“Seoafin –” Valentine whispered urgently, her body close, her mouth at my ear, her hand still tugging at mine.
“Take her, Valentine. You know the beasts are preparing and you know to look after your own neck. Take Lavinia, get her safe and the minute you can, go home,” I implored.
“My goddess of –”
“Take her!” I cried, the words strange coming through unmoving lips but the tone easily read.
“Goddess!” Valentine exclaimed then she whispered, “You must know, now, that I am sorry, my goddess of love, sorry for everything.”
“Go!”
She hesitated then I felt both of my hands squeezed by both of theirs and then they were gone.
I was alone.
I had thought when the dragons came…
Hoped…
But I was wrong.
I was alone.
Frozen but my blood was singing with adrenalin.
This was it.
My last adventure.
And I was ending it alone. At least Mom and Dad had each other.
But I was alone and terrified.
I couldn’t even close my eyes.
Shit.
“I’m coming to you, baby,” I whispered to Frey but it came out naturally, my lips moved with my words and I blinked.
I blinked.
Actually blinked, my eyelids moving and everything.
Holy moly!
“No, my love, I’ve come to you,” I heard a beautiful, sweet, achingly familiar voice behind me and, in control of my body, I whirled and stared, mouth open, eyes wide, belly plummeting, heart in my throat at my husband who was standing three feet away.
Then he lifted an arm and the dragons let loose, their massive bodies bulged, necks extended, their fanged mouths opened and flames erupted, shot forward and I stared as we were surrounded by an inferno over our heads, at our sides, my gown blowing with the force of it, the heat enveloping me, the bloody snow melting to a river rushing over my boots but Frey’s body, to my shock, was impervious and acted as a shield against the flames.
Then he dropped his arm and the flames immediately stopped.
I knew everything behind me was gone, reduced to ash. But in front of me stood Frey backed by a line of fierce, colossal, terrifyingly beautiful dragons.
It couldn’t be real.
“Are you a dream?” I whispered and his lips tipped up.
“No,” he answered.