Gemma
Reagan looked at Gemma and said, “This is going to be hard because we only have a few days before the ceremony. Theo didn’t give a lot of details about much of anything. He only said that his mate needed help preparing for the ritual. How much do you know?”
Gemma looked at Madeline out of the corner of her eye and then stood even straighter. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about your clan’s rituals. I’ve been abroad most of my life, and, as you know, things are much different in other places,” she said.
Madeline scoffed. “There is no way you are going to be ready. You are going to be a complete embarrassment for Theo. Instead of humiliating your so-called mate, perhaps you should just make your excuses. Perhaps you could claim that you are having your womanly thing,” Madeline said snidely.
It took every ounce of self-control Gemma possessed to not turn around and knock the living shit out of the stuck up, prissy woman laughing at her. As Gemma turned toward her to tell her exactly what she thought of her, Reagan stepped in.
“You are here to assist,” Reagan said. “If you can’t behave yourself and act like you have some manners, then you are free to leave. The three of us could certainly handle the situation without you. We allowed you to come because you begged.”
The anger that flashed on Madeline’s face let Gemma know this was someone she had to watch out for. Madeline was the kind of person who would hug you while stabbing you in the back.
Reagan started off by talking about the ceremony and what would happen.
“Everyone enters and pays their respects to the elders. The band will play, and dancing will begin. The elders will lead the dancing. Then, when it’s time for dinner, everyone will take their seat at the table. Everyone has assigned chairs. Theo will have a seat up front, and of course, as his mate, you will be sitting to his right,” Reagan explained.
“Dinner will be served. However, no one eats until the elders have said their ritual blessings and they begin to eat,” Chloe said.
Angel went on to talk about what the protocols were going to be. She concluded with, “If you just stay by Theo’s side, you won’t have any problems at all. We will be there to help you if you have any questions.”
Then Angel looked at Madeline, who sat sulking in a chair in the corner of the room, drinking wine.
“Well, the three of us will be there for you,” Angel said.
Everything seemed to be straight forward to Gemma. She hoped it stayed this easy.
About that time, Theo strode in, heading straight for Gemma. He saw Madeline pouting in the corner and just shook his head slightly.
“I was just coming to check in and see how everything is going,” he said, wrapping his arms around Gemma.
“Great,” Angel said. “Gemma is a sweetheart. We can see why she is the one who managed to capture your heart.”
“Ay. That she has,” he said in his best fake Scottish brogue. “Have ye taught me lass about our origins from the Scottish hills?”
They all laughed, except for Madeline, who rolled her eyes.
“We were just getting to that,” Reagan said.
“I’ll leave ye lasses to it then,” he said, kissing Gemma, touching the side of her face with the back of his hand, and then walking out of the room.
“You’ve done something that many women have tried and failed to do since Savannah died,” Chloe said. “I can see in his eyes how much he loves you.”
I wish he did.
Reagan talked for a while about the different legends associated with their clan. She talked about how and where they originated. She told about the many wars they had fought, including the one that had taken Savannah’s life.
Gemma had always loved history, so she found this part of her lesson fascinating. She learned about their castles and how they had eventually spread out across the world. Now, parts of the old clan had made new clans everywhere.
“Is there ever a giant family reunion where all of the dragon clans meet in one location?” Gemma asked earnestly.
Madeline coughed a laugh.
All three women sent her a scathing look, and then Chloe answered. “Not really. We tend to stick to our own small clans. I think if there was such a gathering, it would be because there was a global disaster, and all hell was breaking loose all over the world.”
Gemma nodded. That made sense.
They took a break for lunch, and then it was time for dancing lessons. Chloe and Angel were in charge of this part.
