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I bury my face against his chest. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

I pull back enough to look up at him. Lucan brushes a stray curl away from my forehead.

“We did it for her.” He glances down at Maple. “And all other defenseless creatures like her.”

My eyes sting. “I love you.”

The words slip out before I can stop them.

Lucan’s expression softens. “I love you too, sweetheart.”

We eventually pull apart, though Lucan keeps one hand resting against my back. The noise of the crowd fades behind us as we squeeze through the busy square and follow a narrow path into the woods.

Maple trots alongside us, her tiny claws crunching over the fallen leaves and broken twigs.

The forest is quiet. Moonlight filters through the branches, casting silver across the path. The crisp autumn air fills my lungs as I breathe deeply, finally allowing myself to relax.

Lucan’s hand finds mine. His fingers curl around my own, warm and reassuring.

I squeeze his hand.

As we walk along the trail, the trees begin to thin, revealing the mountains beyond. Ahead, Mount Embercrest rises beneath the stars. Wisps of fog curl around the mountainside, drifting between the trees and obscuring the peaks.

I squint. Barely visible through the fog, dragon silhouettes move across the sky. Even from this distance, I can make out the slow beat of their wings as they circle above the mountain.

I lean against Lucan’s shoulder, still holding his hand. “The king may be dethroned,” I say quietly. “But our fight is far from over. The dragons still need our help.”

Lucan follows my gaze toward the mountain. “Aye,” he agrees softly. “We still have plenty more prosthetics to build.”

I glance down at Maple. She chirps softly, her tail swishing behind her. Her tiny wings bounce against her sides with each step as the moonlight follows us through the trees.

“There are more dragons just like her,” I say.

Lucan gazes toward the mountain, his fingers tightening around mine.

“You’re right, sweetheart.” He looks back at me, his blue eyes filled with quiet determination. “Let’s get to work.”

Epilogue: Lucan

Spring has finally reached Mount Embercrest.

The snow that once buried the mountain in a blanket of white has melted away, revealing a sprawling meadow beneath. Green grass stretches toward the horizon, fresh water flowing through the bubbling creek.

I pause to take it all in.

“Beautiful,” Micah murmurs beside me.

I nod. “Aye.”

My gaze drifts over the meadow. Flowers have taken over where the mushrooms used to be.

After the king was arrested and overthrown, the townspeople wasted no time. Everyone pitched in to remove every last mushroom from the mountain. It took weeks, but we did it.

Now, the meadow is blooming again.

And so are the dragons.

Several of them lounge in the grass nearby, basking beneath the warm spring sun. A few juveniles tumble through the meadow, chasing one another in playful circles.