“So, how was your day in Paris? Get everything sorted there?”
“I’ve officially resigned from the Hotel Guard at the Red Letter Hotel Paris. Reginald signed it. So I’m done,” I say with a smile now, though a pang of sadness grips me for my former life there, which I loved so much.
“How are you feeling?” Bjorn is astute as his vivid gold-lavender eyes pierce me beneath the bright moon and stars. “That’s a big deal, Rikyava. Are you ready for it?”
“I’m ready.” I draw him in close, and Bjorn cuddles around me, just holding me in the water as we stare out over the drop-off at the stars, ocean, and moon together.
“It’s been a crazy month,” Bjorn says now, as we finally have a moment to digest everything that’s happened. “I went up to my Magnussen lands to learn my Jarl duties from Svanhild, instating Olander as my good right hand. Mikkel and Lærke took Emil down to Copenhagen and got all their holdings back, plus his. And Ström’s been at the Old Palace with Annika and Mathilde and all his family, supervising repairs and getting his clan organized so they can rise again from the ashes.”
“Not to mention that King Huttr and Prince Halfdir have been repairing Stockholm and sorting out the situation with their remaining Jarls, plus smoothing things over with the Ice Dragons,” I say as I contemplate everything that’s passed since our battle up in Magnussen lands.
“It was nice that our King got the Throne Hall at the Grand Palace rebuilt enough to have our ceremony there, recognizing us for our valiant action against the Black Dragon.” Bjorn nods. “I’m glad I was officially recognized as the new Magnussen Jarl there, and Ström was recognized as the new Eriksson Jarl in the place where our King holds his high seat.”
“Rhennic, Adrian, Layla, Dusk, even Reginald sent copious amounts of people up from their Kingships and from the Red Letter Hotel Paris, to help rebuild our lives.” My heart shines for all the incredible people I have in my life, both before and after this latest venture. “I don’t think they’ll ever forgive me for denying them from participating in the final battle against the Black Dragon, but I know they’re pleased to help now.”
“They love you, Rikyava. We all do. And we always will.” Bjorn cups my face in his strong hand, then solidly kisses me.
But even as he kisses me more, and we start to heat up in the water, about to get spicy, Bjorn pulls back. Gazing deep into my eyes, into all the places I no longer hide from him, he gets very serious now.
“Are you ready? For tomorrow night?”
I know what Bjorn’s asking, as he stares deep into my eyes. Because we have a handfasting ceremony, which is like a wedding to us Blood Dragons, planned between our entire Bloodbond for tomorrow night, something we’ve all been getting ready for this past month.
Ström wanted it to happen at the Jarl’s Hall at the Old Palace, which is already rebuilt, and in the thriving courtyards there, which were protected by magic and not too mangled by the Black Dragon’s rampage. Bjorn and I agreed, though King Huttr was incensed he wasn’t going to be able to host it at Stockholm.
Before he gave me a massive bear hug, overjoyed at the news.
“I’m ready,” I tell him now, as I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “I was born ready to marry you.”
“No, you weren’t.” Bjorn smiles with a subtle humor now, though it’s not rageful anymore. “But I’m glad you are now, drakaina. And that’s all that matters.”
Bjorn claims me with his kiss now as he hauls me more firmly into his lap. I kiss him for a long moment as we relax in the hot pool; his full lips are so soft and his massive body so firm, I could stay here forever, kissing him as he grows hard against my belly.
But Bjorn growls then, giving me one last bite on my lower lip andpulling back so our lips part. As he regards me, he cocks his head curiously.
And someone else steps over the rim of the hot pool.
Ström doesn’t even care Bjorn and I were canoodling as he slides down into the water with us. Relaxing back against the rim of the pool with a sigh, he melts in the water for a moment. I see Jarl Jorg’s silver and emerald dragon-ring on Ström’s finger now, as an emblem of his new position as the Jarl of Clan Eriksson. As he looks at us, his emerald eyes shine, vibrant in the moonlight.
“You two were talking about the handfasting ceremony tomorrow. Anything I missed?” Ström gazes at us as Bjorn turns me so I sit sideways on his lap now so we can all talk.
“Only that I’m excited for it. To finally get hitched to you both.” I say cheekily now as I reach out, interlacing my fingers with Ström’s in the pool.
“Which reminds me. I have a little housewarming gift for you. Now that you will be living full time in Jurggadden, and no longer at the Paris Hotel.” Turning in the water, Ström picks up a little velvet box I had missed him bringing up here.
“What’s this?” I grin at him now as I accept the box, utterly aware that it’s a jewelry box, all black velvet and rectangular as it is. “Pearls for the new homemaker?”
“Rikyava. Even though we’re all getting married tomorrow, you willneverbe a homemaker.” Ström grins now as he nods at the box. “Open it.”
“Okay.” Careful not to drop anything in the water as I sit on Bjorn’s lap, I open the velvet box. I catch my breath at what is revealed within.
Shining so beautifully beneath the high moon and stars.
“Moonstones,” I breathe, as Ström fishes out a beautiful silver necklace entwined with moonstones in a waterfall pattern, to look like a starry night sky. There are earrings to match; as Ström affixes the necklace around my neck now, I take out the earrings, setting them in place.
Last is a bracelet with only five large moonstones spaced aroundthe band, though all are on separate lines of silver, braided through every other. I understand that the bracelet represents the five of us, woven into this Bloodbond.
As Bjorn gives me a tender smile now, affixing the bracelet around my left wrist.
