by Rachel Jonas
“But you sound so good doing it,” I laughed, bringing his face to mine so I could reach his lips.
“Don’t be cute,” he groaned playfully, burying his face in the side of my neck.
A laugh burst from my throat and I brought him closer, remembering something I dreamed a few nights ago.
“You know what else you sound good doing?” I asked.
He pulled away slowly, still eyeing the spot on my neck he’d just kissed. “I’m listening,” was his reply, and the depth of his voice added to the point I was about to make.
“Singing.”
“And that’s my cue to leave,” he announced, one corner of his mouth tugging up into a half smile. As soon as the words touched my ears, he moved to stand, but stopped when I caught his arm.
“Wait! I wasn’t even gonna ask for a song,” I laughed. “It’s just something I saw and heard a few nights ago. In a memory that came to me,” I clarified.
But that honestly hadn’t been the only time. The first was when I wandered inside his head while he drove, unaware that I was present with him. Before getting his attention, he’d been singing one of my mother’s favorite songs—Talihina Sky. I hadn’t forgotten that, but hearing him in the dream was a pleasant surprise.
He lowered his head and I smiled a bit at what I saw.
“Oh wow! Are you turning red, Liam?” I laughed, teasing him. “Did I actually embarrass you? The warrior known around the world as Reaper?” I went on, rubbing it in even more.
“All right, enough,” he laughed, pushing a hand through his dark waves. “I was a different guy back then, so I want your word that this highly classified information will never leave this room,” he added.
I crossed my heart with my finger. “I promise.”
I stared after that, in awe as my cheeks ached with a grin. I still found it hard to believe he was mine. And seeing him actually being shy about this was kinda sweet.
“It’s been cool having you remember, though,” he said, changing the conversation.
“Agreed. It still doesn’t quite feel like they’re my own memories yet. It’s more like watching someone else’s, but I don’t think it will always be that way.”
He kissed the back of my hand and, at the feel of it, I was overwhelmed with a sense of unmatched joy. It felt so good to be home, so good to be back with the ones I loved. Granted, there was a lot of work ahead of us as I established myself in my new position, but the Council advised me to wait until I was no longer ‘in a delicate way’, which suited me just fine. I’d take the time to get acclimated to motherhood, and then I’d step into my role as queen, prepared to be the leader the people had deserved for so long.
“Ten minutes,” Liam said, sealing the comment with one last kiss before disappearing again.
I held the rose, sniffing it as I tried to guess what he might have needed me downstairs for. When I kept mulling over the same two or three things in my head, I decided to just get dressed and go see for myself.
I took the stairs slowly and had to laugh at how I’d begun to waddle a bit when I walked. Bracing one hand at the base of my back, I entered the living room and was surprised to see that Liam wasn’t the only one who waited for me.
Hilda greeted me with a smile and came to take my hand.
“We’ll be taking a little ride,” she grinned. “You’ll need a light jacket.”
Confused, I let her lead me back to the foyer I’d just passed through where I was handed a pair of shoes.
“I don’t understand. Where are we going?”
No one answered. They just got their things on and filed out the front door where they piled into two vehicles—my brothers in Liam’s pickup, which would be driven by Dallas. Hilda held onto my hand as she pulled me toward Elise’s car where Liam held the passenger side door open. I passed him a curious glance as he helped me down into my seat. There was definitely a grin as he closed me in.
He and Hilda climbed into the back and Elise got behind the steering wheel. Her engine started and two guards opened the large gate to let us pass through. The suspense was killing me, but then a thought occurred to me. I’d made a request the moment we made it back home. It was that a memorial be set up for Nick, something to commemorate his bravery and the major impact he had on all our lives.
He deserved that recognition and much more.
Content that I’d figured it out, I settled into my seat and decided I wouldn’t ask anymore questions. Instead, I gazed out the window at our beautiful town. The scenery was familiar as we traveled further uphill, not slowing until we came to a long driveway.
The home was massive and, from what I could recall, I hadn’t been here before.
I peered up at the ivy-covered brick when we stopped out front. Three of the car doors opened and Liam came to help me from my seat. His expression still gave nothing away, but I was now second-guessing my original theory about the memorial. This was kind of a strange early-morning stop, but I assumed there was a point to it.
Liam held his hand to my lower back as we ascended the stone stairs that led to a beautifully carved front door. I expected them to stop there, to ring the bell or knock, but they simply walked in.
There was no sound and I found myself wondering if someone lived here or if it was vacant. I gave Liam another bewildered glance and, this time, he smiled a bit.
“Okay, so … is anyone gonna tell me why we’re here?”
Behind me, one of my brothers snickered when I asked.
“Are we moving and someone forgot to tell me?” was my next question.
Elise stepped forward and her big smile and wide eyes made it clear she was about to burst from holding in whatever this secret was no one was sharing with me.
“We’ve been hiding something,” she began, “but I assure you, it’s not whatever you’re thinking.”
The statement only made me more confused.
“Don’t be upset that we kept it secret, but … the entire process would’ve been too emotional for us to involve you,” Dallas explained.
“In case things didn’t quite go according to plan,” Elise rushed to add, nearly bouncing out of her expensive shoes with excitement as she explained.
“Any guesses?” Ivan asked.
I turned, so happy to see him on his feet again. “I … no. I don’t have a clue, but you all are making my heart race,” I said with a laugh, feeling their excitement transfer to me.
I was all out of guesses, so I then decided to throw my original theory out as bait, wondering if I’d somehow been on track and just didn’t realize it yet.
“The first things that came to mind was the memorial for Nick,” I shared. “I thought you all might have put something together …”
My voice trailed off when no one confirmed.
Elise’s smile grew. “We … might have done a little better than that.”
She took my hand and I glanced over at Liam as I was led past the grand staircase toward a long hallway to my left. Statues lined the broad space and we passed a beautiful library. Yes, this place held someone’s belongings, but still felt unoccupied.
I was so incredibly confused that I eventually stopped guessing what the surprise might be. Even as I was taken close to a set of French doors at the end of the hall. They were partially open and faint voices wafted in, but …
“Who’s out there?” I asked, turning to direct the question toward Liam.
He didn’t change his stance, still opting not to answer.
I turned toward the door again as the voices came in louder and, for a moment, I … I thought I recognized one of them, but … what I thought I heard was impossible.
When my bewildered gaze shifted from Elise to Hilda, both nodded toward the doors, encouraging me to pass through them. So, I stepped closer and, when I did, had it not been for Liam moving forward to steady me on my feet, I might have gotten weak in the knees with what I saw.
With who I saw.
There, seated in a chair with his ba
ck to me … a headful of brown hair. And that voice as he sat across from friends—Chris, Lucas, Beth, and a very happy, smiling Roz. It sounded just like …
“ … Nick.”
His name tumbled from my lips in a whisper because I only half-believed my eyes. With the vivid dreams I had lately, I didn’t quite trust what I was seeing. He shouldn’t have been here. Shouldn’t have been sitting on this patio, breathing.
I was stunned when I was no longer staring at the back of a head, but into a set of blue eyes that had brought me so much comfort. Tears welled, clouding my vision.
“How are—”
He stood, his foreboding stature blocking out the sun from behind as he came closer, causing my head to tilt back as I stared up in disbelief.
Those tears that welled flowed freely now as emotion overwhelmed me. I’d seen him pass away with my own two eyes, had held his hand as he transitioned. So how was he … here?
A broad hand stretched toward me, and despite not knowing whether I was awake or still dreaming, I took it, feeling the warmth of his palm against mine.
He chuckled a bit, taking in my wide eyes and gaping mouth.
“It’s really me, Evie,” he stated, only making me question things more instead of assuring me I was really seeing this, really living this.
Liam’s hand braced my shoulder before he spoke. “We couldn’t tell you because, well, being honest, there was no guarantee it would even work. There were so many unknowns that came into play, we …”
I glanced up at him, cutting him off. “He’s … this is real?” I asked, feeling my lips quiver with the question.
Liam’s smile broadened, seeing my excitement. When he nodded, it only brought on more tears. “It’s real.”
I turned, laying eyes on Nick again, and I could only think of one thing to do.
I threw my arms around his neck.
Things felt so different. After the darkness that hung over us fell away as I sat beside his body on the floor of the church weeks ago, I felt so much lighter. And now, as we embraced, it was so good to hold him and not hear that nagging voice in the back of my mind telling me he was dangerous, telling me that, despite the love I had for him, I ought to keep my distance. No, as we hugged now, I felt none of those negative things. Only peace.
“How is this even possible?” I asked, not really needing the details. All that mattered was that he was here.
“Well, we have Liam and Elise to thank,” Nick shared. “They took a huge chance on me, and … I can’t even begin to say how grateful I am.”
It was so strange to hear him speak of Liam in a positive light, so strange to hear that he had played a part in Nick being here.
“I still don’t get it,” I said, laughing amidst happy tears. “But I’m too excited to care.”
He laughed, too, and the sound of it was like music to my ears. I didn’t think I’d ever hear it again.
When he leaned away I peered up, unsure of what he’d say next.
“I want to explain it, but maybe I can show you better than I can tell you,” he stated, piquing my interest with the obscure statement, but then … it wasn’t so obscure anymore.
He held out his palm and, half a second later my breath ceased.
There was a flame.
My heart skipped a beat at the sight of it, feeling the pieces begin to fall into place.
“It was Elise,” Liam spoke up from behind me.
Bewildered, I kept my eyes trained on Nick’s hand, trying to wrap my mind around the idea of him being a … dragon.
“You never told me how cool this was,” he chuckled, closing his hand and extinguishing the light inside it. “Flying is like … it’s the best part.”
I turned to Liam, playfully scowling at him. “Flying?” I asked. “You made me wait like six months to learn!”
He chuckled as I glared at him. “Kid’s been through lot,” Liam commented. “Figured he earned it.”
The two exchanged a look and, for the first time ever, I sensed an air of respect between them—the love of my life and one of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Seeing them in one another’s presence without one wanting to tear the other limb from limb was like a dream come true.
“Is this where you’ve been coming when you disappear?” I asked, already knowing what Liam’s answer would be.
He nodded, confirming that Nick had been the one stealing his time from me. The middle-of-the-night runs, waking up in bed alone morning after morning. But now, as I gazed up at the newest dragon in Seaton Falls, the lost time was definitely worth it.
I hugged Nick again, couldn’t help it.
Over his shoulder, Roz stood with a content smile you could have seen from the moon. She had her love back—a feeling I could certainly relate to.
I released Nick and let myself take it all in. At first, I believed I’d have to accept not having total happiness. While family meant everything to me … friendship was incredibly high on that list, too.
And now, I really and truly had it all.
“Thank you,” I said, peering up at Nick, stating the same words I said to myself since returning home. Only, this time, I finally got to say it to his face. “I owe you my life.”
He responded with a brilliant smile and an offer.
“Well, once you’re able,” he said, glancing down at my stomach with only joy in his expression, “I think I know how you can repay me.”
I chuckled a bit. “Oh, yeah? How?”
He took a deep breath and turned to look out on the property of what I now guessed to be his grandfather’s estate.
“I’ve got a lot to learn about being a dragon,” he began. “I was wondering if there might be a queen with a little spare time to show me the ropes.”
My cheeks hurt with how hard I smiled at that. “Well, it just so happens I know a queen with her whole life ahead of her.”
His lips curved up with a nostalgic grin. “It’s a date?”
I reached for Liam, clutching his hand in my left as I felt beyond blessed to have it all. When I reached for Nick’s with my right, I confirmed with a promise.
“It’s a date.”
Epilog
Two Weeks Later …
Liam
I hadn’t taken my eyes off her since she came into the world three hours ago. I’d never seen anything more perfect in my entire life.
Figures, seeing as how she was the spitting image of her mother. From the dark curls framing her small face, to the flecks of green in her eyes like mine, she was one-hundred-percent us.
One-hundred-percent made from love.
Before this, it was hard to imagine myself as a father, but now that she had arrived, it felt like I finally found my purpose. A small yawn and tiny stretch brought a smile out of me like I’d just won the lottery. I suppose, in many ways, I had.
My gaze drifted to Evangeline where she lay sleeping. I marveled at the strength she showed today. I was by her side the entire time and there wasn’t anything in this world that could have pulled me away. I witnessed a miracle today.
The birth of our little girl.
With things being upside down before, there hadn’t been time to think of a name in advance, but the moment Evangeline laid eyes on her she knew.
In honor of her father Noah, the latest descendent of his legacy would be called … Noelle.
The sliver of space between the door and the frame widened as Hilda poked her head inside. Her gaze landed right on her new niece and her expression warmed. She stepped inside, quietly to avoid waking Evangeline. I stood from my seat beside the bed, already knowing why she’d come.
My arms immediately felt the loss when I handed Noelle over. I wanted to keep her there until she, herself, was old enough to tell me I had to let go. I’d been a protector for so long, and now I knew that feeling would only deepen as I watched her grow.
“You’re absolutely beautiful, little one,” Hilda whispered, running a hand down Noelle’s head. The motion smoothe
d her thick curls. “It was an honor to help bring you into the world,” she added, placing a kiss on her forehead.
Hilda had been at Evangeline’s side the whole time. She was skilled with this sort of thing—having helped deliver countless children within the kingdom in centuries past. It was that expertise that kept Evangeline comfortable and kept me from worrying myself to death. In the end, everything worked out exactly as it was supposed to.
Elise stayed close, too, insistent on witnessing the moment her first grandchild came into existence. And the second she did, there were so many tears.
In the recent past, none of us were certain we’d get here—to peace, to happiness—so to now have it all was a gift.
The most priceless gift I’d ever received.
Hilda’s gaze shifted to Evangeline as she swayed, keeping Noelle content. “Has Mom asked for anything?”
I smiled hearing her refer to Evangeline that way. “She’s been out for a couple hours now. I imagine she’ll be starving when she wakes up, though.”
“Then I’ll prepare a meal,” Hilda offered. “Something grand, considering the occasion.”
She was right; this was a special occasion. The most important of my life, actually.
Hilda fell silent and I took note of the thoughtful look she wore.
“Something wrong?”
She peered up. “Wrong? No.”
“But …”
She smiled when I didn’t let her off the hook so easily. “It’s just that … I sense something.”
“With Noelle?” I asked, hearing the concern in my own tone.
“Settle down,” Hilda laughed. “Everything’s fine. It’s just that … I believe she’s special. More special than any of us could have foreseen.”
I had no clue what that meant, but judging by the jovial expression she wore, I now knew whatever she spoke of was nothing to worry about.
I took a seat on the edge of the bed when she dropped down into my chair. “Our princess has a unique energy,” she began. “Almost as if she possesses some sort of … magic.”
My brow quirked. “Magic? As in … the kind witches possess?”
