Just as I had sworn to protect her, my mate had saved me.
How could I ever be worthy of such a perfect mate?
I would spend the rest of my life trying to prove my love and devotion to her, and I would enjoy every moment.
With one final, weary flap of my wings, I I half stumbled, half leaped down to her, landing on the snowy clearing outside the wrecked tower. The wind howled around us, scattering the ash and embers from the smoldering ruins. My body ached with every movement—deep, searing pain from the wounds Topaz had inflicted and the exhaustion of holding my dragon form for so long. My wings trembled as they folded against my back, the effort of keeping them steady almost too much to bear.
Seranni stood at the edge of the clearing, her small form illuminated by the silvery light of the moon. Her hair was wild, tangled from the wind and streaked with ash, but her eyes were fixed on me, shining with relief and love.
It was an effort to shift back, but I knew my human side was what she preferred. She would want to feel my arms around her.
As soon as my feet hit the ground, I let the dragon magic drain from me. Shifting back to my human form was like peeling away layers of fire and stone, leaving me raw and vulnerable. My scales receded, and I stumbled as my talons gave way to bare feet.
But none of that mattered. She was waiting for me.
Before I could catch my breath, Seranni broke into a run, slipping and sliding over the snow as she came toward me, her arms flung wide. I barely had time to brace myself before she crashed into me, her momentum nearly knocking us both to the ground.
But I held her tight.
Tears streamed from both of our eyes as we caught each other in a fierce embrace.
The warmth of her body against mine banished the icy bite of the night. Her scent—lavender and smoke—wrapped around me, grounding me as her fingers curled into my shirt, clutching melike a lifeline. My hands found their way into her hair, tangled as it was, and I pressed my forehead to hers, letting out a shaky breath.
We had done it. Somehow, we had survived.
“I’m sorry,” Seranni sobbed, her voice muffled against my chest. Her words tumbled out in a frantic rush, like she couldn’t get them out fast enough. “I’m so sorry, I was such an idiot, I shouldn’t have hidden it from you, but I thought I was protecting you, I just wanted that mage to leave us alone, I didn’t know he would send a bloody dragon after us—I’m so sorry—” She sobbed, her breath hitching.
Her hands roamed over me desperately, brushing against the torn fabric of my shirt, her trembling fingers finding the edges of my wounds. She sniffled, her breath hitching as she tried to get a look at the damage. “Let me look at you, I need to heal you—”
I caught her hands in mine, stilling their frantic movements. “Later,” I said softly, my voice raw. “We don’t have time right now. We have to leave, Seranni. We can’t stay here anymore. The mage will come looking for us.”
Her eyes widened, and she blinked up at me, her tears glinting in the moonlight. I could see the fear in her expression, the weight of everything that had happened crashing down on her. “But—”
“I know you’ve been waiting for your father,” I said, my heart tightening at the pain I saw flash across her face. “But—”
She shook her head, cutting me off. “No,” she said firmly. “I don’t need to wait for him anymore.”
Her voice wavered, but there was a resolute strength behind it that made my heart ache. She sniffled again, brushing the back of her hand across her cheeks to wipe away the tears. “I know he won’t be coming for me. I guess I knew all along, but I didn’twant to admit it, because he was all I had.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she looked down at the snow.
“But now you have me,” I said, tilting her chin up so that our eyes met. Her eyes lit up at that, and I smiled back at her, blotting her tears. “You’re not alone anymore, Seranni. I’m your family, now.”
Her lips trembled, and for a moment, I thought she might cry again. But instead, a soft smile broke across her face, hesitant and shy. “You’re my family,” she repeated, as if trying the words out for the first time. Her eyes glistened, and her smile grew. “I have you.”
We held each other for a moment longer, the only sounds the crackling of distant flames and the howling wind.
But then, a sharp whistle cut through the night air, startling us both.
I turned toward the sound, my dragon instincts prickling. Down the mountainside, lights flickered to life in the village. My fight with Topaz had woken up the people of Vilusia, they were gathering in the streets, pointing toward the wreckage of the tower.
“It’s time,” I said. “We have to leave Vilusia behind.”
I paused, hoping Seranni would agree. She glanced down at the village, her expression unreadable. My heart swelled when she took my hand in hers, interlacing our fingers together.
“Yes,” she said softly. “I’m tired of hiding, tired of fighting for a family that never wanted me.” She shook her head. “I’m going to make my own family, now.”
I swallowed hard, my heart swelling at her words. This brave, fiery woman was my mate, my partner, my everything.
“We’ll make one together,” I said, squeezing her hand. “You and me. Always.”
