Chapter Thirty-Seven
A month later, I stood on our bedroom balcony and looked across Eberein.
They had rebuilt the bridge, and beneath it, a new harmonizer stood in the same spot as its predecessor.
The sorcerers' trial was ongoing, with citizen testimonies drawing it out.
But Fen decided it was integral for his people to air their grievances before the people who had hurt them. It was a step toward healing.
There were many others to prosecute in the meantime.
Such as Lord Theodore and all the talons who had stolen from citizens during the collections.
None of the guilty had been horns, which I found interesting.
Those talons had broken the law they had sworn to uphold.
Did that make the horns more honorable? Or maybe it was simply a matter of who had the most opportunity to steal.
The Talons returned most of the confiscated items to their owners, although they needed new enchantments.
The King provided restitution to those whose items they couldn’t recover.
The most amazing part was how much people respected me after I had cleared the city.
Not that I cared. My reward was the success of my alchemy.
And Fen.
The Dragon King had taken a week to mate me.
I still had flashbacks of our erotic mating.
They came to mind at the most inopportune moments.
Even now, as I gazed upon the most advanced city on Serai, my thoughts filled with memories of accepting Fen into my body and soul.
I saw him above me, and then below me, receiving as much pleasure as he gave.
And that damn Dragon was right; I was happier than I'd ever been.
I'd found love with a Dragon, and it surpassed all expectations.
And his dread approved.
I hadn't known that a Dragon King's mate was required to present themselves to his entire dread, and that if even one of those Dragons disapproved of the mate, the King would have to choose between his crown or his mate.
Thankfully, it hadn't come to that. Not that I'd been worried.
I'd been prepared to make arguments to my worth if necessary.
But it was hard to disapprove of the man who had saved the crown city and possibly the kingdom—Eberein's beloved new duke. Yes, me. A Volper who had always been more interested in his experiments than his heart had won the love of the people and their king.
How the fuck had that happened?
“Ah, so you're awake at last.” Falken came onto the balcony, resplendent in his royal finery.
His parents and younger brother had stayed on past the presentation festivities to visit with him and get to know me.
Fen had been showing them around the city, and so he'd been dressing up for their excursions.
I had tried to excuse myself in the beginning, but his parents wouldn't hear of it.
Today was the first day Fen and I had to ourselves.
“You kept me up late last night.” I went into his arms, and we shared a quick kiss.
“Yes, I accept full responsibility.” He grinned at me and then pulled away to take my hand. “Come. I've got a surprise for you.”
“Another surprise? This needs to stop, Fen.”
The Dragon King had been heaping gifts on me ever since we had emerged from the royal apartments fully mated.
“Well, you won't allow me to pay you what we agreed upon, so I have to find other ways to show my appreciation.”
“You're such a liar! You just like giving me gifts because you know I'll show my appreciation for you in bed.”
Falken chuckled. “Perhaps I do.”
We went to the lifter and down to the main floor.
But my surprise wasn't inside the keep. Falken led me out through a back door and then took me through the garden.
Past vegetables, fruit trees, and flowers, we went until we came to a row of greenhouses.
I frowned as he led me to the last one on the right.
Falken opened the glass door and ushered me inside. Leaning in the doorway, he smirked. “It's yours. Do you like it?”
“Mine?” I looked around, wondering why he would give me a greenhouse full of plants. Then I looked closer at the plants. “Dear Gods! This is mugwort and winso! And here is tigromony! These are plants I use.”
Falken chuckled. “Yes, I know. I had Torli inspect your lab. He found your wish list.”
“That sneaky Shanba!” I chuckled. “This is wonderful, Fen. Thank you.” I turned to step into his arms and lifted my face.
Surrounded by life and love, I sank into a kiss that went soul-deep, finding a little of him inside me.
My wandering years were over. It was time to settle down.
Falken had even agreed to a traditional Volper ceremony.
In a week, we'd be traveling to Tuva to get married among my family and clan.
That Dragon would do anything to make me happy, and I would do anything for him.
I grimaced as I heard his father bellowing for us.
Yes, I'd even go on another outing with his family. What was a little in-law interrogation compared to all we had gone through? It had been a rough path for us, but we had come through it together, despite my attempts to ruin everything.
So, what was my professional conclusion about love? As an alchemist, I analyze and inspect. I even dissect things I don't understand. I conduct experiments and endure countless failures to reach the truth. And here it is: Magic is wild, utterly unpredictable, but love is far worse.
Fen eased out of our kiss and waggled his eyebrows at me. “So, how much do you appreciate this?”
I burst out laughing and reached for his belt. “Shall I show you now?”
“Falken!” his father's voice came even louder than before.
Fen grimaced. “Give me a moment, Mate. I just need to murder my father, and then you can continue.”
I laughed harder, but Falken shushed me and pushed me further into the greenhouse as he closed the door behind him.
With a mischievous look, he took my hand and raced down the center aisle.
At the back was a room for supplies, including fertilizer.
He pulled me through the open doorway and into his arms.
Eyes alight with glee, he whispered, “The fertilizer will mask our scents.”
“Then we have a little time.” I pulled him down into a kiss.
As we kissed, I unbuckled his belt, and he unbuckled mine. Fen pushed my pants down and nipped at my neck. Grinning, I spun and bent over a bare worktable. Everything was new, so I didn't worry about getting dirty or—gasp—splinters.
Behind me, Fen crouched and pushed open my cheeks. “No oil here. I'll have to make do.”
I choked back a cry of pleasure when his tongue found me. First, my back arched, and then I relaxed against the wood to enjoy my mate's hot, wet tongue. It didn't last long, but I wasn't upset by that. Because soon after he removed his tongue, he replaced it with something even better.
“Shh,” Fen whispered in my ear as he slid slowly in and out of me.
The sound of someone walking outside the greenhouse made us go still, but then it moved away, accompanied by a “Falken, my boy, you out here?”
As Fen's father gave up, we snickered together.
“You're such a bad boy,” I whispered.
“Mmm.” He pulled out and then sped up. “I am the King, beyond reproach. If anyone is bad, it's you.”
“Nope.” I shook my head. “We are not playing this game. I don't enjoy being spanked.”
Fen chuckled. “All right, my sensitive alchemist. No spankings for you. How about a rod?” He thrust as deep as he could go, pressing his pelvis into my ass.
“Now that I approve of.” I braced myself. “Give me every inch of your rod, Your Majesty.”
As Fen gave me what I wanted, I thanked the Gods for magic and love. They were a savage pair, but without them, I wouldn't have Fen. And without the Dragon King, I wouldn't have anything.