My declaration roused our people again. It was hard to pinpoint a time when so much happiness and hope had filled the multitudes. Braxton’s arrival had truly changed us all.
Turning his back to me, Braxton bowed his head in respect to my guardian, telling him something. Unfortunately, I could not hear what that was, but a heartfelt smile captured my guardian’s face, and he nodded. Willow squealed next to me when they exchanged a fierce hug, and she began to fuss over me, swiftly fixing my hair and dress, making sure I looked perfect.
“What is going on?” I asked, but she just stepped away, clearing the way for Braxton to strut towards me.
With every step he took, my pulse began to race, and inexplicable nerves took hold of my stomach, wreaking havoc. It was worth mentioning that he looked particularly handsome in that armor, so it wasn’t entirely my fault I was reacting to him this way.
Stopping a couple of feet before me, Braxton dropped to one knee, lifting a hand in offering to me. Silence instantly spread through the arena.
“Princess Evanna, today I dare to offer myself to you. Not only as a warrior but as a man whose love for you powers the very beating of my heart,” he began, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You claimed me as yours the moment I first looked into your eyes, that fateful night on the beach, and you showed me the real you. The part of you not everyone has the privilege to see. Our souls connected in that moment, and I was never the same. I became forever yours.”
Braxton’s words pulled every string in my heart, stirring emotions I never thought to feel for a man. Overpowering feelings that only he awoke and deserved.
Untying the small pouch he held, he reached for my hand, gently placing its contents on my palm.
“Today, I humbly ask you to be mine. To join your life with mine and allow me to show you the happiness only I can offer. I am the man made for you, Evanna. I am the man you deserve. And yet, I vow to become the man you know I can be when you look into my eyes. To keep you safe in my arms because you are the woman made for me. The one I deserve. It is your love that gives me strength, and only you make me happy. Will you pair with me, Evanna Skyborne? Will you be my queen and mate forever?”
The breath lodged in my throat when I glanced at his offering. Brax’s grand gesture. Emotion rushed through me, and I had no way to stop it.
“Yes,” I whispered, a tear falling onto my skin as I stepped closer, kneeling before him too. “Yes, Braxton. I will be yours and I claim you as mine forever.”
Overwhelming waves of ovation burst from the crowd around us, reverberating through the entire arena. Braxton cupped my face in his hands, his mouth tilting into a crooked grin a moment before claiming my lips as his.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I held him fiercely. Not only because the man I loved more than anything had just asked me to be his for the rest of our lives, opening his heart for all to see, but because the gold wing shining under the sunlight in my palm shook me to my core.
“This is my mother’s necklace…” I breathed against his lips, and fighting to contain the rampant emotion I glanced up into his eyes. “You brought my mother’s necklace back to me, Braxton. How? I thought it was lost forever.”
“It wasn’t lost. You were always meant to have it, and I was meant to give it to you,” he answered, taking my trembling hands in his and helping me to my feet. Retrieving the necklace from my grasp, he draped it over my neck, securing it in the back. “I love you, Evie, and I’m honored I was chosen to bring this back to you.”
He captured my lips again, his thumb wiping away the tear that had escaped me, as a second round of excited shouts and applause rose around us. Our guards whooped and hollered behind us, as thrilled as everyone else was.
“I love you too, Brax.”
Smiling at me, he took my hand in his, and we faced our people, waving to the crowd.
“The Skyborne Princess and the Dragon Master have paired!” Willow announced, rousing everyone again, and my mate and I chuckled. “Let’s move this celebration into the mountain where Akasia and her cooks have prepared a magnificent feast for all of us!”
Braxton’s Dragon Eye glowed briefly, and some of the Dragons let their formation to stand along the edge of the arena’s entrance, lowering their wings for our people to climb to their backs. As they began to fly back to the Hidden Kingdom, the guard congratulated us. Willow hugged me while Asher pulled Braxton into a brotherly embrace.
“I know you will be a perfect pair,” my guardian offered, placing a kiss on my head. “No one can make you happy like Braxton can.”
“Thank you, Kingston.” I hugged him, thankful more than ever to have him in my life.
“You should disband the Dragon guard and send them back to the mountain,” Imogen suggested, glancing at my mate. “We need to return to the castle.”
“Of course.” Turning to the Dragons behind us, Braxton called Tharion, Spartan, Athina, Alkor, Fulgur, Spike, and Star to us, the rest taking to the skies and returning to the mountain. “Let’s go.”
“Lady Willow, will you do me the honor of letting me give you a ride home?” Kingston’s voice called our attention, and we turned to see him standing before my best friend, his hand extended towards her.
Brax and I exchanged an astonished glance while Willow seemed frozen in place. Her shocked gaze focused on my guardian’s outstretched hand, waiting for hers to take it. “A ride? As in, on a Dragon?”
An endearing smile tilted Kingston’s lips, one he only reserved for her. “Yes, I would love to take you home on Spartan… If you will allow me, of course.”
Oh, my heart.
“Holy shit,” Braxton whispered next to me, and I elbowed him when he diverted Willow’s attention to him.
She blinked. “Me, on a Dragon…?”
“She’d love to,” I answered for Willow while my mate and I glared at her to accept.
Swallowing, she returned her attention to his offered hand, slowly sliding her hand into his. Instant tears glistened in her eyes at the feel of his soft skin. “I’d love to, Kingston.”
“Thank you,” he breathed, as though his soul had finally returned to his body with her acceptance. His fingers curled around hers fervently, holding her tightly before he began to guide her away.
Spartan lowered his wing onto the stage for them, and Kingston carried Willow against his broad chest, climbing to his Dragon’s back one step at a time, not to startle her. While his strong hands held her to him, she clung fiercely to his neck, her gaze never leaving him.
Placing a kiss on my temple, Braxton smiled triumphantly, like he’d just accomplished a goal he’d set a long time ago… Bring Kingston and Willow together. “Let’s go.”
Imogen and Midnight headed the convoy back to our mountains while Quinn and the rest of Braxton’s guard shared a ride with mine—their new companions were assisting in returning our people to safety. Jumping onto Tharion and Star, we headed towards our mountain too, watching the first Dragons already entering the Hidden Kingdom.
As we flew back, I noticed Braxton’s body abruptly become rigid on Tharion’s neck, and his head snapped to the right. When I followed his gaze, every inch of my body contracted too.
“It’s Azazel!” Braxton shouted. “Get everyone back, now!”