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Honey nodded, Pandora gave her a thumbs-up, and Gia grinned. The others all nodded.

Poppy and Win flexed their shoulders, and Win lifted her hand. “Say the word, Regis.”

Regis looked back toward the new palace where Ira was safe with a family friend. “Word.”

Win flicked her fingers, and the gateway opened. The twelve surged forward and entered the Stronghold.

Ela headed for the confinement areas. Some took off for the children’s spaces, others for the new women, and more to the women’s quarters. Honey went off on a rampage; Win and Poppy kept the others under control. It let Regis and Rex head to the lower levels.

They moved through the hallways that the others had described. Poppy would follow when Win had finished draining magic out of the men above. Pandora was checking the floors for prisoners and survivors.

Each of the ladies had their tasks, and Regis and Rex waited while facing the gates. Poppy eventually arrived and nodded. “Ready when you are.”

They walked toward the gates and pulled them open, to the astonishment of Rex’s mates.

Regis said, “Everyone is free tonight, but Poppy is going to throw you back in time so that you can learn the modern era and then reunite with us on this night or just beyond it. Any longer and I will come looking for you.”

The huge dragon opened and closed his eyes before he resumed his elf form. “Our child?”

“Eager to meet you. She’s amazing.” Regis smiled as he slowly paced toward her. “Still haven’t learned to manifest pants?”

He grinned. “Do I need them?”

“Yes. This is a rescue, not a rendezvous. If you want to see me and your daughter, you can come and visit us tomorrow. I am assuming you can track me?”

“Yes, dear one. I will track you.”

She gave him the date, and he nodded. “Not before then. I understand. Our girl, she is safe?”

“Oh, yes. She’s brilliant, sweet, charming, and old beyond her years.”

“She looks like you?”

“She has gold hair, but her eyes are all you.”

He smiled. “I am looking forward to meeting her.”

She touched his cheek. “I am glad. You can’t live at the new palace until we find homes for all of the women and children from the Stronghold.”

“In that case, I will endeavour to make myself useful in the interim.”

“You don’t mind?”

“I can watch from a distance and keep you safe. That is all I need to know.” He touched her cheek.

Her heart ached, and she leaned toward him. They met in a soft and delicate kiss before there was a soft clearing of a throat behind them.

Rex’s mates whirled and growled. Poppy looked at them. “Oh, please. My guys are way scarier than you.”

The drakes paused. One asked, “Who are your mates?”

Poppy smiled. “Not telling you. You would tell them, and then things wouldn’t shake loose properly. I know how this works. I am the temporal witch.”

They stared at her.

Poppy smiled. “Okay. Final kisses, and then you can come and find your mates in a few days. You have waited this long; you can wait ten years knowing that they are safe and will be here for you. Mark the date and come out of the shadows. They will be waiting.”

Regis smiled and turned to her mate. “Yeah. We will be waiting, Sirrush.”