'Til Dragons Do Us Part (Never Deal with Dragons)

by Lorenda Christensen

  Cameron laughed. “I think the fact that you are a dragon will go a long way toward making up for your inexperience in other areas. Obviously, you’ll have to ask Myrna, but I can’t see how she would be anything other than happy to have you aboard. Decided life as a wedding planner isn’t for you, huh?”

  “Considering I’m kind of terrible at it, yes. Besides, I might not get to keep my job after I tell Amanda that I’m the one who put a huge honking hole in her roof.”

  The car lurched sideways for a moment before Cameron stopped laughing and pulled it back into his lane. “Vanni, it’s okay. Don’t do this on my account. It’s your life and your decision. I’ll keep your secret for as long as you want it kept. I wasn’t trying to pressure you in to anything you aren’t ready to do.”

  But he’d planted the seed, and the idea had already taken root. “I want to. I’m sick of hiding from people.”

  He was silent for a long while, his eyes steady on the wheel as we pulled into the crowded parking lot of Bridal Visions.

  April and Glenda were outside, loading items carefully into the back of the delivery van, most likely in preparation for their move to Relobu’s. April saw us and waved before turning back to her work.

  Cameron, who noticed I was nervously chewing on the side of my finger, cut the engine and shifted in his seat until he could meet my eyes. “Are you sure? We don’t have to do this today. If you want to give Amanda a few days to calm down before you take the blame, that’s totally cool.”

  How sweet. Cameron was worried about me.

  I looked back to the two girls, trying to imagine their expressions when I showed a little scale. “Yeah. I think I am.”

  I smiled, and in a flash of spontaneity I laughed, throwing my arms around his neck. He hugged me tight—well, as tight as the car console would allow—and placed a smacking kiss on my lips.

  He leaned back with a grin. “Trian is going to go bananas when you tell him. He’s been looking for someone who morphs like he does for years now.”

  I thought back to the night in the DRACIM pasture and grinned. “Actually, I think he’ll be less surprised than you think.” Before Cameron could ask me what I meant, I hopped from the car and headed inside.

  * * *

  Amanda stood in the middle of the ruined bridal display area, holding her ever-present clipboard and shouting orders at anyone who passed by. She noticed my presence and motioned me over.

  I picked my way toward her, doing my best not to step on anything that looked like it might have been a bridal gown or a tuxedo at some point in its life. I doubted any of the wedding attire was close to salvageable, but I wasn’t willing to take the chance. Not when I was about to tell the queen of the weddings that I was the one responsible for her having to pack up shop and move in with a dragon lord.

  The bell on the door dinged behind me, and I was glad Cameron had followed me inside. I looked back for some moral support, and felt myself relax as he gave me an encouraging smile.

  I turned back to my boss.

  “First of all, I went to see Sara. She had a couple of cracked ribs that are healing nicely, a bruised but not broken liver, and the doctors assure me that the burns are expected to heal without a great deal of permanent scarring.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful news. I hope you gave her my best wishes, and hopes for a speedy recovery.”

  I tried not to roll my eyes. “Unfortunately, she will not be able to attend the wedding.”

  Amanda dropped her concerned act, but she didn’t seem surprised. Pausing for the barest beat required by standards of social normalcy, she made an appropriate “I hope she feels better soon” comment, then moved straight back into business, her heavily lacquered nail pausing on the next item on her endless list.

  “This, of course, means that we no longer have an equal number in our bridal party, and we need to figure out what we can do about the problem. I spoke with Miss Banks this morning, and she was unable to give me the name of another friend who might fit in the dress. So I need you to start thinking of girls who are relatively attractive, just under five feet six inches, and slender.”

  She didn’t!

  I heard a cough as Cameron attempted to stifle his startled laugh. This woman was completely unbelievable.

  “Are you serious?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I looked to Glenda and April, who were wearing twin expressions of shock and horror.

  Amanda simply looked at me as if my question honestly surprised her. “Of course. The entire ceremony has been built around the assumption that Sara and Cameron would serve as the attendants placed between the bride’s MOH, Carol, and her DOH, Isiwyth Armatoth. That’s what we’ve rehearsed.”

  Cameron’s “bland face” was back in place, and he looked every inch the responsible, reasonable security expert. “If you’re concerned with an uneven number of attendants, I’d be happy to sit this one out. When Trian first asked whether I’d be interested in being a groomsman, we weren’t even sure I’d be able to make it stateside. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I watched from the audience instead. To be honest, I think Trian just picked me because he needed an escort for all of Myrna’s choices.”

  But he was no match for the wedding planner. “Oh no, Mr. Shaw. Though I appreciate the offer, our song selection, our coordinated bridesmaid gowns, even the construction of the arbor hinges on the presence of three pairs of attendants. We simply cannot change the plan at this point.”

  “You spoke with Myrna and she was okay with this?” I just couldn’t believe Myrna would be so dead-set on wedding perfection.

  “The bride can’t be bothered with these problems, especially so close to her wedding date.”

  So the answer was no, she hadn’t spoken to Myrna about this at all.

  Amanda continued. “We need our bride to be calm, relaxed and ready to enjoy the best day of her life. And as she’s given me full control of the ceremony, I made the decision to solve this particular issue without her. After all, that’s what a wedding planner is for, am I right?”

  Her question was met with an awkward silence. Because, really, how could we argue with someone who was clearly insane?

  Discussion complete, Amanda clapped her hands and regarded us expectantly. “Well, ladies? Who do we know that fits our description?”

  We eyed each other uncomfortably. I took a half step back and shifted so that I was behind April. You know, just in case.

  Glenda spoke first. “My neighbor is about Sara’s size.”

  Amanda’s eyes sharpened. “What color is her hair?”

  “Blonde.”

  “No. I need a brunette. Next.”

  April raised her hand. “My niece is a brunette. She might be an inch or so shorter than Sara, but otherwise she’s the same size.”

  “Pretty?”

  April bit her lip. “I think so, yes.”

  “Excellent. Call her. Tell her we need her at Relobu’s within the hour.” Amanda’s eyes flicked back down to her clipboard.

  “I’ll need to check with my sister to make sure she’s okay with it.”

  I asked the question before Amanda was able to get it out. “How old is your niece?”

  April winced. “Fifteen. Hey—” she said defensively, before Amanda could start chewing her out. “Sara is the smallest of the group. None of us would be able to squeeze into that thing.”

  “Savannah would.” I whirled around, ready to strangle Cameron with my bare hands. He stepped back, a huge grin on his face. “What? I’m just stating the obvious.”

  But Amanda had already grabbed my shoulder to hold me into place. Three pairs of feminine eyes scanned my body. I’d never felt more like meat in a supermarket in my life.

  “I think you may be right.” The crazed, uber-focused look was back in Amanda’s eyes.

  While they mentally undressed me, I shot death glares in Cameron’s direction.

  After a short session with a measuring tape to confirm my dimensions, all t
hree women hustled away, presumably to find Sara’s dress.

  “I might have to kill you for this.”

  Cameron laughed. “You act like you’re not interested in walking down the aisle with me.”

  “Well geeze, not yet!” But his comment, and the fact that he could joke about something like that without breaking out in a cold sweat, made me smile. I mock-rolled my eyes. “You sleep with a guy one time, and the next thing you know, he’s talking marriage. Why do they have to be so clingy?”

  He didn’t get a chance to pay me back for that one, but he didn’t have to, because the women came back, and Sara’s gown did it for him. A vision in bright purple and red, the dress shimmered while all three women stared at me as if I were their savior.

  For my sake, I hoped they remembered this moment.

  “Before you have me try that on, there’s something I need to tell you.” I took a deep breath, forcing the tension from my body. Despite our talk in the car, thoughts of sharing my secret brought back bad memories, and I had to consciously remind myself that there was no reason to be nervous.

  At least, there shouldn’t be a reason to be nervous.

  After once last glance at Cameron, I looked each of the women in the eye. “I’m not sure exactly what Glenda told you, but yesterday, after the bomb went off, I’m the one that took Sara to the hospital. I flew her there after morphing into a dragon. I’m a dragon morph. Like Trian.”

  I waited for their reaction. For their questions. For their horror. For...well, something other than the slightly surprised smiles they carried along with the dress.

  “And I’m the one who did that.” I pointed to the large dragon-sized hole in the ceiling. “Sorry.”

  They all stared at me a while longer, until I started to worry that I’d somehow frozen time. Finally, Amanda broke the silence. “So, if you try this on, and it doesn’t fit, does this mean you’ll be able to morph into the proper shape?”

  April snorted, and it felt like a dam collapsed. Suddenly, they were all throwing questions at me. Amanda’s were variations of her original dress question—her focus was truly impressive—but April and Glenda’s were a bit more expected. Could I fly? Did it feel weird? Where did I keep my clothes when I was in dragon form? Could I show them how it worked?

  I answered all of their questions and more, providing a brief demonstration of the morphing process by turning my right thumb into a gleaming hooked claw. Throughout the entire conversation, I was grateful for the warm touch of Cameron’s hand as he provided his particular brand of invisible support. As the questions slowed, I started to giggle, the release of pressure providing a high to my entire system.

  “Can we please stop talking about this and try on the dress?”

  Amanda’s question had us all dissolving into full-on fits of hilarity. It seems I wasn’t the only one feeling the stress.

  “Of course.” I grabbed it and headed to the fitting room.

  On my way, I heard my boss address Cameron. “About the damage to my shop. Is Relobu still willing to pay for the repairs? I mean, since Savannah was responsible for the majority of it?”

  Cameron used his professional tone, but I could hear the thread of laughter behind it. “Yes, I’m sure he is.”

  “Good. Because I have a few ideas on some changes I’d like to make to the original blueprint.”

  Lord, the gall of that woman.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Unfortunately, the dress fit decently well, and I was summarily drafted into the wedding army. Without Cameron as a buffer—he’d headed back to Relobu’s while I was changing—the girls had free rein to pinch and poke until I was begging to be sent back to mule-duty, helping to carry all the items Amanda deemed necessary to the wedding out to the waiting delivery truck.

  By the end of the workday, we’d made six full trips to Relobu’s and back, and I was physically exhausted. But emotionally, I was on top of the world. Deciding that the practice of being honest was good for my health, I headed over to Simon’s as soon as I was free.

  Jeanie answered the door, and welcomed me in with a smile.

  “Hello there, stranger. We expected to see you last night. How’s Bernie?”

  “Bernie’s the same as he always is. Hungry and terrible at pool.”

  She laughed. “Win any money?”

  “No. But the information he gave me was worth a lot.”

  Her lips flattened when she noticed my expression. “Bad?”

  “Not great.” We headed into the living room, where Simon was wearing a silly hat and sipping from a tiny teacup, Emma at his side.

  The little girl caught sight of me and grinned. “Hi Aunt Vanni, would you like some tea?”

  “No thanks, pumpkin. I’m just going to hang out with your mom and dad for a bit.”

  She nodded sagely. “So you can talk about stealing?”

  I glanced up at Simon, who wore a shocked expression. “Nope. Today we’re going to talk about pool tables.”

  “Emma, how about you take Mr. Ruff outside? He’s been cooped up in the house all day, and would probably love to chase his tennis ball.”

  Mr. Ruff’s head had popped up at the mention of his name, and he went absolutely crazy when Jeanie used the word ball. Emma, ever the comedienne, placed a finger on her chin and pretended to study the dog.

  “Yes, I think he would like that.”

  I snorted as she skipped to the door and let herself out. “She seems to be doing just fine.”

  Simon watched her through the window, a pensive look in his eyes. “Yeah. We’re figuring out a routine of sorts, and the treatment is working. We’re going back to the hospital next week for her first implant.”

  “Already? I thought we needed the cash from this gig before you’d be able to afford it.”

  “We did. We do. But Jeanie and I talked.” His troubled look returned, only this time he was looking at his wife, quiet as a conversation was being conducted with their eyes. “We didn’t tell you this yet, but Jeanie and I had planned to retire from the business for good. Once we’d saved up a big enough nest egg, we were going to find you a new partner and settle down somewhere Emma could grow up feeling like she belonged.”

  I stared at him, dumbfounded. Here I was, expecting to shock them both with the news that this contract would be my last, only to find out they’d beaten me to the punch. But now that I thought about it, of course they did. The signs had been there all along. Simon drawing me further into the business side of things, while Jeanie kept finding excuses to make me practice my art skills. They’d been quietly grooming me to step into their shoes.

  Unaware of my thoughts, Jeanie stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I know this is quite a shock, and we had plans for a better way to break it to you, but this thing with Emma. It made us think. We don’t want her growing up on the run, always afraid to make friends because she’ll never know how long she’ll get to keep them. And now, with the added complication of her health, it’s just too dangerous for us to keep doing this.”

  Simon looked at me. “You and I both know how tough it is to grow up without a sense of home. I want something better for my daughter.”

  I couldn’t help but agree. “You’re spending your savings on Emma’s implant?”

  Simon nodded.

  “What will you live on?” Even if they sold everything, with Emma’s expected medical costs, it wouldn’t be long before the money got tight.

  “True, we’d planned on retiring, living off of what we’d earned, but it won’t kill me to get a normal nine-to-five job. I’m pretty sure I could pick up something as a mechanic at one of the oil spreads in this area. It’s hard work, but it will allow me to stay near home. And if we find that we can’t make ends meet, Jeanie can find a job once Emma goes to school.”

  Wow. I mulled over my words for a couple of seconds, then decided the best way to tell them was to just say it out loud.

  “I don’t want the business. I want out.”

&
nbsp; I had to admit, it felt pretty good to turn the tables and watch as their eyes widened in surprise.

  “Great timing, right?” Stumbling over my words, I attempted to explain. “I was actually coming over to tell you this evening. I’ve...well, I’ve met someone.”

  “Oh, Vanni!” Jeanie’s face transformed into giddy delight, and suddenly she was squeezing the life out of my body.

  Shocked at this unexpected regression to thirteen-year-old Jeanie, all I could do was pat her gingerly on the back.

  Just about the time I thought I’d pass out from lack of air, she let go, holding on to my shoulders as she badgered me for details. “How wonderful! Who is he? Where did you meet? Is he stupendously handsome?”

  “Stupendously handsome? Really? Who are you, my grandmother?” It was like her behavioral age was stuck on an auto-tuner, and we were veering wildly from teenage glee to elderly indulgence. Which I guess made sense, considering she was the same age as me, but married to my big brother. In our strange little family, she was both my friend and my mother.

  “What did you want me to ask, if he’s good in bed?” She winked. “So, is he good in bed?”

  “I hate to break this up,” Simon said with a wry smile, “but number one, I’m disgusted with the turn this conversation has taken, and number two, Mr. Ruff’s looking a bit peaked. If we need to talk business, let’s do it now. It sounds as if we’re all unexpectedly in agreement about the closing of Cavenaugh Acquisitions.

  “Now that we’re all going straight, I’d like to stop sending my daughter outside so we can talk about stealing. What are our plans for the Tofegaard? We can go ahead and finish the gig, or we can drop it as of today. Based on my interaction with the client, while I feel like he’ll be disappointed if we pull out now, I doubt he’s the type to put out a price on our heads if we don’t deliver.”

  That was good news. Well, better than the alternative anyway.