“Yep, big guy. Right now my stomach is still turning at thethought of having to leave. I don’t want this hanging over our heads any longer.Call your guys together so we can get this done.” She leaned up to give him aquick kiss, which turned to a slightly longer one once their lips touched.
Valerie clearing her throat was the only thing that stoppedthe impromptu cuddling Poppy found herself in. Glancing at the three peoplewatching them with varying degrees of smiles on their face, Poppy decided shewould be a good hostess and offer them something to drink or eat while theywaited for a meeting she was dreading.
Chapter Fifteen
Poppy was relieved when Wheaton said they had a few hoursbefore the Council meeting would start. The extra time gave them an opportunityto go over all the information Val had brought with her. Wheaton needed to goand feel out some of the other members to see who might be allies in caseDemascus tried to cause shenanigans during the meeting. According to Valerie,it seemed pretty cut and dried, but Dathrow seemed worried even though he kepthis mouth shut. Poppy could tell Wheaton was worried. He kept stroking her handand had essentially been glued to her side for the last few hours. She had topry him off her to visit the bathroom and he had been chagrined when herealized where he was following her.
Poppy’s stomach churned as she walked to the Council room.The hallways seemed brighter and longer than ever before. Hoping she didn’tpuke in front of everyone was one of the concerns running through her mind. Forall her tough talk back in their quarters she was worried she was going to loseher newfound happiness. She had never been one to have amazing luck and she washoping whatever good juju she had out in the universe would kick in right now.
Thorne, Dathrow and Valerie were all walking ahead ofWheaton and Poppy. She took in the fact that Thorne stayed between the othertwo at all times, and if her eyes weren’t deceiving her, he had also taken awhiff of Valerie’s hair a couple times along this seemingly endless trek.
Coming to a set of bright double doors, the group stoppedand Wheaton turned to Poppy.
“Poppy, remember that I will not let you go. No matter whatyou hear today, nothing is going to change that.” Wheaton picked her up into ahard hug. He gazed at her as if he had forever in their future no matter whathappened.
“Don’t worry, you two. We will present Valerie’s loopholeand this should be over soon,” Dathrow said with an expression that didn’tnecessarily seem like he believed what he was saying.
A group of warriors were standing behind a large tableinside the Council room. At Wheaton’s entrance, the men turned and revealed thesmall man who had held their attention. His smarmy looks were exactly whatshe’d expected when the warriors had described Demascus. She wasn’tdisappointed in the villain-like appearance he presented when he introducedhimself with a sly smile.
“Well, I should have assumed this meeting had been called byyou regarding your human problem.”
Poppy could only describe his approach as a slither asDemascus moved closer. Wheaton managed to keep Poppy by his side but angledhimself so he was shielding her slightly.
“Demascus, this is my bride, Poppy.” Keeping a firm armaround her, he motioned to Mr. Smarmypants.
“Poppy, this is Council Member Demascus.”
Without letting go of Wheaton, Poppy stretched out her handfor a handshake out of reflex.
Staring pointedly at her hand, Demascus sniffed and said,“Wheaton, apparently you did not receive the notification that she is notyour bride.”
Poppy could see a mean spark in his eyes but didn’t want tosay anything yet. Wheaton had explained that usually Council members were theonly ones allowed to speak within the room, and she was only to respond if theyspoke specifically to her.
Wheaton tightened his grasp around her and said in a verycold voice, “Demascus, we have decided that the alert does not apply to us andsince we are both more than happy with our match we are prepared to sign thebridal contract immediately.” He enunciated every syllable so as not to bemisunderstood.
Poppy took in the stunned look on Demascus’s face and smiledinwardly. The man was obviously one of the warriors who had been affected bycloning. He was tall for a human but a good foot shorter than the others in theroom. Moreover he was pale and she was unable to tell what breed group hebelonged to. With his obviously receding hair slicked back into a low ponytail,he was completely creepy. When he smiled, he reminded her of a used carsalesman she had once dealt with who called her “little lady” and “sweetheart”the whole time while trying to sell her a lemon. Even if this hadn’t been theCouncil member she’d spent the afternoon being schooled on, she wouldn’t haveliked him anyway.
“I don’t think I heard you correctly. Councilor Wheaton,this is not your choice to make. The matches are null and void as they wereincorrectly made on Earth. Your bride is not your bride.” Glancing to his side,he nodded at a few Council members who seemed to be listening in on theconversation.
“Let us rule and then your little human can go back to herworld,” he finished in the most condescending tone she had ever heard.
The men seemed to know that they were ready to begin andtook their seats. Poppy would have been unsure where to go, but Wheatondirected her to her seat and took the one next to her with Valerie flanking herother side.
“Council members, it has come to my knowledge that my matingis being challenged due to a glitch in the matching profiles, and the bridesare being transported back to Earth,” Wheaton addressed the group of men infront of him. “I am here to let you know that we are happy with our mating anddo not intend to separate but instead call for an immediate joining.”
This was said with such finality that the room was silentfor
