He shook his head. “Quiet has always been here, but all this hasn’t been.” He swept his arm wide. “You are what changed everything. You changed Quiet. You brought Mama Jamba here. You changed Ainsley and Hiker. Now I see that you’re changing Evan, making him realize that he has a heart. You gave Trin a second chance when many would have given up on their enemy.” He took her hand and pressed it to his heart. “And you most definitely changed me. I’ll never be the same, nor would I want to be. I couldn’t imagine my life without you, Soph.”
She smiled. Her heart felt so full and right at that moment. “Well, you all changed me too. Made everything better.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he kissed it before whisking her away to the dance floor where they would spend the night, laughing and twirling and loving their lives.
It was their reward for loving the world so well, and they deserved it more than most.
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four
Sophia and Lunis were the last left at the party. She didn’t want it to end. Wilder had been asked to help Mahkah carry Mama Jamba up to the Castle. She’d danced so much that her bunions had flared up.
Hiker and Ainsley were the first to leave, quickly followed by Evan and Trin.
Sophia giggled at Lunis, who was hamming it up with his mustache.
“Well, I would like to stay,” Lunis began. “But I must-ache.”
Sophia nodded. “Okay, it’s getting late. Will you walk me to the Castle?”
“Of course,” Lunis said as he ducked out of the tent and strode for the Castle in the distance. They were almost to the stairs when Sophia made out a small figure.
Sophia rushed forward. “Quiet! Hey, there you are.”
The gnome stood very stoically by the stairs.
“Thank you for everything,” Sophia began. “Thank you for the party and for helping Trin and for, well, everything.”
He simply nodded.
Sophia had gone up to the Castle halfway through the party to get a jacket, the trapeze costume not at all warm. When she did, she recovered the other pieces of the key, and together, she and Lunis put it together. It resembled an old-timey skeleton key. She withdrew it from her pocket then and held it up.
“I think we’ve done what you asked. Here are the five objects you told me to find, and they make a key.”
He nodded again and held out his hand to the distant hills beside where the Cave and Nest were. The hills were pitch black, but a light suddenly illuminated on the side closest to the Pond.
Sophia looked between the light and Quiet. “Is that…”
“My bachelor pad?” Lunis asked.
Again the gnome nodded.
“It’s for me?” Lunis asked. “No Sallys or Beckys or Chucks?”
As if it was the only way he could answer, Quiet nodded once more.
“Wow, thank you.” Sophia felt overwhelmed with gratitude. “You’re amazing. Thank you. The only thing that would have made the party better tonight is if you were there.”
Humbly, Quiet lowered his chin and blushed slightly in the soft light spilling from the Castle’s windows.
With nothing else left to say, Sophia turned to Lunis. “Well, do you want to go and see it?”
He extended a wing for her, inviting her to go with him, which she hadn’t expected. The riders weren’t allowed in the Cave.
Before he could change his mind, Sophia climbed onto her dragon’s back and looked thoughtfully down at Quiet. “Thank you again. You make everything special.”
The groundskeeper didn’t respond so Lunis turned for his new residence and took flight.
As they rose into the air, Sophia could have sworn she heard the gnome say, “You are the one who makes everything worth it.”
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Five
“Okay, I’m moving in here,” Sophia said when they stepped into Lunis’ new home.
“The hell you are,” he retorted while looking around in awe.
Although the place was in a cave, it didn’t at all feel like one. This place was designed with Lunis in mind. Unlike the Cave and Nest, it didn’t have that rustic, cold feel. Instead, there was the potential for natural lighting with holes where sun rays could stream through. Now that it was dark and the moon was behind clouds, the lighting options were plentiful.
A large chandelier hung in the center of the huge open room. The wood floors were warm and inviting and in the center was a massive pillow that was perfect for lounging. In the back was a large hot tub and all around the space were art deco-inspired paintings that fit Lunis’ taste.
The entire pad was outfitted with electronics. On the far wall were a screen and projector. The library of movies seemed limitless. The best part, according to Lunis, was the snack cabinet that took up an entire wall. There was everything in there from gummy bears to Doritos to peanut butter crackers.
“So, do you love it?” Sophia looked around at all the attention to detail. It was perfect.
“I do.” He threw himself down on the large pillow and let out a delighted sigh. “Think of all the hours of relaxation I’ll get here, not being annoyed by the dragonettes.”
Sophia smiled. “I’m glad. You deserve it. You were wonderful with them tonight, but I know you can only do that so much. It’s good to have a place that’s yours.”
Lunis nodded, rolled over on his back, and looked up at the tall ceiling. Quiet had checked off every single thing that Lunis wanted and made this place his dream home.
“Well, I better get back to the Castle and leave you to enjoy your video games and munchies.” Sophia headed for the exit.
Lunis rolled back over on his stomach. His head on his clawed feet and the mustache made him look silly. “Before you go…”
Sophia paused by the opening. “Yeah?”
“What should I call this place?”
Sophia thought for a moment. “Well, we have the Cave and the Nest. Maybe the Pad.”
Lunis nodded. “I like the ring of that. And it’s my pad. Allllll mine.”
She laughed as she cinched her jacket tighter around her and prepared for the cold night air. “All yours.”
She turned for the opening again. “Good night, Lun. Until tomorrow when adventures abound, and our enemies rear their ugly heads.”
“Until then, Soph.” He sounded like he was in heaven as he basked in his new digs. “Good night.”
Sophia was about to leave when Lunis said at her back, “Oh, and one more thing.”
Again she paused. “Yes, what is it?”
Lunis lifted his head off his feet and grinned at her, a gesture that seemed so funny with him wearing the mustache. “Thank you for this. For everything. I know you were going to try and give me the party I asked for, but thankfully you didn’t have to because I know how much you’ve been working. Still, you always think of me. Of Hiker. Of Ainsley. Of Wilder. Of Evan and Trin. Of everyone.”
Sophia scrunched up her shoulders, feeling so grateful for all that she had. For all the people she could think of. “Well, you all are amazing, and your happiness makes me happy.”
“What Quiet said when we rode off was true,” Lunis stated.