Gabby gave a soft smile. “We liked having you here.”
Williston adjusted his glasses and nodded. “You’ll always have a place with us.”
Mikey gave him another enthusiastic hug—gentler this time—and whispered, “Come back and visit, okay?”
Jabir managed a smile. “I will.”
Then he stepped back, shifted smoothly into his dragon form, and launched into the sky.
The wind swept past his wings, clean and strong. The clearing below shrank until the trolls looked like tiny toy figures gathered around a glowing ember of fire.
He rose higher.
The lake shimmered to his right, the Manticore village newly bustling along its edges. Jewel would be down there somewhere.
His heart ached again.
Just one more look?
He hovered, his wings stilling in the air.
But then—he remembered her face that last night they were together. The soft sadness in her eyes. The way she hadn’t tried to stop him from going. The way she’d let him go… with love.
Dragging it out now wouldn’t make it better.
It would only make it hurt more.
His dragon rumbled quietly, deep in his chest. She say her goodbye, and so did we.
Jabir closed his eyes against the sting and nodded.
Yeah, he whispered. Let’s go home.
And with one last look toward the lake below, he turned toward the mountains and flew hard and fast—toward the palace.
Toward his family.
Toward the part of himself he almost forgot.
Chapter Forty-Four
Sunlight poured in through the palace windows, warming the carved wood walls and casting golden streaks across the breakfast table. The smell of citrus tarts and spiced fish lingered in the air, mingling with the soft rustle of linen and the gentle clink of utensils on delicate plates.
Nali sipped her morning tea slowly, savoring the rare moment of quiet. Seated around the long, polished table were Asahi—ever steady and alert—Drago, whose sharp eyes gleamed with amusement even over toast, and Orion, his lean form draped casually in his chair, listening intently to the conversation as he enjoyed his drink.
“How are Ashure and Tonya?” Nali asked, placing her cup down with a soft chime. “I’m surprised they didn’t come with you. Ashure seldom passes up a chance to steal something so he can claim he is returning it.”
Orion let out a low chuckle. “I believe he and Tonya are contemplating their future. They were both very attached to the kids.”
Asahi raised an eyebrow. “It helps when said kids can take care of themselves. Ashure realizes they aren’t born that way I hope.”
Drago leaned back in his chair. “I’ll say this: I was impressed. Ashure’s fleet handled Blackheart’s attack with remarkable skill. The pirates have style, and they’ve still got teeth.”
“It helped they had chaos on their side,” Orion added with a wry smirk. “Courtesy of the Dragonlings.”
Asahi’s lips twitched.
Nali raised an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me children helped win the battle?”
