Page 167 of The Dragon's Gambit

“You’re welcome. I’m glad I was able to help.”

“Are we ready to go home?” Lee asked, looking over the three of them.

“Yes, please. I’ve had enough excitement, I think. I’m ready for some nice quiet time,” Reiya said, and Brody chuckled loudly.

“I didn’t think I would ever hear you say that. Finally, that means some good guardian down time.” Brody smiled down at Chelsie. He wanted to spend time reflecting on his new, growing family. He was going to be a father, and he couldn’t be more excited. “We still have a long hike to get back, though.”

Lee smiled and tilted his head to the side. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Umm, nope. Flying isn’t my thing,” Chelsie said as the three other people in her party stared at her, grinning.

Xander paced back and forth. He kept glancing to the sky and then back toward the river. It was evening now.

“Xander, try to relax. I’m sure everything is fine. Leviathan isn’t exactly a pushover.” Lila walked up to Xander and gently took his arm.

He smiled down at her and nodded. “I just expected them back already. I hope nothing bad happened. I hope nothing happened to Chelsie. I don’t think Reiya can take losing anyone else. She looked pretty broken.” Xander couldn’t take losing anyone else either. Chelsie and Brody were family to him, too. He was struggling to stay strong.

“She isn’t broken. Maybe bent and banged up. It’s going to take her a long time. In time, though, she’ll get better. We justneed to be patient and be there for her the best we can.” Lila rubbed Xander’s arm. “Xander, there, look!” She pointed up in the sky as a blue dragon came into view.

“Levi, he’s back! Wait a minute … hot damn!” Xander yelled and ran with Lila toward the descending blue dragon.

Brody slid off and helped Chelsie down.

“I can’t believe you guys made me do that!” Chelsie pouted.

“Oh come on, you know it was actually kind of fun.” Brody kissed her head and then felt big arms scoop him up from behind.

“I thought you were dead, man,” Xander laughed as he lifted the large man in the air.

“Good to know you missed me so much.” Brody grinned as Xander lowered him to the ground.

“Are you kidding?! You’re my brother now, too. Of course I was going to miss you. Who else could I call Yogi or Boo Boo? I have a list of bear names I still need to use on you.” Xander slapped Brody on the back once more. He was so relieved. “How the heck are you alive?”

“I think that is a story for the trip home,” Lee said, still in his dragon form.

Xander looked up at Reiya, who was still seated on Levi. She looked much better already. He smiled and felt a warm excitement wash over him. They had gotten Levi back and Brody was alive. Everything had actually turned out okay. Soon he would get to be Uncle Xander to Chelsie and Brody’s new little one. And now all these people were coming back to his kingdom to live. “I’ll take Brody and Chelsie on my back so I can hear about what happened,” Xander said, and then winked as he saw Chelsie’s face pale.

“Can’t I just meet you guys there?” Chelsie looked back at the water with longing.

“No way. I’m not letting you and my little cub out of my sight.” Brody captured her in his arms and nodded to Xander. Xander shifted into his red dragon and, much to Chelsie’s chagrin, she was soon back in the air again. The only thing that made it better was that she was tightly snuggled into Brody’s side, where he held her protectively and securely. It was the greatest feeling in the world. She promised herself that she would never take him for granted. She would appreciate him even more now.

Reiya felt the wind blowing in her face and closed her eyes as they soared through the sky. This entire situation had tested her mentally. Lee being sealed away from her and then thinking Brody was dead took a toll on her. Somehow, it had all worked out. She leaned forward into Lee. Now she could focus her happiness on having him back.

“Are you going to have to go back and talk with the other deities again?” Reiya wondered how that would all work, since the Ocean’s Tear was what broke down the barrier he was in.

“Trust me, they already know. The Ocean’s Tear being released would be a big deal. And I am not in the mood to speak with them right now. I’m not exactly happy with having been sealed and need time to cool down,” Lee grumbled as he effortlessly flapped his wings.

“I am so relieved everything is working out. I know we still have the big demon war ahead of us, but I feel like we’ve overcome so many obstacles already.”

“I’m looking forward to at least having some quiet time with you now that we finally have this whole deity thing solved.” Lee chuckled lightly.

Reiya saw the dragon kingdom in the distance and frowned slightly. “They will all be leaving us soon.” She was thinking about how the dragon party was coming to an end. Soon, they would all be going back to their respective kingdoms.

“I’m sure they’ll visit more now. And we can always visit them, too.” Lee continued to lead the way back home, Xander and Lila flying side by side right behind him.

“Yeah, but I like us all being together. Maybe we can plan more get togethers with them. I feel like I’m close with all of them. Honestly, I feel connected to all the royals.” She wondered why she felt like that with them.

“That’s because you are. As my mate, you are connected to them. From the moment I marked you, they were drawn to you. Their instincts told them that you were someone important to them,” Lee answered casually, like it was common knowledge. “It’s more than that, though. I think you’re also someone whose warmth draws others in.”