“Oh, no!” Willow gasped, suddenly grasping something. “Now theAnima Crystallumis incomplete, but you still need it to defeat Raithian. What are you going to do?”
“You don’t have to worry about that, Sis.” Placing a hand on her arm, Braxton squeezed it. “I will figure it out. I got this.”
“At least the foretold betrayal is done and over with.” Imogen shrugged. “Now we can focus on something else.”
“Imogen!” Kingston chided, eyes widening like he couldn’t believe she had actually said that so nonchalantly.
“It’s the truth!” Whirling around, she left the room without any other explanation.
“Let me help you get dressed. Imogen wants us all to see something, and it sounds important.”
Nodding to Willow, I walked with her towards the armoire where she kept my dresses, while Braxton moved towards his dresser.
Once ready, Braxton and I met my guardian and Imogen again outside the room. My hand reached for Kingston’s arm, stopping his advance before we all left the seventh floor. “May I talk to you for a moment?”
“Is everything alright?” Concern briefly gripped his features.
I nodded, love and devotion rushing to my eyes, but I no longer held back my emotions, letting them flow through me freely instead. “Kingston Knightsky, Honorable Chief of Battle of the Skyborne Legion, I hereby release you from your duty as my guardian.”
“No,” he protested, half shocked, half horrified. “If this is about Lady Willow and I being together, I can assure you that will never interfere with my commitment to—”
My fingers lifted to his lips, hindering his protest.
“Yes. Thisisabout you and Lady Willow being together. Ever since I can remember you have been there for me, Kingston. Training me. Helping Amma raise me when my parents were gone, and then after Amma died. Risking your life to make sure I was safe. You are the second father I didn’t know I could have, Kingston. You have given up so much of yourself for me that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you…”
I smiled at him, even though tears brimmed in my eyes, guided by the immeasurable love my heart held for him.
“It was my duty, Princess… my queen,” his voice broke with the words, eyes shining as he looked at me.
“Looking after me might have been your duty, but loving me like your own daughter never was. Being there for me every time I needed you wasn’t a job. That was you, being you. I’ve had the privilege of knowing that man my entire life. I’ve seen you grow and come into your own just like you have seen me.”
Wrapping my arms around his torso, I hugged him tightly, pouring all the love I felt for my gentle giant and would always feel into the embrace. His massive arms wrapped around me too, cradling me as though I was still that child he once trained.
“I know without a shadow of a doubt, that the extraordinary man standing before me deserves far more than to be my guardian for the rest of his life.”
A contented sigh left my lips before I pulled away and reached for my dearest friend’s hand, bringing her closer to us. I placed her hand in his, holding them both tightly between mine. My gaze regarded them both, focusing on the man who had done so much for me.
“You deserve to be happy together. To have a unity ceremony with Willow and have babes of your own. You are worthy of everything you never had the chance to experience, even when everyone around you did. You have devoted a lifetime to me, Kingston. Now you need to do it for Willow because she’s been devoted to you all along.”
Wiping my tears away, I stepped back, watching them look at one another like their future lay in each other’s eyes. He leaned over to kiss the woman he loved more than anything and who loved him just as much.
“So, Kingston Knightsky,” I resumed, calling his attention back to me. “I hereby release you from your duty as my guardian. You have served me with the utmost loyalty, integrity, and affection. I willneverforget that.”
Emotion spilled from his eyes too, and he offered me a full bow. “Thank you, my queen. Seeing you become the woman you are today has been the greatest privilege of my life, and a true honor. If you ever need any—”
“You’ll be there,” I finished for him, seeing him nod. “I know. But I have a strong and powerful Dragon Master of my own now, so I think I’m going to be just fine.”
Laughter escaped him, Braxton, and Willow joining him while I grinned. When Kingston hugged me again, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, appreciating this moment between us. Placing a kiss on his chest, over his mushy, not-so-growly heart, I pulled away and shared a hug with my dearest Willow.
After composing ourselves, we finally reached the stairs.
Our steps halted when we found Aaron, Edward, Charlotte, Quinn, Harvey, and Louis standing there, waiting in silence.
29
The expressions marking Braxton’s friends and personal guard seemed forlorn, crestfallen, and I wasn’t exactly sure if they’d had a moment to talk to their Dragon Master, and now king, after what was revealed yesterday.
My mate tensed beside me, his demeanor changing when they looked at him expectantly, telling me they hadn’t spoken after all.
