Chapter 49

FORTY-NINE

T he morning sun painted Nova Aurora’s ice mountains in shades of gold and rose, their once-unstable peaks now standing firm against the lavender sky. Quinn breathed in the crisp air, her boots crunching through fresh snow as she climbed to her favorite observation point on the palace’s rooftop.

Her geological equipment lay forgotten in her quarters - for once, she didn’t need instruments to tell her what her heart already knew. The land had found its balance.

“The chaos has ended,” she murmured, touching her father’s compass pendant, “but this is only the beginning. I didn’t come here looking for a home, but somehow...” She smiled, watching a group of young dragons practicing flight maneuvers overhead, their scales glinting in the early light.

“Quinn!” Lydia’s voice rang out behind her, followed by the sound of running feet and labored breathing. “You’ll never believe what happened!”

Quinn turned to see her best friend charging across the rampart, red curls flying wild in the wind, cheeks flushed with more than just exertion. “Let me guess - Darian finally tried your Earth coffee?”

“Better!” Lydia skidded to a stop, sending up a spray of powdery snow. “He asked me to stay. Permanently. As in, move in with him, help restructure palace security, the whole thing.” She grabbed Quinn’s arms, bouncing on her toes. “And I said yes!”

“Of course, you did.” Quinn grinned. “Though I’m sure the midnight flights had nothing to do with your decision.”

“Hey, when a gorgeous dragon shifter wants to show you the stars...” Lydia’s eyes sparkled. “But it’s more than that. Last night, we were in the strategy room-”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“Shut up!” Lydia smacked her arm, laughing. “We were actually working. I pointed out some flaws in the palace’s defensive layout, and instead of dismissing me, he asked for more details. He values my opinion, Quinn. Do you know how amazing that is?”

Quinn’s expression softened. She’d watched Lydia’s brilliance go unrecognized too many times on Earth. “You deserve someone who sees how extraordinary you are, Lyd.”

“Says the woman who tamed the Dragon King.” Lydia waggled her eyebrows. “Speaking of which, I saw him in the crystal gardens earlier, looking suspiciously nervous. Any idea what that’s about?”

Before Quinn could respond, a familiar whistle echoed across the snow. They turned to see Darian on a nearby balcony, his dark braid moving in the wind as he traced patterns in the air with his hands. The palace walls began to hum in harmony with his melody.

“Show off,” Lydia muttered fondly. “He’s been teaching me dragon sign language. Apparently, that meant ‘my heart soars like the morning sun,’ but knowing him, he probably just told me I have snow in my hair.”

“Actually,” the nearest wall panel chirped helpfully, flashing pink, “he said ‘my beloved looks radiant, even with snow in her hair.’“

“Traitor,” Darian called out, but his amber eyes crinkled with amusement.

“The AI’s on my side,” Lydia hollered out toward him. “Face it, you’re outnumbered by technology and redheads.”

Their laughter was interrupted by the arrival of a transport. Kai hadn’t said anything about a visitor. When she and Lydia reached the ground floor, Gerri Wilder approached, her silver-white hair perfectly styled despite the mountain winds, with an elegant woman beside her.

“Ladies,” Gerri announced, “I’d like you to meet someone very special. This is Queen Bella of the Northern Forest Kingdom. Another of my successful matches, I might add.”

“You’ll never let anyone forget that, will you?” Bella’s warm eyes danced with humor. “Though I must admit, your track record is impressive. Two more Earth women finding love with dragon royalty?”

“Three, if you count that incident with the library assistant and the guard captain,” Lydia stage-whispered.

“Which I absolutely do,” Gerri declared. “That’s why I’m organizing an Earth Women of Nova Aurora support group. First meeting includes wine, spa treatments, and tips on how to handle dragon possessiveness.”

“Oh thank god,” Quinn muttered. “Please tell me there’s a chapter on ‘why setting things on fire isn’t an appropriate response to mild inconvenience.’“

The rest of the day passed in a whirl of activity, but evening brought a surprise. The crystal gardens had been transformed into a winter wonderland with thousands of floating lights and a gentle, supernatural snowfall. Kai stood beside an ice table laden with both Earth and Nova Auroran delicacies, looking uncharacteristically nervous.

“You did all this for me?” Quinn asked softly.

“With some help.” His lips twitched. “Lydia threatened to sing Earth pop songs in the throne room if I didn’t make it perfect.”

“That’s my girl.”

Their private dinner soon expanded into an impromptu celebration as friends joined them. Lydia and Darian arrived first, already slightly tipsy on Sidaii wine. Gerri and Bella followed, along with Reina and several trusted advisors.

“To new beginnings,” Gerri toasted, raising her glass. “And to love that crosses galaxies.”

“To finally understanding what Darian’s whistling actually means,” Lydia added, cuddled against her dragon’s side.

“To finding home in unexpected places,” Quinn said softly, meeting Kai’s eyes.

Later, on the palace balcony, Quinn watched auroras dance across the star-filled sky. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind as Kai pulled her close.

“Are you ready for this new life?” he asked gently.

From inside, they could hear Lydia attempting to teach Darian the Macarena, their laughter mixing with the hum of crystal walls. The land beneath them pulsed with renewed strength as stable as the love in her heart.

Quinn turned in his arms, smiling. “With you, our crazy friends, and this beautiful planet? I’m more than ready.”

Somewhere in the distance, a wall panel started playing dance music, followed by Lydia’s delighted squeal and Darian’s rich chuckle. Their world might not be conventional, but it was perfectly, wonderfully theirs.