Page 91 of Lahaina Noon

It will be alright, my daughter, I promise.She felt the cold wind and heard the rustling of dry leaves.

Bridget groaned with the strain and kept pushing the light deeper into the Shadow King’s core. Sweat poured from her. A small stream of magic rose within and enhanced her efforts. She placed a hand quickly over her stomach to acknowledge it, then back on his chest. She pushed the light past his heart and into his neck. She began to weaken, then rebounded as hands rested on her back. It was Vaughn, then Jack, Siobhan, and Liam. They had all come to her as well. Her family. She opened as their energy flowed into her. She made them more. She looked around then and saw they were surrounded by all of the warriors who had come to fight that day and smiled as their will and magic flowed into her.

She shouted a warrior’s cry, shoving the last bit of her will into Azrael’s body, and fulfilling a promise to her family, ground through her teeth, “This is for Brian, Brady, Joanna, and everyone else you’ve harmed.” Finally, her arms dropped, and she smiled before collapsing to her knees. She put her hands on the ground in front of her, breathing heavily. She heard Azrael screaming.

Lahaina Noon had passed. He had a shadow again, but he could no longer use it.

He lunged at her, but Vaughn caught him by the throat and lifted him from the ground. He laughed and said, “I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” He threw Azrael into the air using his dragon strength, shouting, “Jack!” a second before he transformed into a dragon and launched himself at the man.

Jack pulled Bridget’s face to his chest so she wouldn’t see, but she heard the loud screech and crunch as Vaughn ripped his body to shreds the way he’d vowed all those years ago.

She shuddered in relief and promptly passed out.

Chapter 48

Bridget woke to thegentle sounds of the ocean lapping at the sand outside the window, the breeze blowing across her face. “Ugh,” she moaned. “What is it with me passing out and waking up in strange beds?”

She heard Vaughn chuckle. He leaned over her before saying, “I don’t know, but you should stop doing that, especially the strange beds part.”

She smiled, pulling him down for a kiss. “Is it done?” she whispered. “Is it truly over?”

He nodded and brushed her hair from her forehead. “Yes, my love, it’s over. And now, is there anything else you need to tell me? Any more secrets?”

She flinched, and his eyes narrowed, “Bridget!” A warning note in his voice.

It’s okay, my daughter, now.She heard the whisper.

She sighed,thank you, but someday soon you’re going to explain this my daughter thing to me, because you are not my father.She heard a chuckle as it faded away.

“Bridget?” came Vaughn’s worried voice.

She gestured that she wanted to sit up. He helped her and then sat next to her. She took his hands in hers. “Vaughn, I couldn’t tell you sooner because of the same reasons we didn’t tell you about your mother. I knew you would never have let me do what needed to be done.” She eyed him warily and took a deep, fortifying breath, then let it out.

“Vaughn, how could you not have figured it out already?” She shook her head sighing. “I mean, good grief, there were so many clues and signs. I thought for sure, any minute now, he’s going to figure it out. Jack figured it out.”

Vaughn frowned at her in confusion.

She laughed, cupping his face. “My love, you silly man, I’m pregnant.” She watched his eyes glaze over and was scared he was the one about to pass out.

Vaughn was sure he was dreaming. He thought Bridget had just said she was pregnant. And now he was sure she was getting worried because he wasn’t saying anything. He reached out a shaking hand, placed it on her stomach and closed his eyes. He searched with his mind and found it, faintly, a little pulse of magic and fire.

He opened his eyes, “Bridget, our baby is going to be so fierce. We’re going to have to teach her not to set things on fire.” His eyes filled with tears as he pulled her to him. “Our baby.”

They held each other that way for a long time and watched the shadows play in the trees outside, no longer afraid of what might be in them.

Their arrival home was much celebrated. Some had gone home to heal their wounds and, mourn their losses, start rebuilding. Many came back to Dallas to revel in the sense of freedom from the end of the Shadow rule. In total, they had lost Dio, one brown dragon from Germany, and two red wielders from Russia.

The Shadows lost many more.

The remaining Shadows had all surrendered and begged for asylum. Many had asked to have their power removed as well to prove their sincerity. Bridget wasn’t able to do any more currently, being so drained, and she knew Vaughn would never agree to it while she was carrying his child.

It was agreed that they would keep their powers, but they were placed under a magical restraint that Siobhan had worked out with Lorenzo, the red dragon from Italy, to ensure they didn’t use their powers for evil. Many wanted to learn to work with the dragons and wielders, to use their powers to right some of the wrongs done by their King.

The ones who refused and sought to continue the work of the previous regime? They were handled.

Bridget hated the idea of more death but remembered the pain they had caused her family and knew they couldn’t be allowed to do that to others. The dragon world was sometimes a brutal one. But as she watched Vaughn laughing with his friends, she knew she didn’t ever want to leave it.

Vaughn caught her eye and joined her on the couch where she had been safely ensconced with her feet propped up the second they walked in the door. A table full of snacks and drinks was within easy reach. A pile of books at her elbow. He sat gingerly like he was scared to break her.

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