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EpilogueRONSON
ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY YEARS LATER
The moon was perfectly framed by the window, just a sliver of silver sea visible at the bottom edge. Mairwen stirred in my arms, and my lips curved up, strangely pleased that we were both still awake. Every moment, even the still and silent ones, were precious to me, but especially tonight, our last night in the nest Mairwen had built me so long ago.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" she whispered.
I laughed, combing my fingers through her hair, sorting through the tangles I'd created just a bit ago. "What do I have to be nervous about?"
Mairwen puffed a sound of a
I sighed and considered. "It does, but…I'm confident the right person will. A right person. We have a lot to choose from."
"As long as it isn't Bernard Davies," Mairwen muttered.
I scoffed. "He doesn't stand a chance."
Mairwen shifted, rolling half onto my chest and propping her chin up on the backs of her hands. "I know Blair thinks it should be him because he's the oldest," she breathed so softly, as if our son were in the room and might hear her otherwise, "but I do think one of the others stands a good chance."
I hummed in agreement. All of our children would make a good alpha for the isle. Which was why I was less concerned with which one and more eager to simply enjoy my retirement. At last. I wanted my remaining years—and plentiful I hoped they would be—spent traveling the world with my mate. Or just lazing about in bed with her as she read me books. Either option was promising.
Our tiny island, with a home just for the two of us an easy flying distance away from the isle—not so close as to threaten the new alpha—was ready and waiting for our arrival. Mairwen hadn't seen the house yet, and I was looking forward to her reaction. Perversely, I hoped it was not quite up to scratch. I wanted my omega to boss me about on improvements. Mairwen was magnificent when she was determined to have her way. I'd admired her management of the isle and our brood of little dragons for a century and a half, and now I was looking forward to her managing me, and me alone.
I'd always been greedy where Mairwen was concerned.
Her finger prodded my chest, drawing my attention back to the present. "Go on. You must have a favorite."
I laughed, reaching down to squeeze Mairwen's full bottom—fuller now than when I'd met her. Deliciously so.
"I will tell them you asked that," I said, hissing as she pinched my nipple in retaliation. "I don't have a favorite. Not of ours. And I do hope it stays in the family…"
"Because you don't want them to come moaning to you if they don't win," Mairwen said.
I nodded. "Precisely. But I will say that even if the Millward boy does win, at least the isle will still be in good hands."
Mairwen hummed, softening against me, settling in for sleep at last. "Arran will struggle with the feats of strength, but I think he might still come out ahead when it comes to the rest of the challenge."
We were quiet for a moment, my fingers still carding slowly through her long hair. "Mairwen?"
"Mm?"
"Have you noticed that Iona has been…cagey lately?"
Mairwen's breath hitched, and she nodded slowly.
"Do you think she'll enter?" I asked, now whispering too.
"Would you mind if she did?" Mairwen asked in that delicate way that meant she already knew the answer to my question.
It didn't take me long to decide. I shook my head. "She would make a good alpha. It would change things. Again," I added with a chuckle.
"A lot has already changed," Mairwen said with a sleepy sigh.
"Mm…that's time passing, I suppose. A great deal more change to come, I'm sure."
Mairwen's hand lifted, reaching back to catch mine, tangling our fingers together and resting our hands over my chest. "But not this, my love."
I smiled, stretching my head up for a moment to kiss the top of her head. "No, my darling mate. Never this."
The End