Page 35 of Embers of Fate
With infinite tenderness, Sam slips the ring onto my finger, the metal cool and heavy against my skin. “Never forget who you are,” she whispers, her voice fierce with conviction. “Happy birthday, babe.”
I tighten my grip on her hand, my anchor in a sea of uncertainty. “I don’t know if I’ll be the last dragon the world ever sees,” I tell her, my voice raw and trembling. “But I know I’m the luckiest man in the world... because I have you.”
And then I’m kissing her, slowly, tenderly, pouring all the love and gratitude and wonder I feel into the press of my lips against hers. Her peace washes over me, filling me up, chasing away the fears and doubts that plague me.
With Sam by my side, I feel like I can face anything. Even the terrifying unknown of my first shift.
Because together, we are unstoppable. Unbreakable.
And that is the greatest gift of all.
21
NIK
Night settles over us like a velvet cloak, the darkness broken only by the silvery glow of the moon and the myriad stars that dot the sky. We sit on the terrace overlooking the ocean, huddled together on the garden couch, a heavy wool blanket wrapped around our entwined bodies. The firepit crackles and pops, casting a warm, flickering light over our faces.
We’ve been silent for a while, the weight of anticipation hanging heavy in the air. Waiting for the unexpected, the inevitable. Not knowing how or when or even ifitwill happen.
The headache has returned, stronger than ever, but it’s become such a constant companion that I barely register the pain anymore. It’s just another reminder of the chaos that churns within me, the beast that threatens to break free at any moment.
Sam slips a warm mug between my hands, the heat seeping into my skin, grounding me in the present. But the silence grows tight with tension, and I can’t stop the words that spill from my lips. “Are you sure about this? Would you not rather leave?”
She gives me a look, her eyes soft but unyielding. “Drink your tea,” she says, dismissing the choice I offer, the out that I so desperately want her to take.
I bring the mug to my lips, inhaling the floral aroma that wafts up from the steaming liquid. Lavender and chamomile, with a hint of sweetness that makes my eyebrows lift in surprise. “Honey?” I ask, a faint frown now creasing my brow.
Sam bats her lashes, the picture of innocence. “Yes, dear?”
A snicker escapes me, warmth flooding my cheeks. Gods, she’s merciless, taking such delight in making me blush.
“Yeah. I added honey,” she admits, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Juliette said it would sweeten your beast’s temper.”
I nod, taking another sip of the tea, letting the warmth spread through my body. “Is this going to make me drowsy right away?”
“No.” She curls up against my chest, her head resting over my heart. “It’s going to take a while for it to kick in. Juliette said she’d make sure Willem was out of the house whenever he looked like he was about to shift. But apparently, the guy was a shifterpro. He mastered his dragon at all times.”
“I’ll get there too, Sam,” I assure her, my voice low and fervent. “I promise.”
“I know you will.” The conviction in her voice, the unwavering faith that shines in her eyes... it takes my breath away. I wish I had the same certainty, the same unshakable belief in myself.
I finish the tea and set the mug aside, my arms coming up to wrap around her, holding her close. “Alright,” I whisper, leaning in until our faces are just inches apart, our breath mingling in the cool night air. “I’m ready for... whatever.”
“It’s Juliette’s recipe, so it has to work… right?” Sam mumbles, her brow furrowing with a hint of uncertainty. “Gods, I hope she remembered correctly. I mean, the woman has been dead for three hundred years...”
A faint sense of alarm shoots through me at the hesitation in her voice, the flicker of doubt that crosses her face. “Sam?”
She starts, shaking her head as if to clear it. “No, no... Everything’s gonna be all right, babe. I promise.”
“Babeagain?” I tease, trying to lighten the mood, to chase away the shadows that linger in her eyes. “That’s what you’re calling me?”
She purses her lips, a hint of concern creasing her brow. “You don’t like it?”
I shoot up an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at my mouth. “I mean, it’s hot...”
“You’rehot,” she interrupts, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
The blush returns with a vengeance, heat flooding my face. “Okay, now you’re just having fun.”
