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Chapter One

Brenna Rossi readjusted the red strap of material over her shoulder for the fifteenth time

Herceremony should've started by now

Maybe her intended, Killian O'Shea—the Clan Glenlough Irish dragon-shifter e of heart After all, it had been over a week since she'd last seen hireement to mate had been one of convenience rather than of love If Killian didn't mate her, then Brenna would have to return to her clan, Stonefire, in Northern England; all non-Irish dragon-shifters were being banished from the Republic of Ireland for the foreseeable future

And Brenna wanted to stay in Ireland

Her inner dragon spoke up There are any nu this as an opportunity to unite the clan and release some of their stress over recent events

All Killian gains frouard he doesn't hate The scales are tipped in my favor, and he could easily back out

Given how he looked at us the last ti

Theher gaze, his eyes full of heat, flashed into her reed to sex It's not part of our deal

Her beast huffed There's nothing wrong with gaining a little experience and enjoying ourselves in the process Not all males are like Cedric

No, don't bring up Cedric He doesn't deserve our time

I agree But his actions still affect you today

Not wanting to tarnish the present with the dragon htened her shoulders No matter I'll kiss Killian once, as it's expected Then we can each live our own lives

And any time we're in public The clan , or the Irish Departon Affairs will send us away

Only Clan Glenlough's leader, Teagan O'Shea, and a handful of others knew of the farce Okay, then in public as well But no more I don't need to make our lives any more complicated

Her beast chuckled You say that as if you can resist him

Of course I can I' able to maintain control is one of the most important requirements for the job

Before her beast could argue further, a tap on the door sounded and it opened inward to reveal the gray-haired, slightly wrinkled and stooped forrandan O'Shea

Entering the roo, "Not sure I care for the red It'll only remind everyone where you're from"

Each dragon clan wore a certain color for forreen "Seeing as ible"

"Once this is over, you'll be wearing green, child" Orla paused before adding, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

During a recent leadership trial that had gone wrong, which had ended with a dragon fight, two dead Irish dragon clan leaders, and another in prison, Brenna had worked closely with Orla The older dragonworandmother Brenna had never had "This is the only way I can stay here, Orla"

"He's a bit of a bastard without his on, you know"