“She made her choice,” I commented. “She was fully aware of the risk involved in dealing with Da’arvass.”
“Lanokota won’t ever help her?” Hayley asked, lifting her face. “Someday?”
“Lanokota cannot. None of the other gods will interfere. Fiona and Damon belonged to Da’arvass, and he took them.”
“Why didn’t we see the dark god when Damon died?”
Willow’s mouth twisted in grief. “Perhaps because Damon didn’t participate in selling his soul. He was simply – bad.”
“Willow, I’m so sorry.” Hayley sipped her drink. “Now, I can’t help but wonder where Roxanne went after her death. Was she bad? Evil? Or simply misguided.”
“That’s something we’ll never know,” I said, “and it does us no good to continue to dwell on them. We’re all three grieving, and we must move on.”
Hayley finished her drink and stood up to make a fresh one. “I’m glad it’s over. I won’t be kidnapped again.” She suddenly laughed. “And Brad is likely afraid I’ll put his nuts in a vise. I won’t have to worry about him again.”
Before she sat down, I stood and lifted my glass. Willow also stood, slowly and with her inner dragon toughness, then lifted hers. Smiling, Hayley joined Willow and I in clicking our glasses together.
“Here’s to our future,” I said. “To my return home with my fated mate, my wife, my beloved Hayley.”
We drank. Hayley, still smiling, said, “I love you, my dragon.”
Willow bowed low. “To you, my liege. To the Dragon King! Long may he reign.”
Chapter Twenty-Five: Epilogue
Hayley
Two Months Later
I rose from my knees, my stomach still roiling. The taste of vomit clung to my tongue and throat as I stepped away from the toilet. Rinsing my mouth helped to some extent, but the acid flavor didn’t give up the fight easily. I drank a glass of water, then left the bathroom.
Busy packing the few items he didn’t want to leave behind, Alaric eyed me with concern. “Are you okay? I heard you hurling in there.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, sweating lightly and unsure of what to say.This is not a good time for this. How will he take it?I should be turning cartwheels with happiness, but instead I’m scared through and through.I wish Willow was here right now.
“Hayley?”
I looked up. His gray eyes, once so stormy and cold, were warm, loving, and worried. Taking his hand, I guided him to the bed beside me. Gripping tightly, I drew in a deep breath.
“I’m pregnant.”
His jaw dropped. “P-pregnant?”
“Yeah. And I’m scared shitless.”
“Lanokota, be praised!”
Laughing, Alaric hugged me, kissing every part of my face that he could. I suspected he didn’t hear theI’m scaredpart, for he stood up and twirled around in an odd sort of dance. I watched him, the nausea leaving my stomach little by little. But the stress that kept my belly churning didn’t depart so easily.
“I’m so happy,” he howled, throwing his head back and whooping. “We’re gonna have a kid!”
I grabbed his hand before he danced out of my reach. “Alaric. This isn’t good news.”
Alaric halted. “Why not? Is the baby okay? Not okay?”
“The baby’s fine,” I replied.
He sat back down. “So what’s the problem?”
