Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series

ONE YEAR LATER

Ipaced back and forth in the chamber, biting my nails, while the train of my long silver gown trailed behind me.

Erroh swatted at my hand. “Stop that.”

I dropped it and clutched my rumbling stomach instead. “I’m going to be sick.”

“You’re going to be fine,” Parin said, in his calm, firm voice.

Carth wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Relax, Sora. This is your day. Well, all of ours, really.”

“It’s just so much responsibility,” I said.

“Your parents wouldn’t be doing this if they didn’t feel it was right,” Zain said.

Varek took my hand and pressed a kiss to it. “You’re going to do great.”

The door opened, and my four fathers stood on the other side. Like me and my mates, they were dressed in their finest clothes, each one in the color representing their element.

“It’s time,” Jasin said, before giving me a warm hug.

I stepped back, shaking my head. “I’m not ready.”

“Yes, you are,” Reven said, as he stroked my hair. “We’ve trained you for this since the moment you were born.”

‘I’m not, though,’ I said. ‘I have so much to learn still. What if I make a mistake?”

“You did a wonderful job dealing with the cult,” Auric said, as he squeezed my hand. “And it’s not like we’re going to disappear. We’ll always be here to guide you and advise you.’

“True.” I smoothed my dress, gathering my confidence, but it only returned when Slade wrapped me in one of his big bear hugs.

“We’re very proud of you,” he said.

Tears pricked my eyes as I pulled back and looked at my four fathers. Things might have been awkward with them and my mates at times, especially at first, but I could never have asked for four better men to raise me. Each one of them had given me the best parts of themselves and loved me unconditionally. I owed them everything—along with my mother, of course.

We stepped out of the palace and into the courtyard, which was filled with people as far as the eye could see, along with elementals. Kira stood in a silver gown of her own on a podium, with her sword in her hand, the one Slade had made her that was imbued with all the elements. My fathers moved to fan out behind her, and then my mates and I stood to the side.

Mom flashed me a warm smile, as the sunlight glinted off her beautiful red hair. Then she turned to the crowd.

“For thousands of years the Dragons have acted as guardians, protectors, and sometimes overlords of the world, but our time has come to an end. My daughter, the Rainbow Dragon, shall be the last of the Ascendants, and shall oversee the beginning of a new era. She has brought balance to the world, and has made a great sacrifice to ensure that equality shall flourish among all mortals.”

The crowd watched with rapt attention, and my heart warmed at the sight of so many familiar faces. Erroh and Parin’s parents, Faya and Cadock, along with their sister and her family. Carth’s parents, Brin and Leni. All of the High Priestesses from every temple, including Calla. Even a few former members of the Quickblades, who had joined the Silver Guard at Varek’s request.

Kira lifted up her sword and turned toward me. ‘Sora, you and your mates have proven yourselves ready to take on the peaceful oversight of our world. My mates and I formally step aside, and we charge you with keeping the harmony between humans and elementals, and maintaining balance in the four Realms.”

I took the sword from her and bowed my head as I held its weight. ‘I take on this duty with pride and honor, with my mates by my side.’

The audience erupted into cheers as I sheathed the sword, and my mother and I faced the crowd, our men behind us. Mom rested a hand on my back and gave me a proud smile that brought tears back to my eyes. Kira and her men were not only heroes, but amazing parents too. I could only hope to live up to the example they’d set.

The ceremony ended, and a banquet began. A small orchestra began to play music, and food and refreshments were served to the guests. The night quickly passed in a whirlwind of drinking, dancing, and delicious food. Everyone wanted to congratulate me and my mates, and ask us about the new school we’d founded just outside Soulspire, the Elemental Dragon Academy.

Ever since the night we summoned the Gods, humans across the four Realms had woken up to new powers. Most of the champions were young, below twenty, but a few of them were older. We sent out word that anyone with magic should come to Soulspire for training, and for weeks we flew around the world, looking for our new students and transporting them to their new home. My family built it from scratch using magic, and it would house hundreds of people. We asked the High Priestesses, both former and current, to help us with the training, along with my parents. So far, it was going well. The new dragons were smaller and less powerful than we were, but they gave the people hope. That was what mattered.

Our purpose now was to train the next generation of elemental dragons and to create a school that would continue after we had moved on. Especially since our own children would need to be trained there too.

I found my mates in my mother’s garden, my favorite place at the palace. They all turned toward me and smiled as I approached, and I decided now was the time to tell them the good news.

“What are you doing out here?” I asked.

“Getting away from all the stuffy guests with a million questions,” Carth said with a smirk.

“Yes, it’s much quieter out here,” Parin said.

“Wine?” Varek offered me, with a knowing gleam. “I noticed your glass has been empty all night.”

“No, thank you,” I said, as I sat on a bench. “There’s something I need to tell you all.”

Erroh’s face lit up. “We already know.”

“You do?” I asked.

“It’s obvious from the way you’ve been acting,” Zain said. “You’re pregnant.”

I laughed and placed a hand over my belly. “How could you tell? I wasn’t even sure myself until Mom examined me this morning.”

“No wine or ale was the obvious one, of course,” Carth said.

“Additionally, you refused eggs for breakfast, and we know you love eggs,” Parin added.

“And you kept complaining of being tired,” Zain said.

Carth smirked. “I suppose that means we don’t need to have a competition over who will be the father. This time, anyway.”

“Do you know who it is?” Erroh asked.

I bit my lip, but then nodded, and my gaze landed on Varek. His eyes widened in shock, and then he let out a laugh. Next thing I knew, he was sweeping me up into his arms and giving me a passionate kiss.

“It’s mine? Truly?” he asked.

“Yes, Mom confirmed it with her magic,” I said. “A boy too. The first boy ever born to any Ascendant.”

He pressed his forehead against mine and laughed again. “I can’t believe it. We’re going to have a son.”

The other men patted him on the back and congratulated him, but I wanted to make sure they understood something important. I turned to my mates and said, “Even though Varek is the biological father, this child shall be son to all of you. As will any other children we have. Just like my parents raised me.”

“I claim the next one,” Erroh said, and everyone laughed. I rolled my eyes, knowing he wasn’t serious. Probably.

We hugged and kissed and laughed until the party disbanded, and then we returned to our wing of the palace together. Tomorrow we’d head back to the academy to work with the students, but tonight we would relax. Satisfaction and happiness settled upon me as I climbed into my large bed with my five men. The four Realms were at peace again, and I was starting a family with the men I loved.

Though the time of the Dragons would soon be over, our legacy would live on. Forever.

Thank you for reading Sora’s story, Embrace The Dark! I hope you enjoyed it!

The final book set in this world is Light The Fire, a standalone novella about Calla the High Priestess, set 20 years before Stroke The Flame, and 50 years before Embrace The Dark. Turn the page to read that story now!