Page 33

Riley

Fingers Crossed

“It’s both of us,” I whispered, sitting on the front porch next to Ember as we sipped our morning cups of coffee. “We abandoned her.”

“I’ve been right over there and we have dinner at least once a week…” Ember’s voice trailed off as she rocked in the old wooden chair. Her eyes were on Kieran’s house across the yard, but her brow furrowed in thought. “Crap. You’re right. I haven’t been paying attention.”

I knew it was neither of our faults—we’d each been so caught up in our own lives—but Willow and Harper had been left alone for the most part.

It killed me to think that.

Willow was the caring one who always mothered Ember and me both. She sacrificed herself to make sure we had everything we needed.

If anyone deserved to find their fated mate, it was her.

I kept my fingers literally and metaphorically crossed that Malachy would show up, they’d be an instant match, we’d fix the apocalypse somehow, and all live happily ever after.

Hey? A girl could dream.

Stranger things had happened anyway.

“She might not want us around soon,” Ember laughed as she sipped her coffee.

“Keep your voice down,” I whispered. “You know she can hear everything.”

A loud sound behind us, like a chair moving across the wood floor in the cabin, preceded the door opening.

“Are we almost ready?” Willow poked her head out. Her eyes were glossy and wide. She hadn’t slept a wink.

And I knew she’d heard us.

Double crap.

I set down the last of my coffee and stood. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much as I should’ve and that you were left here alone.”

Willow smiled. “It makes me happy that you both found your special dragon men and you’re in love. Please don’t worry about me.”

“Well, we do.” Ember drained the rest of her cup. “And I’m sorry too. Bros before hoes. Magic dragon dick made me forget that for a minute.”

Willow stepped outside, closing the door softly behind her. “Shh. I think Harper is waking up.”

Ember cringed. “My bad. But seriously, we’re here for you.”

“Yeah,” I echoed. “Whatever you need. I know everyone always says that, but we mean it. You aren’t living this life alone. We’re all together on this ride.”

“Apparently we’re soul sisters or whatever according to some ancient witches,” Ember pointed out.

Did I ever think a sentence like that would sound perfectly rational describing my life? No.

But it explained a lot.

“I believe them,” I said.

Ember nodded. “Me too.”

“Me three.” Willow’s smile was genuine this time.

“What did Morgana say to you, anyway?” I asked the question that’d been burning me up since last night.

“She said my story isn’t written yet and history doesn’t have to repeat itself.” Willow shrugged. “That I can change the ending.”

“Cryptic.” I shivered.

“It’s cliché if you ask me,” Ember said. “Why did they have to be so mysterious?”

“Because it’s fun?” Willow stilled, looking to the closed door and hearing something beyond our standard hearing. “Harper is definitely up.”

“I’ll get her.” Ember gathered our mugs. “We’ve got to head out soon anyway. Big day today. Are you ready?”

Willow pulled the sleeves of her sweater over her hands. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

“That’s the spirit.” Ember laughed as she went into the cabin.

Willow stepped beside me and we stood there watching the sunrise over the mountains in the distance, casting a golden glow over the valley and drying dew on the browned grass.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.

Willow blew out a heavy breath. “It’s just… I envy you two. We didn’t know about all this dragon and prophecy and fated mate stuff when you met your guys. Now it feels like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. What if this doesn’t work out and I’m not what they expect? Or… What if it does? I can’t bring a man into my life right now with Harper and everything.”

“Hey. It’s okay.” I wrapped my arms around her, trying to silence the thought spiral in her head. “If there is a chance you can find what Ember and I have, then I hope like hell this happens for you. The details will work themselves out. But if it doesn’t happen, then it won’t matter. We’ll still be here with you anyway.”

“It’s the three of us against the world.” Ember pushed the door open with a sleepy Harper rubbing her eyes and holding onto Ember’s hand.

The girl looked up, blinking. “There’s four of us.”

“Look at that, she can count,” Ember gushed.

“That’s right, baby.” Willow laughed. “Four of us. Always. Girls stick together.”

A roar came from the sky.

Green and blue scales shimmered in the rising sun as a majestic dragon flew over the valley.

We stepped off the porch for a better view. I caught sight of Lucan and Kieran exiting the kitchen door across the yard. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach when my mate smiled at me.

“Lucan!” Harper broke free from Ember and raced across the yard.

“So much for girls sticking together,” Ember muttered.

“She can’t help it. He’s irresistible.” I winked, knowing Lucan could see and hear me despite the distance. He caught Harper in his arms.

“You keep looking at me like that and I’ll put a hatchling in your belly.” Lucan’s voice rumbled in my mind.

I was still smiling as Willow’s hand gripped mine.

Her touch was cold as ice and her gaze was fixated on the dragon who circled overhead.

“He’s here,” she whispered.

I nudged her forward. “Should we go meet him?”

“I’d like to do it alone. Keep an eye on Harper for me,” Willow said, squeezing my hand and releasing it as she stepped off the porch into the golden morning.

Ember sighed dreamily as she came up beside me. “This is so romantic. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

∞