“So everyone’s alive again?” she whispered, her heart in her damp eyes as she came out of what had to be shock. “My sisters? Your family?” Her eyes narrowed with curiosity mixed with concern. “The Vanaheim seers?” Pain flickered in her gaze. “All of our people?”
“All are well,” he confirmed. “And busy trying to keep the villagers safe and to bring order.”
Erica nodded, her eyes still concerned as she finally seemed to come out of her daze. As she realized it was finally over. “So in the end, everyone pulled together to fight for your tribe? All dragons, humans and seers?”
“As a unit,” he assured as he pulled her even closer and brushed his lips across hers, eager to get her home into his bed where she belonged. “Now we have won, and Eluf and Maeva finally got what they have been trying for all this time.”
“They have, haven’t they?” she murmured after they shared a deep kiss. One that pushed everything she felt into him. How frightened she had been when he died. How broken. Like him, like all of them, she had been through so much. It hadn’t been easy.
“But, somehow,” Mema Angie said softly as she crouched and cut away the burlap from her heavy package. “We pulled together and found a way to rise above.”
Megan smiled as Naðr kept her close and Kol, Raknar, and Kjar helped Angie with her package. The storm had abated, and the sun was rising over the Norwegian Sea, casting the water into a vast array of warm oranges and cool purples.
All fires had been put out, and though some ships were crippled and broken, they were dockside, and every last human, seer, and dragon had been saved. All because they had come together to help each other. Erica and Kodran stood and acknowledged the Vanaheim seers standing on the dock in the distance.
“Thank you,” Erica whispered to the female seer. “For saving my life.”
The female’s eyes stayed with Erica’s as she said one last farewell. “We are proud. Stay strong, dragon.” Then her eyes met Kodran’s. “Thank you for trusting us, Eluf. Fare well, my kin.”
He had no chance to respond before they vanished and the horizon filled with life as their ship drew closer to shore. Villagers lined the docks waving and joyous. Aunt Aella and her daughters smiled and waved. Meyla nodded her approval with pride in her eyes. Sean and Svala were laughing and kissing. Even Vigdis seemed happy as she was spun around by a tall, handsome villager and carried off.
Erica smiled and laughed as the sky filled with dragons.
With their family.
“Welcome home,” Heidrek and Cybil said into their minds proceeded by so many others.
“One helluva a fight,” Sam led out, a chuckle in her voice as she soared overhead. “Way to go, you two.”
“I am very impressed,” Bjorn said with a bit of grumpiness because he couldn’t protect them better.
“You took too many risks,” Lauren said, pleased as her dragon swooped low. “But that is what we fierce dragons do.”
“I never doubted you, Brother,” Tait said. “Or your mate.”
“Way to get the job done,” Shannon said, a smile in her voice as her dragon raced past.
“I’m proud to call you kin,” Matthew said, right behind her.
Then Sven, Runa, Kadlin and the children cruised over, free, happy and grateful.
Kage and Viv were next followed by all her dragons. All the Sigdir’s ancient ancestors.
“I’m proud of you, darlin’,” Kage said. “Damn proud. You and Kodran kicked ass.”
“Hell yeah,” Viv added. “We’re both proud of you both.”
Meanwhile, Mema Angie finally displayed her package.
Side by side, she lined up Cybil’s Dragons of Winter Harbor Collection on the ship as the sail continued to glow.
First Rise as they now called the picture Cybil had taken of Heidrek in the ash tree before she traveled back in time. Then the ones she took before that. Vengeance, Soul, Fury, and Pride. The moment Angie set Pride down something miraculous happened. As all five portraits were finally together on display here in Scandinavia, here where so many dragon mates had come together, new life was found in the midst of so much death.
And four tiny heartbeats thumped for the first time.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
ERICA CONTEMPLATED THE sky. “Are we sure today’s the day for this? I thought I heard thunder in the distance.”
“A little turbulence is fun your first shift,” Emily declared as she stood with her hands on her hips and eyed her young nieces and nephews with pride. “I shifted my first time alongside a great waterfall.” She winked at Matthew. “One without a beginning or an end.”
They might still be between the ages of fifteen and seventeen months old and not speaking yet, but the little ones looked at Emily as though they understood every word she was saying.
“I agree with Emily,” Håkon said as Sam and Bjorn’s new son perched in his arms and eyed the children with superiority as though he had shifted for the first time eons ago rather than four months ago.
All were gathered, seers, humans and dragons alike as the newest family members prepared for their first flight. As it turned out in the end, while dragons were supposed to be able to control pregnancy that had been the furthest thing from the truth when it came to Erica and her sisters.
Some said it happened because of the power of the Gungnir blade.
Others said it was the ring from Vanaheim.
Then some even speculated it was the pictures Cybil had taken in combination with Mema Angie’s magic.
Erica and Kodran, however, liked to think it was the power of so much love finally coming back together. Of things being set right. Because what were the odds that Erica, Shannon, Cybil and Lauren’s babies would share their first heartbeat at the same moment?
Now here they were with five healthy baby dragon shifters.
“When are you and Viv going to get around to it?” Erica teased Kage.
“Wouldn’t you say we’ve all got our hands full enough?” Kage chuckled at Erica and Kodran’s son as he braced his hand against his uncle’s shin and released a tiny roar.
“Actually, we’ve decided to conceive soon,” Viv said, smiling. “We just figured there were enough babies to go around right now.”
“There are,” Svala agreed, as she plunked down and laughed as all four babies clambered onto her. Lauren and Tait’s daughter took charge. A fierce little thing, she seized the best spot on her aunt’s lap.
“We’ve decided to team up with Kage and Viv and have a baby,” Sean said then frowned at his words before he offered a crooked grin. “You know what I mean...I hope.”
“I do at least. You intend to have a baby at the same time.” Megan grinned, her eyes sparkling. She looked healthy and to this day remained cancer free thanks to what all assumed was a little otherworldly healing magic. “And I say the sooner you and Svala get busy, the better.” She nudged him then winked at Sven. “I can’t have enough grandchildren.”
“Neither can I,” Amber and Veronica said.
Veronica crouched and grinned as Matthew and Shannon’s little boy didn’t crowd Svala like the others but considered the situation. To some he might seem developmentally challenged, but not to those who understood what he was. Like his mother, he was a Medium and babbled endlessly to random spirits who happened along. To top it off, like his father he was favored by Hel, so he often babbled to her too who, like the ghosts, nobody could see. So far, he hadn’t crossed into Helheim but only because his parents strictly forbade it.
Last but not least around Svala’s circle came Heidrek and Cybil’s son and his puppy, Guardian. She, interestingly enough, had been born the same day as him. If that wasn’t strange enough, a bear had given birth shortly before, and one of its cubs happened into the village the same day the babies were born. In fact, it made its way into two lodges that night and after that never returned to its mother.
No, it stuck close to either Heidrek or Matthew’s sons.
“I think it is time we saw some new dragons take flight,” Naðr said with pride as he watched the children then gave Bjorn a pointed look with a smile in his eyes.
“I agree,” Raknar said, smiling at Heidrek and Matthew. “It is a father’s duty to lead his children on their first flight.”
“Yes, it is,” Kol said, grinning at Tait and Kodran.
“Maybe that was the case before,” Sam said, her eyes narrowed on the men.
Bjorn frowned. “Before what?”
“Before things changed,” Lauren said, following Sam’s line of thinking.
Tait’s brows perked. “Changed?”
“That’s right.” Cybil smiled knowingly at the children. “Changed.”
“What do you mean?” Heidrek asked.
“I think that’s pretty obvious, Uncle Heidrek,” Runa said, the devil in her eyes.
“Is it?” Kodran asked.
“Oh yes,” Kadlin said and gave the women a look.
“Very obvious,” Sven added. When the men looked at him in question, he shrugged and grinned. “I might be wrong, but I believe your women would like to be part of teaching their children how to fly.”
Mema Angie grinned. “I think that is a splendid idea.”
So it became a group effort, and four babies shifted into dragons for the first time accompanied by their mothers and fathers alike. By the time the first successful flight was finished, they were joined by their grandfathers, little cousins, aunts, uncles and even dozens of ancient Sigdir dragons.
Later that night, as their son slept peacefully with the other children, Erica and Kodran sat on a rock on the mountain behind the Fortress and enjoyed the view. The ocean and ships. The flourishing community. More than that, they stared at the stars and remembered other lives and worlds.
Eluf and Maeva.
Vanaheim.
Ancient Scandinavia.
They had been down a long, difficult road fraught with pain yet they had come out ahead. They had brought everyone back together. They had rediscovered their own love. A love that only grew stronger. At last, though it took several lifetimes, there was peace between all.
Acceptance.
“Has there been any word from Grant,” Erica murmured between kisses. “Is everything okay in Winter Harbor?”
“You know as much as I do.” He pulled her onto his lap. “The last any of us heard, Julie bought the chalet. She’s watching over things now.”
“So who’s at the Colonial in New Hampshire, then?”
“Nobody,” he replied. “Somebody had to be at the place in Maine but not the other house.” He shook his head. “I’m fairly certain it’s been abandoned.”
“Sad,” she whispered. “Because from what I’ve heard that place has even more history for time travelers than the chalet.”
“Who knows?” Kodran shrugged. “Perhaps Grant will return to it someday. Or maybe even Adlin.”
“Right, Adlin,” she murmured. “Off to be reborn and live another life.” She shook her head. “I wish him the best of luck.” She couldn’t help a small grin as her eyes met Kodran’s and she straddled him. “Tricky business being reincarnated.”
“So I’ve heard,” he said hoarsely, his heat spiking right along with hers as she ground her hips slowly. Teasing.
“If that’s the case and Adlin’s been reborn in, say, medieval Scotland, then I wonder...”
“Wonder what?” he whispered as he grabbed her ass and enjoyed her movements.
“Well, rumor has it that after Megan and Mema Angie traveled back to us time resumed its normal way of passing. The opposite way than it was.” She cocked her head as she considered. “I tend to think time only did that in Winter Harbor so it could realign her and Naðr to come back together when they did. All part of Eluf’s master plan. But I guess we’ll never know.”
Erica continued as she kept moving against Kodran in a way that drove him crazy. “So now tons of time passes here where only a few months pass there.” She shrugged. “If that’s the case, maybe the same holds true for those time traveling to and from the Colonial. Maybe if Adlin returns he’ll be all grown up...” She couldn’t help a sly smile. “And maybe, just maybe, there will be another group of twenty-first century women waiting there for him eager to travel back in time to Scotland.”
Kodran perked his brows. “You’re becoming quite the storyteller.”
“You should’ve seen him standing on the shore during the battle, sweetie,” she said. “He wasn’t a kid anymore. Not sure what that meant but I got the impression that everything was going to work out well for him...really good actually. Maybe he was somehow giving me a glimpse into his future.”
Kodran nibbled his way down her neck and teased. “I think when you say really good you are referring to his appearance, yes?”
“Well...” she supplied. Her breathing grew heavier as he touched her. “Really good might be a little bit of an understatement. He didn’t compare to you, but he was pretty damn...”
That’s all she managed to say before she became too distracted by the way he touched her. The way his lips captured hers as he chanted away their clothes and slid inside her.
After that, there were no more words.
Just them.
This.
All they had been and all they were now.
They had traveled lifetime after lifetime to be together and though the way had been difficult, in the end so much good came of it. So much love had been found between so many. Children had been born.
Could a positive outcome have been found more easily? Without all the ups and downs, heartache and joy? Maybe. But as a wise wizard or two once said, it’s not about where you end up but the journey that got you there.
The End
Coming Soon
Follow Adlin MacLomain as he’s reborn into another life and connects with his long lost love. Discover what happened to Meyla’s daughter, Aðísla and what becomes of the old Colonial in New Hampshire as another group of time travelers arrive. Expect a turbulent journey with a cast born of the couples from The MacLomain Series: Later Years. Medieval Scottish warriors once again come together with modern day women as they unite with Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. Historical battles unfold and romance across time is tested once more in Sworn to a Highland Laird (The MacLomain Series: A New Beginning, Book One). Coming October of 2017.
Previous Releases
Best Reading Order
~The MacLomain Series- Early Years~
Highland Defiance- Book One
Highland Persuasion- Book Two
Highland Mystic- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series~
The King’s Druidess- Prelude
Fate’s Monolith- Book One
Destiny’s Denial- Book Two
Sylvan Mist- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series- Next Generation~
Mark of the Highlander- Book One
Vow of the Highlander- Book Two
Wrath of the Highlander- Book Three
Faith of the Highlander- Book Four
Plight of the Highlander- Book Five
~The MacLomain Series- Viking Ancestors~
Viking King- Book One
Viking Claim- Book Two
Viking Heart- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series- Later Years~
Quest of a Scottish Warrior- Book One
Yule’s Fallen Angel- Spin-off Novella
Honor of a Scottish Warrior- Book Two
Oath of a Scottish Warrior- Book Three
Passion of a Scottish Warrior- Book Four
~The MacLomain Series- Viking Ancestors’ Kin~
Rise of a Viking- Book One
Vengeance of a Viking- Book Two
A Viking Holiday- Spin-off Novella
Soul of a Viking- Book Three
Fury of a Viking- Book Four
Her Wounded Dragon- S
pin-off Novella
Pride of a Viking- Book Five
~The MacLomain Series: A New Beginning~
Coming October 2017
Sworn to a Highland Laird- Book One
Taken by a Highland Laird- Book Two
Promised to a Highland Laird- Book Three
Avenged by a Highland Laird- Book Four
~Calum’s Curse Series~
The Victorian Lure- Book One
The Georgian Embrace- Book Two
The Tudor Revival- Book Three
~Forsaken Brethren Series~
Darkest Memory- Book One
Heart of Vesuvius- Book Two
~Holiday Tales~
Yule’s Fallen Angel
+ Bonus Novelette, Christmas Miracle
About the Author
Sky Purington is the bestselling author of over thirty novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred who recently moved to Virginia, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth, and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance, and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.
Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at [email protected]. Interested in keeping up with Sky’s latest news and releases? Visit Sky’s website, http://www.skypurington.com to download her free App on iTunes and Android or sign up for her quarterly newsletter. Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.
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