"We will wear them down," I said, brushing my fingers through Ronson's hair. His eyes slid shut, and his purr thrummed in his chest.

"And we will build the omegas up. Until dragonkin learns to stand on even footing."

My heart ached, and I ducked my head, brushing kisses over every inch of Ronson's face.

"There is no better man than you. No better alpha," I murmured.

"No better lover," Ronson prompted.

"Presumably. I wouldn't know," I teased, squawking a laugh as Ronson growled and sat up, twisting and quickly wrestling me down beneath him, his grin sharp and his hair ruffled in all directions from my fingers. "What a pretty speech you gave. How nice for the omegas to have their choice," I continued, squirming with breathless gasps as Ronson snarled and groped, snapping kisses against my cheeks and jaws, until I found myself spread beneath him, my slip torn up to my waist.

Ronson paused there, hips pressed to mine, just a few inches from being inside of me, gaze blazing and smile wide. "Do you think I won't work hard every day to deserve you, mate?"

I sighed, and he released my hands so I could touch his face, draw it down to mine, our lips parting and tongues meeting familiarly with grateful moans to taste one another again.

"You do deserve me," I breathed, rocking my hips up to his, trying to draw him into me. "As I deserve you."

Ronson's eyes lit up. "Ohh, my sweet little omega knows how to please her mate. And I will prove I know how to please you," he said, rewarding my little words of confidence with the slow drive inside of me, my gasp of relief mingling with the slick sound of our bodies joining. "Every day, Mairwen. Every day of our lives."

"Closer, alpha. Come closer to me," I pleaded, circling my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his hips.

And when we were as close as we could be, wings held and hips snug and lips open to one another, I knew I was precisely where I was meant to be.

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EpilogueRONSON

ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY YEARS LATER

The moon was perfectly framed by the window, just a sliver of silver sea visible at the bottom edge. Mairwen stirred in my arms, and my lips curved up, strangely pleased that we were both still awake. Every moment, even the still and silent ones, were precious to me, but especially tonight, our last night in the nest Mairwen had built me so long ago.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" she whispered.

I laughed, combing my fingers through her hair, sorting through the tangles I'd created just a bit ago. "What do I have to be nervous about?"

Mairwen puffed a sound of annoyance. "It doesn't matter to you who wins the challenge?"

I sighed and considered. "It does, but…I'm confident the right person will. A right person. We have a lot to choose from."

"As long as it isn't Bernard Davies," Mairwen muttered.

I scoffed. "He doesn't stand a chance."

Mairwen shifted, rolling half onto my chest and propping her chin up on the backs of her hands. "I know Blair thinks it should be him because he's the oldest," she breathed so softly, as if our son were in the room and might hear her otherwise, "but I do think one of the others stands a good chance."

I hummed in agreement. All of our children would make a good alpha for the isle. Which was why I was less concerned with which one and more eager to simply enjoy my retirement. At last. I wanted my remaining years—and plentiful I hoped they would be—spent traveling the world with my mate. Or just lazing about in bed with her as she read me books. Either option was promising.

Our tiny island, with a home just for the two of us an easy flying distance away from the isle—not so close as to threaten the new alpha—was ready and waiting for our arrival. Mairwen hadn't seen the house yet, and I was looking forward to her reaction. Perversely, I hoped it was not quite up to scratch. I wanted my omega to boss me about on improvements. Mairwen was magnificent when she was determined to have her way. I'd admired her management of the isle and our brood of little dragons for a century and a half, and now I was looking forward to her managing me, and me alone.

I'd always been greedy where Mairwen was concerned.

Her finger prodded my chest, drawing my attention back to the present. "Go on. You must have a favorite."

I laughed, reaching down to squeeze Mairwen's full bottom—fuller now than when I'd met her. Deliciously so.

"I will tell them you asked that," I said, hissing as she pinched my nipple in retaliation. "I don't have a favorite. Not of ours. And I do hope it stays in the family…"

"Because you don't want them to come moaning to you if they don't win," Mairwen said.

I nodded. "Precisely. But I will say that even if the Millward boy does win, at least the isle will still be in good hands."

Mairwen hummed, softening against me, settling in for sleep at last. "Arran will struggle with the feats of strength, but I think he might still come out ahead when it comes to the rest of the challenge."

We were quiet for a moment, my fingers still carding slowly through her long hair. "Mairwen?"

"Mm?"

"Have you noticed that Iona has been…cagey lately?"

Mairwen's breath hitched, and she nodded slowly.

"Do you think she'll enter?" I asked, now whispering too.

"Would you mind if she did?" Mairwen asked in that delicate way that meant she already knew the answer to my question.

It didn't take me long to decide. I shook my head. "She would make a good alpha. It would change things. Again," I added with a chuckle.

"A lot has already changed," Mairwen said with a sleepy sigh.

"Mm…that's time passing, I suppose. A great deal more change to come, I'm sure."

Mairwen's hand lifted, reaching back to catch mine, tangling our fingers together and resting our hands over my chest. "But not this, my love."

I smiled, stretching my head up for a moment to kiss the top of her head. "No, my darling mate. Never this."

The End

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Afterword

I really hope you enjoyed Mairwen and Ronson’s story. I’ve been dreaming of these characters since the start of 2022, but so much changed over that time and their world grew and developed well beyond my initial itch for some dragon loving. And as is probably clear, there’s lots of change left to come in this world!

Torian’s book is the second in my plans for sure, and of course Seamus and others need their own stories. As is pretty typical for me, I already know that the moods and themes and nature of the characters won’t always be the same across every book, but I hope you’ll find more of what you enjoyed in the next one. I’ll even keep my fingers crossed that I might even make you love each book a little more than the one before.

There are many ways to keep updated on my progress but the best places where are in my Facebook group and on my Patreon!

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Also by Kathryn Moon

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