Page 27

Almost Two Years Later

One of Iris’s fraternal twins, Dev, squirmed in her arms, clearly wanting down. However, her lads had learned to walk early and Dev, especially, would find trouble. She couldn’t even pawn him off on Antony for a bit since he was a mummy’s boy through and through. So she readjusted her grip yet again and murmured, “We’re nearly there, Dev. You can play with Alena soon.”

“Ley-ley?”

“Aye, your cousin will be there, or so your dad says.”

He’d kept the details of their outing secret. It was her birthday, though, and she suspected he’d planned a party.

Antony carried the more easygoing twin, Malcolm, and said, “Yes, Alena and your gran. You want to see Granny, don’t you?”

“Gran-gran!”

Iris smiled and ruffled her son’s dark hair. “I’m sure she’ll have some sweets hidden away, like always.”

Malcolm perked up. “Me want.”

Antony sighed dramatically. “They are sounding more Scottish than not, aren’t they?”

She playfully butted his side. “Aye, and that’s not a bad thing.”

“Maybe that means I’ll have to teach them mimicry. Who knows, maybe they’ll follow us into the family trade.”

Iris snorted. “And you say I plan too far into the future.”

“I think you vastly underestimate our children, my dear. They will be planning escapes before you know it.”

“And you’ll be encouraging them.”

“Hey, you’re the one who has a year-by-year plan for self-defense, once they’re a bit older.”

She readjusted her hold as Dev tried to lean to one side. “I hope they won’t need it, but better safe than sorry.”

Her dragon spoke up. We’re getting closer to cooperation and peace with dragons from all over the world.

Aye, but there will always be humans who fear someone different from themselves.

And the best we can do is interact with them more and more, to try and change their minds by showing who we really are.

You’ve come a long way from wanting to drop all the dragon haters from the sky.

Her beast sniffed. I’ve seen some can change their minds, like that human mated to Zain on Stonefire.

Zain’s mate, Ivy, had once belonged to the Dragon Knights, a dragon hate group separate from the dragon hunters. However, they’d been defeated, which had been one victory, at least.

Iris replied to her dragon, And there’s a wee bit of hope on our side, too. Most of the females we found in that prison have joined the various dragon clans and a few have even mated humans.

Before her beast could reply, they reached the great hall, and she focused on her mate. “You can just tell me it’s a party, aye? Which I don’t need. You already gave me brilliant presents this morning, with the portrait of our cats and our lads. I don’t need anything else.”

He caressed her back with his free hand. “You will always deserve more, Iris.”

“I swear, you’re going to spoil me too much one day.”

“Never, love. The second you look to be going soft, I’ll pull strings to get you on a new assignment.”

She smiled. Iris had indeed been recruited to Antony’s secret department—Wicked Security. Whilst Antony had moved to a more administrative role, Iris helped lead teams from time to time. “See that you do, aye? I’m itching for a new one already.”

“If you think I’m going to call off your surprise and do that now, then I’m sorry to disappoint you, love.”

“You know I hate surprises, Antony. Can’t you just tell me who is inside?”

He winked. “That’s no fun. But you’ll enjoy the day, I promise. Now, come on.”

After being mated to Antony for nearly two years, she’d learned to trust him. Her male would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. Push her boundaries at times? Aye. But not hurt her.

So she followed him into the great hall, down the corridor, and they walked into the massive room used for big celebrations. At first, it looked empty. Then she heard whispering and knew there were people hiding behind the long tables.

However, before she could ask for everyone to come out, they jumped up and yelled, “Happy birthday!”

Even her twins said, “Birfday!”

She took in everyone: her parents; Max and Lavinia; Cooper, Brodie, and their mates; Faye, Grant, and the other Lochguard Protectors; Finn and his family; Scarlett Turner and her mate; some of the people she worked the most with from Antony’s Wicked Security team; and even some Protectors from the other clans were there—Kai, Kaine, Robin, Wren, and Killian, with all of their mates.

Everyone she loved or respected was there.

Despite never crying except during her pregnancy, her eyes heated with tears. Iris had come a long way from being on her own, thinking it was the only way she could try to save the world. But these people had taught her differently. Which never would’ve happened if Antony hadn’t burrowed past her walls to show her love could bring you strength instead of weakness.

Antony whispered into her ear, “Happy birthday, Iris.” After she met her mate’s loving gaze, he caressed her cheek and murmured, “Don’t cry, love.”

“Mama?” Dev asked.

Looking down at her son, she kissed his nose. “Mummy is fine, I promise. And look, here comes Alena.”

“Ley-ley?”

Neither of the boys could quite get out Ah-ley-na, and so they called her Ley-ley.

Max and Lavinia’s daughter raced toward them—well, as fast as a two-and-a-half year-old could—with her parents right behind her.

Dev squirmed, and she put him down, just as Antony did the same with Malcolm. The boys had learned to walk early—Antony said it was because they were so clever, although Iris suspected it was more because they wanted to get into trouble—and toddled over.

Alena smiled at her cousins and then beamed up at Iris. “Happy birthday, Auntie Iris!”

Iris was not an easy name for a toddler, which meant Max and Lavinia had helped her practice.

She crouched down, opened her arms, and Alena rushed into them. Iris replied, “Thank you, Lena.” As the wee girl squirmed, Iris released her, and she went back over to Dev and Malcolm. Then she looked up at Max and asked, “Can we play? Please, Daddy?”

While Max was definitely soft for his daughter, he shared a smile with Lavinia before replying, “Yes, but only in the play area over there, okay?”

“Kay!” She took one hand of each of her cousins, and they all watched them toddle over.

Once safely inside the penned area for young children, Max and Lavinia each gave Iris a hug before Antony hauled her to his side. She leaned against him and murmured, “Thank you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “It was nothing, love.” He whispered into her ear, “I have another very special surprise later, when the lads are asleep.”

Lavinia sighed. “Most of the room can probably hear that, Antony.”

He winked. “Good.”

Iris groaned. “You never change.”

“Never, love. You’re stuck with me forever.”

She lifted her head and cupped Antony’s cheek. “Good. Because female dragons are just as possessive of their mates as males, and you’re mine.”

Antony kissed her. She ignored the whistles and cheers, taking the kiss deeper and showing both her male and the world how much she loved him, incorrigible behavior and all.

Thanks for reading Iris and Antony’s story!