Page 116 of The Dragon Queen

Amycatchesmygazeandgrins.Pitchinghervoiceloudenoughforeveryoneonthisrocktohear,sheshouts, "Let’shearitforEmber:QueenOfDragons."

Ablushautomaticallyheatsmyface,butascheersgoup,Istandupstraight.Rafeletsoutawhoop,andStormclaspsmyshoulder,hishotpalmremindingmeofallthetimesIfeltlikearejectintheAirDragonKingdom;hewouldalwaysreassuremethatIbelonged.Backthen,webothknewitwasn'ttrue.

Butitsureisnow.

Ismileandwave,exhaustedbuthappy.There'sclearlynorunningfrommydestiny,soIhadmightaswellembraceit.

ButifI'velearnedanythingfromtoday'sevents?Fromtheeventsofthelastdaysandweeksandmonths?

It'sthatifI'mgoingtobetheQueenofDragons...

I'mgoingtobemyownkindofqueen.

Chapter33

Epilogue

EMBER

Threeyearslater...

I'msittingonthefloorofthenurseryintheoldWaterKingdomcastle,watchingaschubbyfingersrunalongthespinesofbooks.Ittakesawhile--thisisaseriousdecision,afterall.Buteventually,theylandonafabric-coveredtome,embossedwithgoldletters.Exactlyliketheyalwaysdo.

Mydaughterturnstome,herpale,tawnyskinglowing,hercheeksround,herdimplesirresistiblewhenshesmiles.

"Dis?"sheasks.AsifI'deverturnherdown.

"Thedragonone?"Iask,andsheclapsherhandswithgleebeforepluckingthebookofftheshelfandcarryingitovertome.

Wereadthisnearlyeverynight.Adaringtaleofevildragonsanddesperatemaidensrescuedbydashingyoungknights.It'sabsolutenonsense,andshelovesitexactlyasmuchasIdidwhenIusedtobegmymothertoreadittome.

Shepassesmethebook,andIflipitopentothewell-wornfirstpage.Gently,Irunafingeralongthegildedtext.Myheartgivesalittlesqueeze.

Mostofthebookisnonsense.Afairytale.Buttherearealsohiddenmessagesinhere.ThestoryofanheirtoallthedragonkingdomsbringinglighttoShadow.

AstoryofaDragonQueen.

Itouchthebraceronmywrist.Afaintpurpleglowlightsthedarkmetal.It'sasstrongasever--evenifIrarelyhavecalltouseitanymore.

Interruptingmytrainofthought,mydaughterdropsherselfontomylapwithoutceremony,onlyjabbingmeinthekidneyalittle.IrollmyeyestomyselfasIbundleherclose,breathinginherwarm,sweetscent.Herdark,curlyhairwithitscopperyhighlightsticklesmynose,butIdon'tcare.

ShedidalotmorethankickmeinthekidneywhenIwascarryingher.Shewasafighter,eventhen.

Maybeitwaseverythingshewentthroughwhenshewasgrowingwithinme.Maybeitwasmynature--ormaybeitwasherfathers'.

Ikisshertempleasshetries--unsuccessfully--tostealthebook.

We'llneverknowforsurewhosiredher.Thecolorofherskinisutterlyambiguous,toolighttobejustMalik'sandtoodarktobeanybodyelse's.ShehasJianyu'ssolidpatienceandthecolorofhiseyes.HercopperyhighlightsandfeistytemperareallRafe.Herhair'scurlsmustcomefromMalik,andthere'sasoulfulnesstothepoutofherlipthatremindsmetoomuchofStorm.

It'sbiologicallyimpossible,butsomuchofourjourneyhasdefiedalllogic.Iwasneversupposedtohavefourmates,andshewasneversupposedtohavefourfathers.Buthereweare.Magicisreal,andtheimpossibleispossible.

Shelivedandgrewwithinmeforninemonths,andshecameoutfighting,withthefaceofanangelandthescreamofabanshee.

WenamedherAlina,forthecolorofthedawn.

"Mommmmyyyyy,"shewhines,drapingherselfacrossmylapdramatically.I'veclearlyexhaustedherlimitedpatiencewithmyruminating.

"Allright,allright,"Ilaugh,hugginghertightlyasshegiggles.

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