Epilogue

Triton watched with pride swelling his chest as his children, all three of his baby girls, were presented to the Seer.

That was one tradition he and Cerran and Elowyn had agreed they wanted to carry on from the old ways of a keep. They wanted Cain to put his hands on the babies, to help them choose their heartstones. And Leilani would finally be formally welcomed into the keep.

It was them coming full circle.

Elowyn, recovered from giving birth, looked lovely in a gold and cream set of robes. He and Cerran wore their formal warrior clothing sans the armor, their tunics richly embroidered. Reno and Boone stood with them, ready, symbolically, to help them protect their hailee and their children.

"Seer, may we present Serena and Tianna. Our daughters." Triton bowed, as did Cerran.

Cain smiled at them, his silvery eyes flashing as he came to bend and grace each girl with a kiss. Serena looked like Cerran. Tianna looked like him. They both had Elowyn's eyes.

"Welcome, my sweet dragon children," Cain said. "I have searched far and wide for stones, and now it is the time for the choosing."

Leilani clapped her hands, singing. "Da, da, da, da."

Elowyn bounced her, laughing along. "Yes, love. Soffaren are very busy."

"The stones are all laid out along the walls, Triton. Cerran. All you must do is walk. The girls will let you know when to stop."

Triton nodded, beginning a slow round of the room. This was far less barbaric than the choosing of old that his previous keep would have performed, which involved a ceremony to call the stone to a child. It was much like torture.

Cerran was the first to stop when Serena hitched a hard breath and began to wail. So he turned back, and the crying stopped when Cerran came to a halt by a chunk of…obsidian?

"How unusual!" Cain clapped his hands happily. "Let me just—" He bent to pick up the stone, closing his eyes and holding it in his hands until it glowed with a halo of light so deep a red it seemed black. "Is this the one, Serena, my love?"

A happy sound filled the room, more mental than physical, Triton thought, and that was that. Now to match his little one with a stone, he hoped.

Triton paced around the room, sharing the occasional glance with Cerran and Elowyn. He knew there was a slim chance that the stone Tianna needed wasn't here. That they would have to go and search for it, but?—

Tianna let out a long cry, and Triton stopped on a dime as her eyes popped open, her tiny glare fierce. Almost accusatory.

"This one, then, hmm?" Cain picked up a lovely chunk of polished moonstone, the blue-white glow it exuded perfect for his little moonchild.

She burped and promptly went right back to sleep, a peaceful smile on her tiny face.

"That's the one," Triton agreed.

"Wonderful. Let it be known that these stones and these dragons are bonded!" Cain raised his hands, and there was a flash of silver light, the elements sealing the deal.

Triton lowered Tianna into her carrier, watching Cerran do the same with Serena.

Now it was time to celebrate.

"Time for cake," Reno said, clapping him on the back.

"We'll be there in a moment," Triton said as everyone filed out toward the banquet room. He went to Elowyn, kneeling in front of his hailee. "We did it, love. Thank you for this gift."

Cerran joined him, bowing his head. "You have my love, Elowyn. And my gratitude."

"Oh, get up here and kiss me, both of you." Elowyn had let Rowan take Leilani, and he pulled them both close by the simple means of grabbing their hair. "We're in a new keep. We can make our own ceremony, and I want kisses."

Triton laughed with joy, sliding into a three-way kiss with his mates. He was…if not healed, then whole now. They had given him that.

And there might be more difficulty to come, but with their hearts woven together, Triton felt like they could take on anything.