Page 75 of Caveman Alien's Terror

“I know it was you,” I tell her. “You persuaded Korr’ax to let us get married here, inside the walls. He really didn’t want to.”

She shrugs. “It took me all night. Korr’ax is a stubborn chief. But I’m not one to give up.”

“Thank you,” I tell her sincerely and squeeze her hand. “It’s everything I was hoping it would be.”

Melr’ax has a smile on his face as he hobbles over. “A shaman marrying an agent of the Darkness! When I said it was your ultimate duty to be the anti-dragon, this was not what I meant. But it might prove just as effective as killing them.”

I carefully hug his crooked, bony frame. “I couldn’t kill him, Melr’ax. I knew him by then. I loved him. The darkness was only inside me.”

“And he loves you, that’s plain to see. Wonderful, Astrid! I never thought I’d see the day. A dragon in the village. A friendly dragon! Well, I have to get some warmth into me.” He hobbles off towards his hut, where I’m sure he’ll make a big fire.

Luna comes trotting. She’s grown fast, and her back is now up to the middle of my thighs.

“Not a bad wedding,” I tell her as I carefully place my hand behind one ear. “No one died, and only some tears were shed.”

She walks off, her whole body moving in sync with her six powerful legs.

“And now?” Praxigor asks, impatient. “Surely we’re done now and we can get on with our married lives?”

“We’re mostly done,” I tell him. “Now comes the reception, where we’ll sit down and eat with our friends.”

“Must we?”

The tribal drums start beating, and the smell of cooking food teases my nose.

“Just for a short while. It’s expected that the newlyweds leave early.”

We sit down at the common table with the others. I eat some salad and drink a few toasts offrit, acutely aware of the quiet and bored dragon beside me.

Others notice, too. After maybe half an hour Alba stands up. “Listen up! It is tradition on Earth that whenever a woman marries a dragon, the married couple must fly away as soon as possible. It’s very important that they don’t stay for too long. So— actually, everyone stand up. Come on. Everyone. On your feet.”

Hundreds of cavemen get to their feet, and so do Praxigor and I.

“Say after me,” Alba commands everyone. “Dear Astrid and Praxigor.”

“Dear Astrid and Praxigor,”the crowd drones.

“Thank you for letting us witness your union,” Alba goes on, and the crowd repeats it, their deep voices echoing from the Mount. “Now we think you should leave. So that the rest of us. Can get drunk and rowdy. Also we will dance. And we don’t want the dragon to see us like that.”

Every part is repeated in turn.

“Now everyone cheer!” Alba commands, and they all do. Most of them have had some frit, so a deafening roar follows Praxigorand me as we climb the stairs to the penthouse on top of the Mount.

“That was nice,” Praxigor says. “We’re married. You’re my wife!” He comes in and grabs me, squeezing me tight. “And now you have to change out of your dress and into something else. I will turn my back.”

“I wonder where you’re taking me,” I tell him as I quickly discard the wedding dress and change into a new dinosaur skin dress. I leave my hair as it is, and I will for as long as possible. Hopefully it won’t get blown too much out of shape. “You’re being very mysterious about our honeymoon.”

“Dragons are supposed to be mysterious,” my husband says. “And I haven’t planned anything but the first part of our journey. I’m sure it will be interesting.”

“Done,” I tell him and grab my backpack, filled with food and drink because the dragon may not need to eat, but I sure do. I drape a sheet of thin leather over my hair because it will never look this good again.

“My wife is the greatest beauty on Xren,” Praxigor says as he comes towards me. “And now she’s mine.”

“I don’t deny it,” I agree as I grab his neck to bend him down to where I can kiss his thick lips. “Just for today, I’m allowed to say I’m the most beautiful woman on Xren. I will always be yours, my love. And you will be mine.”

He smirks. “I can’t wait to always be yours.”

He Changes to his dragon form and lowers his head so I can get on.

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