by Naomi Sparks
Everyone turns to face the growing crowd. One of the men steps forward. He's not one I recognize, so I assume he must be one of the dragons who arrived to help us in the fight. He stops halfway between the crowd and the Fire Riders, then he bows slightly to Lex. It's not until Lex nods in response that the man speaks.
"We would all like to congratulate you on your great victory, Aleksander Castor." Again, he pauses, and I'm surprised he knows Lex's full name. "You have rid the world of great evil, and we are all in your debt."
Lex shakes his head, taking a couple steps forward to face the man. Though he looks at the man as he speaks, it's obvious he's talking to everyone gathered. "You owe me no thanks. Without your aid, we would not have been able to defeat Amasis and his men."
The man nods again. "I must ask then, what will we do now?"
Lex looks very solemn, considering that The Clutch was finally defeated..
Everyone in the audience seems to tense as they wait for Lex's response. That's when it hits me. Most of these people probably saw Lex fight with Amasis and kill him. They could assume Lex means to take Amasis's place as the leader of the dragons, and they're nervous about that.
Lex is quiet for a moment. I watch as he looks over the crowd frowning slightly, as he weighs each word carefully before speaking. "What's next is up to you all. You're free now. I asked you all to come here and help us rid the world of a tyrannical leader. I do not intend to take his place."
A collective weight seems to be lifted off the crowd. Then, Surem steps out of the crowd. "Unless anyone has objections, I suggest the next course of action is to eat. My people have finished preparing enough food for everyone, and I think this occasion calls for a feast of celebration."
People cheer as they follow Surem back into the camp, toward the food. The Fire Riders all stay put until the crowd has dispersed. Then they all look at each other.
"We did it," Jerrick says, at last, breaking the silence. "It's all over now."
Everyone nods, still not speaking. Then, slowly, one by one, everyone starts to smile.
Ezra pulls me tight against him as he grins at the others. "I think Surem is right. It's time to celebrate."
15
Gabrielle
We stayed in Montana for a while, letting everyone rest up while we went through everything in the compound. There was literally tons of research about dragon mating that took ages to sort through. Not to mention the raw amount of supplies Amasis and his men had accumulated. It had taken truck after truck to cart everything out of there.
Once that was done, many of the dragons split off, returning to their normal lives. Those that stayed moved with us to New Mexico, where we step a permanent camp. Now that Amasis isn't out there hunting anyone, we don't have to stay on the move.
I helped the Fae put up a protective barrier around the new camp. With my help, they were able to put up a much stronger one than before, one that will be difficult for anyone, dragon, Fae, or witch, to penetrate.
Even the coven came along with us. Without Valetta, they claimed they had no other places they needed to be. "Besides," Merida had said with a smirk. "She'd want us here, keeping you out of trouble."
It time for the Fae to get used to so many dragons around, especially those that were rescued from Amasis's compound. But after a couple months, they start to trust the Fire Riders and the other dragons who remain.
I can completely understand them being hesitant to trust dragons after what they have been through. The Fae, in particular, have suffered for ages under Amasis's rule, since long before even Valetta was born. But I'm glad they're starting to trust the Fire Riders. They're all good men. Men who saw unfair use of power, discrimination, and cruelty in how their kind treated other races. Men who were brave enough to stop it.
Although things have settled down considerably since returning to New Mexico, tonight is a tense night all over camp. Everyone hovers around the large, wooden building that Tyko has turned into his version of a hospital. It was one of the first permanent structures the Fire Riders and Fae had built when they'd chosen this place.
Tonight is supposed to be the night Hannah finally gives birth.
There's an air of excitement bubbling inside everyone. Both the Fae and the Dragons have children so rarely, compared to humans. Any birth deserves a celebration and a ceremony.
But as rocky as Hannah's pregnancy had been, everyone is also on edge. They are praying to whatever gods they believe in, that it will go smoothly. Myself included.
I remember how hard it had been to give birth to Olivia. Even though it hadn't killed me, it sure as hell felt like it would.
Tyko has spent the last couple months pouring over the research taken from Amasis's compound. He and every Fae, witch, and dragon even slightly knowledgeable in childbirth combed through every last piece. Without fear of The Clutch, every scientific mind in the Fae community gathered to study everything Amasis's had learned. This knowledge was not only for Hannah, but for the many other women who carry a dragon's child.
Tyko is confident Hannah's delivery will be without issue, but everyone worries nonetheless.
Ezra and I sit outside the building, Olivia crawls around in front of us. Ezra reaches out and takes my hand as we watch our daughter explore. She's grown so much over the last couple of months.
I watch as she picks up a small rock and studies it for a moment. She's so curious about the world, now that she's learned to crawl. Soon, she'll be running all around the camp, making us chase her around. Part of me can't wait for that to come. Another part is terrified of it.
After Olivia finishes examining the rock, she wraps her tiny fingers around it and starts to crawl back toward us. I don't know how she can crawl around on the hard desert ground all day and not end up covered in cuts, but she's resilient. I wait for her to return to me and give me her little present. This has become something of a habit for her, but she ignores me completely and crawls into Ezra's lap instead.
She looks up at him with those big, brown eyes of hers, and I swear Ezra looks like he's about to melt from all the cuteness. Then, she holds out her hand, opening her tiny fist and presents the rock to him. "Dada!" she says, extending her hand to him proudly.
Ezra and I both stare at her for a moment, unable to even breathe. She called him Dada.
I feel like my heart is going to break. Only a month ago Olivia started calling me Mama, but she's never called him Dada before, until now.
Tears stream down his cheeks. Ezra accepts the small rock and wraps his arms around her, squeezing her tight. When he finally releases her, she gives him that confused look only a toddler can truly master. Then Olivia turns and crawls off again like nothing happened.
I reach out and brush the tears from his cheek. I'd hoped Olivia would love Ezra as much as I do, and it seems she does. And I couldn't be happier for the two of them. Tyko offered to dig through the research for me to find out who Olivia's biological father is, but I turned him down. I don't want to know anymore.
It doesn't matter who provided the biological material for Olivia.
Ezra is her father.
While Olivia crawls around again, Ezra takes my hand in his. We smile at each other. His gaze flicks over to her for a moment, then his smile falters. "Do you... ever think of having another?" he asks, chewing on his bottom lip.
I almost laugh at the expression he's making. He's always so confident and sure of himself. To see him so nervous and scared, it's almost comical. But I manage to hold back my laughter. I don't want him to think I'm laughing at his question. I nod. "Yes, I have thought about it." I glance over at Olivia and let out a sigh. "I know there will be other children for her to play with, now that everyone has settled down. But I would like another child. A sibling for her to grow up with."
The smile lights up Ezra's face. He leans in and kisses me, and I'm the one who melts. God, I love this man, I think to myself.
But before either of us can even think about the details of havin
g another child, the door to Tyko's building flies open. Everyone gathered outside looks up in surprise. Galen stands there, grinning like a fool, and he waves us all inside. He and Katia were the only others, besides Lex, who'd been allowed inside. Galen is Lex's best friend, and Katia wanted to be on hand, just in case they needed an emergency blood transfusion.
Judging by the look on Galen's face, they hadn't needed that.
Everyone stands at once. Ezra scoops a squirming Olivia up into his arms as we all rush toward the building.
While Tyko's newly built hospital provides much more room than his old tents did, it's still crowded with all the Fire Riders and their mates in there. The rest of the camp patiently waits outside.
Hannah is lying in a bed, cradling a bundle of blankets. Lex stands right beside her, his cheeks wet with tears and grinning like a fool. My breath catches in my chest as I look at the two of them. It only takes a glance to know they're both happier than I've ever seen either of them.
Everyone crowds around, trying to get a peek at the new baby. It's screaming its head off, which I distinctly remember from the day Olivia was born. It's healthy, and so is Hannah. Her hair is matted against her skin with sweat, but she's alive and well. Everyone exchanges a look, then the congratulations flood out.
Our combined voices are enough to drown out even the baby's cries. But when Lex clears his throat, everyone goes silent. He looks down at Hannah, and the two share a smirk before she passes the bundle over to him.
"I'd like you all to meet Samuel Castor. The newest addition to the Fire Riders," Lex announces, holding up his squealing baby boy.
The sound of everyone clapping is as deafening as a dozen dragons flying overhead. Tonight will be one hell of a celebration, that much is obvious.
Why shouldn't we celebrate? We are free and safe and healthy. Everything is okay now. We all still have things to figure out, but none of it is life or death. We deserve this happiness in our safe haven.
When I slip my hand into Ezra's, I know, without a doubt, at long last... I've found my family.
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The Exiled Kings Dragon Romance series is complete and all six books are out now.
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Check out Fated if you’re looking for Book 1!
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There are also two other BWWM books in this series:
Betrayed
Prisoner
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For more information about Naomi Sparks, please visit her Amazon and Facebook page.
Thanks for reading!
Naomi Sparks (Exiled Kings Dragon Romance)
Fated — Lex & Hannah’s story
She was meant for me, which means she’s the one woman I can never have.
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Redemption — Faris & Kyra’s story
When he says my name, its like he’s already made me his.
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Survivor — Jerrick & Faith’s story
He’s no angel, but he saved me from hell.
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Betrayed — Galen & Katia’s story
Even if I must go against my entire tribe, I will save this dragon baby.
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Prisoner — Bren & Saphira’s story
I may be his captive, but I will never belong to him.
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Forsaken — Ezra & Gabrielle’s story
I must trust a dangerous dragon to save my baby.
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Find all of Naomi’s books on Amazon!
amazon.com/author/naomisparks
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naomisparks.com
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https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNaomiSparks/
