Epilogue

ERIN

Four weeks later…

“Good news or bad news first?” Henry asked, pressing a cup of coffee into my hand at dawn.

I took a quick sip and shut my eyes. Whatever the bad news was, I refused to let it faze me. I’d survived a scheming warlock, a jealous vampire, and two killer storms. Both Desert Skies balloons were repaired and back in operation, and I was cleared to pilot anytime — the job of my dreams in one of the most beautiful corners of the country.

Far more importantly, I had Nash. Partner, friend, colleague, lover.

Mate, my dragon side murmured happily.

So, as long as Henry’s bad news didn’t involve marauding demons or my mother popping in for another surprise visit — God, please no — I could cope.

“Good news first,” I murmured, sipping my coffee.

Henry motioned at the huddle of eager guests waiting for lift-off.

“All the spots in the balloon are sold out today, tomorrow, and the day after. Wednesday would be fully booked too, but we’re saving a spot for our aviatrix-in-training.” He smacked me on the shoulder. “Brilliant idea, by the way. The press coverage has been great advertising — and even without that, it still would be worthwhile.”

I tapped my coffee cup against his in a toast, genuinely proud.

“Glad to hear it.”

I’d spent most of the past year desperately trying to scrape together flight hours — a hurdle many prospective female pilots faced. But it was only one recent morning that I’d had a brainwave for a way to address the problem on a bigger scale. Henry had been skeptical at first, but our two-week trial period had proven such a success, he’d committed to it for an entire year — and made national news in the process.

Once a week, Desert Skies saved a spot for a local girl or woman to fly with us. Some were disadvantaged kids recommended by counselors I’d contacted in the local high school. Others were adults, young to “old,” who’d nearly given up on childhood dreams because ballooning was too expensive or too difficult to get into.

The first four months of our aviatrix-in-training program were already booked solid, and spots in the following months were filling quickly. It was such a success that balloon companies across the country were following our example.

I was tickled pink, as was Henry. Would some of those women go on to become balloon pilots? I hoped so, but that didn’t really matter. The point was, they had the opportunity.

“So, what’s the bad news?” I asked.

Henry sighed. “John won’t be coming in this week, so we’re one man short on the ground crew.”

John was competent and easy to get along with, so that was a pity, but not an insurmountable problem. With Nash leading the ground crew, together with the ever-reliable Chico, we could get by.

Plus, being a man short didn’t affect my chance to fly. Madden had left the company abruptly, citing “issues.” Nothing to do with his botched handling of the bachelor party storm, he’d insisted.

Yeah, right.

Since then, I’d been Desert Skies’s permanent number two pilot, after Henry. So, not much ground crew duty for me, unless I chose it.

The irony was, I didn’t mind any more. As a dragon shifter, I could fly any time I wanted. In fact, most nights, I did.

Just last night, Nash and I had soared over Bear Mountain, meandered with the bends of Oak Creek, and glided silently over downtown Sedona. We’d headed home tired yet satisfied and fallen asleep after making slow, sweet love.

I took a deep breath to remind myself I wasn’t dreaming. Life really was that good.

But, oops. Back to the ground crew problem.

I glanced over at Ingo, who stood a little apart from the other guests. Maybe he could help?

A moment later, I dropped the idea. That wouldn’t really be fair. Besides, he was here on official business — though incognito, so to speak.

That was another silver lining to our whole ordeal. Captain Edwards of the ADMSA had let Nash off lightly in the debrief after the altercation with Harlon. In fact, Edwards had offered Nash a new position the agency was establishing in Sedona.

Thanks, but I like my new jobs, Nash had said. Ballooning and ranching.

That, and teaching his own private recruit — me — everything about dragoning. Shifting, flying, breathing fire… You know, all the usual things.

In return, I taught him everything I knew about ranching and ballooning. A win-win for everyone.

To Nash’s delight and surprise, Ingo had taken the agency position.

To my surprise, Ingo was the Frank I’d “met” on the phone — Nash’s insider at the agency.

To Pippa’s surprise, Ingo was the Ingo, her ex-boyfriend. I couldn’t decide whether she was delighted or dismayed to have him in town indefinitely. A little of both, I suspected.

Nash and I had spent a lot of time with the wolf shifter since then, and I’d learned a lot about the supernatural world, as well as the secret government agency.

In fact, I was still reeling from Ingo’s biggest bombshell.

Word is, the agency tried to recruit your mother, way back when, Ingo had said.

My jaw had dropped, though it made sense, in a way. Secret agents had to be tough, unattached types — and unfortunately for my sisters and me, that fit my mother to a T.

Apparently, she turned down that offer, but she might not have turned Edwards down entirely… Ingo had added with a sly grin.

That explained how they knew each other. But, yikes. Captain Edwards and my mother?

I’d stopped asking questions after that, because, well…too much information. I barely had the headspace to keep track of three of my mother’s ex-lovers — my father, Pippa’s, and Abby’s, the “only” three she’d had children with.

In any case, this flight was a business expense for Ingo. Part of his brief was developing a risk-assessment report for Sedona, which included getting an overview of things — literally.

Nixing the idea of enlisting his help as ground crew, I thought about Pippa next. Could she help?

Yes, my younger sister was there too, smiling and joking with the other guests, though studiously ignoring Ingo. It was a week past her birthday, and friends all over town had pitched in to gift her a voucher for a balloon flight.

I was delighted. For the first time ever, I could fly with one of my sisters.

Not about to ruin that, I folded my arms and stared down Henry. “The good news better be that you found a replacement.”

“I did!” Henry grinned and motioned someone out of the shadows. “Amanda, come on over.”

His eyes danced as he watched my reaction.

“We might be one man short, but we’re one woman up. Erin, meet Amanda.”

I shook hands enthusiastically. Amanda was a pretty Hispanic woman a good ten years older than me, and though a little shy on her first day on the job, the brunette was definitely not a pushover.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, and boy, did I mean it.

“Nice to meet you too.”

I introduced her to Nash and Chico, who took a shine to her immediately.

“I’ll show you the ropes,” he promised, puffing out his chest a little.

Nash winked and spoke into my mind.

Who knows. Maybe we won’t be the only happy couple to have met on Henry’s crew.

I laughed, thinking back to those days.

When our eyes locked, my heart swelled. Nash’s step was so light, his eyes so bright. The same old Nash in all the best ways, but an entirely new version too. He was happier. More easygoing. Alive, as he liked to put it.

Alive, my inner dragon murmured just as happily.

So, yeah. I suppose the same applied to me.

“Coming, boss?” Chico called.

Nash popped a kiss on my lips and turned to go. Then he turned back and snuck in a second kiss, which nearly turned into a third…a fourth…

Someone bumped me, and I forced myself to focus on flying instead of getting it on with my dragon shifter lover.

Nash’s eyes held a hint of a glow as he stepped away, murmuring, “Sorry, Captain. Gotta get that balloon ready.”

“Oh! Oh!” One of the guests hurried over to me. “Can I get a selfie with you, Captain?”

That was part of my new reality — the minor celebrity that came with being “that lady pilot who saved all those guys,” as I’d heard over and over.

I almost felt sorry for Madden. Almost.

“How about we do that after the flight, when you know whether you really want to thank me?” I suggested.

Everyone chuckled, leaving Henry and me to work out a flight plan. Then, after the safety briefing and preflight check, I got everyone aboard and pulled the burner cord.

Whoosh went the flames, thrilling my inner dragon.

The fire reflected in Pippa’s eyes, thrilling her too. After all, she was also half dragon shifter. Did our mother’s side of the family call to her the way it had always called to me?

Again, I felt lucky. Thanks to Nash, I was now a full-fledged dragon shifter. But Pippa was as earthbound as I’d once been.

Well, not for the next hour, she isn’t, my dragon side consoled me.

The light breeze swirled enthusiastically around me, promising a smooth journey.

Another burst of hot air lifted the balloon gently into the air, and we were off. As we gained altitude and drifted west, I glanced down, keeping one eye on the van following our journey.

“Two-ninety degrees at four point two,” Henry reported from Desert Skies One.

I sensed a change coming, but I echoed him anyway.

“Two-ninety degrees at four point two.”

It was silly, but I still got a thrill knowing Nash was listening over the radio.

Not for long. His voice sounded in my mind. Wind shift coming up .

I grinned. We’d turned that into a little game — who could spot a change in conditions first. I usually won, but sometimes, like now, I let Nash think he had. Or did that go both ways?

“Wow, this is amazing,” Pippa gushed. “Now I know why you rave about flying.”

She winked at the private joke, then added into my mind, Flying as a dragon, I mean. Along with raving about Nash. And all the — er, activities — you two have gotten up to.

My cheeks heated. I’d tried not to gush about my man too much, and I certainly hadn’t indulged in any dirty girl talk. But, heck. I guess soul-deep satisfaction showed. Was that my fault?

Your fault, I play-accused Nash.

What is? he asked.

Um…I’ll explain later, I mumbled.

“Oh! There’s the ranch!” Pippa pointed.

The view had become familiar now that I’d seen it so many times from a dragon’s-eye perspective. Still, it never got old.

The scorch marks still showed, but we’d fixed the rest of the damage — all relatively minor, thank goodness. But, yikes. The shutters would still be askew and the barn door jammed if we hadn’t had an extra hand — Nash — to tackle the repairs with us.

Like I said, I’m happy for a little mindless work, Nash joked into my mind, reading my thoughts from a distance.

I stifled a laugh. That was the plus side to the damage — an opportunity for Nash to prove himself to my sisters. Even Abby had warmed to him a little.

Okay, I have to hand it to him, she’d admitted. He’s pulled his weight around here, and then some.

Very true, though I found myself sighing. Maybe someday Abby would finally find a good man. She deserved one.

My mind wandered to Ingo. He seemed like a good guy. Too bad he wasn’t Abby’s type.

But Ingo and Pippa, on the other hand…

One problem, though — they’d broken up years ago for reasons Pippa had never gotten into. She claimed to be over him, but I saw the longing in her eyes when she looked at him.

“So, how are you enjoying Sedona?” I asked Ingo, speaking loud enough for Pippa to eavesdrop.

Would you cut that out? Nash admonished. He’s not interested in getting back together.

No, Ingo pretended not to be interested. But I’d definitely caught him peeking.

He’s not her type, Nash added, clearly out to protect his friend.

True — Ingo and Pippa were total opposites. Ingo was a wolf shifter and a super-serious agent. But he would be a great influence on my impulsive, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants sister. And she sure could help loosen him up a bit. Another win-win, in my humble opinion.

“Sedona really is beautiful.” Ingo nodded in answer to my question.

Still, I caught him watching Pippa more than the landscape. And who could blame him? Pippa was the peppiest and prettiest of us three sisters. The wind toyed with the wisps of blond hair that stuck out under her baseball cap, and her ready smile was impossible to resist.

Of course, that didn’t mean there was a happy reunion in the cards. But a girl could hope for a nice brother-in-law, right?

“Three-oh-five degrees at three point nine.” Henry’s voice came over the radio.

He’d taken his balloon higher than mine, but we were nearly on the same course.

“Three-ten at four point zero,” I reported.

The wind toyed with my hair, hinting, We could go even faster.

God, no. But thank you, I nearly murmured.

I opened the right vent to slowly rotate the balloon, treating every guest to three-sixty views. Below us, a couple of javelinas darted across the scrubby ground, and the sun glinted off Oak Creek as it meandered through the arid landscape.

“Oh! I see Robber’s Roost!” Pippa exclaimed.

As she regaled the guests with bootlegging legends, I chuckled into Nash’s mind. A place we knew well.

He laughed back. Thanks — or no thanks — to Harlon.

A good thing the agency had hauled Harlon in and put him through the wringer. His businesses were being scrutinized, and though he’d been released — after submitting to a restraining spell cast by the agency’s panel of class-one warlocks — he remained on their “red” watch list. Hopefully, his days causing trouble for folks like us were over.

The sun climbed higher, coloring the rocky landscape in ever brighter hues. I marveled as much as the guests did. So much beauty packed into one area. So many memories. So much to look forward to in the future.

Sometime later, Henry announced our landing spot — Angel Valley — where the vans were already waiting.

“That Nash is almost as good at predicting our landing spots as you are, Erin,” Henry marveled.

I couldn’t see Nash, but I sensed his smile. If only Henry knew the extent of our talents.

The thing was, even I didn’t know the full scope of my abilities. The lightning storm had been a hell of a wake-up call, though — literally, with my new, intensified connection to the wind. My dad had promised to visit soon and teach me everything he could.

Time would tell how much of his ability I had inherited. For now, I was grateful to be a dragon shifter — plus a fully certified and insured balloon pilot.

We touched down gently, barely requiring any braking action from the ground crew. Nash appeared at a corner of the balloon, all business at first. But once we were firmly on the ground, his lips twitched with the smooch he sent into my mind.

While Henry invited the guests to the traditional postflight champagne and breakfast picnic, I helped Nash, Chico, and Amanda with the equipment. Once everything was loaded into the van and trailer, Nash and I walked a few steps away with the flutes of champagne Pippa had saved for us. Just a sip each, but that’s all we needed for a heartfelt toast.

In the distance, we could hear Henry reciting the traditional balloonist’s prayer for the guests. We held up our glasses in our own private toast.

“May the winds welcome you with softness…” Henry started.

I thought of all the times they had, and the few times they hadn’t.

“May the sun bless you with its warm hands…”

I tipped my chin up, savoring the sensation. Warm, like Nash when he held me every night and every morning.

“May you fly so high and so well that God joins you in laughter…”

Nash’s eyes sparkled, reminding me of my first flying lessons.

You certainly do, he promised me. Fly high and fly well, I mean. Causing joy and laughter.

“And sets you gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth,” Henry finished.

The author of that particular piece was unknown, but they sure had captured everything I loved about flying.

Nash and I clinked glasses, then sipped.

“Speaking of loving arms…” Nash tapped me gently.

My cheeks stretched into a huge smile as I wrapped my arms around him. We held each other for a long time, rocking contentedly.

“Now, where’s the captain?” Pippa called loudly. “She promised me a selfie…”

Nash and I broke apart, laughing. Several guests race-walked toward us, cameras in hand.

“I’ll leave this part to you, Captain,” Nash murmured, stepping aside.

As always, my dragon side grumbled at having him “so far away.” But soon, this part of our workday would be over. Afterward, we could head home for brunch and a nap before tackling ranch chores in the afternoon. All in all, a perfect daily rhythm.

“Ha. Got here first,” a guest said, nabbing me ahead of the others. “Could I get a selfie, please?”

I had to pose for six in total, but my smile was genuine in each. All I had to do was keep my mind on Nash.

Finally, with everyone loaded back in the vans, I squeezed his hand.

“Time to head home, amigos,” Chico announced, winking at Amanda.

“Home sounds good,” Nash agreed.

His smile was a thing of beauty, and mine matched it. Because home was my — er, our — place.

“Home,” I couldn’t help echoing.

Nash kissed my hand while whispering into my mind. You and me together, my mate.

* * *

Thank you for reading Wind Whisperer!