Wrapping my arms around his torso, I hugged him tightly, pouring all the love I felt for my gentle giant and would always feel into the embrace. His massive arms wrapped around me too, cradling me as though I was still that child he once trained.
“I know without a shadow of a doubt, that the extraordinary man standing before me deserves far more than to be my guardian for the rest of his life.”
A contented sigh left my lips before I pulled away and reached for my dearest friend’s hand, bringing her closer to us. I placed her hand in his, holding them both tightly between mine. My gaze regarded them both, focusing on the man who had done so much for me.
“You deserve to be happy together. To have a unity ceremony with Willow and have babes of your own. You are worthy of everything you never had the chance to experience, even when everyone around you did. You have devoted a lifetime to me, Kingston. Now you need to do it for Willow because she’s been devoted to you all along.”
Wiping my tears away, I stepped back, watching them look at one another like their future lay in each other’s eyes. He leaned over to kiss the woman he loved more than anything and who loved him just as much.
“So, Kingston Knightsky,” I resumed, calling his attention back to me. “I hereby release you from your duty as my guardian. You have served me with the utmost loyalty, integrity, and affection. I will never forget that.”
Emotion spilled from his eyes too, and he offered me a full bow. “Thank you, my queen. Seeing you become the woman you are today has been the greatest privilege of my life, and a true honor. If you ever need any—”
“You’ll be there,” I finished for him, seeing him nod. “I know. But I have a strong and powerful Dragon Master of my own now, so I think I’m going to be just fine.”
Laughter escaped him, Braxton, and Willow joining him while I grinned. When Kingston hugged me again, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, appreciating this moment between us. Placing a kiss on his chest, over his mushy, not-so-growly heart, I pulled away and shared a hug with my dearest Willow.
After composing ourselves, we finally reached the stairs.
Our steps halted when we found Aaron, Edward, Charlotte, Quinn, Harvey, and Louis standing there, waiting in silence.
29
The expressions marking Braxton’s friends and personal guard seemed forlorn, crestfallen, and I wasn’t exactly sure if they’d had a moment to talk to their Dragon Master, and now king, after what was revealed yesterday.
My mate tensed beside me, his demeanor changing when they looked at him expectantly, telling me they hadn’t spoken after all.
“Before you say anything, I just want to explain—"
A massive hug crashed into Braxton’s chest, cutting off his words. Yet, to our surprise, it was Quinn who jumped on him, not Charlotte.
“Quinn!” Imogen scolded, making her step back. “Your cannot—”
“No, it’s okay,” I interjected. “Keeping our people from us only keeps us from our people… I know that as our guardians and mentors, your intention for making us unreachable is to keep us safe, but I’ve experienced first-hand how isolating that can be.”
Kingston and Imogen exchanged a meaningful glance, then nodded to the guard to proceed.
“I’m truly sorry the Warlock King took so much from you,” Quinn offered, hugging Braxton again while visibly affected by what he shared the yesterday.
Braxton hugged her back with relief, showing how much he’d needed to hear that.
“At first, we were upset you didn’t tell us,” Aaron admitted.
“It was too hard a truth to process,” Harvey added behind him.
“I never wanted to lie to you, but some truths are harder to share than others, especially when we struggle to accept them ourselves,” Braxton confessed.
“We understand now why you didn’t,” Louis was the next to reassure.
“We believe you, Brother.” Edward smiled.
“We know who you are.” Stepping forwards, Charlotte squeezed Braxton too, receiving a hug and a kiss on the top of her head.
“Thank you, that means a lot to me.” My mate shared a heartfelt hug with the guys too, who returned it supportively.
“Let’s go,” Harper motioned towards the stairs, and it was only then that my mate and I realized there was someone important missing.
“Where is Asher?” Braxton asked, seeing Imogen smile kindly at him.
“You’ll see.”
We all descended together, and the moment we made it to the main floor, a wealth of emotion flourished through me. People, my people, lined the hallway on both sides, waiting for us with offerings. Flowers, bread, leathers, fruits, and linens were all raised to us, arms reaching for me like they had done last night.
For the first time in my life, I welcomed them without hesitation. I hugged those who sought my comfort, kissing children’s cheeks, squeezing hands with affection, and accepting the gifts they brought just for us. Braxton followed my lead, hugging his people as they reached for him, caressing cute babes heads, and accepting their reverence while we made our way towards the feasting hall.
“Dragon Master,” Liam and Emma, a couple who weaved rugs at the market, called right before we reached the double doors.
Braxton and I turned to face them, watching them approach us with the most precious, chubby, sleeping babe in their arms.
“We want to respectfully ask permission to name our babe in honor of your father, our Harbinger of Justice…” Liam lifted their two-month-old looking child towards Braxton. “If you so grant it, of course.”
The look Braxton regarded me with was one I would never forget, filled with so much emotion, but above all, pride.
“It will be an honor, and I know my father would approve.” Accepting the babe offered to him, he placed a gentle kiss on its forehead. “Hi, Khayden. Aren’t you a handsome boy?”
“She’s a girl,” Emma corrected, lips twitching with amusement at his king’s mistake.
Braxton’s eyes widened, mortified. “Oh.”
Laughter escaped Emma, and we all chuckled, joining her and Liam in their mirth.
“Then you may want to nickname her Khay,” Braxton offered, returning the child to them.
“Khay, it is,” Emma agreed. “Thank you, my king.”
Taking my hand in his, Braxton escorted me into the feasting hall with Willow, Kingston, Imogen, and our Elevated Warrior’s in tow. The moment we finally entered the space we understood the urgency.
Asher stood at the edge of the dais where our large dining table sat, with Skylar by his side. He seemed frozen, shocked beyond belief while his gaze focused on the woman who stood at the center, addressing our people.
The woman’s raven black hair, which gleamed blue under the dancing fire light, was the first thing that caught my attention. It fell sleekly all the way to her knees, partially covering the beautiful cream coat with snowflake embroidery she wore. Her pale skin was accentuated only by the stark white that engulfed her eyes, both creating a harsh contrast with her dark strands.
Never in my life had I seen a Truth Teller. Never thought I one day would. Yet, as I glanced at the woman who stood before us, I knew she was Asher’s mother.