Epilogue

The day after Baldric moved all of my furniture into his—now our—room, he unlocked one of the doors that had remained closed all through my visit and threw it open like a magician performing a trick. A look inside revealed… rocks.

So. Many. Rocks.

Shelves and shelves filled with stones and minerals and gemstones of all shapes, sizes, and kinds. Few of them appeared to be inherently valuable, just like my collection. A smile broke across my face. "You really do collect rocks."

"Yes." He paused. "Are you disappointed?"

I laughed. "No. I'm delighted. I love rocks. I was heartbroken when I had to sell mine." I took a step through the door, then stopped and glanced at him. "Is it okay if I look around?"

"Of course."

Baldric knew the story of every item in his collection, from the tiniest pebble to the giant piece of rose quartz in the center of the room which he'd liberated from the king's own castle.

Most of them he'd found himself, but a few—like my collection—he'd bought from someone desperate to sell. My dragon might appear icy on the outside, but he was delightfully soft at heart.

"It must've taken a lifetime to collect all of this," I murmured idly.

"More than one. Dragons live a long time."

My attention snapped to him, and anxiety twisted in my chest. Would I grow old and gray while he remained the same? "What about witches?"

"It depends."

That was not reassuring. I hadn't exactly discussed it with him yet, but deep in my heart, I'd already decided that he was it for me. I wanted to spend my life with him, but how would that work if I aged and died while he continued on? That would be heartbreaking for us both.

He drew me close and smoothed his thumb over my cheek. "What are you thinking?"

"I was planning to keep you as long as you'd let me, but what if I don't age like a dragon?"

He smiled softly. "You can keep me as long as you'd like. You're my mate, the other half of my soul. And I can tie your life to mine, if you're willing."

"Will that make your life shorter?" I asked with a frown. I didn't want to extend my life at the expense of his.

"No, but the mating is permanent. Your life will literally be tied to mine."

"So if you die, I'll die too?" When he nodded warily, I sighed in relief. "Good. I wouldn't want to live forever without you anyway."

"You have to be sure, Zenira. And we don't need to decide today."

"You were mine the moment you tried to intimidate me into resting. So we can wait if you'd like, but I'm sure."

His expression turned hungry, and his arms tightened reflexively around me. "Don't say that if you don't mean it," he gritted out with faltering control.

"I mean it," I whispered.

Baldric stared at me for a moment, clearly fighting himself, then his magic crashed through me with a warmth that felt like home. His triumphant roar shook the room, and I laughed in delight.

"Take me back to bed, dragon," I coaxed as his magic wove through mine, binding us together.

His eyes glinted. "There's a perfectly good sofa in here."

"So there is." I grinned, and with a spike of my magic, all of our clothes slid to the floor. I took a slow step back and Baldric's eyes lit with predatory intent. "And we can make use of it just as soon as you catch me."

"I'll always catch you," he promised.

"And I'll always let you," I replied with a wink.

Then, I bolted.

We both lived up to our promises.