Page 74 of Fire Dragon
“I'm going to need it.” He kept his voice low as well.
“I know, but you can do it.”
Logan looked serious. He nodded then turned to Liam. “Don't let her go.”
“I’d be the biggest fool if I did.”
Logan feigned a scowl. “And you’d better treat her right, too, or you'll answer to me.”
Liam slid his arm around her waist. “That's a promise on all counts.” Liam then met her gaze. “Shall we tell them?”
“Yes, please.”
“What?” Logan asked, glancing from one to the other.
“Just wait.” Liam turned to face the room then instructed the crowd to grab a glass for a couple of toasts.
When everyone was ready, he drew Emma close to his side, then began, “I questioned Santos’s wisdom in pairing me with Emma or any rider for that matter. I'd always approved of the rotation system. But given what occurred, I want to offer my appreciation for his wisdom in making this move. Because of it, we put the Magi on their heels, at least for today. Please join with me. To the boss.”
“The boss.” Everyone spoke in unison and lifted their glasses to Santos.
He inclined his head. Emma thought he looked more relaxed than he had for the past several weeks. He even smiled, something, like Liam, he didn’t do often enough.
Liam, with his arm still tight around her waist, continued, “I know you'll want to raise a glass to a warrior who changed the course of history today by her courage, her discipline, her ability to embrace her dragon and, as best we can figure, to connect with and protect our planet, Dusane.” He shifted slightly to meet her gaze then smiled. “To Emma.”
Her cheeks warmed even more, and her eyes burned as the group shouted in unison. “To Emma!”
When the sips had been imbibed, Liam continued, “There is one more thing, then we’ll get back to feasting on our excellent steaks. Emma and I have an announcement to make.” He paused and leaned down to kiss her once on the lips. He held her gaze as he said, “I asked her to marry me and she agreed.” He then broke into a smile and all but shouted, “We're getting married.”
Squeals from some of the women followed. The men whooped and applauded. With all the noise, Liam took the moment to turn toward her. He took her glass from her and settled both their drinks on a nearby table. This time, he wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her, just as she’d done to him a dozen times before.
Emma knew her life had been fulfilled in this moment. The man she loved had made her his own in front of his fellow warriors and her sister dragon-riders. The man she’d believed would never be hers now belonged to her. He was her family and together they’d raise a daughter-dragon.
~ ~ ~
Sometime later, in the early morning hours, Liam awoke in bed, but alone. An odd panic seized his chest. Where was Emma?
She'd fallen asleep in his arms after hours of getting lost in each other’s bodies.
Before getting out of bed, he mentally checked his chronic tailbone issue. Despite the horrendous battle the day before, he found he was fully intact. Not even a twinge of pain to suggest the need for another massage. He wasn’t sure he could explain it, except perhaps Emma’s purposeful channeling of Dusane energy, that amplified his fire-making ability, had somehow kept his body in one piece.
He listened for Emma in the front rooms but couldn’t detect her presence.
He got out of bed and put on his silk robe. With security patrolling day and night, he’d learned not to go around naked.
Once in the central corridor, he saw Emma through the glass walls. She was wrapped up in a light silk throw and stood outside on the landing facing east. The sky had lightened to a dark gray and was starting to show pink beyond the trees at the rim of the gorge. There were clouds across the horizon.
The dawn would soon be beautiful.
The moment he opened the door, a cool humidity flowed over him. It had rained recently.
“Hey.”
Emma glanced at him over her shoulder. “Come look.” She was smiling.
He joined her and saw what had caught her interest. The various small waterfalls they’d talked about recently rolled off a dozen or so rocks.
Ferns lived in the crevices. Hardy shrubs and trees clung to the cliffside. “I knew it would look like this,” she said. “It's so beautiful.”
