midsection at seeing the big Drake again. “Especially now that—thanks to you and Ian—everyone in my whole extended family knows I like to get freaky in the bedroom.”

“Sorry about that, little girl.” He shot her a remorseful look. “I shouldn’t have said that about him not wanting to taste you—it just made me so fucking mad to see you getting Joined to a male who doesn’t put your pleasure first! I hope you’re family isn’t too upset.”

“Yeah, well…” Iyanna sighed. “I guess they’ll all have to get over it—including my Great Aunt Coreen who clearly thinks I ran away with Satan.”

“Satan?” he frowned. “Isn’t that the older male who flies through the sky wearing a red suit and giving presents to children during your Winter festival?”