Page 344 of Sigils & Spells

“You’re out. Why didn’t someone call me?”

“I told them not to. Look, I wanted to see you in person, Tana, I know I’ve been a right shit dad, but I had to come tell you to your face. I am so proud of you,” he muttered, breaking down.

We both cried and hugged, and I felt one of the holes I’d been carrying around my whole life slowly filling during this reunion. Brandon stood behind me and I saw my father’s green gaze flicker to him, then me, and finally, to the mark on my neck.

“Da, this is Brandon, he’s my—well, he’s mine,” I said, claiming Brandon’s hand and squeezing it tightly.

“I see. Nice to meet you Brandon, I’m Taylor McKenna.”

“Sir,” Brandon replied, shaking Da’s hand.

“Well, I need to go. Armstrong hired me to research what she thinks will happen without intervention. But look, I want you to know I am available day or night for you, daughter. Call me anytime, all right?”

“What about Ma’s killers?”

“I’ve been hunting them so long, I lost track of what was important. That’s you, Tana. If we can’t stop magic from dying, our future is lost. I won’t forget myself in the past anymore. Besides, turns out this is what your mother was working on in secret. I found her old diary,” he said, pulling out a small black notebook and handing it to me.

“Read that and when you are done, send it back to me, all right?”

“Yeah, Da, thanks.”

“Good girl. Now you, lad, watch out for my daughter. Keep her safe, eh?”

“Yes, sir. I would lay waste to universes for her.”

“Well. He’s pretty fucking scary, ain’t he?” Da said, smirking at me. “You just might be good enough for my baby girl then after all.”

I laughed at that and hugged my father one last time. He lifted a lock of my hair and held it to his nose.

“You look just like her, Tana. Smell like her, too. You’re the best of us, girl. Be safe.”

I wiped my tears after closing the door and allowed Brandon to usher me to my,er, our room. The special consideration Brandon had been given from the Watchman was to leave the sentinel barracks and stay here with me, as my bonded mate.

It was a little heavy-handed, but that was the way of dragons. Even hybrid ones. I was not after changing the man. I loved him exactly the way he was, scales and all.

Brandon carried me inside, closing the door with a flick of his power. For him, it was effortless. No charms or casts, just his will. And what a mighty will my man had.

“I’m sorry,” I said when he laid me down.

“For what?”

“For making us wait so long. For denying what we were to each other.”

I knew Brandon understood me. He had me now more than ever, but his silver eyes heated with an intensity that shattered me.

Fuck.

He was the breath in my body.

The blood in my veins.

My reason.

My hope.

My spark.

“I love you,mo spréach, and there is nothing I would not do for you, even waiting an eternity for you to love me back.”

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