Koorgan stood chatting with a young girl who had appeared a short time ago. Spring must have recognized her—she’d gasped, muttered a quick ‘I’ll be right back!’—then shifted and disappeared.
Roam squinted, trying to see what the girl was holding.
Spring landed lightly beside the Giant king and listened, nodding. She was speaking rapidly to the girl who was about the same age as them. Her eyes widened, and she nodded again, smiling. She pointed to the woven basket the girl held. The girl nodded, smiling back at her.
Spring took the basket and shifted once more. Her wings snapped open as she vaulted into the sky again—straight for him.
Roam lifted his furry head, his heart pounding now for entirely different reasons.
She landed before him, radiant in the setting sunlight. Her dragon form shimmered as she shifted back. Her hair whipped around her face, her eyes fierce and full of emotion.
“I have something for you,” she said softly, stepping closer. “Remember the girl I told you about from Spellbinder’s cottage?”
Roam blinked and nodded, his blue eyes widening with hope.
Spring smiled. “That’s Dorella.”
She lifted the lid of the basket to reveal a glimmering sliver of mushroom.
“Madura sent her with this,” Spring said. “She said it’s the right amount to reverse your transformation.”
His heart swelled.
He lowered his head and rolled out his tongue so she could place the mushroom on the end. He licked his lips after he swallowed.
There was a slight delay before the world tilted. Light swirled around him, making his head swim. His cat started when the world around them began to grow. The magic spiraled down, tightening until he stumbled?—
And caught himself.
Roam patted his chest, his hands skimming downward as he released a choked laugh. His eyes were wide with joy and relief.
He was back to normal again.
He was… himself.
Roam stared at his hands.
He slowly raised his gaze to Spring.
His lips parted as he took in her beautiful face.
A beat of silence passed between them.
Reaching out, he wrapped his arms around her. Laughing with joy, he spun her around—then pulled her close and kissed her like the world was ending.
Her breath caught in surprise before she melted into him, her hands curling around the back of his neck, her fingers gripping his hair. Her lips were soft, sweet, and warm—everything that anchored and centered him.
When they finally pulled apart, she looked breathless and stunned.
He couldn’t stop grinning.
“You,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek, “are the most amazing, brilliant, terrifyingly stubborn girl I’ve ever met.”
She laughed, her cheeks flushed.
He sobered slightly, the edge of vulnerability creeping into his voice. “I’m sorry—for being stupid, for not listening. I’ll probably mess up again—maybe even today—but I’m going to try harder.”
Spring’s eyes shimmered. She leaned up and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”
