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Epilogue

Jasmine

Smoke lookedglad to see us when we returned—until his expression changed to one of knowing. And disappointment.

We had made a point of walking around to the main entrance, where Pierce had left his clothes before shifting.

If he showed up buck naked with my hand in his, it would look a little suspicious. I was still shy enough to take steps to hide our activity.

It didn’t matter.

“I see.” Smoke stared heavily at Pierce, who only shrugged. “You’re lucky I found something, then, since you barged ahead without waiting for me.”

“You found something?” Pierce nearly ran after him.

I followed them to the library, where a massive, leather-bound book was open on a table far too small.

Smoke pointed, and Pierce bent to examine the words on the ancient, weathered page. “I can barely make this out. I haven’t read that language in centuries.”

“I’ll help.” Smoke read aloud. “If a blood oath is made, only the altering of the blood involved may break it.”

“The altering of the blood involved?” I asked, looking from one of them to the other. “I don’t understand.”

“I do.” Pierce was beaming from ear to ear when he straightened up. “It means that when I mixed my blood with yours, it changed your blood from what was used to make the oath. You’re no longer the same as you were when your father promised you.”

“The composition of your blood has changed,” Smoke explained. “All your sister did was treat the toxic effects of dragon’s blood. But see, here,” he added, pulling out another huge volume, “when a dragon’s blood is mixed with another creature’s, it alters the composition. You’ll always be part-dragon, even if it’s a very small part.”

I was glad for the presence of a sofa behind me, because my legs buckled at the knees and sent me down onto it. “Holy shit,” I whispered. “Do you think this will work?”

“It has to. Unless…” Smoke trailed off, cutting his eyes in Pierce’s direction like he was reluctant to voice his thoughts.

“Unless what?” I prompted.

“Unless you feel an emotional bond with the man you’re promised to.” He grimaced, waiting for the potential fallout.

There was no reason for him to worry. “Oh, no. I can’t stand him. I never could. We’re oil and water.”

“You’re sure?” he asked.

“She’s sure. I can feel it.” Pierce’s relief was evident.

Then again, so was mine.

Smoke cleared his throat before leaving the room—I made a mental note to thank him for all his hard work as Pierce sank down beside me and wrapped me in his strong arms.

“There’s no reason for you not to stay now,” he whispered, stroking my hair.

I rested the side of my face against his chest and could hear the steady beat of his heart. It was like music. “Good thing, because I’m not going anywhere.”

“Not ever?”

“Never, ever. I meant it when I said I was yours. You know I am. Forever.” I straightened up, looking him in the eye. “There’s no getting out of this. I hope you don’t regret it.” I’d have to figure out what to do about my clan later, but my heart knew where it belonged.

“How could I ever regret being with you?” He kissed my forehead, my cheeks, then my lips.

I melted against him, sinking into his kiss like I would into a feather bed. I could still feel him on me, in me, the effects of what we did in the cell still fresh. My body sang with him.

“I love you, you know. Even if you inadvertently almost killed me.”