Ever after
Alara
“Alara?” Dorkin asks.
I look to the tent, my brows furrowed.
“Yes?”
“You have a guest.”
I do?
I turn to the table, taking a sip of water before wiping my hands down my dress.
Rohan had left it for me this morning with a note that he couldn’t wait for this day. That he couldn’t be prouder to do this in front of all Dragorie.
I read it perfectly too, after him taking the time to teach me how to read.
My chest still warms at the thought.
“They can come in,” I say.
My sister should be arriving soon, so I know it’s probably her.
“Niyah, do I look okay—”
I freeze.
She looks exactly the same as when I last saw her.
Graying hair, wrinkles at the corner of her eyes.
“Effy?” I choke out, and she nods, rushing over to me.
I fall into her arms and she holds me tight.
“My dear girl. I thought I would never see you again.”
“You’re here!” I cry, sinking into her warmth. “How?”
“The man with the glasses came for me. As soon as he mentioned an elf, I knew in my heart it was you.”
She pulls back, wiping my tears.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. I thought you were dead.”
I shake my head. “We have been trying to find you,”
“And now you have.”
I smile at her, and she smiles back. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Well, it seems I arrived just in time. I wouldn’t want to miss your wedding day now, would I?”
I walk down a rose petal path, the dragons lining the sides, guiding me forward.
The white dress comes down to my knees, and I’m barefoot, holding a bunch of roses.
I walk past Tofa, Sigrid and Effy, all smiling wide and then I walk past my clan. Niyah is also here, with Alexandar at her side. Nora stands next to Melle who’s in an adorable dress throwing petals down for me. Bellamy is next to them with Fiona, Dorkin and Kaldar nearby.
I can’t keep the smile off of my face as the dragons chuff and rumble, all the other clans surrounding us as I make my way to him.
My Rohan.
He stands in the center of The Glade, chest bare, eyes on me.
Drogonah is at his back, Sparks and Escor on the other side, waiting for me to stand in front of them.
A tear drops from my eye as he holds out a hand when I near, and I grab it, letting him pull me close.
“You’re beautiful,” he rasps, cupping my face and looking me over.
Even now, my cheeks still heat and he huffs out a laugh, eyes full of emotion.
I turn to Escor who grabs the roses from my hand and holds them in his mouth. A purr coming from him as Sparks chuffs at his feet.
I grin and turn back, feeling the love of Rohan surrounding me. The love of them all.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yes.”
Taking a rose from his side, he lifts it up and squeezes the stem. When he opens his hand, the thorns have entered his skin, making him bleed.
He told me this is usually done with a knife, but he wanted the roses to harm him, to show me that he is the thorn that will protect me.
Without another word, he drops the rose and places his bloodied hand over my heart, looking deep into my eyes.
“From this day on, I will protect you, hold you, listen to you, and love you.”
I place my hand over his, intertwining our fingers together.
“From this day on, I will protect you, hold you, listen to you, and I will love you… so very much.”
Rohan blinks, taking in a shaky breath and I do the same as my chest warms.
A breeze slips by, and Drogonah rumbles. This one is different from what I’ve heard before.
I feel it like it’s inside of me, swirling and wrapping around my heart and I suck in a sharp breath at the same time as Rohan.
“Will you, Alara, honor me by taking my last name and staying by my side until we meet Morana?”
“I will,” I say without any hesitation.
His fingers twitch over my heart.
I begin to undo the ribbons on his arms, holding his eyes.
“Will you, Rohan, do me the honor of accepting me, and giving me your last name until we meet Morana?”
The last ribbon slips off, and he takes a deep breath, eyes swirling with emotion as I run my hands over the burn marks.
“Always and beyond. And even then, nothing would stop me from being by your side.”
Love swirls around us, and that rumble from Drogonah lightens, but it’s no less powerful as my chest tightens.
Rohan moves closer.
“Welcome home, Alara Asgarr,” Rohan whispers, and my smile grows even wider.
Then he kisses me, right there, in The Glade so all can see who Rohan Asgarr, Dragonbond, rider of Drogonah, and the leader of clan Blackscale has bonded to.