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lives of the rest of the people in the world.
You know the saying, the needs of the
many, and all that.”
    “ It won’t come to that,
angel,” Tony said just before he pressed a brief kiss to her
lips. I’ll be back later now that I know
where your room is.
    Tansy smiled at him, her eyes filled
with unshed tears.
    “ Of course it won’t come to
that. Why do you think you have twelve sisters and seven brothers?
Together we all make a small army.”
    “ And don’t forget all of the
dragons you girls have been lamenting about. Perhaps you all aren’t
our mates, but that doesn’t mean that every one of us wouldn’t do
our best to protect you.” The last comment came from one of Drake’s
men who hurried up behind them. He whispered something in Drake’s
ear, then scurried away, but not before Drake growled and stormed
toward the stairs, April hot on his heels.
    “ What’s the matter, dammit!
You’d better tell me, you stubborn dragon.”
    Lance stood with them for a moment, his
expression grim. “Three years ago, I would have laughed myself to
death if someone told me my sisters would fall in love with
dragons.” He shoved his hands in his pockets with a sigh. “Now look
at us standing here together in the same house.”
    I suppose there is no time
like the present. Tony bowed to Lance who
just frowned at him as though he’d lost his marbles. “I stand here
unarmed and nearly unmanned, Lancelot Flowers, and I ask you for
your sister’s hand in marriage,” he paused, his head bowed as he
made himself vulnerable to her brother. “I would love her, protect
her and give my life for her. I only ask for your
blessing.”
    “ I’m in a house full of
crazy people. There is some sort of evil out there bent on
destroying my sisters and here we are standing in this hallway
carrying out some ancient pre-betrothal ritual as though nothing is
wrong.” Lance closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and
shook his head. “Whatever.” He waved his hand. “I can play along,
too. Yes, you crazy dragon, in the absence of my father, you have
my permission to marry my sister.”
    He stepped closer to Tony. “Dragon or
not,” he paused, grabbed Tony by the throat and used his mage’s
magic to lift him off the floor. “If you so much as touch my
sister’s stomach before the wedding, I’ll beat the shit out of you.
Do we have an understanding?”
    Tansy smiled at her brother, her heart
so full it felt like it would burst. She never thought to see her
brother threaten a dragon, let alone assault one and get away with
it. That he did it for her, almost made her cry.
    You do realize that my
agreeing to your brother’s terms negates a visit from me later. I
have given my word and I know I would never be able to keep my
hands to myself if I were to visit you in your room.
    I know, Tony. I love you all
the more for being a man of your word. Knowing that Tony planned to keep his word meant the world to
Tansy. It also meant that she could trust him to do exactly what he
said. Though, with their bond, she knew that already. How much more
would she know once they truly bonded with each other?
    “ Yes, Lance.” Tony nodded
his agreement. “We have an understanding.” Turning to April, he
bowed over her hand and kissed it. “Until tomorrow, angel.”
Straightening, he turned and walked away.
    “ Thanks, Lance.” Tansy stood
on her toes to kiss her brother’s cheek.
    Taking her by the shoulders Lance
looked deep into her eyes. “I know all of this is a lot to take in,
but try to get some sleep tonight, okay?”
    “ Okay.” She reached out to
open her door. Pausing just inside, she smiled at her brother.
“You, too. It’ll all work out somehow.” Tansy had no doubt of that.
She would save her siblings lives even if it killed her.

Chapter Eight
     
     
    Tony watched Tansy as she made her way
down the stairs. What would she look like tomorrow when she wore
her wedding gown and Lance walked her down that same