Epilogue

Six years later ...

"Why don't you have wings?"

I glanced down at this precious baby"s tiny face as he helped me put the blocks back into the bin. He'd been busy all morning asking questions and pulling me one way or the other.

His big dark eyes were shaped just like Toby's.

Even his blond hair matched Toby's perfect shade. He'd been a surprise for Sasha and Toby a few years back. After talking Sasha down from her panic attack, we'd cried for hours.

I was officially Aunt Amara. It had a nice ring to it.

He picked one block up at a time while he waited for me to answer.

"Because I'm not a dragon. Like your mom isn't a dragon," I answered, scooting the box of blocks back into its place. Trent stood when I did, his growing wings fluttering behind him. They were small considering, but it didn't stop him from thinking he was a big, bag dragon shifter.

Trent pursed his lips and looked up at me. "But Uncle Dorran is a dragon."

"He is," I answered. "So is your daddy."

Trent angled his head to the side, scrutinizing me until I felt uncomfortable by a five-year-old. Putting my hands on my hips, I tilted my head and asked, "What are you looking at, Sir?"

He chuckled. "I still think you're beautiful even if you're not a dragon, Aunt Amara. I think you're the most beautiful Queen in all the kingdoms. Just like my momma, even though she"s not a queen."

I pulled him in for a hug. I always took a compliment from a child to heart. They weren"t scared to hurt your feelings. "Thank you, Buddy. You're pretty handsome yourself."

Trent puffed his chest in an act of dominance that I realized came with the male ego. It was embedded into their DNA.

"You trying to take my woman?" Dorran's shadow enveloped me from behind. That deep octave in his voice still sent a shiver down my spine. I glanced over my shoulder at him. He was in one of my favorite gray sweaters that suited him in the chilly autumn air.

Trent balled up his fists and braced himself. "You"re asking for it."

"Oh," Dorran asked, raising an eyebrow at Trent, he stepped around me. "You want to fight, huh? I'm not scared of you."

Trent went swinging wildly, while Dorran dodged his punches and went into a fake boxing match with him around the room. Seeing him so carelessly play with Trent made my heart swell.

I continued picking up our play area. Watching Trent while Toby and Sasha worked had made my slow days go by quickly. He'd grown so much, and the time was flying.

There was nothing I wouldn't do for that little boy.

On the days I was too busy her mother pitched in to help, but I loved my time with him.

"Knock. Knock," Sasha said from the doorway.

Trent stopped his fake boxing with Dorran and ran into his mother's arms. Having a baby had been a huge adjustment for Sasha and Toby. They'd moved into the castle together since Toby was in charge while Dorran was away.

Having a child in the castle made the place feel more like home.

Sasha kissed Trent's head and tossed me a grease-stained bag from the restaurant. She'd gladly taken over as manager after Dorran got the place up and running. It was our favorite lunch spot. "That's for dealing with this dude today."

"You know I don't mind," I said, opening the bag to a juicy burger. "But thank you. I was beginning to get hungry."

Dorran walked over to me, lifted my chin, and I stared into his emerald-colored eyes. "Have you not eaten today?"

"This morning," I mumbled. "I've just been busy. Your mother wants to have a baby shower for Glendora's granddaughter. I listened to her for an hour on proper baby shower etiquette."

It'd been a tough six years dealing with Dorran's mother. She'd finally apologized for treating me like a leper. Dorran still kicked them out of the castle and banned them from certain events.

He'd given them a cabin in the forest, and strict rules on when they could visit. I often ask her advice. She had been the Queen for many years.

Dorran rolled his eyes, while Sasha attempted to put on Trent's shoes. "Figures," Sasha said. "I'm taking him to the new park on Grand. It"s all he wants to do. It's amazing by the way, Dorran. The fake rock to practice flying was genius."

"I've been called that once or twice."

Sasha tossed me a finger wave, leaving me alone in the playroom with Dorran. My body hummed the moment he stepped close to me. "Long day?" he asked, sliding his fingertip against my bottom lip.

I smiled into his touch. "Another day in paradise."

Dorran snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. "You mean that?" he whispered.

"I do."

"How did I get so lucky?"

"Good question," I whispered, patting my palms against his chest. "Your father called. He wants you to come out and look at some debris he thinks needs to be moved."

Dorran rolled his eyes again. It seemed to be a common occurrence when his parents were mentioned. "That's a lame excuse to get me to visit."

"Maybe you should visit more often."

"Hmm, that would take away time from you. We can"t have that," Dorran said, turning to grab the bag of food. "You need to eat. I don't like you going all day without eating. It's late, Little Mouse."

I opened the wrapper and took a big un-lady-like bite out of it. "Happy?"

Dorran leaned in and pushed me backward onto the oversized chair behind me. "Just peachy," he whispered, kissing my jaw, he then kissed the mark on my neck. "Are you happy?"

I took a bite over his shoulder, and he laughed.

"Of course, I am."

He pulled back, his eyes shifting from color to color, his dragon needing out. "You want to go for a ride?" he asked.

"After this burger, I'll go wherever you want me to, Dragon King."

Dorran's handsome face turned serious, he sat back, bent down in front of me, and placed both palms on my thighs. "Where do you want to go?"

I lifted both brows. "I assumed around the kingdom so you could spread your wings."

"We can go wherever we want, Amara. To another kingdom. We can fly as high as the sky will let us—,"

Sitting my burger aside, I glared at him. "Are you okay? Is there something you need to tell me?"

"No. I just want to make you happy. I want to be alone with you. I want to make sure I'm doing what I can to fulfill every need you have."

I waggled my brows. "My needs are met almost every night. You could work on those nights you fall asleep on the couch, but I wasn't going to say anything."

"I'm serious," he said in a soft voice.

"Me too. You make me happy Dorran. I don't need a trip around the moon to feel alive. Are you asking me this because a five-year-old asked me about being human?"

Dorran smiled. "Maybe. I thought it may have dug up feelings from losing your powers."

I took a bite of my burger, and shoved Dorran back onto the floor, straddling him. "If I hadn't given my powers Trent would be without a dad. Could you imagine Sasha raising that ball of fire without Toby's stern hand? He would have already burnt the kingdom down by now."

Dorran palmed my hips and rubbed circles against my skin. "That's the truth."

"You don't have to worry about that. It's a past life for me. It was something we needed to defeat the sirens. Something that I rarely think about."

The thought of my powers had grown distant over the years.

I'd once missed them so badly that I let a few tears fall in the shower. I thought I wasn't enough without them.

Then I realized that Dorran didn't care about them and why should I? I was enough without being able to take down a grown dragon.

Dorran could handle the fighting.

I could take care of the needs of the kingdom and be loved by my mate.

Dorran caressed my face with his big fingers. I watched emotion flicker across his face like an old-time slideshow. "You are exactly what this kingdom needed."

"You're just horny and think these compliments are going to get you an impromptu session in the playroom. I wouldn't be able to play with Trent tomorrow knowing what happened on his dinosaur rug the day before—,"

Dorran moved his hips making me laugh. I caught myself on his pecs and stared down at him. "It was worth a shot."

I went to stand up, but he kept me trapped against his waist. "Suddenly, I'm not in the mood for a flight right now."

"Yeah? What are you in the mood for? Me?"

Dorran stood up; keeping me wrapped around him and began to carry me toward the stairs. "Are we going home?"

"Yup."

Dorran burst through the door leading to the bridge. The cool autumn air licked at my skin leaving goosebumps along my skin.

He glanced down at me, as he did every day, and as if I'd never flown with him before. "Hold on tight, Little Mouse. We're going for a ride."

I squealed as he nosedived off the bridge, past the no-trespassing sign, and toward the mountain. The humid air caused my hair to twirl around my head and block my vision, but I didn't need to see because I was safe with Dorran.

As he was safe with me.