Page 23 of Accounting for Drakes

He met her gaze and smiled slowly.

“Well, now that I have thrown that out there, I will be on my way. Like I said, I will only return when invited. It is a lovely hotel. Lots of amenities. I can get a foot rub any time, day or night.”

Abil nodded. “It will be nice to know you are here.”

“I am glad. Now, Yorath needs to speak to you. Listen with everything in you.”

Nanny touched her once more and left.

Abil turned to Yorath. “Um, hello. Nanny raised me.”

“I gathered. She did a good job. How long were you with her?”

“Eight years? Ten years? There was a lot before I was found and brought to Mbrak’s station.”

“But you made it, and she got you through.”

“She did.”

She blinked as Yorath went to one knee in front of her. “I might not have used my own language, but I have hoped for you, felt joy with you, and looked forward to you since I met you. Your mind is meshing with mine, and I feel the amazing potential you have within you and wish to help you find it. You have it in you to be a bright and blazing star, and I want to be at your side when you become all you can.”

She stared. There was nothing to answer.

He smiled. “Will you marry me and be my empress and my companion, and my drake will fly with yours whenever you need to fly?”

Abil cocked her head and found the question. “Um, yes?”

He grinned and kissed her while on his knee between her thighs. She held his head and felt something on her hand, but she broke off and said, “You dumped jewels for me.”

He stroked her cheek. “You needed them, and they helped. We often dress our females in precious metals and other stones. It gives you a burst of power if you need it.”

“It did. It helped me open my first portal.”

He nodded. “That was the purpose. It still took you two years to come to me.”

She smiled. “There was so much to see, and my beast wasn’t in a hurry. She said you had to clear out your quarters, but I don’t know what that meant.”

He smiled. “I did that before we spent time in the simulation. That is when I knew you were the one for me.”

Abil sighed. “I wish you had told me. I thought I hurt you in the simulation.”

“Mbrak extended our time and notified the other staff afterward. I was stunned by withdrawing from you, not from being with you. I have missed you.”

She blushed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I missed you, too. The stars were empty without you.”

He lifted his head to hers and kissed her again, stroking his tongue along hers. When it looped around, she blinked and had to wait. She was tongue-tied.

He pulled his head back and smiled. “Three days to the wedding.”

She laughed. “How long were you watching for me?”

“Eighteen months. When you didn’t show up, I set up a reward system for sightings. You scared the hell out of those raiders, though.”

She giggled. “Yeah. That was when I learned to breathe fire. It was fun. It used a lot of biomass, though, so I had to go out and eat right away. Their ship was too fast.”

He lifted her in his arms and spun her around while laughing. “They sent me the image of you snapping at them. They were definitely scared.”

She leaned against his chest and smiled. “A fun few days.”

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