Epilogue

Tahlia

" H uzzah!" The hall echoed with the Mist Knights' cheers, the staff's praise, and the roar of the dragons gathered in the courtyard outside the open doors.

On the dais at the front of the hall, Fara and the two others who had tested alongside her raised the scrolls that named them official Healers of the Peak. Seated on one of the benches at the long, food-heavy tables, Tahlia shouted so ferociously that her throat burned. She didn't care. She couldn't have been happier.

Lady Fara looks five feet taller, Lija said into Tahlia's mind.

Tahlia turned on the bench to see Lija peering through the right-side doorway. She does! Do you want one of these? Tahlia lifted a pink crystal cake and wiggled it.

You know that I do, rider.

Tahlia chuckled. She jogged over to meet the dragon at the door. She held out the cake and Lija basically inhaled the sweet treat.

Marius stood beside Fara and Albus on the dais, his hands raised to quiet the chaos. "All right. That's enough. Now, eat the food you've been given and let's enjoy our pre-pirate raid rest period."

The crowd erupted in cheers once more. Plates and cups banged and clanked around the hall as toasts were made. Platters of rosemary roasted venison, pitchers of crystal wine, and deep bowls of noodles with cream sauce were passed from person to person.

Tahlia gave Lija a quick scratch under the chin, then returned to the benches to meet Fara for dining. Atticus was already there, as well as Enora and Justus. They toasted Fara again, also praising Tahlia for her secret mission work. Jokes were told, flirting commenced, and fun was had all around.

Fara gripped Tahlia's hand tightly. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. "Thank you for finishing up that secret mission nonsense and getting back here in time."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

"Unless you had contracted an ague or even the plague." Fara's face fell. "I forgot to ask. You did avoid drinking that human water, right?"

"Shh, you're not supposed to know we were beyond the Veil."

"Whatever. Tell me. I need to know." Fara lifted Tahlia's chin and examined her throat. "Your lymph nodes might be swollen." She prodded her throat roughly and Tahlia coughed and pushed Fara's hands away.

"Well, they are now anyway. Leave me alone. I'm perfectly fine."

"Except for your weird Weaver scar."

"It's great actually. Now I'll never lose the belt. It's part of me."

"Has your magic returned in full?"

"As of this morning. I think I just needed a good night's rest inside the Veil's range."

Fara nodded, but her brow remained furrowed. "If you say so. But I think you should take some time with the crystals and Lija. We have yet to determine how much they can heal a Fae, but they do improve mental clarity and energy levels. We tested it!"

She shoved a sage-green cake into her mouth and kept on talking. Titus, Ewan, Claudia, and Maiwenn found seats nearby. They began discussing the coming trip north.

"Tahlia, you ready for another adventure or do you need some more of Maiwenn's greenblood?"

Tahlia pretended to be choking. "Yeah, no. I'm good to go when it's time without any of that poison, thanks very much."

Titus snorted a laugh and began rolling dice while the others talked about potential pirate landing spots.

"Care for a midnight flight?" a deep voice said behind Tahlia.

She shivered with delight and turned to see Marius looking down at her with eyes that promised more than flying. He wore a black tunic that matched the inkings that peeked from the neckline and over one shoulder. His trousers were tucked into the soft boots he preferred when they weren't on a mission or training, and he wore a braided belt with one small dagger sheathed near the brass buckle. Scowling, he tucked a hair behind her ear and she swallowed, heat already pooling low in her belly. His jaw flexed as he took her in, his gaze like a hand smoothing down the side of her neck to her breasts. Her body pulsed with want. Gods, the way he could affect her with just a look…

"Fara, I'll see you in the morning. All right?"

Fara nodded, waving an icing-covered hand at her, then continuing her line of questioning aimed at Ewan. "But don't you think you need a Healer with your units?"

"You'll fall off during fighting."

"I'll show you falling off." Fara started toward Ewan, and Tahlia started to grab her arm to hold her back, but Maiwenn stepped in and snagged the back of Fara's tunic.

"I've got this, Tahl. Enjoy your time off," Maiwenn said.

Tahlia gave her a smile. "Thanks."

The night was clear and absolutely bursting with stars. Lija spread her four wings wide and soared above Ragewing. Marius glanced up their way and Tahlia's heart sputtered as she imagined what might be going through his mind at the moment.

Lija made a content, rumbling sound deep in her belly, which vibrated through Tahlia.

Ah. I'm finally myself again, the dragon said into Tahlia's mind.

Tahlia leaned forward in the saddle and ran a hand down Lija's neck. I'm so relieved. I was truly worried about you.

I was worried too.

It's brave of you to admit it. Normally, dragons were too arrogant to be open about their feelings of vulnerability. It was a rare feeling for them in general, so they had little practice.

That Witch stank of Unseelie power, but I can't say I'm not eternally grateful.

Tahlia huffed a laugh. I was glad to see her go. I don't think she likes Fae or dragons, honestly .

No, she does not. But at least she honored her word and healed me when others could not.

Agreed.

Ragewing said he would like to drop you and Commander Marius at the Starwing Cave while we fly over Goblin's Pass.

He always wants to see the most barren of places.

Lija laughed. He likes the dramatic vistas.

You don't mind?

No, because right after we're going to swim at Steaming Aspen.

Steaming Aspen was a high mountain lake fed partially by hot springs, so it remained unfrozen year-round. Oooh, that will be fun. You'll have to take me next time.

Will do, rider.

Lija and Ragewing swooped low over the gray pebbles that marked the path up to Starwing Cave, a popular spot for mated Fae to visit on special evenings, and soon Marius and Tahlia were hand in hand on the ground.

They watched their dragons soar into the stars.

"She's doing very well. I'd have thought she'd be too fatigued for such an adventure tonight," Marius said. His thumb rubbed the knuckle of her forefinger, and she felt like a fool with how the simple act made her cheeks heat.

"She's the best."

Marius chuckled in full then, a rare and lovely sound that she treasured.

"Is this your first time here?" he asked as they walked under a low arch of stone and into the cave.

It was oddly warm for a cave. She parted her lips to answer, but no sound came. The cave sparkled with teal, rose, and golden light.

"They're butterflies!"

The luminescent creatures fluttered along every inch of the rough stone walls, their light reflected in the occasional puddle of snowmelt.

"They come here to rest before finishing their migration south for the winter. The magma inside this peak runs close to the floor of this cave and so the area remains far warmer than the outside."

Tahlia let go of his hand and spun, taking it all in. "It's absolutely beautiful."

Marius walked ahead of her, then he stopped and gestured to a tumble of smooth rocks. Golden moss cloaked the ancient stones, and runes had been carved into the base of them.

"What is this all about?" She touched one of the runes and a shiver of magic danced up her arm. The threads she sometimes saw with her Weaver magic became clear, connecting the runes to one another, to the butterflies, and to Marius and her.

"They're blessing runes. Nothing too powerful, but set here long ago by the gods as a gift to Fae couples. Come," he said, holding out his hand.

She took it and he drew her to him as he sat on one of the mossy stones. She straddled him and bit her lip at how happy he already was to be here with her.

Shifting her hips, she pressed into him. A jolt of sheer pleasure made her gasp. "I see you have more than sightseeing on your mind, Commander."

He smoothed her hair away from her shoulders and began nibbling her neck. His body was so warm and her core pulsed with want.

"You are an astute observer, Lady of the Skies."

His tongue flicked over her collarbone, and he gripped her hips, easing her more firmly against him. He raised his hips and pleasure rode across Tahlia's center. She exhaled next to his ear and he snarled lightly into the space under her jaw.

"I want to see how little movement it takes to satisfy you," he said, his voice incredibly deep and gruff, as if he was having a difficult time controlling himself.

She was panting, and honestly, she didn't care how easily he aroused her. It was fantastic. "That's just mean," she said breathily, teasing.

He licked her throat in one great sweep, but he refused to move even as she wiggled in the vise of his hands on her hips. Again, he licked her—this time over the hollow in her throat while he growled possessively. The feeling of his tongue, his chest vibrating with his growling, and his cock so hard on her most sensitive spot were too much. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and rocked against him. Desire grabbed hold of her and shook her hard. Exquisite pleasure burst from her core, then outward.

"Now," she said, catching her breath and trembling, "this time you need to earn that."

He took a fistful of her tangled hair and chuckled into her temple. "As you say, my lady."

Drawing her tunic off, he dusted her with kiss after kiss. With slow and careful movements, he eased her onto her back. The moss was soft and smelled faintly sweet like jasmine and vanilla. She let him disrobe her completely, and once they were both unclothed, he lay on top of her and kissed her thoroughly. The way he moved his mouth over hers and how now and then he bit at her chin and lower lip with his fangs… Ah, it was perfection. She was swirling with desire, completely drunk with it by the time his hand slid down her stomach to cup her right where she wanted him to. His fingers knew exactly how to draw pleasure from her as he slowly increased the speed and enthusiasm of his stroking and pressing and rubbing. She was delirious with it and moaned his name, utterly out of her mind. He rose up on one elbow and entered her in one great rush. The fullness… It was the most glorious feeling.

"My lady of the skies," he whispered huskily against her forehead as he thrust forward hard.

Another explosion of pleasure built inside her and she grabbed at him to pull him closer, savoring the scent of him all around, everywhere.

He drove into her mercilessly and nipped at her breasts and brought forth an array of stunning sensations until she thought she would simply die right there of delight. But before she could come undone, he had her leg up high and had turned her onto her stomach, his body still linked with hers. She wasn't sure how they had even accomplished it, but she wasn't complaining.

"I love you, Tahlia," he said, his breath hot on the back of her neck as he thrust deeply inside of her. "I love you so very much." His body brushed along her back, their skin lightly sticking. "My soul aches with it."

She laced her fingers into his as he drove them toward ecstasy. "I love you, Marius. With everything I am."

"I love you exactly as you are," he said, and she knew he was talking about her human blood. "I would never change anything about you."

He could barely speak and she knew she couldn't utter a word. The fullness of him and the way he knew exactly how to touch her here and there as he moved unstopping, never failing… The pleasure was more than she thought a person could experience. Her flesh went hot, and he sped up, and the world dissolved into a glittering, beautiful storm of their bond.

The threads around them shivered as Marius eased his way onto his side and curled himself around her. It was as if their love affected the magic as it did their hearts and souls.

"You were created to be my mate," he whispered into her ear as the butterflies glowed and sparkled around them and the sweet scent of the moss danced through the breeze. "I'm certain of that. And I was created for you."

She turned and cocooned herself into his massive body, delighting in the feel of his warm skin and the beat of his heart. "I thought I was only climbing the mountain to fly dragons. Lucky me, snagging a true mate in the process."

Readers,

Thank you so much for joining Marius and Tahlia on another adventure! There will be one more book in this series, entitled Storm of Flames. It will be released in early 2025. If you want to keep up with art reveals and bonus character interviews, join my newsletter at https://www.alishaklapheke.com/free-prequel-1 .

Thanks,

Alisha