Page 81 of The Dragon Recruit
Epilogue
Almost Two Years Later
One of Iris’s fraternal twins, Dev, squirmed in her arms, clearly wanting down. However, her lads had learned to walk early and Dev, especially, would find trouble. She couldn’t even pawn him off on Antony for a bit since he was a mummy’s boy through and through. So she readjusted her grip yet again and murmured, “We’re nearly there, Dev. You can play with Alena soon.”
“Ley-ley?”
“Aye, your cousin will be there, or so your dad says.”
He’d kept the details of their outing secret. It was her birthday, though, and she suspected he’d planned a party.
Antony carried the more easygoing twin, Malcolm, and said, “Yes, Alena and your gran. You want to see Granny, don’t you?”
“Gran-gran!”
Iris smiled and ruffled her son’s dark hair. “I’m sure she’ll have some sweets hidden away, like always.”
Malcolm perked up. “Me want.”
Antony sighed dramatically. “They are sounding more Scottish than not, aren’t they?”
She playfully butted his side. “Aye, and that’s not a bad thing.”
“Maybe that means I’ll have to teach them mimicry. Who knows, maybe they’ll follow us into the family trade.”
Iris snorted. “And you say I plan too far into the future.”
“I think you vastly underestimate our children, my dear. They will be planning escapes before you know it.”
“And you’ll be encouraging them.”
“Hey, you’re the one who has a year-by-year plan for self-defense, once they’re a bit older.”
She readjusted her hold as Dev tried to lean to one side. “I hope they won’t need it, but better safe than sorry.”
Her dragon spoke up.We’re getting closer to cooperation and peace with dragons from all over the world.
Aye, but there will always be humans who fear someone different from themselves.
And the best we can do is interact with them more and more, to try and change their minds by showing who we really are.
You’ve come a long way from wanting to drop all the dragon haters from the sky.
Her beast sniffed.I’ve seen some can change their minds, like that human mated to Zain on Stonefire.
Zain’s mate, Ivy, had once belonged to the Dragon Knights, a dragon hate group separate from the dragon hunters. However, they’d been defeated, which had been one victory, at least.
Iris replied to her dragon,And there’s a wee bit of hope on our side, too. Most of the females we found in that prison have joined the various dragon clans and a few have even mated humans.
Before her beast could reply, they reached the great hall, and she focused on her mate. “You can just tell me it’s a party, aye? Which I don’t need. You already gave me brilliant presents this morning, with the portrait of our cats and our lads. I don’t need anything else.”
He caressed her back with his free hand. “You will always deserve more, Iris.”
“I swear, you’re going to spoil me too much one day.”
“Never, love. The second you look to be going soft, I’ll pull strings to get you on a new assignment.”
She smiled. Iris had indeed been recruited to Antony’s secret department—Wicked Security. Whilst Antony had moved to a more administrative role, Iris helped lead teams from time to time. “See that you do, aye? I’m itching for a new one already.”
