I linked our fingers together, grateful all over again that he’d returned to me, that he loved me.
We started across the room, but something—or the lack of something—caught my eye, and I froze.
“Did you move the dragon you carved for me?” It no longer sat on the table in front of the sofa.
He shook his head.
Leaving him, I looked around the furniture, expecting to find it lying on the floor. “Did you do anything with it, Drask?”
He cawed by my ear and flapped his wings, but it was a silly question since it would be too heavy for him to carry.
A thorough scan of the suite showed it was nowhere to be found.
“I’m sure it’s here somewhere,” he said. “We’ll find it, or I’ll carve you another. An entire fleet of dragons.” He turned me in his embrace and kissed me, drinking from my mouth as if I was the only thing he needed.
I was going to turn into a moaning wreck soon, but my belly kept rumbling, so I pulled away with a laugh, shaking my finger at him again. “None of that now. Save it for later.”
Taking my hand, he kissed my fingertips one by one before placing his lips on my mating mark. Heat seared through me from his simple touch, and maybe I could wait to eat later.
“Dinner,” he said sternly. “You need your energy for tonight.”
With a laugh, we left the room and took the stairs to the kitchen, where we raided the cool box for this and that. We sat at the counter and ate it, me giggling while I fed him, and he did the same with me.
Despite what I’d soon face, a sense of peace stole over me. We’d find our way through this together, and then it would be over. I couldn’t wait to feel safe, to know that only good things awaited us in our future.
We tidied up and left the kitchen, strolling into the hallway beyond. When we heard voices, we joined everyone else sitting in the front parlor.
“It’s about time you two appeared,” Zayde said as we entered the room. His gaze fell to our clasped hands. “Please tell us you’re truly back, Vexxion.”
My love, my mate, grinned at his brother. “Completely.”
“Wonderful.” Rising, Zayde rushed over and lifted Vexxion. The two men laughed as Zayde staggered around before lowering Vexxion to his feet.
I took his hand, and my face ached from grinning.
Everyone else crowded us, tapping Vexxion’s arms and giving us both warm smiles.
“I’m happy for you,” Reyla whispered by my ear as she gave me a hug. “If he didn’t start remembering, I was going to kick him or practice my fledgling magic on him. I’ve got a mean finger, as you know, and he was going to taste it.” Leaning back in our embrace, she held it up. One scowl, and she made it glow.
What if he hadn’t come back to me? We’d made progress toward being together, but I felt like each step we took toward each other ended with a half a step backward.
Part of the draining and his time in the ether? We might never know.
“You two were gone for a week.” Brodine slugged Vexxion on the arm, and the grin he gave my love held only warmth. “I’m glad you’re back in many ways.” His gaze sought mine, and I saw only kindness, acceptance, and happiness there.
Warmth for my old friend flooded me, and I barreled into him, hugging him. Vexxion was back. Bro was back. Reyla was back. I couldn’t be any happier than I was right now.
“So glad you and Vexxion are together,” Brodine said. “Whowould’ve thought things would turn out this way?” He kissed the top of my head. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” After easing away from him, I stepped back into Vexxion’s arms. He leaned over and kissed the side of my neck. Everything inside me melted.
“I assume you two found success,” Aunt Vera said, looking back and forth between us. “As if I need to ask? I can see the glow in each of your faces. Love is a wonderful thing, but you’ve claimed your courts! A court’s core shines in a way nothing else ever can. Finally. All those years of planning, hoping, and scheming, if I’m being honest, have paid off. I will point out that we schemed to save this world, not destroy it. That we did everything we could to ensure both of you would not only survive but make it through this rough part of your lives.”
“You had a vision that it would turn out like this?” I asked, kissing her cheek. I still wasn’t used to having an aunt in my life, let alone a sister, but the warmth I felt for both her and Layla was lasting. We’d only build on it from here.
“Only bits,” she said in a hollow voice, her eyes dropping from mine. “Never enough. If only I did.” She sucked in a breath and shot it out. “But perhaps some things are best left unknown.” Her smile rose. “I knew you two needed to be betrothed, that you’d one day fall in love. I didn’t see . . . the rest.”
I took Vexxion’s hand, tightened my fingers on his and leaned into his side. I couldn’t imagine what might’ve happened if we hadn’t met.
