“She still loves him,” Cyrene said. “It won’t make a difference.”
“Maybe not,” Aralyn said. “But you should still try.”
Cyrene nodded. “I will. I feel so lucky that we all made it. But now, Elea won’t talk to me, and you are leaving tomorrow,” she said softly to Aralyn.
“But we have the portals,” Aralyn said. “I can come see you so much more often.”
“True.”
“At least I’ll still be here,” Reeve said. He puffed up his chest. “With my fiancé on the Doma court.”
“Fiancé, huh? When were you going to tell us that?”
Reeve shrugged. “Well, I proposed before the solstice. Felt like it was time.”
“It was. I’m so happy for you.” She hugged her brother.
“I should probably ask him to dance,” Reeve said with a laugh.
He wandered off, looking for Aubron, and Aralyn headed to find her husband. Cyrene had seen little Laine dancing with some of the younger children. Logain had been passed off to a wet nurse. The whole family looked so happy.
Cyrene finally had a moment to herself and surveyed the party. Dean was caught up, dancing with Rita. They were both laughing as he swung her around the room. Then she found Kaliana at the center of a group of Tiekan soldiers with Alessia toddling at her feet.
“I owe you one,” Cyrene said, cutting in.
Kaliana raised her eyebrows. “Don’t tell me you lost it.”
“Unfortunately.”
Kaliana sighed. “First, you use my affair against Kael in your trial, and now, you’re telling me you lost my diamond?” She nudged Cyrene. “I have an idea of how you can make it up to me.”
Cyrene warily eyed her. “What’s that?”
“Go ahead and kill Kael.”
“You know that I can’t do that. And do you even want that?”
Kaliana averted her gaze, looking around the party as if she were searching for someone and then remembering they weren’t there. “I was kidnapped by Malysa. Thiago was murdered. All of Fen was destroyed. I only escaped because Master Barca and Rhea helped me get out. I hated leaving Alessia behind, but Elea swore she’d protect her. I don’t forgive him for all he’s done, but he didn’t hurt my girl.” She softly ruffled Alessia’s dark curls. “Maybe exile will be fine.”
“It will be,” Cyrene assured her. “Alessia will be better off.”
Kaliana frowned. “We’ll see.”
“And what will you do about Killian?”
“They ran him out of the castle, and I run the army now. I think I’ll be just fine.”
Cyrene laughed. “I bet you will.”
“Alessia, no,” Kaliana said and then turned her attention back to her daughter.
Cyrene continued on, finding Brigette and Darmian dancing close together in the crowd. She was surprised since, the last time she had spoken with Brigette, she hadn’t thought it could be real. But Cyrene was glad for her. Even if she was a royal pain in Cyrene’s ass.
She continued walking but frowned when she noticed a man on the outskirts of the circle. He was intently watching Brigette and Darmian with a dark look on his face. Cyrene made her way out of the spotlight of the dance floor and toward him.
He straightened when she got close and then dropped a low Eleysian bow. “Domina,” Basille Selby said with a quirk of his lips.
“Are you not going to cut in, Master Selby?”
He flourished his arms. “That time has passed. The ship has sailed.”
“Indeed, but she still loves you.”
“Perhaps,” he conceded. “But I am not what she needs. She needs someone who can be there for her, and that is not the man that I am.”
“You were here for me. You supported Kaliana and rode in from Tiek.”
“There was no chance that we would marry, was there, Domina?” he asked with a laugh.
She returned it. “No, I suppose not. So…where are you off to next? What hidey-hole are you going to find?”
His eyes became distant. “A new adventure, I think.”
“Shall I just have to find you then?”
“Only time will tell.”
“Sorry to cut in,” a voice said behind her.
She turned around to see Dean holding out his hand.
“May I have this dance?”
“Go on,” Basille said behind her. “He’s your next adventure.”
Cyrene grinned at him. Because that was the best description she had ever heard. She placed her hand into Dean’s and let him guide her out into the middle of the room. And then, suddenly, the music changed. The beat slowed until it was soft and intimate.
She laughed. “Haenah de’Lorlah?”
“It is your namesake,” he said with a wink.
Then, there was no room for talking. It was a slow and deliberate dance, one with precise movements and a heated intimacy. If the dancers were proficient, then it would appear as if they were floating above the ground. She had performed this number with Kael at her Selecting ball, but it was nothing compared to dancing with Dean. She was a new person two years later. Her movements matched his with affection and confidence that couldn’t be faked.
And, as the dance finished, the crowd applauded them. Cyrene looked around the dance floor and found all the faces that she was going to miss so desperately. Quidera dragged Hulen onto the dance floor. Haeven winked at the Commander and soon began some erotic Kelltic dance that brought a flush to Cyrene’s cheeks. Avoca and Ahlvie swayed slowly side by side. Gwynora tugged some soldier into the circle. Even Reeve had convinced Aubron to dance.
Cyrene felt such sadness that they would be leaving but also happiness that she had had a chance to know them all. This wasn’t the end. This was just the beginning. A new beginning.
The portals were open now for anyone who was a friend to the Domina. Which meant she could enter, any of them could enter, if they weren’t her enemy. It would completely revolutionize travel in Emporia. She’d no longer have to have portal coins to travel or worry about Malysa looking through the doors to wait her out. Plus, she could visit anyone whenever she wanted.
So, she let the sadness go. Let it wash off of her in the wave of music and laughter and friendship. And began anew.
Bonfires were erected around the circle, being held up by natural and magical means alike. They danced all night. Cyrene had a bit too much wine, but it was the night for it. Soon, she was swaying all on her own when Helly appeared at her side with Kerrigan and Alura.
“We’re leaving in the morning, Cyrene. And I wanted to say good-bye one more time,” Helly said.
Cyrene pulled her into a hug. “Are you sure you won’t leave the portal open?”
Helly shook her head. “I wish that I could.”
“The council won’t let us,” Alura said with a sad smile.
“It’d be so much easier to have our people cross. Even just the Society. I would love to start a new branch here.”
“They’ll never let more dragons leave,” Alura bit out.
Helly gave her a sharp look. “I think that will be difficult. But you can reach Kerrigan still, yes?”
Cyrene looked at a fiery-headed Kerrigan, who had such a serious adult look on her young face. “I think that I can.”