Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Madeline,” he murmured, leaning down to speak in her ear. “I need to tell you something.”
“You do?” Heart thumping, Mattie looked up at him uncertainly. “What?”
“It’s kind of serious,” Grath warned her. “And I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about it. It has to do with something you told me not to do, but I can’t help it—it seems like I have to.”
Mattie’s heart pounded even harder.
“Whatever it is, you can tell me,” she assured him breathlessly. “I promise I won’t be upset.”
“You won’t?” A look of relief came over his face. “Thank all the Gods for that. Because in just a minute, I’m going to—”
But just at that moment, the band suddenly changed songs. It transitioned from Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas to something Mattie didn’t recognize at first. Then the lead singer, a girl she vaguely remembered from high school, began to croon,
“Merry Christmas, Darling…Happy New Year’s tooooo…”
As they heard the words, Grath’s grip on her tightened and his face went suddenly grim.
“Grath? What is it?” Mattie looked at him anxiously.
Instead of answering, he took her by the hand and started pulling her towards the stage.
“Come on,” he growled under his breath. “We need to do this.”
Mattie was nearly breathless as they reached the stage and the lead singer beckoned to both of them, even as she continued singing. But the minute they climbed up the wooden steps, she stopped and tapped the microphone lightly.
“Folks, I hate to interrupt but I think we have our first proposal of this year’s Yule Ball,” she said. “Let’s have a moment of silence please for our happy couple.”
Everyone in the crowd stopped dancing and there was an expectant silence.
Mattie’s heart felt like it was trying to beat its way right out of her chest as Grath got down on one knee, right there on the stage in front of her as her family and everyone else in Christmasville watched.
“Madeline,” he said, looking up at her—though not very far, since he was so tall that even kneeling, they were almost eye-to-eye, “Will you make me the happiest male in the universe and consent to Join with me?”
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a little black velvet box. Opening it, he presented Mattie with a diamond so big she was certain the sparkle must be visible, even to people at the very back of the hall.
“My God, Grath,” she blurted. “Is that thing real?”
Her words caused a shout of laughter to go up from the assembled crowd and Grath scowled at her.
“Of course, it’s real!” he growled indignantly. “You think I’d offer you a fake engagement ring?”
“No, no, I just…” Mattie shook her head, uncertain of what to say. “I just didn’t expect this at all!”
“Well, will you Join with me—I mean, will you marry me—or not?” he demanded, looking even grumpier.
But Mattie didn’t care how grumpy he got because now she knew this proposal must be for real! There was no way he would buy her such a big, expensive engagement ring just to use as a prop! The big Hybrid must really be asking her to marry him, and she knew exactly what to say in reply.
“Yes!” she exclaimed, unable to keep the joy and excitement out of her voice. “Oh Grath, yes! Yes, yes!”
Her enthusiasm earned another laugh from the crowd and then everyone was clapping and cheering as Grath slipped the huge diamond onto her finger. It was so big Mattie felt like it was weighing her hand down—not that she minded!
She threw her arms around the big warrior’s neck and started kissing him all over his face, leaving lipstick smudges everywhere. But she was too excited to care—he could wipe them off later. Right now she was just so full of joy she couldn’t stop herself from attacking him even if they were in public.
“Okay…okay, baby—take it easy, all right?” Grath rose to tower over her and still Mattie would have gone on her tiptoes to kiss him some more if he hadn’t taken her by the hand and led her back down the stairs of the stage to the dance floor.
The band started playing again, but Mattie was in no mood to dance. Instead, she dragged Grath towards her family, who were already headed towards them with wide smiles on all their faces.
“Oh my God, just look at that thing!” Anna exclaimed, the minute she got to Mattie and had a chance to admire the ring. “The diamond is huge.”
“It was the biggest one they had in the shop,” Ethan said proudly. “I helped Grath pick it out.”
“So that’s where you two went when we all split up to do last minute shopping!” Mattie’s mom’s eyes were dancing with joy. “Oh, honey—I’m so happy for you!” she exclaimed, hugging Mattie.
Her dad grabbed Grath’s hand and pumped it up and down.