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“First and foremost,” he began, looking out at the familiar faces around him—the faces of friends who had become family, “I want to congratulate everyone on a job well done. It’s not easy putting an initiative like this together, but we did it. Our hard work over the last year means liberated Pedigree omegas around the world will have the chance to live life the way they want, whether that be in service to a dragon as an Attendant, or as part of the larger community in whatever way they choose. Because of us, the world we know today won’t look the same twenty years from now—and in five hundred, it will be unrecognizable. And all for the better. Before long, a new generation of dragons will be born who will not remember a time when omegas were disposable playthings, and while older generations may fight to keep us down, they will not win.”
Matthieu raised his glass to that, and everyone around the table followed suit—even Nate, who was abstaining from alcohol in favor of sparkling grape juice. They drank, some more deeply than others, and once all their glasses had returned to the table, Sorin moved on to the next topic on the list. “I’m proud to announce that as of today, our rehabilitation centers in all allied territories have opened, and new social services benefiting omegas are being rolled out as we speak. The field team is also working on dismantling the last remaining cloisters, and is scheduled to sit in with the Gold clan this week for negotiations. Misha, have you heard anything from the Diamond clan?”
Misha, who had been slouched in his chair with his arms loosely crossed, corrected his posture and eyed Sorin with smug satisfaction. “It is looking like the meeting will take place at the end of the month. I have no confirmed date yet, but I will be hounding my father until he concedes to my demands and agrees to sit down with me.” He took his phone from his pocket and gave it a quick glance. “Let’s say the last Wednesday of the month. Looking at his digital planner, it seems his prior commitments that day are nonessential, and just between us little birds, will be mysteriously canceled soon.”
The smug look on Misha’s face turned into something far more clever—almost sharklike. He met Sorin’s gaze and arched a brow as if to say, you could never, then jutted his chin at Sorin as if to pass the conversation back to him. It wasn’t the friendliest interaction, but it warmed Sorin all the same. Their enmity had evolved into a one-sided rivalry, with Misha determined to prove he was the best and most competent of the two of them, while Sorin was simply happy to have the esteemed Magpie on his side.
“Great news,” Sorin said, offering Misha a smile that made him puff up with self-satisfied pride. “The last clan we need to get on board is the Onyx clan. I’ve been trying to get in touch with their representative, but so far I haven’t succeeded in getting through. The good news is, I was recently introduced to a dragon who should be able to help. Luca Negrescu. He’s been kind and understanding, and even better yet, his mate has expressed interest in helping us secure territory once the Vanguard has expanded into Romania. All in all, things are looking up. Within five years’ time, we should have a foothold in every clan’s territory, and from there, we can focus on what matters most—supporting those liberated from the Pedigree, and writing into law measures that will protect all omegas, betas, and non-dragon alphas within our society. Not only for our benefit, but for the benefit of our children, their children, and their children after that.”
“Ambitious plans,” said Matthieu, hiding a smirk behind his glass of wine. “A good thing you have such a talented group behind you to back you up. I do not know how you managed to get as far as you did working on your own.”
Sorin was about to correct him when a tinny rendition of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” blasted out from a place unseen. Nate jumped, snatched his phone off the table, and climbed, groaning, to his feet.
“It’s my mom,” he explained in a voice somewhere between deadpan and irritated. “I need to take this. It’s probably just something about the baby shower, but you never know. You want me to follow up with Vanguard shit while I’m on the line with her, make sure everything on her end is okay?”
Sorin nodded. “If you wouldn’t mind.”
“Yeah, no big. I’m on it. Be right back.”
And as quickly as someone so heavily pregnant could go, he waddled out of the room.
As it turned out, not everyone from the field team had met their end by Sebastian’s jaws. Sandrine and Kevin, amongst others, had managed to escape. Without Sorin’s leadership, they’d fled the city and gone to shelter in a safe house overseas, where they’d bunkered down and prioritized keeping what remained of the Vanguard together.
Despite what had happened, they had never given up searching for him.
The day they’d at last found him had been one of the happiest of Sorin’s life.
Now, alongside the Drake mates, the field team was acting as advocates, putting pressure on the few clans with open cloisters to shut them down and set protective measures for omegas—dragonets or otherwise—into law. It was a far cry from the work they were used to, but much safer. The days of risking life and limb were over. No member of the Vanguard would ever die in pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness again.
With Nate gone, casual conversation resumed. Harry, hands moving just as quickly as his mouth, was explaining something scientific-sounding to Perry, who smiled prettily while he listened and tinkled with laughter when appropriate, as charming as always. Matthieu and Misha, meanwhile, kicked back, chatting with each other with their noses buried in their phones, while Finch jotted something down in his meticulously maintained notebook. If Sorin had to guess, it was likely a reminder about where they’d left off in their discussion. His organizational skills were next to none.
The only one not making use of their unexpected downtime was Wally.
He sat very still and silent, staring wide-eyed at Sorin’s eggs.
“Wally?” Sorin asked uneasily. “What’s wrong?”
“I can hear them,” he whispered, flicking his gaze to Sorin. “It’s time.”
Sorin did not get the chance to ask him to clarify, as their conversation was interrupted by a very small but very distinct click!
“The eggs!” Harry exclaimed cheerfully, setting a sleeping Steve on the table so he could more safely lean forward to get a better look. “That one just wiggled. Did you see it, Sorin? Oh, this is so exciting. They’re getting ready to hatch.”
“I’ll fetch Everard,” Perry said, sweeping to his feet in a swirl of chiffon and silk. But there was no need, for at that moment, Bertram burst into the dining room, his brothers, their father, and their army of small children on his heels.
Sorin had alerted him through the bond the moment he’d heard the first click.
“They’re hatching,” Sorin said breathlessly, scrambling to his feet as Bertram arrived at his side. Instinct made him want to leap onto the table and wrap himself around his eggs lest they be taken from him, but thanks to his own efforts, therapy, and daily medication, that old familiar darkness didn’t control him anymore, so he cuddled up to Bertram instead. “Do you see?”
“I see, love.” Smiling, Bertram took Sorin under his arm and pressed a kiss into his hair. “I can’t believe it’s almost time. What a year it’s been.”
What a year it had been indeed, and as Sorin looked across the table, watching as every Drake found their way to their respective mate, there had never been clearer proof. A little more than a year ago, he never would have thought this possible. Never would have thought these men would see him as anything more than their enemy. But that was the Drake family for you. They weren’t perfect, but they led life with love, and for that, Sorin couldn’t be more grateful—or more proud to be one of them.
Alarmed by the goings-on, Genesis left the eggs and slithered across the table to Sorin. He held his hand out to her and she helped herself up onto it, looping up his arm to rest comfortably across his shoulders. She, like the rest of them, watched as the eggs began to rock and wiggle, and cocked her head to listen as a series of clicks! filled the air. A tiny piece of shell broke from the nearest egg and landed on the table, revealing the briefest flash of an egg tooth.
“Did you see that?” gushed one of the children.
“Yeah!” replied another. “I think I saw it, too!”
