Page 50 of Lost in Fire

“I should probably get some sleep,” Ember says eventually, covering a yawn. “Tomorrow’s going to be…”

“Different,” I finish when she trails off.

“Yeah.” She stands, gathering her plate. “But good different, right?”

The question is directed at both of us, hope threading through her voice.

“Yes,” Hargen answers with quiet certainty. “Good different.”

She hugs me first—a fierce embrace that lasts longer than usual. “Thank you,” she whispers against my shoulder. “For everything. For protecting us. For making this possible.”

Then she turns to Hargen, hesitating for just a moment before stepping into his arms. The hug is careful, tentative, but real.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she tells him.

“So am I.”

She disappears down the hallway, leaving us alone with the weight of everything unsaid.

I clear the table in silence, hyperaware of his presence as he moves around the kitchen. The easy familiarity of shared domestic tasks feels dangerous. Too much like the life we might have had.

“She’s extraordinary,” he says finally.

“She is.” I rinse plates under hot water, focusing on the simple task. “Smart, kind, curious about everything. Sometimes I can barely believe she’s mine.”

“Ours.”

The word hangs between us, heavy with implications.

“Hargen.” I dry my hands, turning to face him. “We need to talk about what happens next.”

“You’re right.” He leans back against the kitchen counter, arms folded across his massive chest. “I’m getting us out of here.”

He says the words with such certainty that it’s hard to believe anything could possibly go wrong.

“And how do you propose that?” I ask, wishing I didn’t sound so anxious.

He crosses the kitchen in two steps, his hands gentle on my shoulders. “The Aurora Collective has extraction protocols. Safe houses. Protected territories where the Syndicate can’t reach. We can all disappear tomorrow.”

“You’re sure of this?”

“Absolutely.” His thumb traces across my collarbone absently. “Viktor Parlance leads them. Good man. He’s already authorized full protection for both of you.”

“Tell me about them,” I say.

“Safe territories in the northern mountains. Established communities where mixed bloodlines aren’t just tolerated—they’re celebrated.” His voice carries genuine enthusiasm. “Ember would thrive there. Educational opportunities, other young dragons to learn from. Freedom to explore her heritage without fear.”

The picture he paints is seductive. A world where our daughter could be herself completely, where her hybrid nature is a gift instead of a death sentence.

“It sounds perfect,” I say, meaning it.

“It could be our fresh start. All three of us.”

I lean into his touch, allowing myself to imagine it. Mornings without calculating which lie to tell. Evenings spent reading with Ember without worrying that tomorrow might be the day it all goes wrong. Nights falling asleep beside the man I’ve loved for decades instead of alone with my guilt.

“What’s the timeline?” I ask.

“I’ll contact Viktor first thing tomorrow morning. He can have extraction teams in position within hours.” Hargen’s hands slide down my arms. “We pack light, travel fast, disappear completely.”

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