M O R G A N

From behind the bar, I watched the clock hands inch closer to noon. I was firm in my resolution not to have dinner with the so-called dragon king, but that didn't stop my pulse from quickening at the thought of him walking through the pub door. I picked up a cleaning cloth and started wiping down the bar. I was trying to distract myself, but India's words kept echoing through my head. The wisps were never wrong. The bond would eventually win. I rubbed the spot over my chest as I recalled the wisp's tendril of light reaching out and touching my heart.

The thought of being with Erik scared me. Sure, he was a dragon, which was a big green tick. But he wasn't a village dragon, which made him one big question mark.

Everyone in the village was gossiping about the parentage of this strange dragon. Breeding outside the village wasn't unheard. There had been the odd case of a farm worker having a fling with a human, but the village had always ensured the child stayed with the village. No dragon halfling would ever be allowed to grow up outside the dragon village. So, how did Erik come about?

I know it bothered the Elders. How could a dragon halfling slip through the cracks and be raised outside the village?

Glenn had been working hard to contradict this theory. Erik was the golden wing King the village had been waiting for. He had come from the lost homeland to be reunited with his people. Although, how he came to be here was still a mystery.

My mind swirled with thoughts about Erik as I scrubbed at a nasty ring mark on the bar. I was killing time, trying to distract myself.

Noon was imminent.

The old heavy front door of the pub swung open, and Sir Glenn stepped in. He wasn't wearing his usual ridiculous white robes. Instead, he was wearing tired green overalls with a pair of beat-up muddy wellie boots. He'd come directly from working on the farm, where he helped with the dairy herd.

He paused on the doorway's threshold and announced to the empty pub, "It is my pleasure as Sir Glen, knight and defender of the village, to announce the arrival of His Majesty King Erik."

Poppy scowled at Glen and pointed to a large laminated sign that read, ' PLEASE WIPE YOUR FEET BEFORE COMING INTO THE BAR AREA!'.

"Could his lordship and his majesty please clean their boots before walking across my clean floor," Poppy said brusquely.

The proud expression on Glen's face withered, and he began wiping his boots on the doormat.

He stepped aside, and in walked Erik.

My mouth opened at the sight of him. A haircut, a shower, and a fresh set of clothes had transformed Erik from scruffy looking devil-worshipper to a respectable gentleman.

"Damnnn," India whispered as Erik entered the pub. "The King is fine."

I shot her a dark look, and she smirked at me.

Glenn strode over to Charlie, who was sitting by the fire with a crossword and started to tell Charlie all about his new title.

Erik made a beeline for me. I pretended not to notice him, but my heart was beating like a drum in my chest. He was so much taller than I remembered.

Erik took a seat on the barstool and drummed his fingers lightly against the bar.

"Can I get you a drink?" I asked, keeping the tone of my voice professional.

His grey eyes dipped downwards to my bandaged leg.

"How's the ankle?" He inquired.

"Recovering," I replied. "I've been confined to the bar while it heals."

"I'm glad to hear it. I wouldn't want you injuring yourself again with any unnecessary midnight walks," he said.

Heat crawled across my face, and I could see the corner of Erik's mouth twitch upwards.

"Oh dear, I've made you blush," he smirked.

"Don't flatter yourself," I scoffed, rubbing at my cheeks.

"So, will you join me for dinner, or will you force me to sit here and talk to you?" He asked.

"You're free to sit where you like. I can't join you as I'm working," I said firmly.

"Even if your life depended on it?" Erik replied.

I placed my hands on my hips and narrowed my gaze on him. "I don't take kindly to threats."

"I'm not threatening you. I'm trying to save your life."

He was trying to keep his tone in check, but it wasn't enough to keep the sound of irritation from seeping into his voice.

"Go on then. I'll listen to your proposition," I said, rolling my eyes. "But make it quick. The lunchtime crowd will soon start trickling in."

I folded my arms across my chest and stared at him. He shifted nervously on the stool and then cleared his throat.

"Well, the danger isn't me. It's my brother and sister in war," Erik said.

For a second, I thought that I had misheard him and echoed, "Brother and sister-in-law?"

"No, 'in war'.  We fought together in the war against the Mad Prince. They fell through the portal with me when, well, you know," he said.

I stared at him blankly.

Erik ignored my puzzled expression and continued.

"The danger is from my brother and sister-in-war. Given your past crimes, they would hunt you down and slaughter you if they knew you were here," he explained.

"And war crimes of those?" I asked.

Erik's eyebrows drew together in confusion as if the answer to my question was obvious.

"You know what crimes," he said, lowering his voice.

I lowered my voice to match his and replied, "I don't. I really don't."

"I won't play this game with you, little fox. Listing all of your transgressions would take all night," he said darkly. "So, having thought about it, I have devised a plan to protect you. Ranni and Byron swore an oath to protect my family and me. If we were married, you would become part of my family; ergo, they cannot kill you."

I laughed in disbelief, "Do you know how much it costs to have a wedding? Given that you are squatting in the woods, I doubt you have money for a dress, flowers, and cake."

"We don't need any of that. We need only be married by an official," he said.

"Unfortunately, I think the vicar is booked up until next year," I replied.

"We wouldn't need a vicar. I already have an official in mind," Erik says and nods towards Glen, who is waving his arms about excitedly as he tells Charlie about his knighthood.

"You want Sir Glenn to marry us?" I groaned. "This marriage doesn't sound legal."

Erik shrugged his shoulders, "The marriage only needs to recognise by our laws. Sir Glenn is a knight of my court, and because of that he can marry us."

I tap my chin thoughtfully and reply, "I think it would be easier to call the police on your psychopathic murderous friends."

Erik surprises me by reaching across the bar and grabbing my hand. He leans forward, his eyes dark and menacing.

"Morgan, we're not talking about people. We are talking about dragons. Ranni and Byron are my fiercest warriors. For the past hundred years, they have been fighting in a war you started. Their families died in this war. How can you fail to see the danger?" He said.

The conviction in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. I yanked my hand out of his grip. I couldn't decide whether this was an elaborate scheme to get inside my pants, or whether I was mated to a genuine lunatic.

"Look, I don't know whether you need God, Jesus, a reality check, or mental help. But I don't believe you," I said.

"You have to believe me. I'm your mate. I would never lie to you," he argued.

"I'm sorry. I don't care what the wisps think. I think you are insane," I replied.

"They will kill you, Morgan. Please do not put me in a position where I must choose between my friends and my mate. I don't think I could let them kill you, despite everything you've done for me and my family and my people. Please don't make me kill my friends," he begged.

The agony in his voice broke my heart, but it didn't change my opinion. I still thought he was crazy.

He seemed to sense this and made one final plea.

"Look, I'm not asking you to believe me. Just let Glen marry us. If I'm crazy, then this will be a fake marriage that means nothing. But, if I'm not crazy, then this marriage will save your life. What do you say?" He asked.

"Okay, hypothetically, if we got married, what would you expect from me? Would you expect me to fulfil my wifely duties," I asked.

"This would be a marriage of convenience until you decided otherwise," he said.

I felt myself groaning inwardly. "Okay, let's have a fake wedding."