Epilogue

 

 

 

Dracen lowered her katana and stared at her opponent whom she’d just planted her foot into the chest of, sending him flying backward. Luc stopped his backward progress, feet spread and one hand on the mat, using his fingers to help balance him. His eyes twinkled.

“Not nice, babe.”

She flicked her tongue along her lips. “This is a fight. No room for niceness. You want niceness, go for ice cream with some of the kids.” A quirk of her lips. “Then again, that’s not always nice either.”

He tilted his head to the side as a cocky smile lifted his mouth. Before she knew what had happened, a coil of gray mist had curved around her ankle, yanking her off her feet. With a roll and a swift maneuver, she managed to remain upright.

“And that is nice?” she countered, rushing him with one sword, now two.

“It’s me learning more about this power we share.” He met her attack with one of his own. The air filled with the sounds of metal upon metal as they battled for the upper hand. Neither of them pulled punches and Dracen dropped low, sweeping her leg out and taking his from beneath him.

She was on him before he could recover. Swords along his neck in an X, she held his gaze. “You’re good, but I’m still better.”

“Not for long,” he said without heat.

She recalled her weapons so the blades were gone and it was just her on top of Luc.

“This,” he grunted, “is much better. Can we spend the rest of the day this way?”

“You on your back?”

“Or you on yours,” he suggested, rolling them over and kissing her.

She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him. “I think that’s something we can manage to make happen.”

He ran the back of his hand down her face. “How are you doing?”

She didn’t even pretend to misunderstand. “I miss him. Every day. I keep waiting for the pain to lessen but it doesn’t.”

Luc brushed his lips over hers. “If I could take away the pain, you know I would.”

“I know. I don’t want to lose it. Part of me wonders if I will forget him if the pain goes away.”

“You’ll never forget him, baby.”

She got free of his arms and stood. “Come on, I have something for you.”

Luc jumped up. “My prize for the rest of the day.”

She laughed, loving how he made the bad seem not so horrible. “Something like that.”

He slipped his hand into hers and walked with her to the stairs. Together they ascended and she led him to the room next to the office. She swung open the door and waited for him to pass her.

“What are we looking—?” He stepped in. “Are you serious?”

“Surprise.”

“Wow.” He wheeled back to face her, the grin on his face allaying the rest of her fears. “You know I’m going to insist on being married now.”

“That’s it? That’s what you have to say?”

“You knocked me speechless, babe. You’re pregnant with my babies?”

She frowned and stepped closer to him. “Babies?”

He laughed. “You’re playing a joke, right? There are two cribs in here.”

She peered past him. “I just had one in here.”

“I thought Altair had done the work. The craftsmanship is exquisite.” He slipped an arm around her as they approached the cribs.

Dracen searched with her power but couldn’t find any indication that something was out of place or wrong. She positioned herself between the items and, freeing herself from Luc’s touch, placed a hand on each rail. Behind her, Luc’s hard body touched her and his hands covered hers.

Unlike when they’d first discovered they were mates and the diamond mist had exploded out, this time it rolled out from beneath her hands. His breath was warm on her ear as they watched it cover the cribs then vanish. Etched into the headboard of each was a dragon holding a moon. As they continued staring, color entered and the dragons turned silver with a diamond dusting while the moon was on fire.

“We’re having twins,” he muttered. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say our dragon knows and this is a gift from him to you. Well, to both of us.” He turned her so they faced one another. Sinking a hand in her hair, Luc backed her to the wall. “I love you, Dray.”

“I love you, Luc. Are you ready for this?”

“I’m ready for anything so long as you’re in it with me.”

“Right here,” she uttered, drawing his mouth to hers.

As their passion ratcheted up, she realized that her fate had been sealed that first night, even if she hadn’t realized it until she’d seen him standing outside that one night beneath the moon of fire. He was her everything, and she would make it with him at her side.