Kassidy swallowed, her gaze drifting past us to where Victoria laughed beside Nalari.
“There is something she should know when the time comes,” she said carefully. “Her father’s dragon still lives.”
Elias went still.
Kassidy’s fingers curled against her palms. “He never bonded with another rider after the battle. We thought it was grief. That he chose solitude. Dragons don’t always let go. Sometimes they wait for what the past left behind.”
Teddy’s hand tightened in Elias’s. “You think he’s waiting for her?”
“I think the choice should be hers,” Kassidy said, emotions threading through each word. She shook her head. “I’m not asking for her. Only for him not to mourn a ghost when his rider’s daughter still lives.” She paused. “May I tell him she lives?”
Choice.
That was what all of this had been about. Every fight, every sacrifice. It hadn’t been about power but choice.
Teddy and Elias shared a look, but it was Teddy who spoke first. “Yes.”
Kassidy nodded, tears brightening her eyes. “Can I meet her?” Her voice cracked. “I won’t—just, maybe she would like to meet Solana.”
“Tori’s never come across a dragon she didn’t immediately fall in love with.” Teddy’s smile was small but thoughtful.
Kassidy let out a watery laugh, which came out fragile and a little broken. With the heel of her hand, she wiped her cheeks and followed Teddy, where Victoria laughed and talked with Nalari.
At Elias and Teddy’s approach, Javier set the twins down, whispering something that made them both giggle. When he straightened, he stood still for a moment, watching everyone around him, seeming to absorb it. Then he turned back to Teddy. She and Elias met him halfway. Before he could speak, Teddy wrapped her arms around him, holding him as tightly as he gripped her.
“He’s really going back?” I asked. “Isn’t he?”
“Looks like it,” Brenton said, his tone sad.
I flicked my gaze to Alastor, who watched them, his expression caught somewhere between pride and grief.
“He’ll be back,” Alastor said.
When Javier pulled back, Elias stepped forward to clap Javier’s shoulder. Instead, Javier pulled him into a full embrace that Elias returned just as fiercely.
For so long, I’d played nothing more than a spectator. But here, I felt like I was a part of this. Of them.
Brenton’s hand swept across mine, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. “Come on.” He tipped his chin toward the others, then gripped the back of Alastor’s neck in that brotherly way of his. “Let’s go before Elias starts reciting some royal farewell.”
Alastor’s laugh rumbled beside me, and I couldn’t help the laugh that came out in response.
As we started toward them, Etienne caught my eye. He gave me a small smile before turning away to go inside, giving us this moment.
When we reached them, Zayne raced from behind Teddy and toward Brenton. He tugged on the hem of Brenton’s pants.
“Up,” he said.
Brenton blinked down at his nephew, his eyes shining with surprise. “You want to come all the way up here?” he asked. “I’m awfully tall.”
Zayne giggled. “Up,” he demanded, insistent until Brenton scooped him up.
The little one’s laughter made me smile.
“Visit,” Elias told Javier. “Don’t make me drag you home.”
Javier’s laugh came out rough. “Maybe,” he said lightly, but the way his attention drifted over everyone gave him away.
“You’ve managed to keep yourself alive this long,” Alastor said. “I expect you’ll keep at it.”
