Page 30 of Fire Dancing For Icey Dragons

He pulls me into his arms and I rest my head against his chest. "I didn't expect it to be so emotional."

"This has been the last four years of your life," he points out. "It's going to be emotional."

"I'm going to miss them." I wipe away some of the tears. "I doubt they'll miss me."

He chuckles, the sound vibrating through me. "I'm certain they will."

"It's just weird to be moving on with our lives."

"It is," he agrees. "But it's also the way it's supposed to be. This time next year, you'll have something that you never even thought possible this year. Maybe another trophy."

I laugh. "I got the one I wanted."

"Yes, but even in the short time I've known you, it's clear to me that you're a competitive person, Zara. You're not about to put that part of your personality away just because you're leaving the academy."

"You might be right there."

"Oh, I am." He rubs his hand up and down my back. It's been so easy to get comfortable and close to him. I don't even fully have a reason for that beyond that it feels like something between us fits.

I pull back but don't move from his arms. "How did your interview go?"

"Well, I think," he says. "We'll find out if they agree with me in a couple of days. But I'm not worried, there are still a few weeks to find jobs."

"Yeah, and a lot of them won't start until after the exam results are posted anyway."

"Exactly." He leans in and kisses my forehead. "So, I was thinking that next week, you could come down and stay for a few days? It's not quite meeting my family at graduation, but it would be good."

"That sounds nice," I say. "And I'm sure Dad will be happy for you to come stay with us for a bit. Though he might make you sleep in the guest room."

He snorts. "Because that'severstopped anyone before."

"There are many ways around it," I promise. "And I will try pointing out that I'm twenty-two and don't need ridiculously strong rules like that."

"You're worth obeying ridiculously strong rules for," he promises.

"I'm glad you think so."

He leans in and kisses me deeply, making me feel as if anything is possible between us, even if we do have things to face in the real world, and I can't think of a better way to end my time at the academy.

Epilogue

ZARA

I look in the mirror and try my best to straighten my graduation cap in the bathroom mirror. It's already slipping down and I haven't even started trying to walk around while wearing it.

"You need some more bobby pins," Yuri says, holding some out to me.

"Thanks." I take them from her and stick some of them in my mouth while I use the others to attach my hat to my hair. "Why do you think they want us to wear such impractical graduation outfits?" I murmur through the pins.

Yuri shrugs. "Tradition," she responds. "Are you ready?"

"As I'm ever going to be."

"All we're doing is walking across a stage," she points out.

"Yes, while wearing a cap and gown." I straighten out the hood I'm wearing, the blue and white piping indicating I'm graduating from Obscure Academy looking right after all of my years in a Sapphire Sparks uniform, even if keeping the hood on straight is already proving to be a challenge.

"Here." Yuri produces a pin and sticks it through the hood, attaching it to my dress beneath. "Just don't forget to take it out before you remove it."

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