“I was looking for Sevrin.”
“Why were you up?” Lucien asks, glancing at Sevrin.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Sevrin says, then gestures to Rosanthra. “This is Rosanthra. She… followed me home.”
Rosanthra ignores the lack of a welcome and heads straight for the cluster of dragons, fearless. The moment Rosanthra steps into the ring, the mood shifts. Sylvara puffs herself up to twice her normal size. Verdraxa plants herself between Rosanthra and Nythera, daring her to come closer. Nythera actually bares her teeth.
I shoot a look at the guys. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“Not unless she wants it to be,” says Gareth, not sounding worried. “They’re mostly posturing.”
Sevrin grins, the kind of sharp, wild grin that makes me think he enjoys this more than he lets on. “I think Rosanthra can handle herself.”
He’s not wrong. She stops three paces away, lowers her head, and lets out a trill so sweet it makes the air shimmer. Sylvara relaxes first, her hackles flattening. Verdraxa cocks her head, uncertain. Nythera just blinks, slow and deliberate, as if calculating whether Rosanthra is worth the effort.
Suddenly, Ebron comes crashing down on the field. All four of the dragons look in his direction. He cocks his head and heads for the new dragon. His mates growl, low in their throat, but Ebron jerks his head, clearly saying something that calms them.
Ebron begins to circle Rosanthra, sniffing the pink dragon. To her credit, she circles along with him, watching as he walks around her. Both of them seem to be trying to figure something out before their noses touch and Ebron simply freezes.
His mates make another unhappy sound.
Ebron glances at me.Remember when I said I didn’t think my harem was complete? Well, it is now.
What are you saying?I ask, shocked.
Rosanthra is my last mate.
It’s weird. I shouldn’t be surprised. Ebron told me that his harem wasn’t complete. He made it clear that he would have more mates, and based on how that works, those mates would be my partners. This just makes sense. And yet, it’s completely crazy at the same time.
“What the hell is happening?” Gareth asks.
I can’t help the happiness that fills my voice. “You won’t believe it.”
“Just tell us,” Lucien says.
“It’s impossible. Well, not impossible, improbable.”
Alaric sighs. “Just tell us this improbable thing.”
Ebron begins to lead Rosanthra toward his mates, and it’s clear there’s a deep conversation taking place. The three females begin to circle the new one, and I wonder what will happen if they don’t accept her. If they’re not happy about this new addition.
“Harper!” Gareth exclaims.
I refocus. “Rosanthra, this pink dragon, has chosen Sevrin as her rider.”
“Bullshit,” Lucien says, glancing at the Hollowborn.
“No, really,” I say, still not quite believing it myself.
“But–” Alaric seems to be choosing his words with care. “He’s a Hollowborn…”
“I don’t think Rosanthra cares very much about that,” I tell them.
There’s a long moment of silence before Lucien says, “Okay, well, that’s happening then.”
“Yeah,” Gareth manages.
“A Hollowborn with a dragon. The first one in history.” Alaric keeps shaking his head, like he’s fighting with himself.
