“Youdidn’t?—”
I tapped play and turned the volume all the way up with a wicked smile. Quinn’s voice poured through the speaker. It was so warm, slurred, and adorable I couldn’t help but start giggling.
“I love you so much,mi libélula!I’m going home now. You’re my baby forever,mi libélula hermosa.That means ‘my beautiful dragonfly’ in Spanish. You are the most beautiful dragonfly ever, and you have the wings! You fly! It’s so perfect. You are so perfect. I want to marry you. I hope you want to marry me, too. But don’t tell anyone! Shh! I love you forever and always, the future Mrs. Pierce-Garcia. Or, Mrs. Garcia-Pierce. Whichever one you prefer! Bye! Love me, too!”
By the end of it, I was doubled over laughing. Quinn’s face was the brightest red I had ever seen.
“You know, there are so many hits on here,” I said between gasps. “Do I love the Spanish lesson more, or you remembering I’m a dragon with dragonfly wings that can fly? Or, the part where you literallyproposeover the phone? Or, you contemplating which last name I should take—I love the hyphenation, by the way. Or, the end where youcommandme to love you?—?”
“Give me that!” Quinn lunged for the phone.
I shot just high enough into the air with a playful flutter of my wings, just out of Quinn’s reach. “So cute of you to think this isn’t already in the Cloudandshared with the girls.”
“I said not to tell!”
We danced around my bedroom, Quinn trying to grab my phone and me darting out of reach. Both of us couldn’t stop laughing until the tears clung heavily to our lashes and clouded our vision.Thank the gods for magically waterproof makeup.When Quinn caught me at last, we melted into kisses and soft touches and the kind of closeness that mended days apart in mere moments. I curled into her arms, and she held me like I was her lifeline.
A gentle knock tapped against the doorframe, interrupting the tears of joy that wanted to linger in my chest long after it was meant to fade away. I turned to find Everett standing therebeside Teddy. Both of them were radiant in monotone deep ruby red suits. They wore no shoes or socks on their feet. Their wedding rings shimmered in the same light as Quinn’s necklace. Everett’s dark eagle wings were fully unfurled behind him from cuts in the suit jacket. Teddy’s long, black jaguar tail was casually looped around his waist like a silken belt, the tip flicking with something I sensed as apprehension, and my tail longed to do the same as reality returned.
Uncle Everett’s voice was soft, like he was trying not to cut too harshly through the quiet warmth of our moment. “I hate to interrupt, but it’s time to go now, kiddo.”
I nodded. Quinn set me down to stand. Her hand was already waiting for mine even before I went to grasp it tightly. I whispered for only her to hear. “Promise not to let go today?”
Quinn didn’t hesitate. She leaned in close, her warm voice brushing the shell of my ear like a kiss. “I’ll never let go,mi libélula. Not today. Not ever.”
My breath caught in my throat, and I sent her love and appreciation through our bond. She sent me strength and admiration in return. It was enough to help me step into the hallway.
But it wasn’t enough to prepare me for the amazing sight that was there.
Everyone, every single soul who meant something to me, stood in quiet formation. My best friends, Quinn’s cousins, the Archive Guardians, Ayrie, Aunt Titi, little baby Bryson, and Talli’s family were all lined up toward the front door in reverent silence with supportive smiles. Everyone was barefoot per tradition to honor the earth that dragons felt so connected to. Along with this, they were all dressed in a sea of red, looking like everything from a mermaid princess on a diplomatic mission to a look from a viral video to just angelic and adorable. Rubies, garnets, crimsons, and wines were all glowing and glimmeringwith gold accents. Every shade shimmered with care, crafted in Mom’s honor. The scene reminded me so much of Mom’s scales. It hit me like a punch to the heart. I swallowed the sob building in my throat. I squeezed Quinn’s hand even harder, and I felt her thumb brush mine in return. My wings fluttered behind me, pulsing like leaves in a breeze.
We walked on, each step a beat in the slow drum of remembrance. I embraced everyone, trying so hard not to choke on my sobs and rapidly blinking back my tears. My girls flattered me, telling me how stunning I looked. Cody made an inappropriate joke that had Quinn narrowing her eyes while Nat and Cole smacked him in tandem. Their bickering was a balm on my heart, and the laughter still echoed distantly behind me. However, it was dulled by the sound of my own hearbeat thrumming behind my ears and the longing I had to go back to normal with them. Then, the Libbies, who adored the nickname, embraced me, saying how knowing me told them everything about how extraordinary Mom was. While Bryson launched himself at Quinn, Ayrie and Auntie Titi said how they wouldn’t miss this for the world and that Sire Gale sends her love along with the rest of the enchantment. The sharp warmth of each hug, each whispered condolence, each squeeze of my hand added weight to the ache pressing behind my ribs. Every smile offered in love scraped tenderly against that hollow place in my chest. Gods, I was trying to stay whole. To smile. To be gracious. To hold my head up like I was supposed to.
By the time I made it to Talli’s family near the front door, I was on the verge of unraveling with only Quinn’s hand keeping me together.
Rosso, Talli’s widowed mate, was a tall and muscular white guy with dark brunette hair and facial hair that was close to unruly and unkempt. His posture was rigid and weary, like his body was still catching up to the grief carved heavily intohis bones. His once-bright, icy-blue eyes, a stark contrast to his Fire Elemental nature, looked dimmer now, bracketed with exhaustion. His dark red suit with a crimson red undershirt and matching tie was pressed and clean, likely due to the magic of his daughters rather than his own attention to detail. Leah, his eldest, was at his side. Her expression fierce in its fragility, she crossed her arms over her chest, trying so hard to be grown in spite of her twelve years of age showing in her baby face and lanky body.
“Auntie Byrdie!” A squeal tore from Betty’s mouth as she broke away from her father and sister with her little arms open wide. She had lost an additional front tooth since I had seen her a few days ago, giving her the cutest gap in her smile. All pigtails, patent leather shoes, and determination, she sprinted toward me the moment she saw me approaching. I crouched down just in time to catch her. Her impact sent me rocking back on my heels slightly, but I didn’t care. I clutched her to me, burying my face in her dark brown hair. She smelled like sunscreen and cotton candy shampoo, like life and youth and joy that sorrow couldn’t steal away.
Then, she squealed even louder at the sight of Clarkson bounding toward her. Betty separated from my arms to meet her. Clarkson’s tail went so berserk that her whole body wiggled. Through Betty’s giggles as Clarkson licked her excitedly, she cried out. “Ohmigods! She’s wearingthedress! She looks so freaking cute!”
“You did a great job picking out the dress, Betty-Boop!” I laughed through the knot in my throat before I rose from the floor and turned to Rosso. I whispered. “I can’t believe you’re here. Thank you so much for coming.”
Rosso managed a soft, tired smile. “Talli would want us here more than anything, but the girls wouldn’t miss any of this today.”
“I can’t wait to see the dragon enchantment!” Betty blurted out.
Leah shook her head. “Betty, that’s not appropriate?—”
“It’s okay. I’m happy you all are here. I really am,” I said through my tears, threatening to spill over.
It was very true. Even though their presence reminded what I had just lost, it also soothed. They were the pieces of Talli she had left behind, still alive and glowing and capable of happiness. It was hard not to see them and gain solace as much as I felt guilt.
Rosso cleared his throat, uncertainly, calling my attention back to him. “I-I hate to ask this of you, Byrd, but… Well… Talli grew up very close to Doe’s home. She was very specific in her wishes that she wanted her ashes to be spread in the perfect spot there. And, she never wanted to be the center of attention…” He hesitated, guilt making his muscles coil with obvious tension. “I was wondering if… if maybe we could have… two memorials today? I don’t want to rob you of this moment. This is your goodbye to your mother. I’ll understand if?—”
“You’re not taking anything from me,” I interrupted, my voice wobbling against my will. “You never could. My mom would have loved that. Her and Talli…” I shook my head, trying to find words that didn’t feel like swallowing broken glass. “They were so close?—”
Betty lifted a blown glass potion bottle with a cork in the top that was the size of her torso. The round bowl bottom lit up with a smoky coral orange flame that grew even brighter with my presence. I knew instantly that this had to be Talli’s urn. How had I missed this before? Was Betty hiding it somewhere? Where had this urn come from?
