by Rinelle Grey
Rylee didn’t look terribly convinced. “But if you can see that, surely everyone can? Stock prices probably go up in advance, and you won’t make much money anyway. And it’s still a big risk.”
“Maybe,” Calrian agreed. “But most people aren’t reading several years of newspapers in one go. I haven’t seen their stock go up much in the last few weeks. I’ve been watching. Yes, I know it’s a risk, but if I’m right, we could double or even triple your money. Maybe that would be enough for your bed and breakfast?”
That gave Rylee pause. He could see it in her eyes.
“Let me help you,” Calrian urged. “I know I can do this.”
He wasn’t sure why he felt so determined. He’d been resolved to let Rylee make up her own mind, but now he really wanted her to agree.
Maybe it was because he wanted to be able to do something to help her. Or maybe he was getting carried away by dragon gold fever. Either way, he felt this crazy urge to prove himself.
Rylee still looked uncertain, and Calrian wanted to add more, to try to convince her, but he made himself hold back. It was her money, and he couldn’t deny there was an element of risk.
But he was sure it was a small one. He’d seen the patterns, and he was sure this would work. Otherwise he wouldn’t even be suggesting it.
*****
Rylee stared at Calrian, hesitating. His face was so eager and hopeful that she couldn’t just say no, even though she knew it was the safe option.
He seemed so sure, so certain he was right.
And if he was, then it could change everything. The money she’d won would make them comfortable, true, but deep down, she still wanted that bed and breakfast. She wanted something more than just the money to provide for them. Some part of her wanted to do something meaningful.
Calrian was offering her a chance to do that, but it came with risks.
Then again, everything in life came with risks, didn’t it? A few days ago they’d had nothing except each other, and she’d been happy with that. Then she’d taken a chance, and things had changed.
Yes, the five dollars it had cost for the scratchie hadn’t been a real risk, but she’d still taken a chance on pure luck.
This was Calrian, a dragon. How she could doubt him. So far, he hadn’t failed in one single thing he’d tried to do. Yes, he hadn’t found his clan, but it wasn’t his fault they weren’t there to be found. And he had taken them into an enemy dragon lair and brought them back out safely.
Was there really anything he couldn’t do?
Rylee wavered back and forth, not sure how she could ever make the choice. She hated choice, and this one was far worse than choosing what to wear or what to have for breakfast. This one could make or break the rest of her life.
It made sense to hold on to what she had, right? The money she had would make them comfortable for a long time. More than long enough for her to find a good, stable job. It was sensible not to risk that.
If she lost it, she’d be back to where she was only a few days ago, with nothing. No house, no job, no hope.
Except she’d had hope. Hope was what had inspired her to buy the scratchie.
She might not have had money, but she’d had everything else that mattered, and even if she lost all the money, she’d still have Rowan and Calrian. And really, they were all that mattered.
But if she didn’t lose, if, in fact, Calrian’s hunch paid off and they made even more money, then they’d be set for life.
Tripling or even doubling the amount of money she had seemed incomprehensible. To go from nothing to that amount of money was more than she could take in. Maybe that was why she had such a hard time believing it.
But people did it all the time, right? Just like people won on scratchies. Just because she’d never been one of those people before didn’t mean it couldn’t happen.
What Calrian was suggesting wasn’t just based on luck though. Calrian sounded like he knew what he was talking about. He certainly knew more about the stock market than she did.
If his perusal of the newspapers really had helped him see a pattern others had missed, then his suggestion had merit. And from the way he was looking at her, intense and determined, he really believed this could work.
But how could he? He was a dragon and had spent only a few weeks in the human world. Was there really any chance he could see something all the investors who had been doing this for years couldn’t?
She could go around in circles about this all day. Both options were valid. There was no reason to pick one over the other.
Or no logical reason anyway.
But as Rylee stared at Calrian in front of her, his eyes not leaving hers, his expression sure and determined, yet also waiting patiently for her answer, she knew what she should do.
“Why not,” she told him. “What have we got to lose? Worst case scenario, we’re back where we were a few days ago, happy with our little clan. But if you’re right and you make more money…”
She didn’t even have to flesh out that idea. She wasn’t sure she even could. She wouldn’t even think of it. She didn’t want to get her hopes up.
Anyway, Calrian’s wide smile was almost as good as winning the money would be. It lit up her heart in a way no amount of money ever could. “I promise you, you won’t regret it. Dragons have a sense when it comes to money. We rarely fail.”
“I trust you,” Rylee said with certainty.
And she did. She not only trusted Calrian with her money, but more importantly, she trusted him with her heart.
Not caring who saw them, she leaned forwards and gave him a kiss.
This was all that mattered, having her family, her little dragon clan. Money was just a bonus.
Epilogue
Calrian held out his hand to help Rylee off the ferry, and she stared at him in amusement.
“I’m pregnant, Calrian, not an invalid,” she scolded, but the words were gentle and amused rather than harsh. In truth, her growing belly did make her footing a little unsure as she moved from the ferry to solid ground.
She’d thought she might be ill on the rocking boat, even though her morning sickness had passed a few weeks ago, but to her surprise, she was still feeling fine.
In fact, the sea air filling her lungs made her feel the best she’d ever felt.
“Wow, look at it.” Rowan’s excitement behind her made her smile.
Ahead of them stretched a long white beach curving around the bay. Palm trees dotted the shore, and behind them a mountain rose up to the crystal clear sky. Nestled in between the trees were a row of huts, a tropical island resort.
It was a stunning view.
“Are we really going to live here?” Rowan asked, his voice incredulous. He turned to stare at Rylee and Calrian as though he couldn’t really believe it.
Rylee couldn’t believe it either. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected Calrian’s hunch to pay off like it had. He hadn’t just doubled or tripled her modest winnings, he’d increased them twenty times.
Her dream of a bed and breakfast had been eclipsed by a tropical island resort.
A tropical resort in perfect condition. The previous owners were just getting older and were ready to retire. Calrian had read an article about them in the paper, made a few guesses, and they’d been thrilled when Rylee had approached them and made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
“Welcome to Dragon Island,” Calrian said with a grin. “I’m looking forward to growing old here with you, Rylee.”
Rylee put a hand on her belly, and tears filled her eyes as she looked at him. “I’m looking forward to raising our clan here, Calrian.”
“Woohoo!” Rowan yelled as he set off towards the buildings at a run. “Beat you there.”
Rylee laughed. “As if I have a chance,” she said with a grin.
Calrian gave her a quick kiss. “I need to put that young dragonling in his place. I’ll be back.” And he took off after Rowan at a run.
Rylee watched them bo
th, thinking her heart couldn’t possibly be any fuller.
The resort was amazing. The island, even better.
But really, all that mattered was her little family. That was all she needed to be happy. And she knew she was never going to lose that.
*****
Calrian caught up to Rowan and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Tag, you’re it,” he said playfully.
Rowan caught onto the game immediately, not surprising given he was the one who had taught Calrian how to play in the yard where Martha’s caravan had been parked. He swung around and Calrian had to jump back before he tagged him back immediately.
Calrian took off towards the water at a run.
But as he stared at the stunningly blue waves, a sense of amazement and happiness washed over him. He’d never expected he’d get to live by the ocean and even less so that he’d have a beautiful, loving mate, a dragonling on the way, and an almost teenage son.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he missed his clan. He wished his brothers and sisters could see this and share the happiness with him. But no matter how much he knew he should, he couldn’t imagine wanting to change this life for the one he’d left behind.
He’d slowed down too much, and Rowan crashed into him at a run, sending both of them tumbling into the waves. Rowan laughed uproariously, and Calrian couldn’t help joining in. He heard Rylee laughing in the distance too.
Rowan untangled himself from Calrian and waded further into the water. “You’re it,” he shouted.
Calrian laughed. “Do you really think you can escape from me in the water?” he demanded as he chased Rowan further in.
They chased up and down the edge of the water a few times until Rowan was exhausted.
Calrian could have kept going for hours. The water felt amazing, cool and welcoming.
Rylee came down near the edge of the water, and Calrian could hear her sigh of contentment as she put her feet in.
“Come on in,” he called from the waist deep water. “It feels lovely.”
Rylee shook her head, laughing. “I’m fully dressed,” she protested.
“Who cares?” Calrian said.
His mate hesitated, then to his joy, she smiled and followed him into the water. As she came close, he caught her with an arm around her waist and kissed her. In that moment, he knew his life was perfect.
He couldn’t wait to explore the island, to dive under the waves and see what was in the ocean, to welcome their first group of guests together.
But first he needed to get his family settled. There would be plenty of time for everything else. He was going to be here for a long time.
Calrian couldn’t be happier with that thought.
The End
The story is not over yet! Find out where Rylee and Calrian are now, in the current timeline soon!
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In the meantime, check out Dragon Tides, a spinoff series about Prince Calrian's children!
Zara has been away from Dragon Island Hideaway resort for four years, studying. Now she's back, and on a mission.
Dragon shifter Damrian has missed his best friend Zara, but now she's back, do they have a chance at something more than friendship?
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About the Author
If you read a Rinelle Grey story, you can trust in a happy ending. Love will always triumph, even if it seems impossible… Rinelle Grey writes feel-good romance usually in science fiction or fantasy settings. Her heroines are independent and headstrong, and her stories are hard to put down.
She grew up in a remote area of Australia, without power, hot water, or a phone, but now lives with all of those and her (happily ever after) husband, daughter, chooks, ducks and veggie garden.
She also writes fantasy under the name Rin Grey.
She loves to receive e-mails at [email protected], or follow her on facebook or twitter.
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