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He appears tense, his face hardened as he clenches his jaw. He marches over with calculated steps, avoiding making eye contact.
He’s back to being his grumpy self.
“And?” he asks, stepping behind me.
Relief washes over me at that moment. At least this way, I don’t have to worry about gauging his reaction or wrestling with how it makes me feel.
“The bone shares the same DNA construct as yours,” I reveal, pointing at the screen where the information is shown. “It does belong to your family.”
“Grandfather…” Aragon whispers sullenly behind me. “So those are his remains…”
“Yes. From what I’ve gathered, it belongs to a Vulkan.”
A long moment of silence stretches out ahead of us. Aragon finally moves, prompting me to turn in my chair and watch him leave the lab.
Wow.
He’s back to being the cold, heartless brute I met the first time around. I can only pray that I’m not pregnant, and that he’ll allow me to leave now that he has something from me.
I don’t think I can deal with the emotional turmoil of staying in Aurora Island for much longer.
Chapter 19 - Aragon
Gathered under the moon's light in its full essence, the Aurora Dragons bow their heads as father speaks to us. His smooth, centered voice carries across the graveyard while he stands in front of Grandfather’s remains.
“Tonight, we pay our respects to the one who was our leader. Dracon Vulkan was a great dragon, a warrior, who fought for his people,” father pauses, turning his face toward the large wooden casket that carries Grandfather’s dragon bones. “Close your eyes now, Aurora Dragons, and thank our greatest ancestor, Galdros. We shall give thanks to the ancient Elemental Vulcanus for gifting us with the powers of fire and eternal life force.”
Silence spreads out in the graveyard as the dragons say their silent prayers. Dressed in all white, we’ve brought all but one of Grandfather’s remains with us tonight. We’d purposely left one in the study, which will be mounted in the museum for display.
Once enough time has passed for us to say our prayers, the casket is lowered into the hole in the ground. My brothers and I had spent the entire day digging a hole big enough to fit the giant casket. Our hard work is filled now, and our hearts are complete now that our grandfather’s remains are where they belong.
Father sends the rest of the clan home when the ceremony is complete. He comes to me when it’s just our family in the graveyard, touching my shoulder.
“I wanted to thank you again, Son,” he appraises with a gentle smile. Mother joins us then, sliding her arms around father’s waist and gently laying her cheek on his shoulder.
“Thank you, Aragon,” she adds. “Your father has found closure now.”
I shake my head sheepishly. “You don’t need to thank me, mother,” I offer with a smile. “If it wasn’t for—” my voice falters as realization dawns on me.
The Cube of Knowledge that I’d come to hate so much because of its assistance in finding our human mate led us to find my grandfather’s remains. As much as I detest the little piece of advanced technology in the hands of the Dragon Council, I have to admit that it was right about one thing.
Though we may not be fated, the Cube of Knowledge led us to a destiny we hadn’t imagined. It led me to Yazmine, who is coincidentally the paleontologist who discovered the fossils in New Zealand.
Damn…
Was it right about her being my mate?
A pang of guilt grips my heart when I realize I’ve been cruel to her only because she’s human. She’s proven herself to be strong and smart and capable of putting up with me despite how badly I’ve been treating her.
Now that the remains are in the ground, I realize I haven’t given her the appreciation she deserves. I haven’t offered a simple “Thank you” to her.
“I’m sorry, mother… Father…” I tell my parents as I glance at the castle shrouded by the brilliant moonlight. “I have to go.”
“We know, Aragon,” mother gently says behind me. “It’s time we met her, don’t you think?”
I hesitate as I leave, throwing over my shoulder, “Not yet, mother.”
As I make my way back to the castle, I shrug off the white coat and hang it on the coat hanger before taking a deep breath. Now with her research complete, what’s left is for Yazmine to give me children.
