Smoked - Mari Mancusi Page 0,114

I’m excited for you, Emmy! I’m so excited. You’re going to have an amazing life. And your children will be strong and happy and free. That’s all that matters in the end.”

For a moment, Emmy seemed to smile at this. Then she sobered. Are you sure you’re going to be okay? I hate leaving you alone.

“I’m not alone,” Trinity reminded her, gesturing to the group of people behind her: her father, her teammates, Caleb. Even Scarlet, who stood there with tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutched Caleb’s hands. “I’ll never be alone, Emmy. And even if I were? Well, I’d be okay.”

I know you would, Fire Kissed. That is why I am able to go. But before I do…

The dragon stopped in front of her. She held out her paw. The beautiful, sparkly necklace dazzled at her wrist. Trin looked up at Emmy. The dragon grinned.

To remember me by.

Trin took the necklace with trembling hands, slipping it back over her head. Then she grabbed Emmy and hugged her with a fierceness that took both their breath away. Finally, they parted, and Trin bowed her head to the dragon, forcing back a fresh round of tears. There was nothing to be sad about now, she told herself. This was a joyous moment.

Good-bye, Emberlyn, she whispered in the dragon’s head, not trusting herself to speak.

Good-bye, Fire Kissed.

Emmy turned then, breaking their gaze and stepping toward the time machine. Trin watched as she sucked in a breath, then stepped inside. There was a flash of light. Then, just like that, Emmy disappeared.

Everyone gasped. The other dragons whined and pawed the ground nervously. But Burgess stepped up to the gate next, nodding at the others. He was a born leader, Trinity realized. They all looked up to him. So when he stepped through the gate and disappeared like their mother had, they all eagerly clamored to follow suit, one by one by one.

Trinity glanced over at her father. He was counting the dragons as they went, keeping the machine powered and ready. And as the last dragon walked through the gate, Trinity let out a breath. She turned to the others.

“Well,” she said. “I guess that’s it.” A lump formed in her throat.

“Wait,” her father said. “I think we’re missing one.” He ran over his calculations then compared them to the tally on the machine. “One dragon did not go through the gate.”

Trinity’s heart stuttered. Had one of the dragons changed its mind? None of this would work if they didn’t all go through. She looked around wildly as the others did the same. “Who was it?” she demanded. “Did anyone see? Whose dragon did not go through the gate?”

“It was Zoe.”

Trinity whirled around, heart in her throat as none other than Connor himself stepped into the hangar. He was white-faced and trembling, looking more like his brother than himself. But he was here. He was alive. He was back on Earth.

“Connor,” she whispered, feeling as if she was seeing a ghost. She supposed, in a way, she was. “What…?”

He stepped forward, pulling her into his arms, pressing his whole body against her as he hugged her fiercely. She could feel his heartbeat driving against her chest as he held her close, the slight tremor in his hands. Her heart soared, and the tears began to flow freely all over again.

“What are you doing here?” she whispered in his ear.

“Zoe had a change of heart,” he told her. “Without Zavier, she had no desire to stay in this world. She wanted to go back to the Nether and join him and her grandmother. They belonged together, she told me. Just like you and I belong together.”

Trinity shook her head, scarcely able to believe it all. But what did it matter anyway? The end was the same. Connor was back. And for the first time ever, there was nothing to keep them apart.

“So, uh, mission accomplished,” she chokingly teased as she reached up to brush a lock of hair from his eyes. “Apocalypse averted. Hasta la vista, dragon spawn.”

“And bon voyage, Emmy and her family,” he added. “I hope they all find peace and happiness at last.”

“You know what would probably make Emmy truly happy?” Trin asked, with a wistful smile.

“What’s that?”

“If you gave me a happily ever after kiss.”

And so he did. A Hollywood-worthy kiss that would make even the most TV-addicted dragon proud.

Epilogue

A warm breeze caressed Trinity’s face. She opened her eyes. A lush jungle spread out around her as far