25. Epilogue

Epilogue

Maeve

E verybody was there, even Struan Fox with his wife and small son, Tristan, a darling baby boy with a mop of white blonde curls who toddled around with a little Leonid, the son of a Betaworth employee who had made it into town for the occasion. And even Mum, Dad, Gwyn, and my brother Paul had come.

I was touched.

Mum still didn’t look too happy and occasionally glanced over to where Taran stood, but she was slowly coming around. We hadn’t been able to find out if my grandmother had indeed been part Dragon, but it was the only explanation I had, and I’d decided self-diagnosing myself was valid, too.

“Maeve!” Turning, I found Kat walking over. She didn’t stop but pulled me into a hug. “Oh my God, you did an absolutely fantastic job on this! We’re so excited to give you all our money even though I’m a little sad I won’t get you as a colleague now.” With a grin, she stepped back and took the hand of a massive Tigris with a golden hoop in his ear. “This is my fiancé, Roy. Baby, meet Maeve, she runs this place.”

“Hi, it’s good to meet you. Congratulations. I just said to Kat I would be coming here to get my admin stuff done.” He let his eyes wander around the place. “It doesn’t feel like a cafe, more like someone’s living room.”

“Thank you for saying that, Roy. That’s exactly the vibe we were going for. I’m looking forward to seeing more of all of you.” I sniffed, trying to keep the tears at bay. “Sorry, it’s a bit overwhelming. Thinking I might lose this place and now I’m in charge and it looks exactly like I always imagined it.”

“I get it.” Roy grinned empathetically. “Seeing your visions come to life is huge.”

“Yeah.” I nodded, brushing a stray tear off my face. “Right, you two go and enjoy the party. I’ll need to check on my staff real quick.”

Beryl, who had sported his new corset for the occasion, and our new hire, Autumn, were positively glowing with happiness as I approached the counter.

“Is everything okay? ”

“It’s perfect, boss,” Autumn told me excitedly, her cheeks rosy. “Everybody is great and I already love this job.” She’d worked at a jewellery shop in Pear Mill until a few weeks ago but fancied a change in her routine.

Relatable .

“That’s so good to hear. We’re glad to have you, too.” Autumn was the kind of person who made you feel better about yourself simply by being in the same room as you. At first I hadn’t known why but for a few days now I started seeing people’s auras, just like Taran had described them to me. She was glowing in a warm pastel red and gold like the rising sun. No wonder everybody wanted to be near her.

As if my thoughts had summoned him, Taran appeared next to me. With a soft smile on his lips, he slung his arm around my shoulders and pressed his lips to my temple. “Well done, sweetling. I hope you’re proud of yourself.”

Sneaking my arm under his suit jacket in turn, I rested it on his gorgeous ass. I still can’t believe it’s mine to touch.

“I am proud of us,” I sighed.

“No, Maeve. This is your party. You know, I’ve been thinking… What if you bought this place from me one day?”

I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Don’t look at me like that. We both know you would have torn me to shreds if I’d suggested giving it to you for free. My fierce little Dragoness neither likes nor accepts handouts.” He’d muttered the last words in such a low voice only I could hear him.

“True,” I admitted, huffing under my breath. “But didn’t you tell me you never sold real estate? ”

“I’ll make an exception for my mate,” he rasped, kissing the top of my head this time.

Just the other day we’d talked about entering into a soul bond. It was way too soon, but somehow the topic had come up.

“I know you’re the one for me. I’ll give you my soul, my hearts, everything, sweetling,” he’d said, making me swoon and tackle him to the bed.

“Your thoughts are exceptionally loud today, boss. Goddess, I can’t wait to take you home and fuck you in our throne room,” Taran whispered in my ear, raising goosebumps on my skin.

When it pebbled, the bits where the scales were freshest tingled. Damn, the one on my left nipple made heat erupt in my core.

“Taran,” I begged with a suppressed groan, stealthily rubbing my thighs together but knowing he could tell.

“The most glorious and precious of them all. My Goddess, at whose altar I worship for all eternity.”

“Mr Atax?” a voice interrupted us and he raised his face out of my neck, looking around at a photographer grinning toothily at him. “A picture?” the man asked, faltering a little under my lover’s Draconian gaze.

“You need to realise that this is my mate’s moment. I am merely here to celebrate her ingenuity alongside everyone else.”

He flushed bright red.

“I’m sorry, Mr Atax, sir. And Ms Cooper. Can I get a picture?” he asked again in a squeaky voice.

“Sure.” I gave him an amused smile and we posed in front of the bar right under the sign that read SCALES & STEAM with the two purple Dragons rising from a coffee cup. I was still so fucking proud of it and couldn’t wait for what the future would bring for my mate and me.

THE END