He took her to another cozy room, where Maggie was snoozing next to two gleaming eggs.
Dragon’s eggs. Maggie’s unborn sisters or brothers.
The family she’d inherited when she welcomed her bond with this infuriating, incredible man.
“You said you’re willing to live here, at the end of the world,” he said, his voice carefully unemotional in the way that meant he was feeling more deeply than he knew how to express.
“Isn’t that what being a shadow dragon’s mate means?”
“It is what it has meant, for hundreds of years.” He looked at her curiously. “And I’m sure it seems like the safer option. Especially now. Our fortress may be the only place that is protected from the Soul-Eater.”
“That doesn’t make the world safer. It just makes it easier for us.”
He smiled, and she tsked herself.
“Oh. That’s what you wanted me to say, isn’t it?”
“You’ll never pass by an opportunity to be brutal to yourself.” He took her hand and sat with her next to the eggs. “Yes. Easier to hide here, far away from everyone you ever hurt and every hell we might face out there in—oh—ten years. Fifteen. Maybe more.”
“Maybe fewer,” Francine rebutted. She licked her lips. “Irina says she forgives me.”
“You don’t believe it?” he asked.
“Grant does. And he doesn’t like it. which makes me think it must be true. How can she? And even if she forgives me, it doesn’t mean she wants to see me around.”
“Ah.” His eyes were soft. “And the only choices are to seclude yourself here or be constantly in her presence?”
“No, but … We have to stay here, don’t we? I know you said you don’t want Maggie to grow up like you did, but if this is the only place the Soul-Eater can’t reach—”
“Being isolated is a danger, too.” Julian dropped his head. “Maggie is already enmeshed in the outside world. She wouldn’t let Keeley and Lance leave her—or Carol and Moss, either. And … I wouldn’t take her from them. I grew up here, alone. I don’t want that for her.”
Francine didn’t want it for her, either. Her heart ached at the thought of the mischievous dragon trapped here far away from the people she loved.
“But if you would prefer to hide here, I will stay with you.” Julian’s voice was level.
She shot him a suspicious look. “I don’t want to hide. I—” Her shoulders slumped. “What if I am as bad as I think I am? What if everyone gives me another chance, and I’m not worth it?”
“You are worth it, Francine.” Julian’s voice wrapped warmth around the core of her heart. “Look at what you did here. We all have the capacity for cruelty. But you chose to sacrifice yourself on the small chance you could save everyone here.”
“Sacrificing myself is easy.”
“True. Will you do the hard bit, too?” He lifted her chin until she met his eyes. “Will you live?”
She gazed into his eyes, into the eyes of his dragon, as her lioness watched.
“Yes,” she breathed.
By the bed of glowing stones, something cracked.
Julian’s head snapped around. “No,” he cried out, eyes wide. “Not this—not after everything—”
He dropped to his knees by the pillow that held the two eggs with Maggie curled around them, horror making way for confusion. Francine knelt beside him. Neither of the eggs had broken; Maggie was still sleeping, her side gleaming as she took slow, even breaths. Her foreleg was tucked over one of the gemstone-like eggs, her tail coiled around the other. Keeping them safe.
Cr-crack!
One of the eggs wobbled. Julian’s hand shot out, but he stopped himself before he could touch it.
“It’s hatching.” She grabbed his other hand and squeezed it. “Julian, this means—”
