Page 17 of Her Dryad Dom

"Of course," I replied, extending one of my branches to sign the necessary papers. With each stroke of the weird inkless pen she handed me on the screen of her laptop, I felt more connected to the town and my newfound role. Beastly Falls was in ourhands, and I would do everything in our power to ensure its safety.

As Aspen sent off the email, her face lit up with triumph. "We did it, Dom. We've taken the first step in protecting Beastly Falls."

"Thank you, Aspen," I said sincerely, wrapping her in my branches and pulling her close. "I couldn't have done this without you."

"Same goes for you," she murmured against my bark-covered chest. "We're in this together, Deputy Mayor."

"Damn right we are," I agreed.

Aspen turned back to me, her eyes serious. "There's more to do, Dom." Her voice held the weight of responsibility, one she willingly shared with me. "Here's a list of things you'll need to do as deputy mayor to help validate things with the county and state."

"Anything for our town," I replied, accepting the list with a nod. My mind raced as I reviewed the tasks, feeling both overwhelmed and determined. Aspen sensed my unease, reaching out to place a comforting hand on my arm.

"Dom, we've done enough for tonight," she reassured me, her touch igniting a fire deep within me, taming the swirling chaos in my mind.

I relayed everything to the mayor, and Sylvia's happy voice responded with so much excitement I could barely follow her words.

"Are you ready to call it a night?" Aspen asked softly, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and a hint of something more carnal. I nodded, the prospect of rest, and the promise of intimacy, pulling us toward the bedroom.

"Let's call it a night," I agreed, the words barely leaving my lips before Aspen was in my arms, her body pressed against mine.

"Before you get too comfortable," Sylvia chimed in through the phone I'd forgotten I was still holding to my ear, her bubbly voice contrasting with the weight of her words. "I wanted to invite you both to town tomorrow to celebrate the partial reversal of the curse."

"Of course, we'll be there," I assured her, feeling Aspen's curiosity pique at the mention of celebration. She must be close enough to overhear the mayor's voice through the phone.

"Thank you, Mayor Sylvia," Aspen called out, her eyes alight with anticipation. "I'm looking forward to meeting you in person."

"Likewise, dear," Sylvia replied, her laughter ringing like bells. "Goodnight and sleep well."

As the connection ended, I wrapped my arms around Aspen, drawing her close and pressing soft kisses across her face. Her breath caught at the tender affection, and I reveled in the simple pleasure of holding her.

Suddenly, something shifted inside me. My body tensed, freezing mid-kiss as an unfamiliar sensation washed over me.

"Dom? What's wrong?" Aspen asked, her brows furrowing with concern.

"I... I can feel my family," I whispered, my voice shaking with disbelief. "There's no block this time. I can reach out to them again."

"Can they hear you?" she queried, her own excitement rising alongside mine.

"Only one way to find out." Closing my eyes, I sent a tentative message through the nature network that connected all dryads. The response came almost instantly... a chorus of relief and joy from my family, their voices melding together in harmony.

"I've missed you so much," I said aloud, forgetting that I didn't need to since it had been so long since I'd been about touse the connection. "I hope to see you all soon... and I want you to meet my mate."

"Your mate?" Aspen repeated, her eyes widening with wonder. "Does that mean you accept me as your mate?"

"Of course I do," I admitted, the words heavy with both love and resignation. "How could I not? It was irrational for me to ever think I could turn you away."

Aspen looked up at me with hopeful eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Without question," I replied, my tone firm and resolute. How could I ever have doubted the bond between us, the overwhelming love that drew me to her?

"Good," she breathed, her smile radiant as she pressed her body against mine. "Because I can't imagine my life without you, Dom."

"Neither can I," I admitted, brushing a lingering kiss across her lips.

As I carried my mate to our bed, I knew that together, we would face whatever challenges awaited us in the days to come. And no matter how daunting the obstacles or how fierce the storms, our love would endure, unyielding and eternal.

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