Epilogue

One week later…

"I am so not accepting that invite." Rylie paced Craignamore's sitting room, the essence of fresh-cut roses filling the air. The side table contained at least a dozen vases of the flowers, and that number being just the ones DC sent over today. If only Zerek had done the same for her. But he hadn't. Not a single word from the man in over a month, until today's surprise invite to a private sale at Dragoncross.

DC on the other hand, had seemingly become quite smitten with Craignamore during that time. Not that she blamed the abbey.

Ever since she'd returned from her death-defying little trip through time, Craignamore had been reborn. Fresh paint appeared on her walls, new carpets on her floors, and the tree-smashed windows reassembled.

Her castle had completely revitalized itself. The dwelling even now had a thing for Dragoncross, who apparently felt the same.

"If you don't care to go to sale, please stop telling us you're not going," Addy said from her favorite spot in the yellow chintz chair in front of the fireplace.

"Yeah," Tar added. "We're sick of hearing that you are not going over there. Though we both think you should."

"You do?"

"Absolutely." Adyson looked up from under the light blanket draped over her. Now that Craignamore no longer fed on the emotions of two broken hearts, she was a lot warmer. Even on cool, rainy days.

"But he hasn't called or texted. Not one single note in all these weeks."

Tar simply rolled her eyes at the statement. "What do you expect, Rye? The man was nearly split apart by that badass dragon you told us about. I'm sure it took him time to heal."

"Dragon shifters heal a lot faster than wholly human beings."

"You need to give the guy a break."

Maybe Tar was right. It couldn't have been easy for Zerek to have been treated that way by his own father.

Addy's cell phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, she frowned. "It's Bane again. He wants to know if you need him to send over another wolf to help you rile up Zerek."

She should have never had that one-on-one talk with Bane's daughter-in-law. Now the whole pack was trying to help her get back with Zerek. "Tell him no. And make sure to include a thank you."

Addy typed away.

Rylie paced some more. "I suppose I could just go next door and see what Zerek has for sale. Now that the Draco slab is locked away at Dragoncross under Zerek's dragon powers, I could use something new to fill the space on the wall where mum used to have it hanging." She glanced at the barren spot over the fireplace.

"Yes," Tar said without looking up from whatever the latest book was that she was reading. "Go. And tell Val thanks for the new novel. I'm totally loving it."

As if she really needed Tar and Valentine becoming friends. One dragon in her life was bad enough. And heaven forbid Addy hooked up with Duncan. Total disaster times ten. But at least her sisters didn't think she was a freak when she came clean and revealed all to them. Including how Dundaire is actually a cloaked, magical city, who and what Bane really is, and everything else about their ancestry. The two actually jumped for joy at one point of what normal people would consider a horrifying revelation. She truly did come from a strange family. But it was also a loving family. And Catriona MacHendrie and Magnus St. George sacrificed their own happiness for the sake of hers and her sisters. The two could have easily ignored time and altered things for own selves. But they hadn't. The notion was as comforting as it was heartbreaking.

Slipping her feet into a pair of white trainers, Rylie grabbed her everyday satchel off the sofa and then headed out to the back gardens via Craignamore's new French doors the castle installed in its sitting room.

She only got as far as where the statue of Balon stood. Which Duncan and Valentine, along with Bane, decided it should remain now that Zerek's dragon-side had returned. Not that she ever imagined the man's dragon-self would ever get too much for him to handle that it would need to be extracted and contained in the stone casing, but it was tradition in Dundaire since wolves reigned supreme and all other shifters came second. She understood how the pack needed to look out for itself. Their survival depended on it. And to date, no dragon ever had rebelled against the wolves. They all seemed to be one happy family, so to speak.

Except of course for her and Zerek.

The warmth that cocooned her as she stopped in front of the sculpture, lifted her slightly off the ground and then pulled her forward.

It placed her gently back down on the gravel drive precisely in front of the closed doors of the outbuilding Zerek ran his auctions from.

She checked her watch. How do you invite someone for a private sale and then show up late? Prat.

Five more minutes and then it was back to Craignamore. No more chances for Mr. Dragon.

The squeak of rolling wheels sounded through the air as the doors to the auction barn slid open.

She stared straight ahead and gaped, her mouth falling open. "What the heck is all this?"

"I've decided to get out of the auction business," Zerek said, "and thought what better to do with the barn than turn it into an indoor slingshot range."

She stepped inside, her cheeks warming. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope. You can shoot to your hearts content in here, lass. And…" He walked over to where a control panel sat fitted into the wall and flicked the first switch. "You'll have an array of slings to shoot with." A tile on the floor slid back, revealing a table that rose from below. Displayed on its marble-topped surface was a collection of slings, as well as a wide variety of stones.

"You did all this for me?"

"I figure now that Craignamore is a happy home, you'll be around for a while."

She inched up to Zerek and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I think it's more like you know the back of your head, as well as your balls, will be safer with me shooting at designated targets rather than at you."

"Well, there is that…" Zerek leaned forward and kissed her, his mouth claiming hers with urgency.

She moaned. The flavors of honey and mint teased her tongue. She never wanted anyone as much as she wanted Zerek. But he nearly died trying to protect her. And she didn't want it to always be like that. She didn't want to be a burden to the man.

Pulling away, she stepped back slightly and touched the scar on his cheek, traced it down from his face to where it disappeared under the neck of his black t-shirt. "You are the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on. Always have been. Always will be."

"The scar doesn't bother you?"

She shook her head. "To me, it's a reminder of your incredible strength. And love. It makes you more handsome than before and trust me, you've always been fucking hot."

"Even better looking than that wolf you've been dating?"

What? Oh, that wolf. "He is just an acquaintance of Bane's. I was only doing the friendly thing since Bane is my cousin and asked me to have the guy over for dinner a few times while Bane had business to tend to. Nothing more. Besides, a wolf cannot compete with a dragon. You were hot in your kilt, but you were majestic in dragon form."

"Really?"

"Absolutely. I loved seeing your white wings, with their gold-tipped edges." She paused, then said, "Tell me, can they unfurl even when you're in human form?"

A sly grin crossed Zerek's lips. "Like when we're in bed?"

She nodded.

"Yeah, they can."

"You are so going to have to do that one night."

"For you, anything."

She loved this man, this dragon.

"Marry me, Rylie."

Oh, my God. Her heart raced. She wanted to shout yes instantly but that probably would make her seem a bit too dependent. After all, this was a hunky dragon who did not need a mouse for a wife. Not that she considered herself a mouse, but she wasn't really a match for Zerek in the might department either. Though she was a slayer. "You are aware you're asking a slayer to become your wife."

"I do. But I'm not worried. You've already slayed me. It was that day when you were in the garden behind Craignamore with that bloody slingshot in your hands, your feet bare, and wearing that innocent looking little white sundress. I fell for you right there and then. I love you Rylie. With all my heart."

"And I love you, Zerek MacKenzie. With all my heart."

The ground vibrated.

A shower of rose petals fluttered down from the ceiling.

"I think Dragoncross approves," Zerek said.

Rylie smiled. The magic of Dundaire had finally won her over, the secret little spot being the most wondrous place on all the earth.