Epilogue
Felicia
“So, I just need to let them come to me? You’re sure?
” I asked, probably for the tenth time that morning.
Arakash very patiently assured me that was the case yet again, his answer always the same.
I was pretty sure he’d coached young aspirant dragon riders a million times in his life, so he was probably very used to dealing with nerves like mine.
He’d declared, quite to my shock, only that morning that he’d take me to the wild dragon nesting grounds.
That I was ready to have a first look. I wasn’t sure if I was ready at all, but you didn’t say no to a chance like that, so here I was.
We were in a ravine of pale yellow and white rock; it had ledges and caves that dotted the walls.
Dragons roosted everywhere, and though they weren’t as big as the tame ones that lived at Serqethos, they were still pretty damn big and terrifying.
I was only standing here because I was pretty sure Arakash wouldn’t let me get eaten; his big dragon was right at our backs.
I didn’t think a pink dragon could look intimidating, but Salais was probably the most terrifying beast I’d ever laid eyes on.
Grizzled and scarred, much like his master, he looked like he’d gone through a dozen battles and come out on top.
His maw was slightly crooked, with one snaggletooth, and his flanks were streaked with claw marks.
“Just breathe,” Arakash suggested. So I did that, and then I took a step forward, and another.
What happened next was something I could only describe as magical.
It was exactly as the older Naga had told me it would be, but I hadn’t believed they’d do it for me, a human.
Curious dragons fluttered down to have a closer look, and the young ones were fearless in their curiosity.
They did not fear me, and they did not want to eat me; they just wanted to check me out.
A green one no bigger than a border collie sniffed my fingers and fluttered his wings.
Then a purple one nosed my knee. Since he—or she—was bigger than a pony, I stumbled forward but managed to right myself.
Then there were purring noises coming from a red one with golden streaks, and I found myself scratching shoulders, chins, and ears. They all wanted to be petted.
An hour later, when Salais and Arakash brought me back to the Serqethos camp, I was smiling from ear to ear.
Levant greeted me, his arms coming around me as he helped me dismount from Salais’ tall back.
He kissed me, his golden eyes twinkling because he already knew the answer when he asked, “How did it go?”
“It was perfect,” I breathed against his lips. “Everything was perfect.” He dipped me back in his arms, kissed me, and we both laughed as people clapped and thumped fists against their chests. Auby squealed as he raced from Merish’s goldsmithing area to dance around us.
“Welcome home, Felicia!” he called out. I bent to pick him up, my hands smoothing over his restored synthetic pelt. “Thank you, Auby. You look like you were having fun.” He wore gold chains around his neck, and several rings slid over his long ears.
“You like it? I am modeling Merish’s work!
” he beamed at me. I liked it very much.
Staying here, with my mate, my little Vakarsa, and the Serqethos Clan was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.
Sure, I missed my dad, but I didn’t miss Earth.
And after I’d talked with Min-Ji from Ahoshaga, I knew I’d definitely made the right choice by not fighting harder to go back.
Earth sounded like a nightmare these days.
I probably wouldn’t have liked being there at all, especially not when Min-Ji had looked at me like I was one of her storybook heroes.
“The actual Felicia Haines in the flesh! You were the reason I became a pilot!” Yup, no, I was glad I hadn’t gone back, and just as glad I was with Levant at Serqethos.
Here, I was his human mate, and everyone was happy to see me because I made him happy, and that made me happy.
“I love you, Levant,” I said against his throat.
“And you should know, you’re going to be a dad in about…
nine months.” Auby gasped, ears wagging so wildly they flicked against my chin.
Levant just stared, mouth open, so shocked that for once he had no words.
“There might be a lot of puke in your future, mate. But this time, I’ll try not to puke on you. ”
He tossed back his head, roared with laughter, and then, eyes twinkling, he said to me, “If you must be sick, you may be sick on me if that pleases you, sweet mate,” And we both knew he was only half-joking.
THE END