accidental 11 - accidentally ever after by dakota cassidy

was just shy of certifiable to get on that dragon’s back, but my body wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
    Marty peered into her eyes, the intensity of the stare almost frightening. “ What? Did you hit your head? She hit her head on impact, didn’t she?” she asked Nina, who’d followed them toward the tree.
    Carl nuzzled Toni’s cheek, pressing as close to her as he could without spiking her clean through with his fuzzy antlers. She lifted a weak hand and rubbed his muzzle with a smile.
    “I didn’t hit my head when we landed. I can’t explain what just happened because I’m still wrapping my brain around the word ‘dragon’. I was on the back of a dragon. A dragon . You know, wings and fire—so much fire—forked-tongues and scales?”
    The three women nodded their heads, but again, no one batted an eye. Not even a twitch.
    Toni’s mouth fell open. “Aw, c’mon. You guys have seen dragons?”
    “I’d show you pictures of a baby dragon, but I don’t have my damn phone.” Nina grinned then, and with that, everything about her changed. Her face was no longer pinched and scowling, it was alight and beautiful with something that was obviously near and dear to her heart.
    This gruff, foul-mouthed woman likely loved as hard as she fought. And that struck Toni somewhere far deeper than she was willing to go. For right now, there was the issue of a baby dragon.
    Closing her eyes, Toni shook her head. “I don’t believe you. I’ve listened to you talk about genies and bottles and demons and—and—a dragon’s just too far!”
    The vampire clucked her tongue. “Really? A dragon’s what sets you over the edge? I’d have thought the genie shit woulda been your end game—maybe even the cougar. So a dragon’s your emotional limit? Noted,” Nina said on a cackle.
    Marty and Wanda shook their sodden heads and looked at Toni as if she were the one who’d lost all her marbles.
    Marty straightened Toni’s bodice and smoothed out her rumpled skirt. “You just sat on the back of one, didn’t you? I’m telling you, it’s true. She’s precious and really just getting her wings under her. We love her to itsy-bitsy bits. See her every chance we get. Skype with her all the time. Her name’s Noa.”
    Jon brought over a flask and knelt beside her, holding it to her mouth as she gratefully drank, her throat dry and sore.
    His chiseled face was a mask of concern as he cupped her chin. “You must never speak with strangers, Toni. The woods are dangerous and fraught with enemies. Not everything is as it appears.”
    Toni nodded her head in agreement. No shit. Pressing her back into the hard bark of the tree after another long gulp of water, she burped, fully intending to excuse herself.
    But that would be difficult, considering courteous words weren’t the thing coming out of her mouth. No. Instead, a hot stream of acrid fire flew from her lips.
    Jon yelled to Dannan to grab another flask as he grabbed the edge of the blanket from the ground and wrapped it around Marty’s head, knocking her to the ground and patting her big hair.
    Which was, of course, on fire thanks to Toni.
    Maybe dragon was her emotional limit…

Chapter 5
    “S o, you gonna get the fire going for the troll roast, or am I?” Nina quipped, cackling as she slapped Toni on the back.
    “Only if you fan it, Sunshine Wings,” she quipped back.
    This time, Nina didn’t appear to take offense. Instead she snickered and said, “Touché.”
    She’d breathed fire. Real fire. From her mouth. Still unable to address that, she asked Nina with a sheepish glance, “I’m really sorry. It was the last thing I expected. Is Marty okay? Does she want to eat me for dinner?”
    Nina flapped a hand and hiked up the front of her torn and tattered yellow dress. The bluebirds scattered momentarily then returned to their rightful place above her head, chirping their happy tune. “Nah. Her hair grows back because she self-heals. She’ll be right back to her