“Sounds heavenly.”
“It will be. And when we’re there, in that place in the future, I don’t see us being alone.”
She pressed her lips to his. “Sometimes, Sylas, you are absolutely brilliant.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I am?”
“You are. I never thought of it before. I’ve been fighting this war for so long. Since I was a child. I never pictured how my life would be when it was over. I can’t see my own future. I never imagined something different for myself until now.”
“What’s your opinion of the picture I’ve painted?”
“I like it very much.” She had loved holding Charlie. Whenever she’d encountered children, she’d always wondered wistfully about how it might be to have her own. Oh, how she could see it now, nothing more stressful than a tray of cookies in the oven. Children laughing in the yard. Friends and family. Celebration. Warmth and kindness. She wanted it all, even the dog. “Four.”
“You like it very much for…”
“No, four, as in the number four. That’s how many children we should invite into our home. When this is all over, of course.”
He smiled as if she’d turned on a light inside his soul. “If it doesn’t happen for some reason,” he added. “If you change your mind or the world is turned upside down and it doesn’t make sense, I love you, Dianthe, just as you are. You’re enough. This is enough for me.”
She straddled him and gave him a kiss she hoped he could feel in his toes. “I love you too, Sylas, and that will always be enough for me.”
For that night, they had each other, they had love, and for as far as she could see into the future, he’d always be the treasure she’d found hidden on this island, her hidden dragon.
Epilogue
Colin had learned at an early age that life didn’t often give him what he wanted. He’d never wanted to be the youngest heir to the Paragonian throne or to fight in the pits only to be made to lose again and again. He’d never wanted to witness his eldest brother, Marius, be murdered or know that it was his own wicked mother who was responsible for his death. He never wanted to lead a resistance whose goal it was to overthrow her.
But as he watched Leena working over her scroll, he thought she was his greatest disappointment. He loved her quite fervently. His dragon had marked her as a potential mate months ago. Yet it was not to be. Leena was a scribe. She’d taken a vow of celibacy in order to devote her life to chronicling the history of Ouros. And although he often suspected the attraction was mutual when they’d worked closely together, he’d never been so foolhardy to dream that she might break her vow to be with him.
“You’re staring at me, Colin.” Her bright purple eyes snagged on him.
He’d been watching her work in profile and had no idea she even knew he was there. Her dark copper braid lay over her shoulder, the hair pulled back from an elegantly pointed ear. She flashed him an innocent smile. “Do you need something?”
He cleared his throat. “It sounds like Raven, Clarissa, and Avery are having trouble translating the scroll. I was wondering how long your Quanling will allow you to stay.”
“I go where the scroll goes. I suppose I will stay either until their translation is successful or you no longer have need of the scroll. I’ll send a message to her to let her know the status of our mission.”
He frowned.
“Does something about that make you unhappy?”
“It’s just that… I need you… here.” Part of him wanted to give in to his deepest desires and admit his unrequited love, to grab her and kiss her and show her his true feelings. But as the smile melted from her face, replaced by a look of pure confusion, he lost his nerve and added, “Clearly the crypt key is to a tomb in Rogos. You are the only one with any chance of helping us find the tomb and gain access to it. I would hope that after hearing about Eleanor terrorizing Everfield and Nochtbend, you’d be inclined to help us, if for no other reason than to ensure the ongoing freedom of Rogos to remain neutral.”
Leena’s uncommonly long lashes fluttered, and she squirmed in her chair. Her brow furrowed. “I think once the scroll is translated, I should return to Niven. I am sorry, Colin, but this time away from the temple has challenged my spiritual well-being.”
He glanced down at his feet. “What’s the freedom of Ouros compared to your spiritual well-being,” he mumbled.
He thought she must have heard his snide remark, but she didn’t respond to it. Instead, she swallowed hard and glanced away from him. “I am sure, if I have an opportunity to talk to my Quanling, that she will assign a replacement scribe to your mission. I am sure that whoever that is will help you as well or better than I can.”
“I doubt that very much,” he said, his eyes fixating on her lips.
Color climbed to her cheeks and Colin felt his dragon coil at the enticing pink blush. She was affected by him, whether she admitted it or not. He suspected with some amount of dismay that that was precisely why she wanted to head back to Niven as soon as possible. Well, he certainly wouldn’t facilitate that plan.
“I must go back to my tent to meditate.” Hurriedly, she rolled her scroll and placed it in her bag beside the others.
“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable,” he said. “I simply appreciate all you’ve done for this mission. I’ll be sad to see you go.”
She gave a shallow bow. “And I you, Colin.” Her eyes locked on his, and he could have sworn he saw a spark of something there in their purple depths. “You have no idea the world you’ve opened to me.”
“Oh?”
“I bid you good night.” She bowed again quickly and hurried for her tent.
Colin watched her go, already formulating reasons in his mind why Leena and Leena alone must help with this mission, none of which involved his secret love for her. He only prayed her Quanling would go for it.
Thank you for reading HIDDEN DRAGON! If you enjoyed Sylas and Dianthe’s story, please leave a review wherever you buy books.
Colin’s dragon has its jeweled heart set on Leena, but the elf scribe made a vow to her people and doesn’t intend to break it. Still, there’s only so much temptation any woman can bear. Things in Ouros are coming to a head. War has come, and Colin, along with his siblings, is at the center of it all. Can Leena resist the comfort of his embrace in what could be their final days?
Find out in book 8, THE DRAGONS OF PARAGON, available late summer 2021.
COMING SOON!
Meet Genevieve Jack
Award winning and USA Today bestselling author Genevieve Jack writes wild, witty, and wicked-hot paranormal romance and fantasy. Coffee and wine are her biofuel, the love lives of witches, shifters, and vampires her favorite topic of conversation. She harbors a passion for old cemeteries and ghost tours, thanks to her years attending a high school rumored to be haunted. Her perfect day involves the beach, her laptop, and one crazy dog. Learn more at GenevieveJack.com.
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The Treasure of Paragon
The Dragon of New Orleans, Book 1
Windy City Dragon, Book 2,
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Hidden Dragon, Book 7
The Dragons of Paragon, Book 8
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Acknowledgments
As I close the seventh book in this epic paranormal romance series, I would like to again thank Anne at Victory Editing for her gentle guidance and careful eye. This series wouldn’t be what it is without you.
Another big thank you to Deranged Doctor Designs for the fabulous cover art. They captured the look I was going for with this series perfectly.
And finally, thank you readers for trusting me with the hours you invest in my books. I strive to give you a memorable experience and hope you enjoyed this one.
Hidden Dragon (The Treasure of Paragon Book 7) Page 23
