“Good luck, Vance. I know you’ll do great. Oh, and, just one last thing.”
“What’s that?” Vance asked.
“Nice job on the girl,” Knox said with a grin. “Lily’s quite a catch. You did well, and Bree is right—we’ll need a wizard around here. Keep Lily safe.”
“I will,” Vance said. And as he said it he saw Lily watching him from across the clearing. She smiled, and he felt his pulse quicken with happiness. Hard times might be coming, but it didn’t matter. He could handle whatever the world threw at him, now that he had a soft hand to hold at night.
* * *
The next twenty-four hours were a blur of activity. Dragons arrived back from their missions, returning home to defend their base camp and vaults. Other dragons prepared to leave for Falcon Cross, where Lily knew preparations for war were being made. Vance was busy doing security briefings with the dragons who would be left behind, making sure they all were alert and ready for a potential attack.
Lily should have been worried, with all the nervous energy in the air. But she felt strangely calm. Deep down, she realized she had always had a premonition that this summer was not going to go as planned. Now, war was on the horizon, but Lily was not afraid. She had Vance by her side, and she was excited about taking on a new role as a wizard-shifter ambassador. The winds of change were in the air, and life as Lily knew it would never be the same, but she did not mind. She felt truly alive and happy for the first time that she could remember. Vance must have noticed that she felt that way. Just before the dragons left for Falcon Cross, he found a moment alone with her.
“You’re glowing,” he said. “I mean, you always look beautiful. But there’s something different about you today.”
Lily smiled. “I feel I have a purpose, now. And knowing that I have a part to play here in the redwoods and that we are going to be together… well, it takes a load off of my mind. I feel like everything has worked out well. Of course, I’m not happy that our enemies are threatening us. But what is life without a little adventure?”
Vance laughed. “I wholeheartedly agree with you. Just don’t get mad at me if some crazy flying is involved in the next few months.”
Lily laughed, thinking of how angry she had been at him the first day they met. That seemed like so long ago now, even though not even a full month had passed.
“If you want to fly crazy, then go for it,” she said. “Just make sure you don’t do anything truly stupid. I love you, and I want you to always come home to me in one piece.”
Vance’s eyes softened as they looked at her. “I love you, too,” he said. “And don’t worry. I’m very fond of being in one piece. I’m also fond of you being in one piece, and I don’t trust anyone else to protect you the way I will. So I’ll make sure not to do anything stupid. I want to be around to protect you. And to see our babies grow up.”
He blushed a bit as he said the last part, and quickly looked away. Lily bit her lip and then smiled. They hadn’t discussed babies, but somehow there was an unspoken agreement between them that they wanted babies. Lily could not imagine a better father for her children, and she allowed herself to daydream for a moment about how perfect a little dragon wizard would be. Although, if those little dragon wizards got even a fraction of their father’s love for adventure, Lily was going to have her hands very full.
Her hands were full, now, because Vance’s hands were filling them. He squeezed her palm tight in his own as they bid farewell to the dragons bound for Falcon Cross, then watched them as they rose high into the air a few minutes later.
The sun was setting, and it outlined the flying dragons in bright orange and red hues. This was the end of the summer she had thought she was going to have, but that didn’t matter. It was the beginning of her life with Vance, and she had never been more excited for that adventure to begin. She looked over at him now, and saw him standing tall and proud. He was officially leader of the redwood base now, and would retain that title until Knox returned.
But no matter what the future held, he was always first in her heart. He looked at her and smiled, and she smiled back without hesitation. She’d found the love of her life, and he loved her back. Nothing else mattered.
Even though Fall was still months away, this was without a doubt the best summer she’d ever had.
Thank You For Reading!
Book Three in the Redwood Dragons series will be coming in early April!
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About the Author
There are shifters walking among us. Sloane Meyers is devoted to telling their stories.
Sloane thinks we could all use a little escape in our lives. And what better way to shake up the ordinary than to transport yourself to the mysterious world of those who have an animal within them, roaring to be let out. Sloane brings you hot shifter males, and spunky, spirited heroines—with NO cliffhangers! Each book can be read as a standalone.
When she’s not busy crafting shifter tales, Sloane enjoys a good glass of wine, preferably shared with good friends. She loves reading (duh!) and spending time in the great outdoors.
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