by Lili Zander
Bryce
The room is strewn with wrapping paper, streamers, and party hats. “We are not tidy people,” I mutter, leaning against Hurux’s shoulder. “We’ve destroyed the room.”
He chuckles. “You have,” he agrees, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Thank you for my present.”
What on Earth do you get a Draekon? I’d wracked my brains for days. I’d considered sex toys and see-through lingerie, but really, it didn’t seem fair to get myself pretty underwear and call it a present for Hurux and Cax.
Harper had suggested me getting a nipple piercing. “That’ll be a fun surprise,” she’d grinned.
Umm, no. I’m a wimp about needles.
I could have given them a deck of cards, but we’ve already played strip poker. I could have made them beer, but is it really a present if I use the synthesizer?
I could have sewn something, but my skills don’t extend to anything more complicated than the simple sleeveless shifts I’d made for Kaida. I didn’t want Hurux and Cax to have to pretend to like what I made for them.
If we were back on Earth, I would have gotten my mates a photo album with pictures of us. That’s a sentimental present, I know, but I’ve been in a sentimental mood for the last week.
Finally, I got a brain-wave when I saw a woman crafting a glass bowl in the main marketplace in Nixmi Tower.
Snow globes. Specifically, one hand-crafted snow globe, featuring two dragons, one silver, the other coppery-green, standing on the top of a hill, with skis strapped to their claws.
Slow globes—especially those made by hand—do not come cheap. Cax set me up with a bracelet, and there was plenty of money on it, of course, but I didn’t want to use the guys’ money to buy them a present.
So I set up a stall in the market. I’d made tacos—syn-made shells, but they were stuffed with real meat and real prison-planet vegetables.
And because everyone in Ashara is extremely curious about all things Earth, I sold out in an hour.
I kiss Hurux’s cheek. “You’re welcome.”
Hurux gave me a pair of anklets. Evidently, the jewelry is a customary betrothal gift to one’s bondmate. The pair I’m wearing is an heirloom; one that has been in his House for more than a thousand years. Hurux had actually sent for it, all the way from the Homeworld. I’m a little overwhelmed.
“My mother wants to meet you.”
I sit up. “What?”
“You sound surprised.”
“I think shocked is a better word.”
He chuckles at the expression on my face. “Why are you shocked, Bryce? You are my mate. Of course my mother is eager to welcome you to the family.”
“Is she?” Hurux transformed into a dragon when he saw me, setting into motion a chain of events that led to his mother fleeing her home to avoid being arrested by the High Empire. If I were Hurux’s mother, I’d be blaming me for the turmoil and chaos. “Are you sure? She had a perfectly untroubled life before you met me. What if she hates me?”
He brushes a kiss against my lips. “You do like to worry,” he says, amused. “My mother will love you because it is impossible to meet you and not love you.”
Aww. Heart. Melting.
I’m still nervous as all hell, but my heart is goo. “Umm, okay,” I manage. “I’m going to get a drink. You want one?”
He shakes his head. I walk away, feeling his gaze on my back.
It is impossible to meet you and not love you. I can’t hide my smile. That might be the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.
An hour later, Sofia returns back to the party, her eyes shining. “Felicity had her baby,” she announces. “A little daughter. A nice, easy, uncomplicated delivery. Both mother and daughter are doing great.”
Cheers break out in the room. I tear up, and across the room, Cax notices, because that’s just like him. He breaks free of his conversation and comes over. “I’m happy for her,” I tell him before he starts worrying. “And for Luddux and Xanthox.”
“Did they name the baby yet, Sofia?” Ryanna calls out.
“Abigail.”
“Awww.” Paige, who’s standing next to me, looks misty-eyed. “Good for Felicity, that’s a great pick. Abigail’s an old Hebrew name.” Her smile is soft. “It means father’s joy.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. Luddux, because of his exile, wasn’t around to see his daughter Mar’vi grow up. Abigail is a gift, a second chance.
I lean on Cax’s shoulder, my arm around Hurux, and survey the room. Six months ago, these women were strangers. Now, they’re like the sisters I never had.
Viola’s saying something to Nyx, holding a blue drink in her hand. Every time she sips at it, she makes a face.
Next time I see her, she’ll have had her baby.
Harper’s got Kaida safely in her arms. Poor Harper. How do you keep an eye on a baby that can also turn into the most adorable dragon in the world? She’s going to have her hands full.
Sofia’s laughing along with her mates, her cheeks flushed. She’s now done something no doctor on Earth has ever done— she’s delivered two human-Draekon babies. And this is only the start. Sofia’s going to do great things.
May’s leaving in the morning to adopt two kids. She’s talking to Paige, her smile wide and excited.
Paige is going to train to become a TechMage. She didn’t tell us how her aptitude test went, but Babbuq did. “She tested in the ninety-eighth percentile,” he’d said, his voice awed. “Only Adrashians test better.”
Olivia’s talking to Zunix. No doubt, she’s plotting something. I shake my head wryly. I still remember the time I thought Olivia was the biggest ditz in the universe, and it turned out it was just a cover. She’s formidable, Olivia. The galaxy had better watch out.
Cax nuzzles my neck. “What are you thinking about, diya?”
“I’m going to miss everyone here.”
“We’ll be back soon enough,” he says philosophically. “The Senate wants in-person updates. Senator Ulle was quite insistent that she didn’t want me making any more unilateral decisions.” He rolls his eyes. “Ulle isn’t subtle.”
“Nope,” I agree. “Not even a little bit. Do we have time tomorrow morning to visit Abigail before we leave?”
“Of course, Bryce.” He kisses the top of my head. “Whatever you want.”
The evening’s slowly winding down. It’s late, well past our usual bedtimes, and May, Olivia, and I have early starts in the morning. Still, we linger, because the moment we leave here tonight, everything changes.
“This is a good holiday,” Arax pronounces, putting his arm around Viola. On her other side, Nyx wraps his arm around her waist.
Viola practically glows with happiness. “We should sing a song.”
“What song?” Olivia asks just as May launches into Auld Lang Syne in a quavering alto. Ryanna and Sofia pick it up, and with Viola humming along, they make it to the chorus with only a few fumbled words.
“What is this song about?” Hurux asks me in a whisper.
“I don’t know,” I whisper back. “We sing it on New Year's’ Eve to bid farewell to the old year.”
Olivia picks up the chorus in a beautiful, clear soprano. Everyone’s mouth falls open.
I surreptitiously wipe the tears from my eyes. “It’s about... friendship and getting together and reminiscing and…” I wrack my brain as Olivia hits the second verse with Beyoncé-like flair. “It’s about endings and farewells.”
I raise my beer in a silent toast and drink, so no one asks me to sing. I don’t mind singing, really. It’s just that when I do, I sound like the anguished bellowing of a dying dwal. Not good.
“But this isn’t just an ending, Bryce,” Hurux says, his eyes perceptive. “It’s also a beginning.”
Tonight’s been a night of miracles. Kaida flying. Abigail’s birth.
I wrap my arms around my mates. Hurux is right, though I can’t tell him that; he’ll get smug. Tonight might be an ending of sorts, but when the su
n rises tomorrow, it’ll be the start of something new. Something miraculous and magical.
I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Thank you for reading Draekon Holiday! I hope you enjoyed this catch-up with everyone as much as we enjoyed writing it.
Are you all caught up with the Draekons? Don’t miss any of the books.
Draekon Mate - Viola’s story
Draekon Fire - Harper’s story
Draekon Heart - Ryanna’s story
Draekon Abduction - Olivia’s story
Draekon Destiny - Felicity’s story
Daughter of Draekons - Harper’s birth story
Draekon Fever - Sofia’s story
Draekon Rogue - Bryce’s story
Subscribe to Lili Zander’s mailing list and be the first to find out when new Draekon books are released! As a special thank-you, subscribers will receive a free Draekon Mate bonus scene, guaranteed to steam up your e-reader!
Glossary: Who’s who among the Zorahn
Lenox. Currently High Emperor. Son of Dravex, brother to Arax.
Raiht’vi. Highborn Scientist. Trapped on the prison planet.
Brunox. Head of the Council of Scientists. Raiht’vi’s father.
Ru’vi. Currently Spymaster of the High Empire. Rumored to be Lenox’s mistress.
Tarish. Leader of the Rebellion.
Surax. Formerly Spymaster of the High Empire. Deceased.
Beirax. Scientist belonging to the rogue Order of the Crimson Night.
Mannix. Technician. Deceased.
About the Authors
Lili Zander is the sci-fi romance loving alter-ego of Tara Crescent. She lives in Toronto. She enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy, and thinks a great romance makes every book better.
Find Lili at:
www.lilizander.com
www.facebook.com/authorlilizander
Email her at [email protected]
Lee Savino is a USA today bestselling author. She’s also a mom and a choco-holic. She’s written a bunch of books—all of them are “smexy” romance. Smexy, as in “smart and sexy.”
Download a free book from www.leesavino.com.
Find Lee at:
www.leesavino.com
www.facebook.com/leesavinoauthor
Books by Lili Zander
The Alien Vampires of Shayde (Vampires in space, reverse harem)
Night of the Shayde
Blood of the Shayde - coming Winter 2018
Blood Prophecy (Dragon shifters, reverse harem)
Dragon’s Thief
Dragon’s Curse
Dragon’s Hope
Dragon’s Ruin
Dragon’s Treasure
or
Dragon’s Fire (the omnibus edition, containing all the Blood Prophecy episodes) and a bonus story, Dragon’s Ghost.
Adventures of Suzie and the Alien
Books by Lee Savino
Hey there. It’s me, Lee Savino, your fearless author of smexy, smexy romance (smart + sexy). I’m glad you read this book. If you’re like me, you’re wondering what to read next. Let me help you out…
If you haven't visited my website...seriously, go sign up for the free Berserker book. It puts you on my awesome sauce email list and I send out stuff all the time via email that you can't get anywhere else. ;) leesavino.com
Then check out…
My Berserker series: These huge, dominant shifter warriors will stop at nothing to claim the women who can free them from the Berserker curse These books are based on an Old Norse poem I studied in college, but writing heroines who find freedom in their sexual desires is my therapy after years of religious repression. They’re…ahem…quite kinky, so stay away if you don’t want a fair bit of BDSM.
The series is broken into two, all set in the same world and time period:
The Berserker Saga
Berserker Brides
Then I have a few series with cowriters! Yay!
The Tsenturion Masters with Golden Angel (coming soon)
The Draekon series with Lili Zander
The Bad Boy Alpha series with Renee Rose
Contemporary Romance. I have big plans for a romantic comedy series…probably starting in 2020. First I owe people a sequel to Her Marine Daddy. Snarky heroines, sexy dominant men, lots of kink and hilarity. Read Her Marine Daddy (it’s sugar kink and not really a true daddy book) and write to me at [email protected] if you want more. :)
