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Evan leaned in, reading over my shoulder, then he let out a loud whoop, vaulting himself over the couch and pulling me to my feet. “That's amazing, Mariah. You did it, just like I knew you could.”
His body pressed against me, and his lips found mine.
“Thank you,” I said when we pulled apart, my hands resting on his chest. “I couldn’t have done this without you, without your support, your belief in me. All of it.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that, Mariah.” Evan was full of warmth. "You deserve all the happiness and success in the world. I might have helped you study, but you’re the one who did this. You decided on what you wanted, and you took action to make it happen.
“This deserves a celebration.” Evan’s eyes glinted with pride. “How about a family dinner? I know everyone else would love a chance to celebrate your success.”
“That sounds perfect.” Hopefully it’d take all of our minds off everything that was happening.
It didn’t take long for Evan and Abi to put together the celebration dinner. The entire family was there, including Lucas and his mate Cynthia. We hadn’t seen them much lately. Evan said Lucas were attending clan business, while he and Sebastian were occupied with the Hawthornes.
As we all gathered around the large table in the dining room, I looked around at the people who’d welcomed me in as part of their own family. I’d never had such a support system before, never belonged to a family like this, and it was something I was coming to treasure. The meal was filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses as we toasted to my success.
“Congratulations again, Mariah,” Cynthia said warmly from where she sat beside me. “You deserve all the good things coming your way.”
"Thank you, Cynthia. That means a lot to me.” I gave her a smile, hoping we’d get to know each other better soon.
Lucas grinned, clinking his glass to mine, too. “We're glad we could be here for this. Overseeing the businesses out of state has kept us away, but it’s nice to be home again with family.”
Home. Family. Two things that’d come to mean more to me than I ever could have imagined. Despite the road ahead of us, it kept me grounded, safe and secure in the knowledge that I wasn’t alone. The evening wore on, conversation flowing effortlessly between us all. It was a true family gathering, something I'd craved for so long, and I was immensely grateful for these precious moments where the shadow of our situation faded, allowing joy to shine through.
As the last of the dessert plates were cleared away, Evan leaned in and whispered, "How about a walk outside? The night is beautiful, and I want some time alone with you."
"Sounds perfect,” I said, reaching for his hand.
“You two go on,” Abi said. “I’ll take care of clean up.”
“And I’ll take care of Sofia,” Cynthia said.
I wouldn’t say no to that. Evan and I thanked them and strolled out into the moonlit night.
We walked in silence for a while, taking the familiar path toward the vineyard. Eventually, Evan spoke. “There's a story from my childhood I want to share with you.”
I looked up at him, squeezing his hand in encouragement. “I’d love to hear it.”
He cleared his throat, staring up at the night sky. “It was shortly after my mom and clan were murdered, not long after Sebastian and Abi brought me back here to live with them.” He paused and swallowed. “I had a terrible nightmare one night."
My heart ached at the pain he must’ve experienced. "I can't imagine how hard it was for you," I whispered, squeezing his hand tighter.
He nodded, though his eyes were far away. “After waking up in a panic, I searched the house for my mom, only to be struck by the painful reality that she was gone forever. I was beside myself, not thinking clearly, feeling like I might implode from the ache in my chest. I ran out into the woods, but I hadn’t been here long. I ended up getting lost in the forest.”
I swallowed against the lump in my throat, terrified he’d suffered alone in his grief. “Did someone find you?"
“Sebastian.” He glanced down at me with soft, sad eyes. “He was always there from the moment he brought me back here with him. He found me huddled under a tree, crying my heart out. It was a defining moment, when I realized just how important family truly is. I want that for Sofia, too.”
Hearing Evan open up about such a vulnerable memory touched me deeply. I knew how much he’d struggled with the loss of his parents, and the fact that he was willing to share this with me connected us on a deeper level.
The trees weren’t as dense once we drew closer to the vineyard, and Evan gestured at the gnarled grape vines. “That wasn't here when I was first brought over as a kid," he said as he sank into his memories. "I remember running through these woods, completely lost and terrified. It's strange to think about how long ago that was. Seems like another lifetime. Losing my parents was devastating, but finding a new family here… it helped me heal.”
"Sebastian and Abi must’ve been so supportive," I mused, thinking of the strong bonds that tied the dragon shifter community together, the bond Evan and the Careys still shared, despite the hardships they’d had to overcome.
"They were," he said. “But it took a long time for me to settle in here. It wasn't easy, adjusting to a new life without my mom. I’ll always be grateful for everything Sebastian and Abi did for me. Some of my best memories are on these lands.” He stopped and turned to me. “I want Sofia to have that same sense of belonging."
"Family is everything," I whispered, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. We'd both endured so much in our lives, but now we had each other.
“Exactly.” He pulled me further into his strong arms. "Together, we're going to make sure Sofia has the best family she could ever ask for. I've been thinking about our future, though, especially for Sofia. After being here, then going back to New York…” He paused, shaking his head.
