Klaus.
Axel.
Hilde.
All of us—home.
A wedding under open sky.
The kids running across grass instead of rubble. Inga breathing fresh mountain air instead of ash. And me—finally—free to shift whenever I wanted.
"Yes, sir," I said. "I'll submit my resignation today."
Jamison nodded slowly. "Good man. Let me know if you need anything."
I left the office practically weightless. I'd barely stepped into the hallway before I found the OPC man leaning against the wall like a smug shadow.
"So?" he said, crossing his arms. "You gonna play ball now, Captain?"
I didn't respond.
He smirked. "That's what I thought. You people only understand leverage. Lucky for?—"
I punched him in the stomach so hard he folded like a cheap map. He gasped, collapsing to his knees. Before he could recover, I grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall.
"You listen to me," I said quietly, voice shaking with restrained fire. "You stay away from me. From Inga. From my kids. This is your final warning."
He tried to speak. I hit him again, not enough to break anything, but enough to make the point.
"You think I won't go darker?" I growled, letting heat bleed out between my teeth, letting steam curl from my nostrils in two slow, deliberate streams.
He paled, turning chalk-white when I allowed him a glimpse of my dragon self.
"You're finished here," I said. "I'm done with you. So stay the hell away."
I released him and let him slide to the floor, wheezing. I didn't look back. The future was waiting. And nothing—nothing—was going to take Inga or the kids from me now.
By the time I finished paperwork with Jamison and handed over the first draft of my resignation, my whole damn body buzzed like someone had plugged me into a generator.
I practicallyranback to the hotel.
The second I opened the suite door, three tiny bodies slammed into me.
"Kapitän Gideon!" Klaus shouted, arms locking around my waist.
"You're back!" Axel squeaked.
Hilde just threw herself at my leg like a little koala.
And then I saw Inga.
Standing near the window in a soft dress the seamstress had fitted that morning, hair loose around her shoulders, eyes bright in a way I'd never seen.
God, she stole my breath every time. She smiled when she saw me—really smiled—and I felt like the world clicked into place.
"You're home," she said softly.
"Yeah," I answered, tugging her into my arms with one hand while holding the kids with the other. "And I've gotnews."
