My stomach growled before my eyes even opened. When I finally blinked awake, the treehouse glowed gold with lantern light.
Every surface was covered. Platters crowded the table. Bowls overflowed. Breads, fruits, and pastries were stacked high along the windowsill. Bundles of herbs and flowers filled the corners. Bright fabrics and woven gifts had been draped over railings and chairs like offerings.
For a second, I just stared. “What?—”
Enya swept past carrying a steaming pot, then stopped when she saw me upright. “Good. You’re awake. Eat before you fall over.”
“I’m not going to fall over,” I muttered. “What is all this?”
“You nearly did twice already,” Yazmine called cheerfully from the firepit. “We’re not risking it a third time. And everyone is a bit … excited after defeating the vampyres, and the prospect of new drakens. And don’t forget your impending birth of new draken blood, of course.”
She gestured toward my stomach.
Kieran lifted his head from the floor, hair a complete mess as he yawned. Benedict pushed himself upright more carefully, jaw tight. Ronan blinked slowly, like he’d forgotten where he was entirely. Benedict was on his knees at my side a moment later, sniffing my neck and my baby bump.
“All good?” I asked cheekily.
He nipped at my ear. “For now.”
Mara pressed a bowl into my hands. “Eat. Slowly.”
It smelled divine. Warmth spread through me with every sip, grounding me back into my body. Back into the moment. Back into this—this impossible, hard-won peace.
My mates lounged around my nest of cushions, watching me intently to ensure I did what I was told.
“Mates,” Enya said, sharply efficient, “look outside.”
“What’s outside?” I asked. I stood carefully. My legs still felt unsteady, but stronger than before. Benedict took one side of me. Kieran the other.
Together, we stepped out onto the platform.
And I stopped.
The entire island stretched beneath us.
All our drakens filled the platforms and branches below, wings brushing wings, bodies packed close in a sea of scales and color. Lantern light shimmered across them, gold and amber and fire-bright. Witches mingled among them, the few hybrid children giggling and laughing as they ran.
Earth witches gathered in clusters, hands resting on baskets of food and woven goods. Air witches drifted above, sending petals spiraling through the air in slow, dancing currents. Seawitches stood at the edges—awkward on land, but present.
All of them.
“What is all this?” Benedict grumbled, even as Kieran grinned like a loon and elbowed him.
“Like Enya said, excitement for the future. Plus, the season is turning into summer. Seemed as good a time as any for a party.”
Benedict’s hands came to rest at my shoulders, grounding and warm.
“Foryou,” he whispered.
I shook my head faintly. “Not just me.”
“For all of us,” Kieran corrected quietly.
Ronan’s hand pressed gently to the small of my back. “You brought us here.”
My throat tightened.
The moment we stepped forward out onto our platform, the island erupted.
