Dragon Origins (Book 2 of the Dragon Series)

Chapter 4

Ginny

“What about Black Wing traditions?” I asked. “Everything you’ve talked about is Blood Fire and I don’t remember this much traditional stuff at the weddings here.”

“There’s a few that we will talk about when it’s time,” she said. “But there’s not many Blood Fire females to be married. Clementine is the last.”

“So because Clem and I are the last Blood Fire females we have to do it traditionally?” I asked.

“Yes, only Clemetine’s will be one hundred percent traditional with no compromises,” she said.

“Poor Clem,” I sighed.

“I don’t think she’ll mind as much as you,” mom said. “You weren’t raised in tradition like she was so try to be a little less vocal about your distaste, please? Be on your best behavior.”

Elias had been listening quiet this whole conversation but snickered loudly. I gave him a glare and he stopped and looked away.  Mom suppressed a grin herself before giving me her serious mother look.

“I mean it Ginny,” she said. “You’ll be on Blood Fire territory, you must follow their house rules like here.”

“I know mom,” I said. “I’ve visited Gran loads of times, I was always on my best behavior.”

“It’s been a couple years,” she said. “Sometimes you forget and now that you’re a woman, your expectations are a little different than when you were a child. You’ll be expected to act a certain way now that your eighteen.”

“You know you’re making me want do to this less and less,” I sighed.

“Its only for ten days,” Elias said and held my hand. “We can survive ten days.”

“Oh, there’s also one more thing I should mention,” mom said. “Since you’re not married, you wont be allowed to stay in the same room. Or the same floor. So when you get there, you’ll be staying in my old room, Gin. And Elias you’ll be on the third floor with warriors.”

“What!” I cried.

“And no public displays of affection,” she said. “No kissing, not hand holding, and please no s****l innuendos or any kind.”

“But we’re mates!” I shouted for what felt like the millionth time since yesterday. “Why can’t I kiss my mate? Or hold his hand?”

“Because its…”she started to say.

“Tradition,” I growled. “If I have a daughter and she gets married, we are not doing a single traditional thing at her wedding!”

“I know its frustrating, Gin,” she said. “But it builds character.”

“I’m going to call Elle!” I shouted and stormed out of the dining room. I pulled my phone out of my pocket as I hurried up the stairs to my old bedroom; leaving Elias and my mom alone.

“Hey Gin,” Elle said when the video connected. She was smiling happily but frowned when she saw that I was already crying angry tears. “Uh-oh are those mad tears or sad tears? What happened?”

“You got so lucky with your wedding! You didn’t have to follow a single stupid tradition!” I cried. “I get all of them! I have to take Elias to Blood Fire for ten days to get my Gran’s approval. We cant do a damn thing about it! We cant kiss or hug or even sleep in the same room! I have jump through all these stupid hoops just to marry my mate, Elle! MY MATE! The one the Goddess chose for me! Neither Everett or Ian had to do any of this.”

“I had to do some traditional stuff,” Elle said. “It wasn’t a lot, but I’m sorry you’re so frustrated.”

“I just don’t understand why now its important, you know?” I sniffled. “Like let me have my dance procession down the aisle to that Marry Me song? How cute is that? But nooooooo, I cant because I have to be all stoic and not even smile at my future freaking husband!”

“What’s she shouting about?” I heard Everett say and pushed his big stupid head into view. “Hey Gin-Gin, whats wrong?”

“It sucks being the only girl,” I grumbled. “You idiots got to do whatever your mates tribes did, I’m stuck being one of the last Blood Fire females…even though I wasn’t even raised there.”

“We’ve spent a lot of time there growing up,” Everett said. “We absorbed Blood Fire in us so we are just as much Blood Fire as we are Black Wing.”

“Then why aren’t I doing Black Wing traditions?” I asked. “Everything I’m doing is because of Blood Fire.”

“Our traditions aren’t really ceremonial like Blood Fire,” Everett shrugged. “Just take a deep breath Ginny, it’s going to be okay.”

“Elle can you come with us?” I asked. “I know it won’t be so bad if you were with me.”

“I can’t Gin,” she said sadly. “We may be another week or two actually. They were talking about extending the conferences since it’s been going so well.”

“Ugh,” I groaned. “This sucks!”

“But you’re marrying Elias,” Elle said. “Does that suck?”

“Well no,” I sighed. “I just hate having to jump through hoops; other people’s hoops mind you, just to do it.”

“I wish the goddess had told me about Elle,” Everett said. “I’m sure she wished she had had a clue about who she was. We had to fight off Artemis, wolves, Mathias. I wish we didn’t have to but we did and I’d do it all over again just to be by her side.”

“Why are you talking?” I grumbled. “I called to talk to Elle.”

“Ginny,” Elle said and gave me a look so much like mom I could have sworn it was her. “You know you’re making this a bigger deal than it really is, are you nervous to get married?”

“No,” I said and felt the truth come flying out. “I’m scared that Gran won’t give her our blessing.”

“Why wouldn’t she give you her blessing?” Elle asked.

“I don’t know,” I squeaked as the tears started to fall. “I always felt like she was scrutinizing me when I went to visit; like she was judging me and never seemed satisfied with what she saw. I don’t want her to do that to Elias. Or what if she’s been waiting to get revenge on mom? She never got to see her wedding so maybe she wants deny me?”

“I don’t think she’d do that,” Elle said. “Gran seemed like a very levelheaded lady when I met her.”

“You met the regal Gran,” I said. “She’s always proper and polite when she’s on someone else’s territory. Everett, you know what I’m talking about.”

“Gran’s a little stiff but she’s not that bad and I know she’d never deny Elias to spite mom,” he said. “Gran will love Elias, and she’s met him before at our wedding remember?”

“We barely saw her though,” I said. “We were so busy with wedding stuff that we barely spent time with her.”

“How’s Eli handling it?” Elle asked.

“You know Elias, nothing bothers him, so he keeps telling me to relax,” I said. “He thinks that we’ll just go and hang out for a few days and all will be peachy. But I know there’s stuff we’re going to have to do to prove his worth to Gran.”

“Do you think he’s not worthy?” Elle asked.

“Of course, he’s worthy!” I said. “But Gran doesn’t see things the way we do and it sucks that her blessing is what makes or breaks this whole wedding.”

“Okay well What’s the worse thing that will happen if for some reason she says no?” Everett asked. “You can’t reject him, you’re marked. You can’t keep your hands off each other so it’s only a matter of time before you start having dragonlings. So now you’re a family. Will not getting a blessing Change that?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I guess nothing. I mean I’m sure we can still marry we’ll just do it here… where I wanted it in the first place. Just without her blessing.”

“So then why are you freaking out?” He asked and smirked.

“Because it’s me,” I said with a shrug. “Thanks guys, I love you both and miss you. Well Elle more than you Everett.”

“Love you too lardbutt,” Everett said as he left the screen.

“You can leave him there if you want,” I said to Elle. “But you need to come back ASAP. We miss you and it’s super boring without you.”

“I love you too,” she said. “Don’t worry about the blessing and just go enjoy your time over in Scotland. You know it’s not as bad as you think, and give my love to Argus and Clayton.”

“Will do,” I sighed. “Be safe, love you.”