Page 176 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

“You will have me as counsel in trouble, an ally in battle. We will share the table at feast, or in famine.

“All that I am, I give freely to you. What I become, I will become beside you.

“Where you walk, I will not stand behind you in fear, nor before you in pride, but at your side in strength.

“If darkness hunts you, it will find me also.

“If glory finds you, I will lift the first cup in your honor — and be last to let you boast of it alone.

“From this day until my final breath, you are home. You are love. You are fire in my veins.

“General Donavyn Arsen, I Choose you. You are mine—today, and forever.”

“Forever,” he breathed back as the applause rose in the chapel, so loudly the priest had to call over it.

“I now declare you, before God, throne, and people, to be husband and wife.” Then he winked at Donavyn. “You may kiss your bride.”

And then my husband did exactly that… and as he kissed me tenderly, deeply, insistently, the song of dragons rose outside, led by Kgosi, and Akhane.

EPILOGUE - Part 3

~ BREN ~

We flew to the cabin—dressed in leathers and with our bags tied to the dragons backs—just as the sun was setting. Akhane had been skittish, so we both flew on Kgosi. Even though it wasn’t necessary, taking even that short hour to just sit in Donavyn’s arms was a balm after all the people and noise of the banquet.

‘Look. There it is. All ours for a whole week. Thank God,’ Donavyn sent.

I leaned over Kgosi’s shoulder and my heart nearly burst. The Cabin was stunning. Just as the queen had promised.

It was already in the shadow of the mountains. But with the sun setting behind them, those glorious pinks and purples were reflected in the water of the small lake, and overwatched by a scattering of trees near the cabin and waterside, then thick forest for miles around.

My heart wanted to burst as we landed. Even the dragons were giddy, calling to each other and splashing straight into the water the moment we unharnessed Kgosi.

Donavyn made a big show of rolling up the harness properly and stowing it in a small building outside the cabin, then he swung both our bags over his shoulder, took my hand and stood over me, smiling, his warm skin purpled by the light.

“You look beautiful,” he said quietly, tucking a tendril of hair behind my ear.

“I’m just so glad we’re finally here,” I murmured and put a hand to his chest. He kissed me then, and for a moment I got lost in it. This was all the love of the wedding ceremony, but with the edge of fire now.

We didn’t break apart until we were both already breathless and I was pressed into him.

“Get inside. Now.”

I giggled and pulled him with me until we were inside. But when he dropped the bags down and pulled me back into his arms, I shook my head and pushed him off.

“No, no. Not yet. I have… I have something… just wait here,” I said, making soothing motions with my hands when his face got tight. “Get undressed and… I’ll only be a second,” I reassured him, then I grabbed my bag and darted into the short hallway to the door where he’d indicated the bedchamber was located.

I felt the blaze of his gaze on my back as I ran, and giggled like a girl.

~ DONAVYN ~

When she walked out of the cabin’s small bedroom she was a vision. She’d made me wait outside, insisting that she had a surprise. At first, I thought perhaps her brothers had put her up to a joke—some threatening present they’d have her give to me as a reminder.

Instead, she was a vision. She looked at me hesitantly as she floated into the cabin’s main room in a soft, sweet nightdress that clung to her breasts, but hung, half-sheer, to barely dust her knees.

My heart spun in my chest.

Somehow, I’d already crossed the room, searching for the words that would let her see even a glimpse of what I saw, but I was speechless. I met her in the center of the warm living room, then stopped, toe-to-toe.