“Of course I believe you. You haven’t given me a reason not to.” He gave me a long, level look. “I’ve seen many things before that I’ve thought were impossible, so I’ve learned not to make judgments.”

“But…” I waved my hands around. “It took me weeks to finally get to the point where I believed everything. Weeks!”

“You always were more rigid in your thinking than I thought wise,” he pointed out.

“And you don’t mind that I’m a Guardian? And marrying a dragon?”

He shrugged. “I assume by now you know what you’re doing with your life. If you didn’t want to be mixed up with all this demons and dragons strangeness, you’d leave.”

“Well…yeah. I would.” I was mollified that he respected my life decisions, but still surprised he accepted it all so easily. “Wait a minute—you threatened to disown me as a niece when I got married the first time. Why are you being so tolerant and understanding now?”

“Drake isn’t that mealymouthed twit you married when you were eighteen. He’s a man.” Uncle Damian frowned again. “At least he looks like one.”

“All the dragons use human forms—it’s much easier than stomping around with wings and a tail and such,” I said absently. “I agree that Drake is miles above my first husband, but I’m a little surprised you’ve taken to him so quickly. You were only in the house for half an hour before you dragged me away to the hotel.”

“A smart person knows how to size up potential competition in less than a minute,” he answered, giving me another level look. “And since I see you’re going to ask, no, I don’t consider him competition, now that I know the truth about him. I had suspicions when you said he dealt with imports and exports, but this changes the situation.”

“Well…good.”

“Besides, you love him. It’s written all over your face when you look at him, and since I could see he’s just as in love with you, I decided not to interfere.”

I knew my uncle would like Drake when he had gotten to know him, but I hadn’t expected him to accept the fact that we were getting married quite so quickly or easily. I couldn’t help but smile just a little at the faint note of disapproval in my uncle’s voice when speaking of love. “Yeah, we’re crazy about each other. I’m glad you’re go with Drake and me. I guess that leaves me free to have that nervous breakdown now, huh?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. No niece of mine has ever been a weakling, and you’re not going to start being one now. What about a cell phone? I’m assuming Drake has one?”

Jim came back over to me and leaned on me, wordlessly begging for attention. I mopped up his chops with his drool bib, adroitly whisking out a fresh one from the bag I’d brought into the room with me, tying it around its neck.

“Yes, he has one, although he’s not answering. I…er…tried calling him when you thought I was going to the bathroom.” I made a nervous gesture with my hands. “I didn’t want anyone to know I was checking up on him. But now I’m just getting worried. Drake wouldn’t back out of the wedding. If he’s not here, it’s because something has happened to him, and…well, one of the other dragon septs is at war with us, and it’s possible they’ve done something to him. Or Fiat has. He’s another wyvern, a particularly nasty one who has caused trouble for us more than once.”

“Don’t forget Gabriel,” Jim offered helpfully.

“Gabriel is another wyvern,” I told my uncle. “He’s…I dunno about him. But I don’t think this is something he’d do.”

“Could be Bael,” Jim said. “That’s the head demon lord, the premiere prince of Abaddon, and the guy who got Aisling to kill another demon lord so she could take his place.”

“It sounds as if you’ve been having an interesting time here,” my uncle said slowly.

Jim grinned. “You could write books about it.”

“Hardly,” I said, pulling its drool bib tighter before rustling through the bag for my cell phone. “I’ll try Drake again. Maybe he’s just stuck in traffic?”

The distant noise of London seeped in through the high windows as I punched the speed-dial number, listening through seven rings before Drake’s voice clicked on. “I am away from the phone. Please leave a message following the tone.”

“No answer,” I said, my stomach now one giant leaden ball. Tears welled behind my eyelids as, deep within me, I knew something was wrong.

“Aw, Ash,” Jim said as I blinked rapidly, trying to dispel the tears before they were visible to others. The demon leaned its big head against me, offering comfort in the only way it could. “Drake’s been around the block a few times. He’s been at war with Chuan Ren before, and he didn’t succumb. He’s probably just beating the crap out of a few red dragons before heading to the church.”

“I know. I’d feel if he was…” My hands fluttered around in a wordless expression of the unthinkable. “Besides, brides are allowed to cry on their wedding day.”

“You’re not a normal bride,” Uncle Damian said abruptly, shoving a box of tissues at me. I took a couple, dabbing at my eyes, wanting like crazy to give in to the emotions of the moment, but knowing it wasn’t wise.

You don’t have to give in to it, a smooth, dark voice spoke into my head. Why submit when you can dominate? You have the power, Aisling Grey. Use it to ensure your mate’s safety.

“Shut up!” I snarled, dabbing viciously at the tears that spilled over my eyelashes.

“The voices?” Uncle Damian asked Jim while giving me a wary look.

“It’s the dark power. It talks to her.”

“Dark power?”

“You don’t want to know,” I said, sniffling as I tried to keep the tears from ruining the makeup job my stepmother had spent so much time on to ensure I was presentable. My eyes were awash, an uncomfortable feeling. I tried to fix the problem but ended up just making things worse. “Oh, hell. I think I just lost one of my contacts. No one move!”

I squatted, careful not to brush my dress against the floor, feeling around for the contact lens. Jim snuffled around as well.

“Found it. Whew.” I stood up with the contact on one finger, smiling weakly as I reached for my bag.